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  »  New  Altec Model 19 in Boston...  Cetla 91 circa 2018...  Horn-Loaded Speakers Forum     61  582409  03-13-2010
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03-21-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Daniel Trudeau
Montreal
Posts 2
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 61
Post ID: 19130
Reply to: 19109
Preamp
fiogf49gjkf0d
Well, you could go with the Emotiva http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/umc200 it has a stereo down-mix output.
03-21-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Bud
upper left crust united snakes
Posts 87
Joined on 07-07-2005
Post #: 62
Post ID: 19133
Reply to: 19130
Yet another unwanted direction
fiogf49gjkf0d
You might give some time up to a look through ebay for B&K theater controlling preamps. Truly excellent sound, typical B&K overbuilt construction and very nice prices, since they are now out of business.
09-26-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 63
Post ID: 20092
Reply to: 14568
The new life of opera room.
fiogf49gjkf0d
Along with last remodeling that we performed in Opera Room the room is becoming more the most pleasant room in our house. In fact we spend now more time then in listening room. We eat there, we watch films there. Sometime we watch TV there. I sleep there when Amy misbehaves. We just love to spend time in there. I caught more than once Amy does her favorite NY time reading or British Mystery watching on her iPad in the Opera Room. I was asking her why she does it there and she say that she love to be in that room. So do I for some reason – it is becoming very comply after the last remodeling.

We change the room drapes, new screen, new carpet, new walls arrangement, put everything in shelves and slightly change furniture position. Amy is dreaming to cover the walls and ceiling in oak veneer along with running rusticated beams on the ceiling, I am not against it still am looking for the wood that I would like.

I sometimes thinking that with all comfort that we are build in the Opera Room I might think to get better sound as I stent too much time in that room. There are other 2 reasons. First is that it is SS amp room and not too demanding to turn it on and off. The second reasons is that despite that my main audio installation produces incontestably better sound but that sound is fine only in the listening room. In the kitchen and in other rooms it is very bad. The sound coming from Opera Room for whatever reasons is great across the whole sound and even nice on the deck where we have spa installed. When main system plays then all lower range sound is absolutely done as soon I live the listening room. With Cetla 91 playing in my Opera Room we have full bass exertion everywhere, including the bedrooms. Very nice indeed...

 I love the look and feel of the Cetla 91 in this room and I have no intention to put in there anything more capable. I doubt that play with amplification and I most definitely will look for better pre-amplification as I would like to have not only more able unit but the most important to have a remote control and tone controls. I do not think that I will go for expensive high end preamp but I have my option open. Perhaps it will be something with own better DACs, some kind of video/audio processors but they are all multi-channeled nowadays. Perhaps some older 2- channel models would be available. I do not know yet as I am not familiar with this market at all.  In 90 I had Theata Casanova for my video application, I was thinking about something like that. Shall it be way less expensive nowadays?

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
09-26-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
clarkjohnsen
Boston, MA, US
Posts 298
Joined on 06-02-2004
Post #: 64
Post ID: 20093
Reply to: 20092
Romy & Amy's opera room...
fiogf49gjkf0d
...is one of the greatest rooms to listen in, and even just to be in, that I have ever seen. And I haven't even been there for the latest redecoration and the opening-up of the bay windows.

c
10-08-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 65
Post ID: 20139
Reply to: 20092
Some kind of OOPO….
fiogf49gjkf0d
A local audio friend of my lent me his new OPPO player, I do not know the numbers, whatever is the latest one. The idea was to put it in my Opera room, replacing my consumer-level Sony Blue Ray player, my consumer level preamp and anything else I have in there. So, I did last night and run the OPPO directly to power amp, using OPPO peaty much as a main digital processor for everything. You know, I do like the result. If I am not so demanding at this point for the quality of sound and video, but for sure it is super convenient – to have a single init with a convenient lit remote control. I need to say that sound of this thing is not bad as well, at least in context of my Opera Room. I am working now to program the OPPO’s remote control to open and close refrigerator door, to mix pina-colada and to deliver the thing to the listening couch. Alternately I can eat pineapple, ice and coconut milk and then shake my belly to mix it all inside. That OPPO player makes me too lazy….

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-08-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,664
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 66
Post ID: 20140
Reply to: 20139
Out Take
fiogf49gjkf0d
I saw this advertised and thought of mentioning it to you a while back, but the sort of laziness we are talking here seems to be endemic.

