He uses the latest "Reference Series" TEAC system components.

http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/Reference_Series.html

Page 117 of the September issue.

Page 151 of the October issue.

I think Wes is the closest reviewer to earning the sobriquet: "In whose ears I trust."

So, he doesn't have a traditional reference system?

Wes has several reference components. I think he's partial to the Conrad Johnson reference preamp, Ayre digital front end, Ayre amplification and various speakers including Dynaudio monitors.

Maybe he'll respond, but I get the strong impression that he requires liquidity, depth and texture that comes from tube preamplification. I know he attends a lot of live music events and probably lets that serve as his reference.

"Reference" system. The term Reference means it's traced to a standrd, at least in my line of work. A documented standard, traceable. What is a "reference" home stero system? It's like CD's are made to a standard, there are REFERENCE test discs that test for error correction etc. It's a documented sets of "REFERENCE" standards. If one guy has one system and another has a different system, how is that a "reference"...since it's more like personal PREFERNECE, ain't no reference at all. Would think an EMMLAB SACD/CD palyer is more a REFERENCE sicne that dude was involved in developing the DSD system. The term sure is thrown around rather freely ain't it? But ...then how many reference wires are advertised each month....?

DUP,

As regards audio reviewing "reference system" has a conventional meaning that most hobbists are well aware.

Hang around, read the mags, keep a low profile and you'll soon pick up the jargon and conventions. The suggestion about keeping a low profile isn't mandatory mind you, I only suggest it as it will help you avoid making a spectacle of yourself.

You're welcome in advance.

Now, you see this is the kind of shit that is gonna bring this shit to a head. DUP gets banned and now pussies like you want to circle around like a bunch of Hyenas. Your post was totally unnecessary and was only meant to attack DUP. I suggest that you get banned or warned or put in the dump forum. Typical pussy liberal bullshit. Selective free speech that can only be blamed on the ones that promote this sort of shit. Think about that, Barbara.

"Typical pussy liberal bullshit"

Huh? How did we go from talking about the concept of a reviewers' reference system to talking politics?

DUP deliberately baits. He is actively seeking a fight. You can't be terribly surprised when occasionally someone reacts.

DUP knows what a reference system is and then tosses in some gratuitous negative comments - such as the price of certain turntables, his religious conviction that wire is nothing but wire, etc. He seeks conflict.

I suggest a single thread where DUP can fight with anyone who cares to respond. Then again, I also want to put Limbaugh and Franken in in a cage match. I don't expect to get either.

The term "refernce" is used way too often and easy...it's meaningless.....It's like some people call them selves "engineers", ain't no engineer with Z papers. Reference is a well defined word, that has real meaning, not arbitraily applied at any audio whim. Look up Reference, it means something, but then audio marketeers have used it so liberally, it means nothing in audio ville. Like Lamont showed, how bout' that Teac "Reference" series...yeah, from Costco/KMart standards? Here's your reference......

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"Typical pussy liberal bullshit"

Huh? How did we go from talking about the concept of a reviewers' reference system to talking politics?

You and your big mouth. And you weren't talking about anything but DUP. I'm sick of people jumping on DUP like the editor hates the NSA because they have a secret chip in his reference system. If you don't like someone just put them on ignore if you can figure out how to do that. DUP isn't baiting anyone. And in the morning the Thought Police will come and play favorites with skanks like Barbara giving out free hand jobs. In case you haven't noticed but DUP and I never seem to have a problem with each other. I don't get all butt hurt and he never jumps in when I support him. He does his thing and I do mine. We don't have a problem with each other. If anything, anyone that has a problem with DUP is no different than an alcoholic's codependent, which makes the enabler just as sick as the alcoholic. We should have a separate forum for those that hate DUP with the twelve steps and everything. "Hi, my name is Barbara and I'm a DUPaholic"..."Hi, Barbara".

Stereophile God, grant me the serenity to except the DUP I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

We created the Ghost of Reference Systems. A Stereophile Story.

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"Typical pussy liberal bullshit"

Huh? How did we go from talking about the concept of a reviewers' reference system to talking politics?

