*Hey guys. Good morning and thanks for stopping by!* 0:00 INTRO 0:57 My End Game Speakers! JBL L300 SPEAKERS! 9:52 My End Game Amplifiers! McIntosh MC60 11:52 My End Game Amplifiers! McIntosh MC30 13:55 My End Game Amplifiers! Cary 805 15:48 McIntosh Tube Pre-amplifiers! 17:55 Meitner DAC & Cary DMC600SE 20:42 Pre-Audio Turntables! 26:43 Why did I Sell My End Game System?
There is NO end game in Audio. When you get into your 70's and cannot move 70lb+ gear, that would be an end game. 20's and up you buy, sell, buy and sell, Tubes, SS then back to tubes. It never stops and that is the beaty of a Journey,
If your hobby is “audio” then there isn’t. If you want to get system to enjoy music, there is. Not because it’s the ultimate but it’s potentially the best you could find/afford/justify at the time. If you like collecting and changing gear that’s the audio side of things. Neither are right or wrong, just different
I'm 55 but weight has always been a factor that I want to be able to lift as I get older so a component must weigh < 40 lbs, ideally 25 lbs. My gear: - NAD C298 amp, 25 lbs. - Parasound 2125v2 amp, 25 lbs. - Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 DAC, 20 lbs - Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs - Arcam AVR5 receiver, 36 lbs - GoldenEar BRX speakers, 12 lbs - Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs - Parasound 2100 preamp, 13 lbs. - Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer, 8 lbs. - Definitive Technology Supercube SC6000, 50 lbs (bought it when I was 40) - Definitive Technology Supercube SC4000, 45 lbs source=Apple Music lossless
Nelson Pass has said that the DIY community is the happiest group of audiophiles he knows. I have to concur, I feel like I found the secret hack to finishing the gear merry-go-round.
You have come a long way Matured and became a well balanced human being That loves what you do Because you followed your passion In life The sucess you have its all the hard worked you have done during the years Glad you are doing what you like Not everybody has the balls to follow things to the end
Naming the channel Jay's Journey makes so much sense. I have to admit that as you described your visceral reaction to your end game system, I felt there are a lot of things I have not experienced in audio. What you have done and continue to do seems a rewarding journey. For me I'm happy that I got to good enough. It will only change when forced into a small space as I age.
HI Jay I don't think anyone actually finds their end game in Audio - budget finds them. An audiophile hobbyist by definition is someone who seeks the best audio experience with the best gear that they can afford. No matter what your budget, there is something out there that will sound better, if cost, time and availability/access is not an issue. You stating that you will never have an end game is telling it like it is; I know for me I've reached my budget ceiling, but I keep listening in case I can find something for close to my selling of my gear to upgrade. I'd be happy with something that cost less than my original purchase if it gave me more pleasure but I haven't found it yet (thus my point and yours).
I’d take any vintage JBL L100, Jubal (L65) or L300 over 99% of speakers available today because they are full range and fun! You can also drive them with just about anything.
End game is when you make your peace with your urge in your mind. There are going to be new gears, technologies every year. So you want to try them all. There are so many great products out there. Also this is music hobby. When there is great music, you relate your satisfaction emotionally. So… there is only one ending here… keep exploring while you want to. A great video, Jay!
I'm 55 but weight has always been a factor that I want to be able to lift as I get older so a component must weigh < 40 lbs, ideally 25 lbs. My gear: - NAD C298 amp, 25 lbs. - Parasound 2125v2 amp, 25 lbs. - Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 DAC, 20 lbs - Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs - Arcam AVR5 receiver, 36 lbs - GoldenEar BRX speakers, 12 lbs - Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs - Parasound 2100 preamp, 13 lbs. - Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer, 8 lbs. - Definitive Technology Supercube SC6000, 50 lbs (bought it when I was 40) - Definitive Technology Supercube SC4000, 45 lbs source=Apple Music lossless
I liked that you have admitted that on this journey there is no endgame system. For more than one overwhelming reason: living with many different types of each peice of our rig, new breakthroughs in technology, synergistic combinations of equipment, awesome tweaks, and the refining our golden- ear- pallet!
Hey Jay, great video. I really enjoy your content. Good for you for staying true to yourself and recognizing what you really wanted to do and going for it
Really enjoyed listening to this story mate, could have listened to another 30 minutes of this, always enjoy these type of videos, story time. Keep it up!
A journey is not about the destination, it’s about what you learn on the way! Sometimes though, it’s nice to watch someone else find a shortcut, or (better) a point to stop and enjoy the view. Enjoy your journey Jay, and thank you for letting us follow.
Thanks you Jay for the insight. At some point you also relies that widening your mind to different and in a lot of cases better recordings ..gives you the software to show how good your system is ..or isn’t. To the never ending journey ☕️🔥🍕👍
My year for purchasing my stereo system was in 1979. I heard the L -300, the glass top model and compared them with the Tannoy 15" comparable speakers. The Tannoy were a bit more expensive. Both pairs were driven by my chosen receiver at only 1/2 watt / channel. WOW!!! INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY!! L-300's were slightly better sounding. Anyway I didn't buy them cause my dream system would cost me 4X over my budget. I still have my 1979 JBL 4311's along with my Yamaha CR820. Still have my Dual 704, 901 tape deck and AKG 240 sextet headphones. Will I ever upgrade? Yes, only with a winning lottery ticket. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jay, I own the Cary 805 anniversary editions and truly love it! Great fabulous match with my Kef Reference 5 speakers! :) Great soundstage, sweet and musical! Agree with your take on the pair and its 😍😍
Great story Jay! JBL L300s are something you should have kept and they are that good. It’s very hard to find any pair speaker cost 2-3 times can do big drums as realistic as L300. That 077 compression tweeters are hard to beat. If you dress them up they can be very pretty too. I would take a pair L300 over any Wilsons for sure.
Thank you Jay, to share with me your love story (of music listening). It started with JBL L300, the first love, where you dear so much out of a school of speaker charms of different sizes. You spent time with her (the JBL L300) knowing her, paring her with the best outfits you can find, and you dance in the music, and sleep in music together. She always surprise you with varies combination of enjoyments when you bring her to different occasions. Though she is kind of old style, you always find her potential of bringing new inspiration. But as you go to more and more occasions, you meet more young girls (modern speakers). You found yourself even curious, and wanting to try each and every speakers. The desire go so immense that you realized, you can not stay loyal to one (type of speaker) any more. You have to go on with your journey of meeting playing with more young speakers . . . . .
The best sound system is the one that sounds perfectly satisfying to you. We could keep on chasing for that perfect sound forever until our bank account is bled dry. I'm struggling to rebuild my hifi after very difficult financial times, that forced me to sell all I had, but for now I'm enjoying the music with the system I have and that's because I have stopped listening to high end gear, until I have the money to upgrade to what I will be eventually satisfied with. For now I can't mention new hifi to the wife, as I just get that classic cold stare. 🤣
Iirc, out of the newer (black/chrome) models , the MC30 and MC60 were their only designs that used tube rectification which gave them that beautiful tone.
There is no such thing as an endgame system. When you get at this type of level , you no longer really listen to just music. You become an critic...and when that happens Endgame is of the board ..
@@alanrogs3990 that's what it basically is for guys like him. And for guys that strive to that fictive "perfection" .. In jays defense, he's a reviewer so he has the luxury of getting lots of gear passing through. For people that just windup with 35k costing dacs and 100k turntables or the half million dollars costing Wilson's. They still don't get that music in ANY format is far from perfection. No envy here, just observing that they went from being audio ENTHUSIASTS to being obsessed with their urges rather than common sense . Really how I see it, more power to them tho . Each to their own , they find people like me cheap asses and ignorant. That's fine too, I see it as a compliment 😉
There's a fine line between curiosity and going down a rabbit hole. Depends on one's character, but curiosity is what keeps us alert and alive, and if anything, in love with music. But you're right, one is going to meet audiophiles who get lost going down the other path…
I have never commented on a video because it just seems like a bunch of people who need attention. Jay, I only do so now because i hope you will read it. Brother, what a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing. I follow several of you guys in this space. You tend to review stuff I will never be able to afford and thus experience. But I keep coming back to your videos just to experience your passion for audio as I am just beginning to find mine. You sharing what is kind of the incubation of your passion reveals the foundation of all the work you do on this channel. You just made me want to go listen to more music. I think this is your best video I've seen. Thank you so much for sharing.
You've had a few end games. I'm sure you will have another as audio advances. It will never end unless you are sincere about this being the end for you..
I have heard quite a few systems. But to my surprise my favourite was my friend’s vintage JBL chunky 4342or something, driven by pre+power Jeff Rowland, it can do dynamics, details, sounds good in low volume, it’s effortless. Company like Kenrick in Japan really interests me, they restore vintage JBL to pristine condition. Shame that will take up too much space in my lounge in my current house. To me a well put together JBL system beats my other friend flagship dynaudio driven by pre power nagra and esoteric source, she is not afraid to put serious money in her system, her last system was Jamo Orielle(when jamo was once high end, driven by audio research pre and Gryphon power amp, Accuphase source. End game for me is knowing the sound I want and knowing what amp matches my speakers, and room acoustic factor also.
Ahh I hear you, there has been a saturation of End Game thrown around the U which is an impossibility in so many ways. I have found making your own is the best outcome for reproduction to suit your room acoustics and preferences.
I don't believe in "End Game" in anything. The world doesn't stop. You change to a different listening room, move to a new place, your tastes become more refined, and your listening habit changes over the years. So on and on, all this happened to me. The most "Memorable" system I had was back in the 90s when I was still listening to vinyl; after moving from Canada to Hong Kong, I finally had a place to set up a system again. The room wasn't as big as it was in Canada, so I got a pair of Rogers LS3/5a on some heavy steel stands; the source was a Linn LP12 with the EKOS and Troika, with original series Marantz 7 w/ML JC-1 MC Pre and 8B for Pre and Power. That worked very well for a couple of years, but then I had to move, and it never sounded the same again...😂😂😂 Over the years, I enjoyed trying many different types of speakers, and I used to describe their differences like one would with women. Now that I'm married, I don't know about you, but I can't have more than one pair of speakers in the house anymore🤣🤣🤣 So enjoy your journey, but choose wisely.😮💨😮💨😮💨
Hi Jay, would love to hear your thoughts on the Kali Ws6.2 dual sbwoofer and or their Kali IN-5 speakers! They are really musical and articulate to my ears, especially the detail in the mids..
I think I found mine, the Zu Audio Dirty Weekends. Tore out all of my modern gear, including the KLH Model 5's and went with a vintage 1970 Sansui model 4000 stereo receiver, and a WiiM streamer. Just added a Mofi StudioDeck TT... I am done. Tens of thousands of dollars later, I am down to a system that cost less than the Venus II 12th DAC I used to own.
4:53 This is why designing and building your own speakers is a nightmare. In order to have enough treble in your speakers, you have to accept treble fatigue on some tracks. That's so annoying, why do recordings vary by that much? It's crazy!
Oh yes the JBLs. For me i have always liked the british sound as i like the understated, tonally correct & sophisticated sound of british speakers generally. Up until i had the JBL 4410 & 4412 with Naims. Oh wow that was a different ballgame. Yeah they don’t hv the tonal purity & sophistication of british spks but they had dynamics, fun factor & that live vibe feel in spades. They cruise at volume levels of 100db plus whereas alot of bbc inspired british spks would be struggling. Kept those 2 JBLs for a long time & have regretted selling them. Never heard of the L300 though i have heard L100, those large 43xx series etc.
Jay I would like to urge you to provide your subscribers with measurements to compliment the subjective impressions you so eloquently present - particularly when comparing speakers. Your reviews also suggest there are differences when introducing different amplifiers with a particular speaker. Would you mind commenting on what your thoughts are when deciding what amplifiers you choose to review a speaker.
Just watched your CSS 1TDX reviews. You should really get some VHAudio ODAM, and CuTF caps. Say .1uf ODAM caps, and .01 CuTF V-CAPS. Better get 4 of each for use in midrange and theater crossovers as bypass caps. They would likely make the CSS and Sonus speakers even more closely matched. Yes, 8 pairs so you can do a more immediate A-B would be great, by Chris doesn't give them away. If you let him know about yourself, followers, and a promise to endorse them if they are what I am telling you they are, the least sounding caps anywhere, he might well give you a nice discount. I assure you that the ODAMs are just awesome and the CuTF V-Caps give you a slight improvement in air and highs. I haven't tried them on speakers, mine are full range, but they make very impressive to just amazing improvements as coupling caps in electronic equipment.
We guys, not going to debate, Now I simply to state that, Trio Tube seems like Semiconductor. BUT their interelectrode capatance playing a big rule ! ! Look at the Trio Tube their Grid, Cathode and Plate, how many interelectrode capactance? May be 1 or 2 pico farad. Solidstate? B to C, B to E. (Bipolar Transistor) G to D, G to S (FET) How many interelectrode capactance there? Do not forget, The "Miller Effect" the more amplification the more PHASE SHIFT. No more argument PERIOD
Not even mention the Tube has much more voltage gain swing in LINEAR ZONE. The solidstate the knee-point zone is easily reachd, overload, become NON-LINEAR ! Due to HT each side roughly Plus, minus 100 DCV Most semiconductor Could not stand High voltage. Because of that. Tube designed circuit had show its weak point. Not only the IMPEDANCE matching It need an OUTPUT TRANSFORMER to covert it's Impedance from High to Low, in order to get the Current Gain, to drive the speaker So, the OUTPUT TRANSFORMER is the heart of the Tube designed Amplification most important factor.
Jay , i know you have toured the Axiom facility and listened to some of their speakers .. Do you have any thoughts on thr M5hp speakers they make , or any plans on reviewing some ?
Anyone have an opinion on the KEF R11 Metas verses the Arendal 1723 towers? I haven’t heard the 1723’s yet but did like the metas. The metas in wood look nice in our room but I have the feeling that might like the 1723 towers even better for a lot less cost, giving up a little in style. Everyday I think I’ve made up my mind on one or the other only to flip flop the next day. Any advice is much appreciated. I really wanted the 1723’s and the Vincent integrated but the KEF’s did sound good, with a sub and would look a little nicer. Help!
I have not tried the metas yet so all I can say as a recommendation is for you to take advantage of Arendals’ 60day risk free in-home trial. Don’t abuse it but in this case, I think that’s what the in-home trial was exactly made for
actually the japanese have almost explored all types of speaker, currently there are no papers claim that speaker driver can disobey the law of physics of how sound moves even if you use dsp signal processing there are time the sound are still unnatural. So for all rounder live sound 15 inch woofer, compression driver is the way to go you can reach 25 hz for the sensational wave, for sound unity you shoould use coaxil driver but you will miss the bass, for replaying monitor edit sound track any passive or active with atc mid, for voilin vocal only ls3/5a, apparently the industry is reaching the end game in speaker development it is your preferencd, we still have rooom in amplifer deveopment, a/d to d/a proccess , for examploe the industry shoud develop vfet type semiconductors that is the proper sucessor mimic the sound of various vaccum tube
That’s a hard one. I’d say there is no speaker that sounds exactly like the L300 but the Css Typhons had that similar sound and quality in mind when designed
Its my opinion, that all of these changes in Amplifiers to try to get different sounds... is kind of Ridiculous. Instead, get a good EQ, and tweak the sound, to suit both your ears... AND... to get the most possibly Performance, out of the speakers. I have the same Pioneer amp that I bought when I was like 17 yrs old (Im 50 now). It was probably one of the first few 5.1 surround sound amps, and made at a time when that company actually had some High Quality models. Its still working Flawless today (with exception of the Remote volume motor that failed, possibly damaged in a move). Out of the 30 speakers Ive owned... and many others that Ive heard... My favorite that I got hold of, are EPI 100v speakers (with the newer model plastic-bezel inverted-tweeter). For such a small speaker size, they produce one of the most amazing, wide, 3d soundstages... that Ive ever experienced. They also have very deep and punchy bass... but even more impressive, is their Natural sounding bass. I was used to Ported speakers before these sealed speakers... and let me tell you... that after hearing bass from the EPIs.. I almost cried. I was so ticked off, knowing how bass was SUPPOSED to sound... and what happened to bass, when it went through a ported speaker. Now, larger sized non-tuned ports might be different... but Im merely going off of most of the speakers that Ive owned. One of the other amazing things about the EPI's... is that they have such low distortion levels... that I was able to make out a singers lyrics, that I was NEVER able to hear / understand before... on any other speaker before this pair. This becomes even more apparent, when you are maxing your volume levels... pushing the speakers to near breaking point... and yet the music details are still perfectly separated and crystal clear. No muddying / distortions at all. The only drawback to this EPI model, is that they are not as Loud at max volume, as some other speakers can attain. But once you hear the sound quality.. you dont even care. The other thing is that while the Mids are good... I have heard superior midrange from 3 inch dome midrange drivers. Ive considered trying a mod with that... as well as potentially testing some passive radiators.. for a little more deeper bass "excitation". Ohh, the last thing about them that I love... is that they sound fantastic, in almost any room shape, size, and poor setup configurations. I was once forced to put them under my desk... and they were partially blocked. Blindfolded, You would never have known it... because it still sounded like the entire room was "Alive" with Holographic musical detail. In fact, the person whom showed me his EPIs... he had them in his store... with one laying on its side... the other about 5ft away from it, standing vertically. Both about 1ft off the floor on a ledge, that was located in front of his stores large window. And one of the speakers were partially blocked by an arcade machine (driving game). Still, they sounded fantastic. Filled probably a 15x15 ft area, with the most fantastic stereo sweet spot.. and no audible changes.. until you got like +20ft away from them. Anyway... the Pioneer Amp I bought, has Treble and Bass adjustments.. but even then, I run most of my music through my PC... into the Amp.. and use Software EQ. On certain songs, where I want room shaking bass... I can adjust the EQ to raise the bass levels... and get the craziest bass performance, just shy of potentially blowing the speakers. Far more performance capability, than just what naturally comes out of the Amp itself.. even with its Bass adjustment Maxed. Furthermore, certain recordings sound completely different, depending on the Era, and studio compression that was used. Much of the music of the 80s, is flipping fantastic.. with very little compression at all. However, that also tends to mean, that you need to boost the volume levels more... and boost the bass levels up a bit more. Im modern over-exaggerated bass, you sometimes might have to lower the bass levels a little. Certain movies might have vocals that are a little too "thin"... requiring a little boost in the Midrange frequencies. So my question is... Have you ever even TRIED using an EQ ?? And have you, for example... tried replicating one amps differences, using EQ ? Because Im pretty certain, that you could easily match most Amp "Tuning", with very little EQ tweaking. The biggest issues to worry about with Amps are: 1) Maximum Power output 2) Frequency ranges 3) Distortion percentages. The rest is just features, or lack of features... as well as Reliability / Quality.
JBL (and Klipsch) are like a good hamburger: tasty, filling and (relatively) cheap. You can go for aged steak or filet mignon as a treat, but it's not necessary to give up something you really like without the snob appeal.
I got my holographics from my 5" single driver speakers in oversize enclosures and the driver is semi open so is semi dipole. The driver is mounted over an acoustic hole larger than the driver in diameter. So there is an airspace around and under the driver that is mounted (on an angle) just above the large hole. The hole acts as a bass vent on the really large enclosure, and the large hole has the same diameter tube running inside the enclosure (by 4"). Acoustically this is difficult to make it sound any good. A real challenge (an acoustic nightmare). But when you get it right it sounds fantastic (best speakers I heard) but if you don't get the acoustics just right, it sounds like the worst speakers in the world! Resonance can be really bad (off the scale) and a lot of notes can be as sour as f---k! By altering the position of the driver over the large hole and changing the amount of sound deadoning wadding stuff, you can make it sound warm and sweet. (Too much wadding sounds stuffy and not enough souunds wangy). I like it wangy enough to give it life but not too much (which can be fatiguing). It takes a long time and lots of perseverance to make it even sound acceptable (as you could imagine) but when it's right it sounds so alive and 3D that it's well worth the fiddling. Way past just acceptable! Different to normal speakers (in a good way). Everyone who has heard my speakers ❤ them cos of the open sound with the warmth. My friends are sold! Most of my made speakers also have a woofer but this one set of speakers has just one 5" driver in the oversize enclosures. I also modify the drivers (with a few cut-aways) that extend the highs like wildfire and gives an even more open sound. Original drivers at that $8 low cost just wouldn't cut it. So I cut the drivers! I had $70 similar drivers that were rubbish and really harsh compared to the cheapies I use.😅
It's allways painfull to sell equipment , I regret selling ATC 's with the famous dome mids, the tad 's 1102..., and other tad's, but I thought I need very efficient speakers ....because I want to hear 'psalm' from Bruckner realistic , Symphonica with chorus....need clipping and distortion less high power reproduction , for a grand piano it can hit 115db with grand accord...hit strongly .....even with voice of the theater you need at least 30valve watts to hear 'Bollero ' of Ravel clippingless at the end....stated a test in 'la nouvelle revue DU son' by Jean Hiraga....and that's also my experience
Hi, while I have very much enjoyed your reviews, you are too much like the audiophiliac (sp?) for me. He loves the old Vandersteen 2CE line of speakers, and then more detailed speakers, so I never know just what to make of his reviews.
