BAASnotes.com – Bay Area Audiophile Society

Robot Conducts Detroit Symphony

Here’s something you don’t see every day – a Honda robot conducting a live symphony (click here for the story and here for the video).

The details:

• ASIMO is a 4-foot 3-inch tall robot designed by Honda Motor Co.
• The robot perfectly mimicked the actions of a conductor to the Detroit Symphony
• Honda spokeswoman: this may be the first time a robot has conducted a live show
• Honda brought ASIMO to Detroit to highlight its recent $1 million gift to the orchestra

FrankC’s System

FrankC’s system:

MAIN SYSTEM

Digital Source:

• Mark Levinson #37
• Sonic Frontier SFD2 Mk II (Amperex 6DJ8s)
• I2Digital DX-60 digital cable
• Synergistic Research Absolute Reference X2 XLR interconnect

Analog Source:

• Michell Orbe SE
• SME V
• Shelter 901
• Graham IC-70 phono cable
• Kimber KCAG interconnect

Amplification:

• ARC PH3 SE (Amperex white label 6DJ8s)
• ARC LS25 Mk I w/ GNSC Reference mod (Amperex white label 6DJ8s)
• Pass X350.5/Aleph Os
• Synergistic Designer’s Reference X2 XLR interconnect

Speakers:

• Verity Parsifal Encores
• Synergistic Resolution Reference X2 speaker cable

Power:

• Dedicated lines
• PS300
• Ultimate Outlets
• Audio Prism
• Various powercords from BMI, Electraglide, and VH Audio

Stands:

• SolidTech Rack of Silence Reference

HEADPHONES
Digital Source:

• Sonic Frontier SFT-1
• Genesis Digital Lens
• Mark Levinson #36
• Illuminatti X-60 digital cables
• Cardas Neutral Reference interconnects

Headphone amps:

• Consonance Cyber 20 (EL84 based SET)
• Consonance Cyber 30 (2A3 based SET)
• Rudistor RP5.1cav

• Sennheiser HD600 (Cardas cable)
• Sennheiser HD650 (Zu Mobius cable)

Next upgrade: building a dedicated listening room from the ground up with the house remodel. Scheduled to be completed in late Fall, 2009.

Yes, members can visit. My current house is fairly small, and I have a young boy that likes to run around crazy mad. I work from home, so afternoons work best.

Sunnyvale, near 280 and 85 intersection.

Voodoo and Snake Oil – Or Just Plain Expensive?

It seems like every month an article or blog post is made about the extreme prices and questionable science that pervade high-end audio. And with good reason. Most audiophiles have also forced a snicker at the ultra-high-end, wondering what a $100K+ turntable or “miracle” chip or stone (at any price) can possibly bring to the party to justify the high entrance fee.

Click here for the latest such article (and my response).