You and your big mouth. And you weren't talking about anything but DUP. I'm sick of people jumping on DUP like the editor hates the NSA because they have a secret chip in his reference system. If you don't like someone just put them on ignore if you can figure out how to do that. DUP isn't baiting anyone. And in the morning the Thought Police will come and play favorites with skanks like Barbara giving out free hand jobs. In case you haven't noticed but DUP and I never seem to have a problem with each other. I don't get all butt hurt and he never jumps in when I support him. He does his thing and I do mine. We don't have a problem with each other. If anything, anyone that has a problem with DUP is no different than an alcoholic's codependent, which makes the enabler just as sick as the alcoholic. We should have a separate forum for those that hate DUP with the twelve steps and everything. "Hi, my name is Barbara and I'm a DUPaholic"..."Hi, Barbara".

Stereophile God, grant me the serenity to except the DUP I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I certainly hope for your sake that you're drunk!

Let's put the F back in reference!!

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What I know is follows: he has Ayre universal player, own equipment. But rest of the gear borrowed from manufacturers except cables and furutech distribution box. How possible a reviewer change speaker and amplification every month? at least like other reviwers, any body who writes for number one audio periodical magazine needs a resident speaker and amplifiers that he can trust on evaluating other gear. Correct me if I am wrong?

I don't keep back issues around much, but looking at September and October...

As you mention, the Ayre C-5xe has been in his system a while, and I think Wes mentioned having bought it.

The Krell Evolution 202 preamp is the same for both Sept and Oct, as is the Portal Paladin power amp. Didn't he mention deciding to buy the Portal amp as a reference, too?

Also, IIRC, Wes owns his Dynaudio Special 25 speakers as seen in Sept, but perhaps he is comparing with the Dynaudio Confidence C-1 speakers mentioned in the Oct issue.

The Shunyata Research Aries, Antares, and Lyra cables and interconnects are common to both reviews, as well.

I don't see the controversy, myself.

If you have access to issues from earlier in 2007, you could compare further.

It seems to me that I mention my "reference system" to the point of tedium, but I guess that's not the case. I own the following components, which are my long-term touchstones, and to which I frequently refer in my reviews: Dynaudio Special Twenty-Five loudspeakers, Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300 power amplifier, Portal Paladin monoblocks, Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista preamplifier, Ayre C-5xe universal disc player, and Slim Devices Transporter. My usual cables are Kimber KCAG and Shunyata Aries, Antares, and Lyra. And, yes, the Furutech eTP-609 distribution box.

I also have the privilege of getting to review many components that are superior -- or at least more representative of the current state-of-the-art -- than my personal sytem. These components, such as the Conrad-Johnson ACT 2 preamplifier, Ayre M-XR power amplifiers, Krell Evolution components, and quite a few floorstanding loudspeakers (Vandersteen Quatros, Wilson WATT-Puppy 8s, and Dynaudio Confidence C-4s) tend to remain in use after the review and I use them as benchmarks in my month to month reviewing. Some of these will be added to the list of components I own as soon as I collect enough pop bottles to cover the payments.

The nature of my job is that the system changes month to month. I attempt to keep as many components the same as possible, but sometimes making comparisons logical and/or sane requires that I use components more suited for the task than the ones I had to use the month before. My idea of a perfect month would be one in which I had to make no changes to my hi-fi and did not have to write to deadline -- that would also be a month in which I did not get paid.

I hope this answers your question.

Cool, let's not use the term "reference" but maybe just this unit is COMPARED to this one....more comparison reviews are beneficial, rather than just what one decides on just the one being written about, and by comparison, i mean actually playing them side by side, not from memory of what it sounded like 6 months ago, side by side in real time....cus' I bet then some of these big differences that seem so pervasive in some wrtieups, would fade, cus come on SACD/CD players are pretty much exteremly similar in how they sound...if teh $120 OPPO is getting ranked next to $10,000 units like come on, you know these differences are not as large as some fiction writers love to espose over, they make it seem like it's the difference between tv and HDTV, when it rally aint no more...the cheaper units keep getting better and better, closing in on lotsa really pricey ones. there's no logic in a $40K Cd only player, when universal players are here...

"Touchstone" is a perfect term for a reviewer's reference system.

Hey Wes,

Didn't you forget one very important component in your system?

--Ethan

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Hey Wes,

Didn't you forget one very important component in your system?

--Ethan

Yes, Ethan, you are correct. As I still need to document in an article that includes before and after measurements, adding several RealTraps products -- one area at a time -- made it possible for me to begin using my formerly dreadful "small" listening room into one that has become one of my all-time favorite listening rooms.
<P>
And those new ceiling tiles look fascinating.