The first room to seize my attention today paired Triode Electronics from Japan with the Adagio Acoustic Zen and Micropure Kotaro speakers. Neither speakers was an ideal match for the Triode TRV 35SE (an El34-based class-A/B integrated amp offering 45Wpc for $1699) or Triode TRV-M300SE (300B parallel single-ended monoblocks outputting 20W for $4000), since both amps need higher-sensitivity speakers to truly shine. But both the soundstage and midrange were exceptionally enveloping, with highs more extended on the Kotaros. Distributed by Twin Audio Video of Loma Linda, designer Junichi Yamazaki’s amps have only been available in the US since April.

PS Audio was showing a pre-production version of the almost available Power Plant Premier ($2195), paired with the Trio C100 Control amps ($1795), Digital Link 3 DAC ($995), Usher 6311 ($2000), and PS Audio cabling. Most impressive, besides the exceptional depth of presentation, was the computer-generated comparison between the amount of noise eliminated by a $2500 power conditioner and the PS Audio Quintet Power Distribution Center, a passive line conditioner that lists for $695. (The photo shows a member of the PS Audio team gloating over the results). The new power plant, by the way, doubles the output of the old P1000, and offers significantly better efficiency and current output.

Welcome to Virtual Rocky Mountain.

My review of the David Hazeltine-George Mraz Trio's <I>Manhattan: The New York Sessions</I> has been posted on <I>Face the Music</I>.

<I>Chesky SACD310 hybrid SACD. David Chesky, Charles Carlini, prods.; Nicholas Prout, eng. DDD. 60:00.

I'm not so sure about the tongue kissing part, but still. Mark Morford, living in the moment:

Maybe it's because of the rain. Maybe it's because of the Mets. There's no reason for me to be thinking of this now, but I am. And so: