Oh my, did Muddy Waters'
Folk Singer sound good. I hadn't heard this audiophile classic in many a year, and my time in Mike Garner of TweekGeek.com's room convinced me that it was time for an extended revisit. Garner achieved gorgeous clarity and marvelous quiet on this recording. As I wrote in my notes, "A very special moment."
The system, which was emailed to me without prices, included the Vivid Audio V 1.5 loudspeaker that John Marks recently reviewed in
Stereophile; Modwright KWA 150 amplifier and LS 36.5 preamplifier; Luxman D-05 CD/SACD player with digital input; M2Tech Evo USB to S/PDIF converter with unnamed PC as a source; Bybee Power Purifier AC conditioner; Kaplan GS power cords and GS speaker cables; Wireworld Platinum Eclipse interconnects; Stein Music Harmonizer A&B (two of each—see the little black box tucked into the right corner on the photo) plus Magic Stones; and Synergistic Research Universal Speaker Cells and Acoustic ART.
A word about some of these components. While I have yet to unpack the Bybee Power Purifier AC conditioner that awaits review back in Oakland, my experience with some of Jack Bybee's other products convinces me that his conditioner had a lot to do with the marvelous quiet I experienced in this room. Similarly, I have four Stein Music Harmonizers and the Synergistic Acoustic ART system at Casa Bellecci-Serinus, and would never want to be without them. I have no idea how either works, but the magical Stein boxes, which will be new to most blog readers, somehow increase the sense of air and ease in a room to an amazing degree. I've invited a few dealers to my home, and played the listen with/listen without game. The difference is quite noticeable. Mike didn't have the boxes set up correctly—I gave him some pointers—so I expect the sound will be even more inviting on the final days of the show. They mate very well with the Synergistic ART system, which in my home gets a further boost from Shakti Hallographs. Definitely worth checking out.
