Bottlehead Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: rockpassion on June 02, 2014, 08:37:00 PM
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I went to my first audio show at THE Show in Newport Beach, CA. It was a real treat and I saw and heard some unbelieveable equipment. But I must say that many of the speakers just overwhelmed the rooms, way too much bass in most cases.
I did hear some marvelous systems mostly small two way and three way speakers. A couple of rooms were playing Eva Cassidy's Greatest Hits so I bought it. I wanted to compare what I heard at THE Show to my system. You know, trying to hear where I could make improvements. Not bragging but my system sounded as good as many that I heard.
The good news is at a tenth the cost I am getting 90-95 % of what I heard. I believe that most of my systems sound is a result of the Bottlehead equipment, I have the Eros and Beepre combination. Most of my other equipment has a number of DIY modifications as recommended here and over on Audio Asylum. So, go DIY and Bottlehead in particular. One last point, I think the BeePre makes music sound like real music. On my system since I installed the BeePre the music is truly lush, well defined and just really enjoyable. Thanks Doc and everyone involved at Bottlehead.
I do have one disclaimer. I listened to the MbL Radialstruhler's and they were truly unbelieveable. However, they are $250,000 speakers coupled with $150000 of their amps and preamps. If I ever win the Lotto and can buy a house where I could set something like these up I would have to upgrade to these. This would be my ultimate dream. But then the problem would be how would I do any upgrading?
Richard
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Richard,
I have had the same experiences. IMHO, they all play music too loud at a show. Often louder than a live Eva Cassidy would sound. After all, she is a woman and guitar, or was.
Sadly there have been 3 systems that left me wanting. And they would need me to win the lottery too.
Thanks for the review.
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To me the best sound at shows has always been Schmalle/Joppa, Tucker, Rankin, Birkeland (loved the red amp)... SETs rule even against multi thousand dollar systems. No wonder I've stayed a die hard bottlehead since I built my first BH system about ten years ago. Actually the best system I've ever heard is sitting at my living room.
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Yep, I had a similar experience at the recent Axpona show. I heard a lot of uber-expensive gear that bested mine. When I got home and fired up my system I had to smile because as you wrote I'm 90-95% there already. I have no use for 600 watt monoblocks or speakers made for penthouses. In fact I calculated that I would have to spend roughly 4 times what I paid for my speakers to beat them. That is if I went with factory models. I could get DIY speakers that'll beat mine for maybe a few hundred bucks more.
My Bottlehead preamps and Vacuum Tube Audio amp are ridiculously good for the money!