2023 in Review

Click pics to enlarge. Top, interior of He Museum 和 美術館, designed by Takao Ando. I choose it for this article because the spiral staircase makes me think of Time, and I extrapolate the "Totem Pole" to audio rituals. Or maybe this is simply spinning vinyl on a changer? Great Photo courtesy of ELO.

2023 in Review

I shall start with our Prodigal Sons.:-) I just heard from Ray, just in time to put his bit into this article! As for Senore Surdi, he's having a good time and we shall hear from him next year!

Ray Salamat

I seem to be on a very particular kick lately. As a hobbyist, I think we are all want to try stuff that intrigue us. Maybe it's not better than what we already have but it keeps that fire alive and gives us new perspective about the pursuits we pursue. I already know that with the limited means that I have that I've probably already met the summit, that I could turn on a couple of items, put in some NOS tubes, direct the speakers so, tweak the turntable/tonearm/cartridge so, and I will achieve nirvana between my ears. However, this does not stop me to investigate and satisfy that curiosity.

Right now for me would be the musicality of a simple back-to-basics British-based system. I acquired the reissued Musical Fidelity A1 as soon as it became available in the US. I am enthralled by the sound it makes as a Class A amp. I've had various Class A amps before. Least of my favorites are the Pass Aleph 3 and its descendants [Editor: I had the 3's. They were a perfect fit for the efficient TAD TSM-300. Also heard the monoblock 2's to good effect at jules', but I get the point]. For me, they lack drive and would be perfect driving highly-efficient Klipsches, which don't need a lot of kick to get going. (I do have an Aleph J driving Klipsch RP-160 that I hook up once in a while and that combination sounds extremely pleasant playing streaming radio.) I also have two JLH 1969 amplifiers, one of them is the wonderfully-designed Eastern Transmission Audio JLH69 available on AliExpress [Editor: last winter I wanted it bad! I love the cool look. Maybe it's not too late...If I do it'd not be the first time I follow in your footstep (like ETA's 300B amp)]. These have more drive than the Aleph's, but the ETA, in particular, is one of the best SS amps I've heard if you don't need power and you're fine with softly-defined images (the anti-Wilson WATTs). The MF A1 reminds me of the Bedini 25/25 that I once had. The only difference is the Bedini may be a tad more detailed, but then it did belie its solid-state origin more than the A1. The reissued A1, in contrast, has a velvety sound with an open soundstage and enough pace/drive that borders on magical. Some may say, where's the detail? They may be correct, but they may also be millennials who grew up on a different staple of sound that is supposed to be hi-fi than I did, and I'm not even that old! I really like the A1's very continuous mid-bass to upper midrange coherence. When I listen to it, it gives me a feeling of my chest cavity getting full, as opposed to some amps that enter your consciousness by stimulating your listening in a more cerebral way. Nothing wrong with that, but made to choose priorities, I would pick the former ahead of the later. I think Doctor John would tell you that the Kondo Ongaku achieves both at the same elevated level at the same time. Am I right, sir? [Editor: Yes and No. The Ongaku is actually quite hard to voice right! It needs efficient loudspeakers.]

Continuing my British kick this year, I finally bought some mint Linn Kan mk 1's (late ones before the change to mk 2, and tweeter change). I have been meaning to get a pair but have been picky with the condition. I wanted to try the Kan's with my evergreen Naim Nait 1 and also see how they contrast with my LS3/5A's. After running them with the Nait, and also in particular, with my Sugden A51 amp (freshly recapped and all), I have to say I can hear the appeal now. I might even have to say that in a world where you are either an LS3/5A man or a Kan man, the needle for me might have moved a bit to the Kan's. They are such a kick for music that I listen to. They are a "slave to the rhythm", to quote Grace Jones. They don't do "space" or "pleasant" as much as the LS3/5As, but what they have they keep you in rapt attention. My advice for mini-monitor fans is to get both, LS3/5A and Linn Kan. They are the perfect antidote for each other [Editor: I still have a perfect pair of the Kan I! Well, the treble is quite a bit more explicit than the 3/5A and the speed is certainly faster and pacier].

Also will be trying other British speaker classics: Royd Sapphires and Wharfedale Diamond IIIs. The idea is to drive these with simple Brit integrateds: the Nait, the A1, Sugden A21, Mission Cyrus 1, Audio Innovations Alto, and the almost British NAD 3020a. Rotate small speakers, integrated amps, listen at low volume late at night, rinse, and repeat [Editor: all the Brit stuff are in vogue again. Leak is revived and I read Rogers may bring back the Cadet... etc...You're not getting the Sandwich? Well, the Brits certainly are masters in the integrated amp genre. BTW, last time I got back to HK I found my Nait I in its original box! It's tempting to bring it back to China to play with...].