HiFi can become a mistress who is never really in love, she is only in love with the desire of falling in love, she has serious commitment issues. Anyway I also give the nod to the past when it comes to speaker design. Wide baffle, large drivers is the only speaker design / form that sounds end game to my ears. I'm not a fan of narrow baffle tower speaker designs with multiple drivers. If the speaker design has more than 3 transducers that's a hard pass for me, 3 is the magic number! When it comes to amplification wattage, 3 is also the magic number for me as in 3-digits of amplifier wattage minimum. 300 watts total of McIntosh solid state amplification the MC152 model has been a long term commitment amplifier for me. Vacuum tubes have been a wild fling for me while soild-state designs / digital designs are wifey material for the long term. I think having a end game err best game wifey system and then having a second reviewer game, mistress game system on the side is going to serve up the satisfaction audiophiles crave just saying. Reality is the wife or significant other is not into HiFi and for better or worse is holding back the vast majority of audiophiles out there hence the HiFi term "divorce speakers" as in you spent too much money on HiFi, she is now jealous, she now wants out of the relationship, effing-B, end of rant. P.S. 33.3-rpm is magical
The term “End Game” is possibly the biggest lie and illusion that we audiophiles buy into. There’s no such thing as end game in this hobby…we’re always on the hunt for the next best thing. It’s a problem 😂
In Electrical Engineering point. There's Three PASSIVE elements, and Three ACTIVE circuit. Passive are LCR Active circuits are 1 Rectify 2 Amplify 3 Oscillating. Passive elements showed L Indutance C Capacitance R Resistance. In the real world there's No pure one factor show For example L like Transformer, coils. There's C, R involved We called Leak capactance, when the wire winding. Resistance due to long wire winding. So An Output Transformer is a Non-linear component. How to reduce and elemimate the other two factors C, R It's a hard work to the Pro. If it could solved, IF It already win half of the game 🙏🏻
Fact. In the tube guitar amp world there is probably nothing better than a 1959 Fender Bassman, with a close second being a 60's Fender tube Deluxe Reverb. The newer stuff is NOT "better".
If you sell your much appreciated end game system, you need the money or you have more than enough. I stick to the gear that I like, I never spend thousands to begin with, and save a lot of money that way. There’s more in life and I don’t want my family to be disadvantaged by my hobby.
17:45, Hi, I'm finding my new Luxman l 509x is a little bright with my Wilson Sophia's, any recommendations for a standmount, thanks, keep up the great work.
Quite a testimony, Jay. Sounds like you outgrew your end game system; putting a lie to ‘end game.’ As humans, our ‘end game’ lies beyond the bounds of earth ant time.
I suggest watching the video if you are going to comment. I had only one end game system. Like I said in the video, there are many end game worthy speakers that I’d be happy with but end game does not exist for me anymore since I embarked on this new journey. PS. I also made a video on why most of my videos are positive - it’s about the gear I liked. Those I don’t care for goes back as I don’t feel the need to make videos about stuff I didn’t like
The reason you could fall asleep is because all the individual drivers were so close to being in perfect phase, that the sound is harmonious with the human body. 😊
I just achieved my target of an end game system for a small room for $US10,000: Power Distributor & power cables (Puritan PSM156 Purifier + Classic Plus power cables), CD Transport (Audiolab 9000CDT), Dac (Teac NT-503), Integrated Amp (Marantz PM-11S2), Loudspeakers (Dynaudio Evoke 10), Interconnect cables (Tubulus Argentus RCA cable + Tellurium Q Black II XLR cable + Tellurium Q Black II speaker cable, Loudspeaker stands (Atacama Nexus with isolated gel pads). Each individual component is killer for the price, but it was only when I added the killer cables that the system as a whole reached its full potential, specifically Tubulus added body, Tellurium XLRs added transient attack (and thus instrument separation) and Tellurium speaker cables added note decay.
For those that don't know the JBL Baby Butts sound better. Also the Technics Sb 5000 sounds just as good as JBL L300. The JBL Baby Butts will sound amazing with 300b set amp.
JBL baby butts sound excellent. I had the sb5000 but also the 6000 and 7000 at some point. I'd say those were a lil different than what JBL L300 offered. Excellent in their own ways but I preferred the JBL L300 in my space with the gear that I chose
There is no such thing as end game and when someone sells their end game equipment, regardless whatever excuse, naturally it isnt end game at all, is it? There will always be an excuse, room too small, room too big, want more insight into recordings, too analytical, doest do well with high volumes, sounds crap with low levels, taste changed, hearing went down the drain, yada yada yada. Been there done that.
*Hey guys. Good morning and thanks for stopping by!*
0:00 INTRO
0:57 My End Game Speakers! JBL L300 SPEAKERS!
9:52 My End Game Amplifiers! McIntosh MC60
11:52 My End Game Amplifiers! McIntosh MC30
13:55 My End Game Amplifiers! Cary 805
15:48 McIntosh Tube Pre-amplifiers!
17:55 Meitner DAC & Cary DMC600SE
20:42 Pre-Audio Turntables!
26:43 Why did I Sell My End Game System?
Ever try Electrovoice Aristocrat III with a push pull tube? My favorite with push pull tubes.
You forgot to mention the background music track. It sounds sooo... Good! Mention please.
There is NO end game in Audio. When you get into your 70's and cannot move 70lb+ gear, that would be an end game. 20's and up you buy, sell, buy and sell, Tubes, SS then back to tubes. It never stops and that is the beaty of a Journey,
Said right, sound is emotional and for now Tubes are perfect. Thought everything was great until a Woo WA3 was on my desk.
Right on. I feel like we could all design the perfect system (for us) but it's way more fun to move stuff around and swap things out.
If your hobby is “audio” then there isn’t. If you want to get system to enjoy music, there is. Not because it’s the ultimate but it’s potentially the best you could find/afford/justify at the time. If you like collecting and changing gear that’s the audio side of things. Neither are right or wrong, just different
The reality of the situation is that this (or any hobby) is a reflection of life. Human life. You are your best when doing what you love.
I'm 55 but weight has always been a factor that I want to be able to lift as I get older so a component must weigh < 40 lbs, ideally 25 lbs.
My gear:
- NAD C298 amp, 25 lbs.
- Parasound 2125v2 amp, 25 lbs.
- Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 DAC, 20 lbs
- Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs
- Arcam AVR5 receiver, 36 lbs
- GoldenEar BRX speakers, 12 lbs
- Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs
- Parasound 2100 preamp, 13 lbs.
- Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer, 8 lbs.
- Definitive Technology Supercube SC6000, 50 lbs (bought it when I was 40)
- Definitive Technology Supercube SC4000, 45 lbs
source=Apple Music lossless
Nelson Pass has said that the DIY community is the happiest group of audiophiles he knows.
I have to concur, I feel like I found the secret hack to finishing the gear merry-go-round.
You have come a long way
Matured and became a well balanced human being
That loves what you do
Because you followed your passion
In life
The sucess you have its all the hard worked you have done during the years
Glad you are doing what you like
Not everybody has the balls to follow things to the end
Naming the channel Jay's Journey makes so much sense.
I have to admit that as you described your visceral reaction to your end game system, I felt there are a lot of things I have not experienced in audio. What you have done and continue to do seems a rewarding journey.
For me I'm happy that I got to good enough. It will only change when forced into a small space as I age.
HI Jay
I don't think anyone actually finds their end game in Audio - budget finds them. An audiophile hobbyist by definition is someone who seeks the best audio experience with the best gear that they can afford. No matter what your budget, there is something out there that will sound better, if cost, time and availability/access is not an issue. You stating that you will never have an end game is telling it like it is; I know for me I've reached my budget ceiling, but I keep listening in case I can find something for close to my selling of my gear to upgrade. I'd be happy with something that cost less than my original purchase if it gave me more pleasure but I haven't found it yet (thus my point and yours).
