My pal Robin Wyatt’s best player, ever: the best vinyl playback I have ever heard!
TZAR DST V 2 cartridge, Schroder BA wooden wand arm, Commonwealth 16A 16” platter turntable, Shun Mook ebony clamp, Merril Jens, Halcyonics Micro 40, Industrial 160 watt 220v/50hz supply, TMC Electron microscope air bearing stand, slate plinth and shelf.
Darius Valiunas’ new DaVa field coil cartridge with copper body is ready and available!
Compliments and kudos to Darius... now it’s hi-end history 🥇🥇🥇
I was quite busy during the last few days and not properly having music for awhile...
... but this afternoon, I was able to spend a couple of hours at my studietto where - not surprisingly - I choose to listen to a tape...
I once more experienced a strange sensation, like I was listening to someone’s else audio system - i.e. like the music playing and gears I was enjoying were not related to ownership, but more a gift of-sort... strange, yet this greatly enhanced my listening pleasure... to such an high level I was in awe.
I wish everyone to taste and appreciate this intense beauty.
A good chase at local flea-market, today: a pristine, mint conditions 4 discs-set on UK Polydor of the MPS recordings made in Villingen, Black Forest, Germany in late ‘60s by Saba patron at his home.
These discs are always been sought-after and almost legendary in musical and recording quality... so imagine my face when I found as a flea market early bird this morning!
They are barely used, vinyl is mint, shiny and silent and sound... is JUST amazing!!!
Happy!
Jürg Schopper is a volcano!
After the recent, superb double record-set of Satie solo piano music, he decided that a stellar quality recording, fully analog, wasn’t enough... he choose to share with the audio community a 1:1 masterdub of original master-tape, at 15 IPS/CCIR.
I got it a few days ago and I remained speechless: a box with two bespoke metal reels and about 50 minutes music; the tape shows colored beginning and end tapes and pause is made as on master tape with transparent tape, as well.
The piano is recorded with intimacy and the tapes shine with authority and trueness vs. the already great vinyl disc, with added full body-ness and details.
Music-wise, the pianist plays the immortal Satie’s masterpieces reminding me to my reference - i.e. Reinhert de Leeuwe’s on Philips, so slow and dreamy and “distilled” playing... while I always blamed the technically pristine but someway “wrong” Aldo Ciccolini’s supersonic playing on EMI France.
All considered, this rare, limited edition on tape isn’t only a collector’s item but a statement of quality and care for details... a source of great enjoyment and a musical investment of highest class.
You’ll enjoy this tape for years to come, I bet you!
The (limited) production just began on a first come, first served basis, so if interested, contact Jürg at Schopper AG.
Enjoy 🥇
Sad, sad, sad news... the double-bassists’ bassist, most beloved by Keith Jarrett for decades, passed away today... he was 85 and he leaves a fantastic load of recordings.
I was fortunate to listen to him live with maestro Towner and two times with Jarrett Trio and it was a rare event...
My deepest condolences to his family and friends...
Handmade, aehm: precisely lathed by hand in bronze to match Garrardzilla’s bronze platter.
The snug fit and close tolerances makes this a joy to use, undusting the old 7” 45 RPM discs.
Very, very satisfied of this gizmo, as the mass and snug-fit improves the vibes taming as there is no loose, rattling disc as on lesser pucks around.
Anyone out there looking for one?