Until I tire of this kick....and hook up my 300Bs and 2A3s again. Maybe even get some 211s! Or try a Krell KSA250, who knows what will intrigue me next?

mrgoodsound: Here's a snippet the Editor got out of the Lion's Mouth...

"...I am not sure what I can say -- I replaced hifi with guitars and that is also winding down. I got a 1963 Vox AC30 just like the Beatles.

I just got back today from a week long visit to Tampa...I got home and immediately went to noodle on guitar, could not get any of my guitars to sound good. Went downstairs and turned on my ancient Telefunken radio for the first time in ages. Every time I turn it on I wonder if it will still work -- it usually requires some percussive maintenance. I listened to youtube for a few hours and remembered how good music can sound if you do everything by the esoteric book as I did. I went upstairs and my mojo was back on the guitar. Funny how that works. I am at peace with my sound..." (Editor: I miss his writings!)

ELO: My POTY of 2023 (only limited contestants actually LOL)

Time is ticking and 2023 has almost come to an end. My biggest upgrades of my setup are the SPEC RSB-301 (here) and UMI 1:1 Signal Transformer (here), and of course the new flat.

I can now confidently say, my own POTY goes to the UMI! How I regret not having immediately installed it into my system (I had received it from DJ in June or earlier?). SPEC RSB-301 came in second place and is already providing a very good improvement in sound, but UMI simply shocked me by its performance!! I simply cannot wax more accolades on it and, mind you, I'm not paid to write these posts.

Since October, I have reached a point that I would not want to tamper even slightly with my system, being afraid the "magic" will disappear even with the slightest move. And this is how good the UMI is in my setup. Go hear it yourself, but mind you, your current setup must be reasonably well tuned as it otherwise it cannot show its full strength. Don't blame me for that~ I have learnt my lessons well and don't tell me that I did not forewarn you.

For now, I will retreat back to my world of music gleefully and until next time, adios! Upgrade the SMPS of WEA to a proper LPS is another step I would like to try.

Shawn P

2023 is coming to an end and it has been very special to me in relation to my “Hi-fi” journey. Lack of space had been the one main reason why I had not been able to set up my system for a long time. The space issue improved somewhat at the end of 2022 when I moved into a new flat where a room is “earmarked” for my audio gears. It is a very small room but I can finally deploy my gears after more than 10 years of waiting. Coincidentally, I started communicating with doctorjohn around the same time, which changed my gear portfolio profoundly. I purchased my first 300B and first 845 amplifiers (both APPLauseaudio) because I had the space and most importantly I learned that doctorjohn was happy with the sound of it (even if he had issues with the APPLauseaudio 300B, here). I eventually purchased another EL84 amplifier from TaoBao and it also sounded very good. While these TaoBao amplifiers sound different from my foreign made ones (obviously, I was not lucky enough to enjoy 300B or 845 before); however, they all sound good. With these experiences, I am now buying more gear from TaoBao. I am not saying the “expensive” gear are a waste of money and in fact, I would be more than happy to own some if I could afford the same but my point is that these affordable gear give people with limited resources (like me) a chance to get a taste and I think that is what cheaptubeaudio.com is about. Last but not least, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

Doctorjohn

The most Significant Event of the Year has to be the re-opening of China after two years of Zero Covid policy. I've been back to Hong Kong (where my stuff still sounds great ,here), NYC (where I made some fab new friends and heard some great stuff, see below), Taiwan and UK. Audio Shows have been exploding across China, stretching both organizers and participants alike. Even I, not normally a fan of shows, have been to the Shenzhen and  Guangzhou shows.

Hong Kong It's wonderful to be able to finally bring back some audio stuff to China, in particular tubes. It's also a pleasure to borrow (English) books and mags again at the HK Public Library. I enjoy reading through HiFi News (will borrow Gramophone when I have time). I just reserved Valentin Berlinsky's biography (founding cellist of Borodin String Quartet). It's a game changer!

More Books I really should write more about this since my first article. Suffice to say, I have read a lot more after that report. The local SZ Library has a lot of Nobel Winner Orhan Parmuk and I greatly enjoyed his A Strangeness in my Mind. I also savored Mario Varga Lhosa's The Discreet Hero. Sometimes, for lack of the English version, I sought out the Chinese translation, and that was how I read Llhosa's  The Feast of the Goat, and The Kite Runner, novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. Recently, I'm making my ways though Raymond Chandler: have already read Lady in the Lake and High Window (yes, I've watched those movies). Now just starting the iconic The Big Sleep...more to come...The library has enriched me all my life!

Best Sound Heard this year was in NYC, where I had the fortune of re-acquainting myself with Philip, and met new friends Michael and 肥嘟嘟. I was fortunate to have caught the magnificent JBL C60 (here) and 4320 (here). I have heard neither before, and I rate them highly, on the same level as the magnificent L300 (my JBL pick for the longest time, and it won't change soon; but I do think the C60 and a stacked 4320 can usurp its place - that's how good they are!)

Best of the Year It's been a year of Bounty! Several vie for The Best. Foremost has to be the miracle that is the Direct Heated Triode Preamp Nobsound (Douk) E6 (R pic, where you can also see the Sommer and Canare interconnects; Part I here, with links to II and III, which you should also read). Then there is of course the astonishingly effective 1:1 UMI Signal Transformer, which ELO raved about (here) and listed as POTY above. I have one now and  love it and shall write it up also soon. Let's not forget the miraculous Xinshi 新时 597 (here) passive resonator (pic below next to amp), which I still have to officially write up (my NYC friends just love it). 

Even the best has to be partnered by worthwhile gear for the whole to shine. My recently acquired BRZ A20B SE Amp (L pic; Part I here, but also read Parts II and III) qualifies as the budget amp of the year, being 2/3 the price of its equally worthwhile older sibling BRZ FU-50 Amp (here). An even better amp is the APPLause 300B (here). The latter two I actually had mentioned in the 2022 in Review but I didn't really write them up till this year. Time tells us even more about the gear.

And then I don't underestimate the value of my SMPSs (here). Neither should you trust the conventional "wisdom" that LPS is better. Not in my case (chronicled here). In particular the crazily high value Wanptek. But I discovered only recently that the Wantptek has a noisy fan that turns on as current draw approaches 1A (my DAC and other 5V stuff, including preamp, does not go near this figure, but the Douk 12V T8 Pro preamp [under test] does), so not for everyone! Decent cables are important, and provided you do the termination yourself, can be had cheap. Lowest cost would be the Canare L-2B2AT and Belden 8451 (here). And then the luxuriant sounding Sommer SC Club Mk II and excellent Belden 8428 (nightmare to terminate) recommended by reader Attila (here)

To make the most out of these cheap gear, some modest mods are desirable, even mandatory. I have found the generic Chinese caps to be excellent and crazy cheap: I had tried Audiophiler (on the Nobsound E6) and "Solen" (due to ridiculously low price, certainly Solen in name only; on the ETA Preamp and both BRZ amps) to great effect. Who needs Mundorf (costs more than the gear)? And the hook up wires in these cheap gear should be changed out. I use the cheap Canare mentioned above.

Streaming Thanks to a friend, now I can stream Tidal, which changes my listening significantly. I can now access more jazz and pop, though classical remains my métier.

Analog Front I am very pleased with my new MoFi Studiodeck (here), easily more recommendable than the likes of lower end Rega, not to mention way over-rated VPI. I love the Adjustable Loading Resistor (here) for my trusty Denon DL-102. And I was stunned by the VAS Retipped Ortofon MC200 (here), perfect if you have a light arm (like SME 3009i) but want to use MC (you must have a high gain SUT though).

Vintage Amp I didn't really write about it, but the Bell 3DT (here) is simply superb!

There! A Hot Pot! We're heading for 2024, and it better be a better year for the world!

Tidal Talk

Letter from Shenzhen (23-17): TIDAL Talk

Streaming Jazz and Pop (23-1)

First Part touches on some aspects of TIDAL that needs to be talked about, but are often ignored.

How I "Stream" By "Stream" I mean I just use Tidal on my Windows Laptop, connected by a USB Cable (Unitek; and how to buy it on TB here) to my DAC (a humble Chinese 1-bit TDA-1305 DAC). No Roon, no Streamer, no anti-jitter, no clock, no NAS, nada. By the yardsticks of many, mine is not even proper streaming. As Tidal doesn't always work that well here in China (see below), I also alternately use Naxos Music Library (NML). I also have Tidal on my Android Cellphone, so I can stream my albums via Bluetooth at others' places (as I did at UMI headquarter). Sometimes, I watch a Concert on Chinese Bilibili (using laptop app). Bilibili has many worthwhile Classical Concerts (like Shenzhen Symphony Live, also many excellent ones copied from Youtube by users). Of course, occasionally, aided by VPN I watch a Youtube or two. But this article focuses on Tidal. For the occasional songs (Chinese or not) not to be found elsewhere I also resort to 酷我，网易云 and QQ.

Regular vs Premium Let it be known that my use of Tidal is courtesy of a friend's inclusion of me in his "family" plan. I can only stream "High", which is supposedly 16/44.1 CD quality. Premium users can stream "Max", which now is presumably hi-res FLAC files (after the MQA debacle). I have a few friends who use Premium. Some report that with certain material, "Max" can sound worse than "High" (usually meaning too sharp). I'm not in a position to comment.

Tidal Sound Quality Keep in mind I only use "High". I have mentioned before that I don't think Tidal is a neutral rendition of CD in that setting. I always have a suspicion the Tidal sound is a little beautified, that is "treated". In many ways I find the much lower res (mp3/aac quality) NML more honest (certainly when it comes to ambience). I'm too lazy, but perhaps it's time to do it - to compare CD with Tidal "High" using the same DAC. I'm lazy partly because I doubt Tidal will match CD replay. My Tidal Family friend recently sent me a terse message on wechat: "...how come youtube sounds so much better?..." Indeed, he's not the first one to say so. Variously, icefox and ELO have remarked how good Youtube can sound!

Force Volume In Settings, one can choose to equalize volume between albums. Don't! I find adjusting the volume on my Preamp to be noticeably better.

Provenance It pays to check where the album is sourced from. I concentrate on Classicals and I've noticed a few things. Whereas recent albums usually come straight from the source, it is not at all true for older albums. Pick any older conductor, and Tidal has a lot of albums from dubious sources. Most of these have non-original (and yucky) album covers. The same album may be available from different sources - search for the ones that come from proper sources, like Universal, Warner, etc. Keep in mind that Tidal is a European company, and their copyright laws are much less strict than in the US, 50 years vs 100 years. So, right now any material before December 1973 is now free of copyright restrictions. One can transfer from LPs and use some kind of noise cancellation and put it out as your own transfer, and many are doing that. There is a Spanish Blue Moon label doing brisk business in HK selling Living Stereo CDs and you can be sure they were from LPs, not licensed by Sony/BMG (and not available in the US). Complicating matters is that some of these actually sound quite good, even better than official re-issues! Confusing, heh? It's a completely different thing for NML - even if you are served MP3/aac, you can be sure it came from the proper source.

Tidal in China Tidal doesn't really work in China, unless one resorts to VPN. Strangely, as my friend's account that I use was registered in Hong Kong, I could access it without VPN, though it halts and gets stuck often. With VPN, it runs without any problem. 

A Test for You! Here is a well known album Boss Tenor by Gene Ammons, available in 3 different versions on Tidal. 

As in the Top Pic, Left is from Concord (2006): https://tidal.com/browse/album/3969072; my screen shows "High", which was how I streamed it.

Right is also from Concord (2006): https://tidal.com/browse/album/77701197; my screen says "Max" but I could only stream it "High". These 2 have the original cover art, and is from the same original source.

Middle is the kinda the odd man out, but likely still kosher. It is from "2019 Lumi Entertainment distributed by Warner X", https://tidal.com/browse/album/118469536, which is only "High" on my screen. It does not sport the original cover. Also, it's most obvious it's at a Lower Volume; make sure you equalize volume before comparison.

I pitched this to my friends, and got uneven response. In HK, one prefers Right, the other Left. Another at first Right but converted to Middle after equalization of volume. Me? Unequivocally the Middle, which I think has more air and ambience, the others being excitingly upfront (also louder) but airless. I also think the Middle has the better rhythm and Pace. But, I'd seriously think the result depends on one's system!

More complications! I pitched this to my NYC friends and, lo and behold, they only could play the 2 original cover albums (left and right)!!! The middle one is "...not available in your area..." !!! For sure, that Middle album originated from Europe and does not conform to US Copyright Laws, even if it seems to be sanctioned by Warner (X) (but playable here in Asia). Are we audiophiles supposed to decode what X means?

Tidal is a mud pond. If you are in it for the music, it's perfectly fine. But if you are the neurotic Audiophile who believes in absolute fidelity, well well...Spend the greatest time and money on so-called "hi-res" and what do you get? I'd not explain further....But I seriously doubt the other companies (like Qobuz), no matter their pitch, are any better. As for Apple? I'd not touch them with a ten-foot pole!

I'd welcome your feedbacks if you listen to these tracks!

Casual Recommendations Casual indeed! I don't listen to jazz and pop that often, but I keep my antennae open. And I try out albums praised in magazines and elsewhere. Occasionally, it satisfies, but more than often it doesn't.

A reader wrote me and mentioned this album, and I absolutely love it! This Mali Singer

can do everything - make sure you also hear her earlier albums!

Tidal played this out of the Blue, and I loved it. Home from POSE TV Cast.

I have no idea what it is, but it sure sounds great! 

Willy Deville. I owe this to a most unlikely person, Gideon Schwartz of  ultra high-end Audioarts in NYC, who's also an estimable author of retro gear! During my first visit, I loved his replay of Willy Deville's Miracle (still not available on Tidal). Some time later, I scored one in the Dollar Bin, and he was either delighted or miffed when I told him about it when I paid him a second visit. No matter, no less a figure than Dylan thinks Deville should be in the R&R Hall of Fame. I'm sure Gideon agrees and I'll second. For a long time, Miracle was the only Deville I played, and often. But now, I can stream quite a few of his albums (also predecessor Mink Deville) and I recommend you do too! Here's an Excellent biography, discography of Willy.

A Soundtrack for you. Ainda of Wim Wenders. By Madredeus. I've heard most of their albums, but this one is for sure the best, Lovely cozy film too!

And then, there is the haunting one of Double Life of Veronika, with several covers.

Streaming Classical

Streaming Classical (23-6): Power Bass!

I have listened to so much good music that I’m way behind in my recommendations (even at the rate of maybe only 1 in 10, or 20 that I've heard).

Baroque Keyboard
Byrd is increasingly recorded. We have the Complete Keyboard Music well rendered by veteran harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder and nicely distributed among harpsichord and organ (Brilliant Classic). On the modern piano, we have the charismatic Kit Armstrong in an inspiring Byrd and Bull album (DG).

Recently, I heard live in SZ the Russian sensation Alexander Malofeev in a program that includes Georg Muffat’s Apparatus Musico-Organisticus. I was so curious that I actually listened to several versions of this magnum opus on Tidal. All are good but I give the nod to Tobias Lindner, also playing both organ and harpsichord (Organum). On more familiar ground of Bach, Bach and L’Italie is a good recital from harpichordist Justin Taylor (Alpha). But the one you have to listen to is Andras Schiff’s program on the Clavichord (ECM). The sonorities are very confusing - sometimes you swear you are listening to another instrument! Test your understanding of instruments as well as your system!

Baroque Chamber
I have a soft spot for violin and organ, and Nadja Zwiener’s 1723 (Ramee - a wonderful label) is well-nigh perfect! It’s amazing recorder great Michala Petri is still at it! On Corellimania (OUR Recording) she’s partnered by two stars of their own. Everyone knows I’m a fan of Biber’s Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas. Vox’s recent re-issues of old Suzanne Lautenbacher’s recordings show they are still competitive musically! I enjoyed the totally unknown late baroque Harp Quartets of Godecharle as played by Societe Lunaire (Ramee again). For a bigger and brasher recording, look no further than Water and Fire, with Handel’s blockbusters played by the aptly named B’Rock Orchestra under Dimitry Sinkovsky (Pentatone).

Chamber
Bounty! Two Lower Bass player of note that gave me the greatest pleasure! Top pic shows Cellist Raphaela Gromes in an Offenbach program (Sony). I'm an Offenbach fan (RCA Fiedler's Gaite Parisienne is one of my fav albums), but few know he was an accomplished cello virtuoso, and this album is so comforting that I have listened to it many times. Album of the year (BTW, it won the Opus Klassik Chamber award!)! Not far behind is the Double bass recital from Mikyung Sung (Modus Vivendi). These two albums shall test your (and your system) understanding of bass tone. Forget about the utterly boring Gary Karr, who puts me to sleep! Another excellent threesome is the Trio Metral, whose Chausson and Ravel (La Dolce Vita) are wonderful. The refined (sometimes too much so as to be fuzzy, as in their Haydn) Chiaroscuro Quartet is lovely in Mozart’s Prussian Quartets (BIS). The Schumann Quartett curates an excellent program (with some rarely heard but fascinating pieces) on 1923 (Berlin Classics). For a wind ensemble, you cannot go wrong with the veteran Ma’alot (used to be on MDG). Start with their Beethoven (Avi Music).

I have followed Composer Julia Wolfe (Bang on a Can). The work that gave me most pleasure recently is LAD. The original is for Bagpipe, on Dark Full Ride (Cantaloupe). But Sean Shibe made a meal out of it on the guitar, on album softloud (Delphian), which then inspired violinist Rahki Singh, whose violin transcription is on Purnima (Cantaloupe again). I absolutely DIG this music! Highly dramatic and, dare I say, a challenge for the audiophile! Listen to all three! Is amplified music chamber music?

Concerto
The best Beethoven piano concerto recording (no. 5) I have heard in quite a while came from Cliburn winner Yucnhan Lim (Decca/DG). The Korean Gwanjiu Orchestra and conductor Seokwong Hon are completely unknown to me, but do they deliver! It must have been an important date for Gwangjiu (historical massacre) for the programme to contain Isang Yun’s apocalyptic memorial tribute, which just took my breath away! One of the year’s best discs. In a lighter vein, I very much enjoyed the obscure Piccolo Concertos played by Francesco Viola (Naxos). Whenever I think of the piccolo, I think of Shosty, who used this instrument’s high tessitura to tighten his grip on us!

Symphonic
Maxim Emelyanychev and his Scottish Chamber Orchestra delivered great Mendelssohn, Schubert and Beethoven (Linn). I’m not a great fan of Linn recordings, but they are the exceptions. Similarly period-inclined, the Danish Chamber Orchestra Adam Fischer have been on a roll - first, very good Brahms and now Haydn (Naxos). What a wonderful conductor - I listen to everything he does, from Haydn to Mahler (with the Dusseldorf). An excellent orchestral Nielsen disc is that conducted by verteran Niklas Willen (Naxos). There have been a spate of Shostakovich recordings: No. 12 BBCPO Storgards (Chandos), No. 14 OPRF Mikko Franck (Alpha) - these two are very good; then Nelsons concluded his BSO cycle with 2 3 12 13 - the reviews are more ambiguous but I like this issue. All are vastly superior to the mediocre stuff Noseda continues to deliver (and only the British like). In case you yearn for something post-Shosty, I highly recommend Elisaveta Blumina and Thomas Sanderling’s album of Ystvolskaya, Silvestrov and Kancheli (Grand Piano)

Choral
You MUST listen to the stunning a capella works of Ensemble Zene’s Hungarica (Aparte). I challenge you audiophiles to play it! Goose Pimples! And then Ensemble Aedes and Les Siecles in Poulenc’s Litanies a La Vierge Noir and Stabat Mater (Aparte again).

Historic
Treasures abound. For all the hundreds of Beethoven Quartet cycles out there, still nothing can quite surpass the Budapest Quartet on their Library of Congress recordings (Bridge). Sound not perfect but quite serviceable (there are several volumes; have played them many times)! The great Yvonne Loriod (wife of Messiaen) finally gets her box of early recordings (origin 1956-63 Vega, now Decca France) - what a complete pianist!

Season's Greetings

Letter from Shenzhen (23-16): Season's Greetings!

It's cold here, yes, cold. Well, ten degrees Celsius is no big deal to many of you, but here in the Southern part of China, heating is by no means universal, and it's not as dry as the North, so somehow it can feel very cold. Hot Pot restaurants are doing great business!

But we are hugely lucky. Our occasional discomfort is nothing compared to the masses of humanities dying literally before our eyes. It's bad enough to have people die from natural disasters (as recently in Gangsu, China), but it's inexcusable to let people die from man-made causes, as in the getting-to-be-forgotten Ukraine front and that horror of horrors, Palestine, where thousands of civilians and children had been wiped off as collaterals. Journalist casualties are approaching 100 - you tell me why! That grim fact should be entered into the Guinness Book of Records!

Back to us. We should be grateful that we enjoy our pursuits. We have a long list of gear that we covet, and may eventually get. We have an even longer list of musical albums that we'd like to get to hear. We run out of time to pursuit our hobbies, when a lot of people (like Palestinians) are simply running out of time, period. We say things like "Record to Die For" when people are dropping off like flies around us, often even caught by cameras. What a divide!

Grim? It is. But I wish you all happiness, but not building your own happiness upon the suffering of others, as evidenced in the Middle East..

In case you need a reminder of what civilization is, or just an escape, I'd point you to listen to Ellington/Strayhorn's The Nutcracker Suite. Comfort, it is. Art, it is. We need a lot more of the likes of Ellington and Strayhorn, and their brilliant sidemen. We can do without all the self-righteous warmongers out there. Sigh, that's just a wish!

To be or not to be - inserting a proper preamp. Less is more?

Letter from Hong Kong (23-11): ELO on To be, or Not to be...

One thing that I have been avoiding to do ever since I have moved into the new flat is to tamper even slightly with my current setup, which is so well tuned, being afraid even the slightest mod will alter the "perfect" balance that I have achieved. May not be Audio Nirvana to someone else, but I'm very close to mine.

Rule of thumb is if it runs smoothly: DO NOT CHANGE!! But, over many days and nights I kept thinking about how I can improve the sound further, or if I need to replace the little wonder Aiyima A08 Pro ,or sif I should re-insert my Elekit TU-875. Or, whether a better LPS on WEA will elevate the performance further? I am seriously looking into upgrading to SPEC amps which has gained a lot of accolades over the past few years. Yet I have a strong feeling that it will change the style but not ultimately improve the sound. At this point, I am open to any changes, even if my hunch is telling me to stay put.

After DJ's latest post on Food and HiFi trip to Shunde, somehow I started to itch was again. Last night , I finally installed my serviced Elekit back into the setup (just repair of the wall wart). I have the WEA > Elekit TU-875 > Aiyima A08 Pro lined up now using all "Studer" cables. Luckily all my equipment weigh less than 10lbs, though it still took me an hour to reconfigure as my i.c's. are quite short. While reconnecting the power back to my Aiyima, there's a tiny spark upon contact! Yikes, hopes all is well.....

The moment of truth came.....enter the drum roll.  

I could not believe my ears! I thought the tweeters of my Dynaudio Crafft had burnt out and I had to put my ears right next to the tweeters to confirm that there were still sound coming out of them!