If a piece of hifi makes you smile it's a keeper!
I’d take any vintage JBL L100, Jubal (L65) or L300 over 99% of speakers available today because they are full range and fun! You can also drive them with just about anything.
Best video you ever made.
Personal, professional, convincing.
End game is when you make your peace with your urge in your mind. There are going to be new gears, technologies every year. So you want to try them all. There are so many great products out there.
Also this is music hobby. When there is great music, you relate your satisfaction emotionally. So… there is only one ending here… keep exploring while you want to.
A great video, Jay!
I'm 55 but weight has always been a factor that I want to be able to lift as I get older so a component must weigh < 40 lbs, ideally 25 lbs.
My gear:
- NAD C298 amp, 25 lbs.
- Parasound 2125v2 amp, 25 lbs.
- Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 DAC, 20 lbs
- Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs
- Arcam AVR5 receiver, 36 lbs
- GoldenEar BRX speakers, 12 lbs
- Denafrips Iris 12th DDC, 8 lbs
- Parasound 2100 preamp, 13 lbs.
- Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer, 8 lbs.
- Definitive Technology Supercube SC6000, 50 lbs (bought it when I was 40)
- Definitive Technology Supercube SC4000, 45 lbs
source=Apple Music lossless
JBL L300 are Beautiful !!!!
I liked that you have admitted that on this journey there is no endgame system. For more than one overwhelming reason: living with many different types of each peice of our rig, new breakthroughs in technology, synergistic combinations of equipment, awesome tweaks, and the refining our golden- ear- pallet!
Hey Jay, great video. I really enjoy your content. Good for you for staying true to yourself and recognizing what you really wanted to do and going for it
Really enjoyed listening to this story mate, could have listened to another 30 minutes of this, always enjoy these type of videos, story time. Keep it up!
I swear you reviewed the L300 way back. Your channel has come a long way, glad to be along for the ride.
A journey is not about the destination, it’s about what you learn on the way! Sometimes though, it’s nice to watch someone else find a shortcut, or (better) a point to stop and enjoy the view. Enjoy your journey Jay, and thank you for letting us follow.
Thanks you Jay for the insight.
At some point you also relies that widening your mind to different and in a lot of cases better recordings ..gives you the software to show how good your system is ..or isn’t.
To the never ending journey
☕️🔥🍕👍
My year for purchasing my stereo system was in 1979. I heard the L -300, the glass top model
and compared them with the Tannoy 15" comparable speakers. The Tannoy were a bit more expensive. Both pairs were driven by my chosen receiver at only 1/2 watt / channel. WOW!!! INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY!! L-300's were slightly better sounding. Anyway I didn't buy them cause my dream system would cost me 4X over my budget. I still have my 1979 JBL 4311's along with my Yamaha CR820. Still have my Dual 704, 901 tape deck and AKG 240 sextet headphones. Will I ever upgrade? Yes, only with a winning lottery ticket. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jay, I own the Cary 805 anniversary editions and truly love it! Great fabulous match with my Kef Reference 5 speakers! :) Great soundstage, sweet and musical! Agree with your take on the pair and its 😍😍
Great story Jay! JBL L300s are something you should have kept and they are that good. It’s very hard to find any pair speaker cost 2-3 times can do big drums as realistic as L300. That 077 compression tweeters are hard to beat. If you dress them up they can be very pretty too. I would take a pair L300 over any Wilsons for sure.
Thank you Jay, to share with me your love story (of music listening). It started with JBL L300, the first love, where you dear so much out of a school of speaker charms of different sizes. You spent time with her (the JBL L300) knowing her, paring her with the best outfits you can find, and you dance in the music, and sleep in music together. She always surprise you with varies combination of enjoyments when you bring her to different occasions. Though she is kind of old style, you always find her potential of bringing new inspiration. But as you go to more and more occasions, you meet more young girls (modern speakers). You found yourself even curious, and wanting to try each and every speakers. The desire go so immense that you realized, you can not stay loyal to one (type of speaker) any more. You have to go on with your journey of meeting playing with more young speakers . . . . .
This makes me sound like a play boy hahahah 😂
@@Jayiyagi a Hi Fi Playboy😍😍😍
😂😂😂😂 speaker porn.
Great video Jay👍
Really inspirational, nice courageous thoughts. Greetings from Italy
Thanks for an interesting and insightsful story about your hifi journey you are on still😀
The best sound system is the one that sounds perfectly satisfying to you. We could keep on chasing for that perfect sound forever until our bank account is bled dry. I'm struggling to rebuild my hifi after very difficult financial times, that forced me to sell all I had, but for now I'm enjoying the music with the system I have and that's because I have stopped listening to high end gear, until I have the money to upgrade to what I will be eventually satisfied with. For now I can't mention new hifi to the wife, as I just get that classic cold stare. 🤣
Changing speakers/components allows you to re-experience your music all over again and discovery nuances.
Iirc, out of the newer (black/chrome) models , the MC30 and MC60 were their only designs that used tube rectification which gave them that beautiful tone.
Beautiful journey, thank you for sharing ❤
There is no such thing as an endgame system. When you get at this type of level , you no longer really listen to just music. You become an critic...and when that happens
Endgame is of the board ..
It can be a never ending rabbit hole.
@@alanrogs3990 that's what it basically is for guys like him. And for guys that strive to that fictive "perfection" ..
In jays defense, he's a reviewer so he has the luxury of getting lots of gear passing through. For people that just windup with 35k costing dacs and 100k turntables or the half million dollars costing Wilson's.
They still don't get that music in ANY format is far from perfection. No envy here, just observing that they went from being audio ENTHUSIASTS to being obsessed with their urges rather than common sense .
Really how I see it, more power to them tho . Each to their own , they find people like me cheap asses and ignorant. That's fine too, I see it as a compliment 😉
There's a fine line between curiosity and going down a rabbit hole. Depends on one's character, but curiosity is what keeps us alert and alive, and if anything, in love with music. But you're right, one is going to meet audiophiles who get lost going down the other path…
That is a sweet looking turntable in the background.
I understand this. I have speakers I haven’t even pulled out of the boxes yet and still buy more. 😊
That's an illness, not a journey. With all due respect, you have a consumerism problem. And way too much money 😁
I have never commented on a video because it just seems like a bunch of people who need attention. Jay, I only do so now because i hope you will read it. Brother, what a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing. I follow several of you guys in this space. You tend to review stuff I will never be able to afford and thus experience. But I keep coming back to your videos just to experience your passion for audio as I am just beginning to find mine. You sharing what is kind of the incubation of your passion reveals the foundation of all the work you do on this channel. You just made me want to go listen to more music. I think this is your best video I've seen. Thank you so much for sharing.
*BEAUTIFUL STORY. 👌☀👍🏻 Thanks for sharing.*
You've had a few end games. I'm sure you will have another as audio advances. It will never end unless you are sincere about this being the end for you..
