Home Visit
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:30 pm
Some time ago I accepted a request from someone local to come round to listen to my Cube 1s when the Covid situation improved. It followed some less that complementary comments I posted on Wam about Spendor floor standers in comparison to my speakers. The comments were based on my experience at the Mscaler demo three years ago. In fairness his Spendors are higher up the range and not so thin. I looked up the price which is 4.5 K, 1 K more than the pair I heard at Audo T.
He brought a favourite CD unaware that I do not have a player. It was located on Qobuz and I was shocked to hear that lossless streaming was new to him, his platform being Spotify. Hardly surprising that CD is his preferred source. Like everyone who has experienced Cubes he was immediately struck by the totally different presentation. Comments were generally favourable but he preferred his speakers in some specific areas. He was also uncertain if Cubes would work in his dedicated listening room which is very different to mine. I said there was only one way to find out and informed him about the NVA loan offer to Wammers plus. He had very little knowledge about NVA and is unaware of this forum.
He was liking what he was hearing and questioned me on what part of the system was having the most impact. I said that the source, amplification speakers and cables all had major roles. He was intrigued by the number of boxes which make up my source and what they all do, including the BMU.
He is looking to improve every part of his system and considering stand mount speakers. His number one priority is the source though, CD transport and DAC. He is very interested the Qutest and hopes to be able to compare it with a Denafrips. I pointed out that my Qutest has been taken to a completely different level by the Mscaler and a quality PS is needed to get the best from it.
Actions speak louder than words and I think he stayed longer than he was expecting to having brought only one CD. He wanted to listen rather than talk. More of his favourite tunes were found on Qobuz and played at high and low volume. It seemed that after the initial shock he had become accustomed to the semi-omnidirectional presentation and was enjoying the music rather than analysing the differences from a hifi perspective. To conclude he asked me to put on some of my choices and was treated to some 70s classic rock. He said he had never heard the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody sound like that before!
It was a pleasant and informative evening.
He brought a favourite CD unaware that I do not have a player. It was located on Qobuz and I was shocked to hear that lossless streaming was new to him, his platform being Spotify. Hardly surprising that CD is his preferred source. Like everyone who has experienced Cubes he was immediately struck by the totally different presentation. Comments were generally favourable but he preferred his speakers in some specific areas. He was also uncertain if Cubes would work in his dedicated listening room which is very different to mine. I said there was only one way to find out and informed him about the NVA loan offer to Wammers plus. He had very little knowledge about NVA and is unaware of this forum.
He was liking what he was hearing and questioned me on what part of the system was having the most impact. I said that the source, amplification speakers and cables all had major roles. He was intrigued by the number of boxes which make up my source and what they all do, including the BMU.
He is looking to improve every part of his system and considering stand mount speakers. His number one priority is the source though, CD transport and DAC. He is very interested the Qutest and hopes to be able to compare it with a Denafrips. I pointed out that my Qutest has been taken to a completely different level by the Mscaler and a quality PS is needed to get the best from it.
Actions speak louder than words and I think he stayed longer than he was expecting to having brought only one CD. He wanted to listen rather than talk. More of his favourite tunes were found on Qobuz and played at high and low volume. It seemed that after the initial shock he had become accustomed to the semi-omnidirectional presentation and was enjoying the music rather than analysing the differences from a hifi perspective. To conclude he asked me to put on some of my choices and was treated to some 70s classic rock. He said he had never heard the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody sound like that before!
It was a pleasant and informative evening.