The high frequencies of the whole setup seemed to have vanished and it was like listening to a mid-fi system! To give it benefits of the doubts, I let it run overnight at a very low volume to see if things would settle down and improve. I woke up damn early in the morning and sat down properly and re-evaluated the new setup. No improvement at all! Without hesitation, I removed the Elekit from the setup.

As soon as I reverted back to my previous configuration, the change in overall sound was so significant that it is almost like a transformation! Everything, the transparent highs, openness, clarity, details and nuances of music came back. At this point, I could tell whether my Elekit had not been properly repaired or had it simply been a subtraction by addition.... Less is more in this case?

For now, I will refrain from attempting to add a preamp in front of my Aiyima A08 Pro! Elekit may not be the culprit, but I need to further investigate!

My POTY of 2023 (only limited contestants actually LOL)

Time is ticking and 2023 has almost come to an end. My biggest upgrades of my setup is  the SPEC RSB-301 and UMI 1:1 Signal Transformer, and of course the new flat.

I can now confidently say, my own POTY goes to the UMI! How I regret not having immediately installed it into my system (I had received it from DJ in June or earlier?). SPEC RSB-301 came in second place and is already providing a very good improvement in sound, but UMI simply shocked me by its performance!! I simply cannot wax more accolades on it and mind you, I'm not paid to write these posts.

Since October, I have reached a point that I would not want to tamper even slightly with my system, being afraid the "magic" will disappear even with the slightest move. And this is how good the UMI is in my setup. Go hear it yourself, but mind you, your current setup must be reasonably well tuned as it otherwise it cannot show its full strength. Don't blame me for that~ I have learnt my lessons well and don't tell me that I did not forewarn you.

For now, I will retreat back to my world of music gleefully and until next time, adios!  Upgrade the SMPS  of WEA to a proper LPS is another step I would like to try.

Some nice eatouts recently in HK. BTW, as much as there's a lot of great restaurants in SZ, there are equally or more great places to eat at a still reasonable price even in expensive HK! 

Come 捞 is a local hole in the wall eatery in TKW serving great and quality food for the neighbourhood. 麻辣花螺正到痺，越南法包鬆脆但唔界口，料夠。流心疍係我近期最好食嘅一间 thick sweet and gooey，羊肉湯飯肉味濃湯頭清甜，飲得出係用心機煲出來的

新三興 is probably the best Chinese restaurant I have been to recently with superb food quality and immaculate cooking skills combined! Succulent ans juicy grilled pidgeon, thick cut of large eel grilled to perfection, bouncy and QQ. Such as the salted egg yolk fried prawns, - seldom had I tasted the freshness, juicy and bounciness of prawns and the crunchy egg yolk making a perfect combination! 

Went to Jiu Zhai Gou 九寨沟 in early November and this is probably the best scenic spot I have ever been to! Mind you that I have spent years in Vancouver with Rocky Mountains in the backdrop!

Streaming Classical

Streaming Classical (23-5): Who should play Ellington?

Now re-entrenched, I have been streaming like crazy, even more than before! This issue is compact, but the next one will come in rapid succession.

Chineke! fails at Ellington - and Tchaikovsky! But I must talk about something that bothers me first. The subtitle of this issue of Streaming Classical is prompted by the latest recording of the UK Chineke! orchestra. In case you don't know, here are words from their official website: " Chineke! was founded in 2015 by the double bass player, Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, to provide career opportunities for Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe. Chineke!’s mission is: ‘Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music’." That's all to the good, and certainly not unique. Orchestras had been formed based on fervent beliefs of every kind, often to promote much of the musical world's politically or ethnically under-privileged. Philharmonia Hungarica was formed by Hungarian exiles (and they made the first complete Haydn symphonies recording with Dorati). Barenboim' formed the East-West Divan Orchestra to promote exchange between Jews and regional non-Jews (you must say he had an urgent agenda, and foresight). Venezuela's incredible El Siestema (recently plagued by controversies) produced a brilliant orchestra (Simon Bolivar, and successors) and a star conductor (Gustavo Dudamel). All of these have done good work and made an impact, as do Chineke!

I have followed Chineke! closely and listen to all their releases. Good as some of the pieces are, none I'd classify as top drawer (keep in mind I often criticize the BPO). That doesn't bother me. It's not easy for anyone to say something new in classical recordings. BUT! What bothers me is that, very frankly, they play Ellington horribly! The only great thing about this recording is that it prompted me to seek out the Ellington recording (top pic), which is an absolute blast - I cannot tear myself away from it and listened to it many times! Make sure you do this Holiday Season! Ellington/Strayhorn did a great job and the musicians played it in indescribable fashion that honors both Jazz and Tchaikovsky. One can confidently say that all involved understood Tchaikovsky as well as Jazz (of course). The Chineke!? They understood neither Tchaikovsky nor jazz. What really irks me are the UK critics. BBC Music says: "... it’s undoubtedly a long overdue pleasure to have a professional recording of this piece..." whereas the Guardian says"...It’s the latest life-enhancing recording from Chineke! Orchestra (Chineke!/Decca) and guaranteed to put a smile on your face...". Hello! have you heard the Ellington recording? You listen to both of these and tell me otherwise!