I have heard quite a few systems. But to my surprise my favourite was my friend’s vintage JBL chunky 4342or something, driven by pre+power Jeff Rowland, it can do dynamics, details, sounds good in low volume, it’s effortless. Company like Kenrick in Japan really interests me, they restore vintage JBL to pristine condition. Shame that will take up too much space in my lounge in my current house. To me a well put together JBL system beats my other friend flagship dynaudio driven by pre power nagra and esoteric source, she is not afraid to put serious money in her system, her last system was Jamo Orielle(when jamo was once high end, driven by audio research pre and Gryphon power amp, Accuphase source. End game for me is knowing the sound I want and knowing what amp matches my speakers, and room acoustic factor also.
Show me a supermodel and I’ll introduce you to the guy that is tired of sleeping with her. So goes speakers…. On to the next one
Unlike women I like my main speakers large. That makes them harder to get rid of.
Ahh I hear you, there has been a saturation of End Game thrown around the U which is an impossibility in so many ways. I have found making your own is the best outcome for reproduction to suit your room acoustics and preferences.
I don't believe in "End Game" in anything. The world doesn't stop. You change to a different listening room, move to a new place, your tastes become more refined, and your listening habit changes over the years. So on and on, all this happened to me. The most "Memorable" system I had was back in the 90s when I was still listening to vinyl; after moving from Canada to Hong Kong, I finally had a place to set up a system again. The room wasn't as big as it was in Canada, so I got a pair of Rogers LS3/5a on some heavy steel stands; the source was a Linn LP12 with the EKOS and Troika, with original series Marantz 7 w/ML JC-1 MC Pre and 8B for Pre and Power. That worked very well for a couple of years, but then I had to move, and it never sounded the same again...😂😂😂 Over the years, I enjoyed trying many different types of speakers, and I used to describe their differences like one would with women. Now that I'm married, I don't know about you, but I can't have more than one pair of speakers in the house anymore🤣🤣🤣 So enjoy your journey, but choose wisely.😮💨😮💨😮💨
Hi End is No End☝️😎🤣
My End-Game Speakers are the all new DALI EpiKORE 11's but they cost $60K a pair !
I think of the term, "If looks could kill," and then I think of "what's music to my ears" its all about the sound for me.
The JBL L150A is another great vintage speaker!
Hi Jay, would love to hear your thoughts on the Kali Ws6.2 dual sbwoofer and or their Kali IN-5 speakers! They are really musical and articulate to my ears, especially the detail in the mids..
Great story!
I think I found mine, the Zu Audio Dirty Weekends. Tore out all of my modern gear, including the KLH Model 5's and went with a vintage 1970 Sansui model 4000 stereo receiver, and a WiiM streamer. Just added a Mofi StudioDeck TT... I am done. Tens of thousands of dollars later, I am down to a system that cost less than the Venus II 12th DAC I used to own.
4:53 This is why designing and building your own speakers is a nightmare. In order to have enough treble in your speakers, you have to accept treble fatigue on some tracks. That's so annoying, why do recordings vary by that much? It's crazy!
Oh yes the JBLs. For me i have always liked the british sound as i like the understated, tonally correct & sophisticated sound of british speakers generally. Up until i had the JBL 4410 & 4412 with Naims. Oh wow that was a different ballgame. Yeah they don’t hv the tonal purity & sophistication of british spks but they had dynamics, fun factor & that live vibe feel in spades. They cruise at volume levels of 100db plus whereas alot of bbc inspired british spks would be struggling. Kept those 2 JBLs for a long time & have regretted selling them. Never heard of the L300 though i have heard L100, those large 43xx series etc.
Good one!
Thanks you just raised the prices
unfortunately the used price of JBL L300s were already jacked to unreasonable levels by 2022 as they are becoming more rare
@@Jayiyagi I understand Korea discovered JBL. It is a big brand in their audiophile scene like Japan.
@@Jayiyagi the high quality classic studio monitors from JBL work so good in small Japanese Rooms. This makes them very popular over there.
My Koetsu Rosewood signature is the best cartridge I’ve ever used.
Its a beautiful cart
Jay I would like to urge you to provide your subscribers with measurements to compliment the subjective impressions you so eloquently present - particularly when comparing speakers. Your reviews also suggest there are differences when introducing different amplifiers with a particular speaker. Would you mind commenting on what your thoughts are when deciding what amplifiers you choose to review a speaker.
I had many systems, more than 200 too. Cheap and very expensive. and i can say that jbl with mc is a set that you should always have.
Nice intriguing video. You said you checked almost all Mc Intosh vintage amplifiers. Can you say something about the MC2500 or the MC2100? Thanks
Jay, do you still have the speakers cables for the L300's if so do you think anything out there that could rival them for the same $$$ ?
Hey Jay, any intrest in the Daniel Hertz gear? I've heard its First rate and very good.
Just watched your CSS 1TDX reviews. You should really get some VHAudio ODAM, and CuTF caps. Say .1uf ODAM caps, and .01 CuTF V-CAPS. Better get 4 of each for use in midrange and theater crossovers as bypass caps. They would likely make the CSS and Sonus speakers even more closely matched. Yes, 8 pairs so you can do a more immediate A-B would be great, by Chris doesn't give them away. If you let him know about yourself, followers, and a promise to endorse them if they are what I am telling you they are, the least sounding caps anywhere, he might well give you a nice discount. I assure you that the ODAMs are just awesome and the CuTF V-Caps give you a slight improvement in air and highs. I haven't tried them on speakers, mine are full range, but they make very impressive to just amazing improvements as coupling caps in electronic equipment.
I've used the ODAM's as outputs in a valve preamp. They are pretty fantastic in every way. Haven't tried the CuTF..very expensive for higher values
We guys,
not going to debate,
Now I simply to state that,
Trio Tube seems like
Semiconductor.
BUT their interelectrode capatance playing a big rule ! !
Look at the Trio Tube
their Grid, Cathode and Plate,
how many interelectrode capactance?
May be 1 or 2 pico farad.
Solidstate?
B to C, B to E.
(Bipolar Transistor)
G to D, G to S
(FET)
How many interelectrode capactance there?
Do not forget,
The "Miller Effect"
the more amplification
the more
PHASE SHIFT.
No more argument
PERIOD
Not even mention the Tube has much more voltage gain swing in LINEAR ZONE.
The solidstate the knee-point zone is easily reachd, overload, become NON-LINEAR !
Due to HT each side roughly Plus, minus 100 DCV
Most semiconductor
Could not stand High voltage.
Because of that.
Tube designed circuit had show its weak point.
Not only the IMPEDANCE matching
It need an OUTPUT TRANSFORMER to covert it's Impedance from High to Low,
in order to get the Current Gain,
to drive the speaker
So,
the OUTPUT TRANSFORMER
is the heart of the Tube designed Amplification
most important factor.
Jay , i know you have toured the Axiom facility and listened to some of their speakers .. Do you have any thoughts on thr M5hp speakers they make , or any plans on reviewing some ?
I have heard this opening tune often, but is this from an existing cd? What band? Thank You.
Anyone have an opinion on the KEF R11 Metas verses the Arendal 1723 towers? I haven’t heard the 1723’s yet but did like the metas. The metas in wood look nice in our room but I have the feeling that might like the 1723 towers even better for a lot less cost, giving up a little in style. Everyday I think I’ve made up my mind on one or the other only to flip flop the next day. Any advice is much appreciated. I really wanted the 1723’s and the Vincent integrated but the KEF’s did sound good, with a sub and would look a little nicer. Help!
