BAASnotes.com – Bay Area Audiophile Society

Yikes! iPod sales down and music follows

As reported in theAge, iPod sales have been on the decline. This is known.

But did you know that sales if (compressed) music downloads parallel that trend?

It turns out that this is no small matter:

The music industry had looked to the iPod to drive people to buy music in download form, whether from Apple’s iTunes music store or from newer competitors such as Amazon. The problem for them is that digital music sales are only growing as fast as those of Apple’s devices.

”At a time where we’re asking if digital is a replacement for the CD, as the CD was for vinyl, we should be starting to see a hockey-stick growth in download sales,” says Mark Mulligan, an analyst at Forrester Research who specialises in music and digital media.

”Instead, we’re seeing a curve resembling that of a niche technology.”

Can Apple’s announcement this week reverse the trend?

Is high-end affected? How?

BAASnotes tops Google Blog Search Results

Search Google Blogs for “audiophile.” What comes up first?

Don’t ask me how this happens…or how long it”ll last…but I like it!  

Bob

More on the Beethoven Sonata Series

New DIY class next January

San Francisco audio designer, Edwin Yang, will be once again teaching a class starting in January, 2011 at the Randall Museum. For the last few years, Edwin has been teaching students how to build a tube linestage, myself included. The linestage, although not expensive, is a terrific piece of gear – I sold my other 2 tube linestages after building it.

The next project is a tube phono stage. This class will be more challenging than the linestage class, but still possible for the student that has confidence and some dexterity. It is not necessary to have built anything before but that it desirable.

The class will be for several Saturdays starting in January. Some will finish quickly while others, like myself, will take the total of 10 Saturdays to finish. The class is always entertaining and educational and I highly recommend it. Cost will be around $600 – $700.

Phono stage comparison at the Randall Museum October 9th

The Bay Area Tube Users Group will be hosting a phono stage comparison at 1pm on Saturday October 9th. I will be bringing my Nighthawk and Prism Orpheus to compare to Edwin’s phono stageIf you have a favorite phono stage you want to compare, please bring it along. So if you are on the fence as to whether it is worth the effort to build one, attend the event and decide for yourselves.

Peter Truce

Sumiko to Hold Open House in Berkeley

See the flyer below for details of Sumiko’s Open House (9/15/2010):

Home Audio Market Forecast Raised – Really!

As documented in an interesting article published by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA, think CES), sales forecasts for home audio over the next decade have been raised. Wow.

Basically, folks have all bought their flat-screen TV’s and iPods and such, and now industry analysts think they’ll turn to audio. Nice.

Of course, what this means to the ‘high end’ market remains to be seen. But I doubt if it’s bad.

Quotables:

A few years ago, most everyone seemed excited about the the iPod. Everyone, that is, except the majority home audio manufacturers. Their reluctance was somewhat understandable. For a while, it seemed as though the increasingly old-fashioned concept of listening to music through a set of speakers on a system powered by an amplified receiver was going the way of the raptor.

and

A resurgence of LPs-fueled by nostalgia as well as a reaction to the often atrocious sound quality of audio files – kept the old-fashioned fire burning….

and the punchline:

CEA’s Industry Forecast anticipates home audio revenues of $915 million by the end of this year, a 4 percent year-over-year increase and a refreshing jump from the $863 million we forecasted in January.

Great news…

Bob

Recovering Old Vinyl – Is This the Way? (Video)

This NYtimes article and video document a historic jazz music find and recovery.

The handling of these treasured disks may make some vinyl purists (the triple-distilled water set) wince….

(Thanks, Jeffrey!)

Audio Objectivist Makes Case at AES 2009 (Video)

Most audiophiles who have frequented the forums know Ethan Winer – both as sound trap manufacturer and audiophile skeptic.

While the video below is more about the latter, I think that there are a few good learning points as well….

(Note: If the geeky video below isn’t your thing, try this one – with Mr. Winer on cello!)

Jimi Hendrix: He REALLY was that good!

It’s been 40 years since Jimi left us.

Understandably, the anniversary caused a bunch of press.

Click here for the best that I’ve seen.

[Thanks, Aaron!]

Bob

Aaudio Demonstrates High-Value Audiophile Gear

Following the awesome California Audio Show, Brian Ackerman of distributor Aaudio Imports agreed to “export” his fine wares to Jason’s Oakland castle.

The result: lots of good listening and good learning for dozens of members.

The gear on hand included:

- Aaron no.22 preamp  -  $3,900 retail

- Aaron no.3 amp  -  $3,950 retail

- Lindemann 825 cd player  -  $12,000 retail

- Stage III Cables – $Various

- Weizhi PRS-6 Power Distributor – $3,200 retail

I found it quite interesting to hear Jason’s system powered by quality solid state amplification.

We also got to taste the Stein Harmonizers and the luscious Wavelength USB Converter.

Thanks, Brian & Jason – we enjoyed it!

Bob

My Impressions of the California Audio Show

Overall

• Smashing success
• Advanced audio awareness in Bay Area
• Well-organized; friendly environment

My Favorite Rooms

• TONIAN – Nothing better for small-scale music, and can stretch to bigger things
• EFICION – “Classic” high-end formula: great drivers, inert cab, and smart design (new F250 is great)
• MAGICO/KINGSOUND – My fav Magico (V-2) sung; Kings needed bigger room and amps
• GRADIENT – Innovation in loudspeakers lives…rejoice!
• SONIST/deHavilland – Tapes! Tubes! Good economics!
• TERESONIC – BAAS member MZ has broken the code on Lowthers (Step 1 Horns, Step 2 SET,…)
• Trenner & Friedl – Amazing sound from small things
• BLUE COAST – Live music, neat tech, and smart (nice) people who just want to deliver fidelity in music. Whats not to love?

Disclaimer: I own Tonian and eFicion speakers.

Best Bargain

The $4000 system by GRANT FIDELITY. Yes, it’s Chinese. So what?

Conclusion

I had a great time. I have also lined up six new events to round out the year.

Many thanks and congratulations to Constantine Soo and Dagogo for a temendous debut!

Interested in more?

For the most complete coverage on the web, check out Jason’s Stereophile blog.

How about you?

About 120 BAAS members attended. If you were one of them, what did you think of the show?

Just comment and let us know…

by Bob Walters

A Touch of (Audiophile) Class

I received an interesting email today from the founder of CDbaby. It’s worth sharing.

Enjoy:

———————-

Hi Bob -

Way back in 2006-2008, you bought some CDs from my store, CD Baby. (SERENITY OF LIFE: Absolution, E.S. POSTHUMUS: Unearthed, and 13 others.  Remember?)

So you might be interested in my new free projects to help musicians:

MusicThoughts: inspiring quotes about music
http://musicthoughts.com/c/QiPaA

MuckWork: assistants to do your dirty work
http://muckwork.com/c/QiPaA

Derek Sivers: my personal site, with articles
http://sivers.org/c/QiPaA

SongTest: a free, open song contest
http://songtest.com/c/QiPaA

They're all free, open-source, and non-commercial (except MuckWork), so I'm not emailing you for any business reason.

But since we've emailed in the past, I thought I should let you know what's new.

I sold CD Baby two years ago, so this is the last time you'll hear from me, unless you reply back or click those links.

Though if you do reply, please let me know what's going on with you (really!), in case I can help in any way, and to keep this from being a one-sided conversation.    

Thanks!

--
Derek Sivers  derek@sivers.org  http://sivers.org/c/QiPaA

P.S.  Why I sold CD Baby and where the money went: http://sivers.org/trust

Silverman to Return to Beethoven Sonatas

Audio High will bring pianist Robert Silverman back to the Bay Area, this time for an eight-concert series of the entire cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas (32 in all).

These events will be open to the public and all proceeds will benefit the Elf Foundation. Dates are Sept 9th & 16th and Nov 11th & 18th, 2010; Feb 3rd & 10th and Apr 7th & 14th, 2011.

Audio High will be recording and producing a CD set of all 32 sonatas with Mr. Silverman that will also contribute to the Elf Foundation’s Rooms of Magic program. The recordings will also likely be offered in a high-resolution format. (Yah!)

BAAS was treated to Silverman’s masterful playing in a private session last year.

More information will be available at www.audiohigh.org (note the .org).

World’s Best Audiophile Video – from Greece, of course

If you haven’t seen this, now’s the time:

Audiophile Music Buying circa 2010

“I just want to play music (Part II):

Audiophile System Sales circa 2010 Video

This cool vid via Paul McGowan and Jason:

Win Analog Event this Saturday

To “tune up” our auditioning muscles for the Cal Audio Show, we have a great event coming up on Saturday, July 17th at Win Analog in Milpitas (at 355 Fairview Way).

What we’ll see and hear:

Blue Coast “BAAS Session III” Coming June 26th!

Matt & Jenna at Blue Coast BAAS Event II

Great news: BAAS members and their guests have been invited to another “insider” recording session at Blue Coast Records.

The recording artists include Jane Selkye and Chris Kee (think “Blue Coast Collection”). Yeah!

In addition to the recording session itself, two other special events will be featured:

Invitations are being sent today.

Bob

Lotus Group “Granada” and SMc Audio “VRE-1″ Impress Audio Group

BAAS members ventured up to lovely Marin County for a day of music played on a truly ‘reference-quality’ system.

Hosted in the lab of Sausalito Audio, we were treated to a stunning example of open-baffle speaker design and engineering. For most members, this was an introduction to this unique speaker architecture. The use of a custom DSP-based crossover/EQ device was also a first for BAAS. The words that I heard from members re the Granada’s included “accurate,” “articulate,” and “balanced.”

Of course, significant credit for the sound must go to the SMc VRE-1 preamplifier. A signature piece from SMc, this solid state design was found by members to be crisp, dynamic, and color-free.

But as good as the music and equipment was, an equal highlight was the chance for BAAS members to interact with the system’s designers:

• Joe Cohen – CEO of importer/distributor Lotus Group, Joe set the vision for the Granada speakers – from the uber-high-end Feastrex drivers to the provocative open baffle form factor.

• Steve McCormack – CEO of SMc and designer of the VRE-1, the fruits of Steve’s skills have enhanced amplification in many a listening room. We expect power amps and a phono amp from SMc in the future.

• Manny LaCarrubba – CEO of Sausalito Audio and chief architect of the Granada. Many audiophiles will recognize Manny as the design talent behind several highly successful Bang & Olafsen audio products.

On behalf of BAAS – Thanks, guys, for some great listening!

Bob

New Audiophile Web Site Launches

There’s yet-another-audiophile-website up and running – the e-zine HIFI ZINE.

And the first issue looks good: an interview with the colorful Albert Von Schweickert, a DSP article, DIY stuff, reviews, and more.

A pretty impressive debut IMO…enjoy!