|
The
PeaK Consult, Berning, Continuum, Eighth Nerve, Stillpoints Room
|
|
This was probably
the best room in my opinion because it was fairly well-balanced
(though not as well-balanced as the Lamm, which was the best at
this show with respect to this) and went farthest towards maxing
out on the ingredients for a wholesome sonic meal (though
unfortunately not in true conehead fashion :-).
The new to the market
PeaK Consult 2-way Incognito X loudspeakers were about the
right size for this room. And the smallness of the room, and
speakers did make producing quality sound easier in comparison to
the larger rooms at the show - of which there were many. The
Berning amps seemed to drive the speakers OK (more on this later).
There were a number of comments on the imbalance of this system
with respect to cost: The Continuum turntable coming in at $90K
(plus preamplifier and cartridge) easily dwarfing the cost of the
amplifier and speakers. Hey, whatever works, right?
We heard a number of pieces in this room,
though primarily blues. For example, early one morning - well, it
certainly seemed early to me - Stevie Ray Vaughn was plopped on
the LP spin machine and the volume was turned up. Very full,
authoritative sound. Good presence and solidity. The only
difficulty was during a few passages, more complex perhaps, where
there was a reticence as if the speakers were closed in, too hard
to drive for the amp, or not broken in. I only point at the
speakers because this very behavior has been experienced with
these speakers at numerous exhibits at numerous shows in the past.
Still do not have a feeling for the quality
of the Continuum - expect more conformation of the belief we have
that this table is not a 'detail vacuum', as JV described it once,
I believe, anywhere near the way the Walker Proscenium Gold
Signature turntable is - not that this should be the ultimate way
to judge the quality of a turntable.
More
PeaK Consult, Berning, Continuum, Eighth
Nerve, Stillpoints pictures. |