I have not tried the metas yet so all I can say as a recommendation is for you to take advantage of Arendals’ 60day risk free in-home trial. Don’t abuse it but in this case, I think that’s what the in-home trial was exactly made for
Thank you Jay. Love your journey.
Jay, are you still using NRG speaker cables? If not, what is in your system now?
actually the japanese have almost explored all types of speaker, currently there are no papers claim that speaker driver can disobey the law of physics of how sound moves even if you use dsp signal processing there are time the sound are still unnatural. So for all rounder live sound 15 inch woofer, compression driver is the way to go you can reach 25 hz for the sensational wave, for sound unity you shoould use coaxil driver but you will miss the bass, for replaying monitor edit sound track any passive or active with atc mid, for voilin vocal only ls3/5a, apparently the industry is reaching the end game in speaker development it is your preferencd,
we still have rooom in amplifer deveopment, a/d to d/a proccess , for examploe the industry shoud develop vfet type semiconductors that is the proper sucessor mimic the sound of various vaccum tube
Wish there was a ❤ button. 😅. Good job Jay. Your story and channel makes sense now. 😎💯🔥
turn table make make me to smile, Like deserved
Hey Jay, can you recommend a modern speaker that's similar in sound to the JBL L300?
That’s a hard one. I’d say there is no speaker that sounds exactly like the L300 but the Css Typhons had that similar sound and quality in mind when designed
At about 27 min mark i started noticing a piano playing on the background…can you share the track please?!
Its my opinion, that all of these changes in Amplifiers to try to get different sounds... is kind of Ridiculous. Instead, get a good EQ, and tweak the sound, to suit both your ears... AND... to get the most possibly Performance, out of the speakers. I have the same Pioneer amp that I bought when I was like 17 yrs old (Im 50 now). It was probably one of the first few 5.1 surround sound amps, and made at a time when that company actually had some High Quality models. Its still working Flawless today (with exception of the Remote volume motor that failed, possibly damaged in a move). Out of the 30 speakers Ive owned... and many others that Ive heard... My favorite that I got hold of, are EPI 100v speakers (with the newer model plastic-bezel inverted-tweeter).
For such a small speaker size, they produce one of the most amazing, wide, 3d soundstages... that Ive ever experienced. They also have very deep and punchy bass... but even more impressive, is their Natural sounding bass. I was used to Ported speakers before these sealed speakers... and let me tell you... that after hearing bass from the EPIs.. I almost cried. I was so ticked off, knowing how bass was SUPPOSED to sound... and what happened to bass, when it went through a ported speaker. Now, larger sized non-tuned ports might be different... but Im merely going off of most of the speakers that Ive owned.
One of the other amazing things about the EPI's... is that they have such low distortion levels... that I was able to make out a singers lyrics, that I was NEVER able to hear / understand before... on any other speaker before this pair. This becomes even more apparent, when you are maxing your volume levels... pushing the speakers to near breaking point... and yet the music details are still perfectly separated and crystal clear. No muddying / distortions at all.
The only drawback to this EPI model, is that they are not as Loud at max volume, as some other speakers can attain. But once you hear the sound quality.. you dont even care.
The other thing is that while the Mids are good... I have heard superior midrange from 3 inch dome midrange drivers. Ive considered trying a mod with that... as well as potentially testing some passive radiators.. for a little more deeper bass "excitation".
Ohh, the last thing about them that I love... is that they sound fantastic, in almost any room shape, size, and poor setup configurations. I was once forced to put them under my desk... and they were partially blocked. Blindfolded, You would never have known it... because it still sounded like the entire room was "Alive" with Holographic musical detail. In fact, the person whom showed me his EPIs... he had them in his store... with one laying on its side... the other about 5ft away from it, standing vertically. Both about 1ft off the floor on a ledge, that was located in front of his stores large window. And one of the speakers were partially blocked by an arcade machine (driving game). Still, they sounded fantastic. Filled probably a 15x15 ft area, with the most fantastic stereo sweet spot.. and no audible changes.. until you got like +20ft away from them.
Anyway... the Pioneer Amp I bought, has Treble and Bass adjustments.. but even then, I run most of my music through my PC... into the Amp.. and use Software EQ. On certain songs, where I want room shaking bass... I can adjust the EQ to raise the bass levels... and get the craziest bass performance, just shy of potentially blowing the speakers. Far more performance capability, than just what naturally comes out of the Amp itself.. even with its Bass adjustment Maxed.
Furthermore, certain recordings sound completely different, depending on the Era, and studio compression that was used. Much of the music of the 80s, is flipping fantastic.. with very little compression at all. However, that also tends to mean, that you need to boost the volume levels more... and boost the bass levels up a bit more. Im modern over-exaggerated bass, you sometimes might have to lower the bass levels a little. Certain movies might have vocals that are a little too "thin"... requiring a little boost in the Midrange frequencies.
So my question is... Have you ever even TRIED using an EQ ?? And have you, for example... tried replicating one amps differences, using EQ ? Because Im pretty certain, that you could easily match most Amp "Tuning", with very little EQ tweaking. The biggest issues to worry about with Amps are: 1) Maximum Power output 2) Frequency ranges 3) Distortion percentages.
The rest is just features, or lack of features... as well as Reliability / Quality.
JBL (and Klipsch) are like a good hamburger: tasty, filling and (relatively) cheap. You can go for aged steak or filet mignon as a treat, but it's not necessary to give up something you really like without the snob appeal.
I got my holographics from my 5" single driver speakers in oversize enclosures and the driver is semi open so is semi dipole. The driver is mounted over an acoustic hole larger than the driver in diameter. So there is an airspace around and under the driver that is mounted (on an angle) just above the large hole. The hole acts as a bass vent on the really large enclosure, and the large hole has the same diameter tube running inside the enclosure (by 4"). Acoustically this is difficult to make it sound any good. A real challenge (an acoustic nightmare). But when you get it right it sounds fantastic (best speakers I heard) but if you don't get the acoustics just right, it sounds like the worst speakers in the world! Resonance can be really bad (off the scale) and a lot of notes can be as sour as f---k! By altering the position of the driver over the large hole and changing the amount of sound deadoning wadding stuff, you can make it sound warm and sweet. (Too much wadding sounds stuffy and not enough souunds wangy). I like it wangy enough to give it life but not too much (which can be fatiguing). It takes a long time and lots of perseverance to make it even sound acceptable (as you could imagine) but when it's right it sounds so alive and 3D that it's well worth the fiddling. Way past just acceptable! Different to normal speakers (in a good way). Everyone who has heard my speakers ❤ them cos of the open sound with the warmth. My friends are sold! Most of my made speakers also have a woofer but this one set of speakers has just one 5" driver in the oversize enclosures. I also modify the drivers (with a few cut-aways) that extend the highs like wildfire and gives an even more open sound. Original drivers at that $8 low cost just wouldn't cut it. So I cut the drivers! I had $70 similar drivers that were rubbish and really harsh compared to the cheapies I use.😅
Show us your listening chair please.
A chair review would be nice 😊
I actually reviewed it but youtube removed it because the chair I have is a copy of the eames lounge chair
I have Fortes and absolutely love them, but I think if I had to sell them or my CSS audio 1TDX speakers, the Fortes would have to go.
Which Forte do you have?
