Overture Room: Technics’ SL-1000RE-S turntable, Van Den Hul Master Signature Cartridge and Grail SB Phono Preamp, Magico M2 Loudspeakers, Esoteric Grandioso C1 Preamplifier and Grandioso M1 Amplifiers, Shunyata Cables, HRS Racks, Artnovation Room Tuning

I saved the Overture room for last because for me and my taste, this room had the best sound at CAF 2019. It had the best sound because Technic’s US rep Bill Voss, has evolved into a master DJ and product elucidator. Bill was showcasing Technics’ new SL-1000RE-S turntable to brilliant effect. The word-on-the-street is, the SL-1000RE-S is in the running for some kind of Best Turntable Ever award, and I can believe it.

With every record Bill Voss played, I could feel the SL-1000RE-S forcing the system to ‘power the room’ and, when that happens, music sounds very there. Bill played some seriously cool records including (hold on to your hats) Volume 4 of a 45rpm 1980 Technics “test” record called Audio Inspection. Tracks on this LP were so beautifully-dense and well-toned I found it unbelievable that anyone could fall for digital after hearing analogue sound like this. And then there was the 1960 mono LP that made me cry and shake: Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Country Hits . . . Feeling Blue on Capitol. Then Bill played this record that I am sure every audiophile once owned My Brother Sings by Chet Atkins (RCA LM-5496). I was told, this disc was the first RCA Living Stereo issue. And that Chet’s guitar pick-up wired three strings to the left channel and three to the right. But those are all street-rumors.

Most amazing to me, was how these killer LPs were directing the $11,995 Van Den Hul Master Signature phono cartridge to the Van Den Hul Grail SB phono preamplifier ($18,250), to the $38k Esoteric Grandioso C1 two-chassis preamplifier, to the $44k/pair Grandioso M1 mono amps powering the $63,600/pair Magico M2 loudspeakers.

Equipment racks were by HRS. Audio cables, power cables, and AC conditioning were by Shunyata. Room-tuning was by Artnovation. And yes . . .

This is a lot of scratch to play some old black discs, right? And this Esoteric-Magico stuff is pretty far from my DIY roots, right? But what I heard from those records really and truly made me feel good. Made me happy to be an LP-loving audiophile. Made me feel like I was hanging with Tennessee Ernie and Chet.

Made me hope to see you meet you and great you at next year’s CAF. Until then here is me and the King together in Rockville, MD.

Elvis has left the building.

COMMENTS
Anton's picture

50,000,000 Herb fans wanna know!

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Herb has a Twitter account too? :-) .......

DeanD's picture

I was sitting behind Herb for the (lengthy) talk on the Technics. I stayed for the first record played, a jazz cut that sounded very good. I left after that, feeling like I had spent too much time in the room. D'oh! Wish I'd heard the other tracks you mentioned.

John Atkinson's picture
I will be reviewing the Magico M2 loudspeakers, God willin' and the creek don't rise, in the February 2020 issue of Stereophile.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Looking forward to Stereophile coverage of New York Audio Show Nov. 8-10, this coming weekend :-) ......

Jim Austin's picture

We've decided to give the New York show a pass this year. Still worn out from CAF. Yeah, it's local, but it's tiny. If anything important happens there, we'll be sure to let you know.

Jim Austin, Editor
Stereophile

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Stereophile name is there as one of the sponsors :-) .......

Jim Austin's picture
Yeah, so? ;-)
Bogolu Haranath's picture

Well ok ..... May be next year :-) .......

Ortofan's picture

... will be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnGgLyFHNf0

Bogolu Haranath's picture

S&V website says ..... 'Will be hosting some 80 brands' :-) .........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

May be JA1 could review the Tekton Design Moab speakers? :-) ..........

beauranheim's picture

Not generally a fan of Magicos but they were sounding pretty good here.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Is Herb wearing 'Blue Suede Shoes' in that photograph? :-) ..........

Jim Austin's picture
Which one is Elvis?
Bogolu Haranath's picture

The one on the left is an Elvis impersonator :-) .......

DeanD's picture

I was sitting behind Herb for the (lengthy) talk on the Technics. I stayed for the first record played, a jazz cut that sounded very good. I left after that, feeling like I had spent too much time in the room. D'oh! Wish I'd heard the other tracks you mentioned.

Ortofan's picture

... stop in North Hollywood and arrange to have a suit tailored by Jaime Castaneda. Better yet, he should take Ken Micallef clothes shopping along with him.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Don't you like the Johnny Cash look? :-) ..........

Ortofan's picture

... Johnny Cash.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/dc/28/9adc28d4099aee5a79880fc83c949ac0.jpg
His sartorial style is much closer to Porter Wagoner than HR.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Ok ..... HR is one of the 'Men in Black' ........ His partner is taking the picture :-) .......

Bogolu Haranath's picture

It was designer Manuel Cuevas who put Johnny Cash in black suits (Wikipedia) :-) ..........

jamesgarvin's picture

Maybe Michael Fremer could stop buying records for a little while and instead pick up a gold suit for Herb.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Can Herb do 'swiveling hips' dance moves in that gold suit? :-) ..........

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