One problem is, the orchestra needs building with stronger conductors. I hope that will materialize one day, but the current crop won't do. At this point, they are quite behind the East-West Divan, not to mention the Simon Bolivar, though those two have really strong conductors behind them. Given that musical funding in the UK is a struggle these days, this is a goal that is perhaps lofty. My best wishes.

While we're on orchestras with a political or ethnic mission, do you know in Germany there's a Jewish Chamber Orchestra dedicated to playing works of Jewish composers, once forbidden or not. Their recent Weinberg release under chief Daniel Grossmann (Onyx) is simply one of the best Weinberg issues.

Solo Violin In the last issue, I talked about the availability for Streaming now of the entire Hyperion catalogue, but I left out one of my favored artists in their stable, Alina Ibragimova! The Telemann Fantasias for solo violin are just her meter. The always reliable Isabelle Faust has also just released an excellent solo baroque album (Harmonia Mundi).

Pianists It seems baroque keyboard music on the modern piano is on the rise (aside from Bach). Bruce Liu’s second album, Waves (DG) contains very good Rameau (which I prefer to Tharaud etc), though I’m not so sure of the rest. Incidentally, he played a number of these in a Shenzhen recital I heard recently! As a fan of transcriptions I was drawn to Juliette Journaux’s moody Wanderer without Words (Alpha). Sexy Vanessa Benelli Mosell’s opera-related Casta Diva (Decca) is also quite entertaining, but she has more serious aims elsewhere, as evidenced by [R]evolution, with interesting music by Stockhausen! More keyboard on Early music below.


Guitarist Plinio Fernandes puts out a good first Recital (Decca).

Accordionist Theo Ould on Laterna Magica constructed a good program mixing the old and the new (Alpha) that may appeal to crossover fans alike.

Chamber Music
Violinist Mi-Sa Yang and pianist Adam Laloum puts out a delightful “French” recital program (Mirare).

Trio For me, the best album (musically and sonically) I heard of this most difficult formation is the unsung Auer Trio, whose emotionally wrenching Smetana and Dvorak (Hungaroton) I have put on repeat button. Very close, and also heard repeatedly, is the passionate Rachmaninov album of Trio 258 (Challenge). On the same label are the wonderful Delta Piano Trio, who have 2 wonderful albums, one of music of Lera Auerbach and one named Origin. Both are absolutely special.

String Quartets I heard tons. The Escher Quartet appealed greatly to me both on their Janacek/Haas and Barber/Ives Programs (BIS). I was won over by the Sacconi Quartet’s delicate Schubert and Beethoven (Orchid). Those who want something a little more new-age, but still serious, can try Painted Light by the Solem Quartet (Delphian).

Concertos I don’t think it’s just sentiment, but Lars Vogt’s last recording of Mozart’s Piano Concerti 9 and 24 (Ondine), directed by him from the keyboard, are really special. Tetzlaff brother and sis, close friend of Vogt, issued a memoriam album of Brahms Double Concerto (Ondine) that is excellent, but the coupling Viotti VC, which I have always liked (also Lola Bobesco on Talent) is equally beguiling! Back to Mozart, Anne Queffelec, a pianist I have long liked, played the PC 20 and 27 (Erato) with consummate naturalness; more, very ably accompanied by orchestra under Hong Kong’s own Lio Kuokman! And then there is reliable Mozartian Jean-Eflam Bavouzet’s Vol 7 and 8 (Chandos). Every album in the series includes some scintillating Mozart Overture(s) by the conductor Takacs Gabor-Nagy, and they steal the limelight! They are must-hear items! So wonderful! Switching instrument, I enjoyed the Villa-Lobos Cello Concertos 1 and 2 by Brazilian forces (Naxos).

Symphonies
When it comes to Mozart symphonies, there’s an embarrassment of riches. Il Pomo D’Oro under Maxim Emylyanechev offer 29 40 (Aparte); Academie fur Alte Musik Berlin under Berhard Forck (Pentatone), 31 and 35; Ensemble Resonanz under Richardo Minasi 36 and 38 (Harmonia Mundi). No need to choose. Listen to them ALL!

Kammerakademie Postdam under Antonello Manacorda (Sony) continue to put out wonderful albums. Their Schubert and Mendelssohn (and ongoing Beethoven) are musts!