@@bigmike5785 I have the i’s
Hi Jay, did you not say that KLH Model5's were your end game speaker. As a 5's owner, wondering what changed?
Hi Jay, just out of curiosity, but did you ever hear/checked the JBL's from Kendrick Audio Japan?
I have, twice... bad experience
@@5333092 why?
New subacriber here
Thanks for subbing!
It's allways painfull to sell equipment , I regret selling ATC 's with the famous dome mids, the tad 's 1102..., and other tad's, but I thought I need very efficient speakers ....because I want to hear 'psalm' from Bruckner realistic , Symphonica with chorus....need clipping and distortion less high power reproduction , for a grand piano it can hit 115db with grand accord...hit strongly .....even with voice of the theater you need at least 30valve watts to hear 'Bollero ' of Ravel clippingless at the end....stated a test in 'la nouvelle revue DU son' by Jean Hiraga....and that's also my experience
What’s that speaker behind you?
Hi, while I have very much enjoyed your reviews, you are too much like the audiophiliac (sp?) for me. He loves the old Vandersteen 2CE line of speakers, and then more detailed speakers, so I never know just what to make of his reviews.
HiFi can become a mistress who is never really in love, she is only in love with the desire of falling in love, she has serious commitment issues. Anyway I also give the nod to the past when it comes to speaker design. Wide baffle, large drivers is the only speaker design / form that sounds end game to my ears. I'm not a fan of narrow baffle tower speaker designs with multiple drivers. If the speaker design has more than 3 transducers that's a hard pass for me, 3 is the magic number! When it comes to amplification wattage, 3 is also the magic number for me as in 3-digits of amplifier wattage minimum. 300 watts total of McIntosh solid state amplification the MC152 model has been a long term commitment amplifier for me. Vacuum tubes have been a wild fling for me while soild-state designs / digital designs are wifey material for the long term. I think having a end game err best game wifey system and then having a second reviewer game, mistress game system on the side is going to serve up the satisfaction audiophiles crave just saying. Reality is the wife or significant other is not into HiFi and for better or worse is holding back the vast majority of audiophiles out there hence the HiFi term "divorce speakers" as in you spent too much money on HiFi, she is now jealous, she now wants out of the relationship, effing-B, end of rant. P.S. 33.3-rpm is magical
The term “End Game” is possibly the biggest lie and illusion that we audiophiles buy into. There’s no such thing as end game in this hobby…we’re always on the hunt for the next best thing. It’s a problem 😂
More importantly given your experience and today’s budget what is your end game system today? That Luxman amp came and went…
If you watch till the end, you will find out the answer to that although probably not what you want to hear. haha
Simple,
805 sweet。
It's liquid,
Is a Tube Sound 😊
In Electrical Engineering point.
There's Three PASSIVE elements, and Three ACTIVE circuit.
Passive are LCR
Active circuits are
1 Rectify
2 Amplify
3 Oscillating.
Passive elements showed
L Indutance
C Capacitance
R Resistance.
In the real world there's
No pure one factor show
For example
L like Transformer, coils.
There's C, R involved
We called Leak capactance, when the wire winding. Resistance due to long wire winding.
So
An Output Transformer is a Non-linear component.
How to reduce and elemimate the other two factors C, R
It's a hard work to the Pro.
If it could solved, IF
It already win half of the game 🙏🏻
Fact. In the tube guitar amp world there is probably nothing better than a 1959 Fender Bassman, with a close second being a 60's Fender tube Deluxe Reverb. The newer stuff is NOT "better".
When did you get that lightsaber?
Does anyone know what the speakers are in the back?
Audio craftsman
@@Jayiyagiamazing design! Love at first sight
@@reptidan audio craftsmen Victoria I think, it indeed a really cool design they also have floorstanders.
It's a brand new Canadian based company.
@@MichelLinschoten yes, i found them. 6k Canadian a pair. Gorgeous!
If you sell your much appreciated end game system, you need the money or you have more than enough. I stick to the gear that I like, I never spend thousands to begin with, and save a lot of money that way. There’s more in life and I don’t want my family to be disadvantaged by my hobby.
End game is a big call!!!
What about SF Extreme Cremonese or Aida?
Great speakers but way too big for my space
What happened to the Sonus Faber Electa Amator III?
@@eViperRabbitstill one of my fav speakers and end game worthy. :)
@@Jayiyagi Jay, any thoughts on standmount plus active sub versus floor speaker?
If one doesn't want to get used gear, do you have a suggestion for the modern equivalents to the MC30 and MC60 (within the McIntosh line)? Thanks.
Unfortunately that does not exist
@@Jayiyagi Does anything in the current line come close?
17:45, Hi, I'm finding my new Luxman l 509x is a little bright with my Wilson Sophia's, any recommendations for a standmount, thanks, keep up the great work.
This will make your system sound good. HOLOGRAPHIC!
"Ain't No Sunshine" cover by: meira. It's on RUclips.
Quite a testimony, Jay. Sounds like you outgrew your end game system; putting a lie to ‘end game.’ As humans, our ‘end game’ lies beyond the bounds of earth ant time.
I suppose the end-game refers to your budget?
Moment of Truth : There is No End Game Speaker in this World. Period.
Bye 👋
How many end games can one have, that must be a soft hand you have.
I suggest watching the video if you are going to comment. I had only one end game system. Like I said in the video, there are many end game worthy speakers that I’d be happy with but end game does not exist for me anymore since I embarked on this new journey.
PS. I also made a video on why most of my videos are positive - it’s about the gear I liked. Those I don’t care for goes back as I don’t feel the need to make videos about stuff I didn’t like
This is a hobby of diminishing returns unless you get paid to do this.🎼 Enjoy the music!
The reason you could fall asleep is because all the individual drivers were so close to being in perfect phase, that the sound is harmonious with the human body. 😊
I just achieved my target of an end game system for a small room for $US10,000: Power Distributor & power cables (Puritan PSM156 Purifier + Classic Plus power cables), CD Transport (Audiolab 9000CDT), Dac (Teac NT-503), Integrated Amp (Marantz PM-11S2), Loudspeakers (Dynaudio Evoke 10), Interconnect cables (Tubulus Argentus RCA cable + Tellurium Q Black II XLR cable + Tellurium Q Black II speaker cable, Loudspeaker stands (Atacama Nexus with isolated gel pads).
Each individual component is killer for the price, but it was only when I added the killer cables that the system as a whole reached its full potential, specifically Tubulus added body, Tellurium XLRs added transient attack (and thus instrument separation) and Tellurium speaker cables added note decay.
For those that don't know the JBL Baby Butts sound better. Also the Technics Sb 5000 sounds just as good as JBL L300. The JBL Baby Butts will sound amazing with 300b set amp.
JBL baby butts sound excellent. I had the sb5000 but also the 6000 and 7000 at some point. I'd say those were a lil different than what JBL L300 offered. Excellent in their own ways but I preferred the JBL L300 in my space with the gear that I chose
@@JayiyagiThe Rosewood is a truly gorgeous cartridge.
@@MrRourk both in sound and looks. Loved that cartridge
There is no such thing as end game and when someone sells their end game equipment, regardless whatever excuse, naturally it isnt end game at all, is it? There will always be an excuse, room too small, room too big, want more insight into recordings, too analytical, doest do well with high volumes, sounds crap with low levels, taste changed, hearing went down the drain, yada yada yada. Been there done that.