This is the way I plan to go, as well, eventually, for exactly the same reasons, if I ever overcome the inertia from the Big Bang.  I have occasional mixed feelings about the syrupy image quality, but in the end it really is a matter of ease, like eating out or - better -  eating take out.

Best regards,
Paul S
10-13-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 67
Post ID: 20147
Reply to: 20092
Opera Room 2013, Fall.
fiogf49gjkf0d
I need to admit that after out UK trip last month I got more sensible what Amy is striving to make the Opera Room to feel and to look. She is British and Finish offspring with British root to be very strong in her, she actually a direct descendant of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Probably that Medieval literature undereducated degree made in her and she is a bit sucker for anything old British and that looks like brass. I saw her in UK literally drooling all over the vintage brass rubbing paintings, Medieval icons, old England architecture and anything that look and feel before Romanov Dynasty ever was establish.  So naturally I am trying to give to the Opera Room some “British feel”, perhaps ignorantly and unsuccessfully but what the hell I know about British décor?

OperaRoom2013_fall.jpg

In the picture is how our Opera Room looks now. I wonder if Brits would recommend me how to Britinise it more to keep Kitty happier. I certainly will not put any taxidermy on the walls, without this the Opera Room look like a studio set to shot the Baskervilles Hound. Still, I would not mind to make it more castlee feel and frankly I do enjoy it myself.

I am trying to convince her that the only one thing that would make the rook to feel very British would be a happy husband sitting in front of lit fireplace and smoke British tobacco. I think she does not get it but I am devising the plan how to de-smoke the room. Her compromise probably would be if we get a dog – she loves them but dogs are a taboo subject my life and I am fully devoted and in full solidarity with Koshka sho hate dogs.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-14-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 68
Post ID: 20152
Reply to: 20147
Quite beautiful.
fiogf49gjkf0d
As I posted my post above I got an email from the site visitor who told that he loves my phrase "literature undereducated degree". That of cause was my famous misspelling of "literature undergraduate degree" but this is not the point. The guy sent an image to illustrate my misspending and I find it very moving and beautiful image. So, I share it with you… 

literature_undergraduate_degree.jpg


 

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-14-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
clarkjohnsen
Boston, MA, US
Posts 298
Joined on 06-02-2004
Post #: 69
Post ID: 20154
Reply to: 20152
"My misspending"
fiogf49gjkf0d
That's a good one too! But glad you liked the image... it's magnificent.

Site Visitor
10-14-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Bud
upper left crust united snakes
Posts 87
Joined on 07-07-2005
Post #: 70
Post ID: 20156
Reply to: 20154
What the hell is Btitish decor anyway?
fiogf49gjkf0d
I am certain you need at least two ceramic dalmatians on the nook / odd item stand on the right. In addition you will need to find at least one huge paining of an English noble woman, with a large nose, ridiculous hairdo and over the top gown is a must have, and downright ugly is an option you may not be able to avoid. Then you might look for a smaller horse, rider and dogs hurtling after foxes painting. As a final piece, a painting from the English landscape painters of two centuries ago, more or less, just to remind you of what direct sunlight looked like before the ozone was blown to .... where ever it was blown to, and blue / ultraviolet light overcame buttery yellow.
10-19-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
decoud
United Kingdom
Posts 247
Joined on 03-01-2008
Post #: 71
Post ID: 20166
Reply to: 20156
A list of crucial items
fiogf49gjkf0d
nearly there....add a peacock feather; a sword -- not mounted on the wall but casually in an umbrella stand beside some old walking sticks; a pair of small stone animals of some kind, ideally lions, in front of the fireplace; a head or a bust in bronze or marble; a casual mosaic of thin gilt-framed family photographs somewhere, an antiqued mirror in a burnished frame, silver candlesticks, a few mysterious-looking glass bottles that might be medicinal or might be for perfume, a fur throw over one of the chairs, a few lights from these people (http://www.kansacraft.co.uk/), blowtorch some of the curtain so it has a hole or two and looks faded, apply black shoe-polish to the leather chairs attractively to age them, and you shall be utterly there....
10-20-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 72
Post ID: 20173
Reply to: 20147
The BSO night in Nirvana
fiogf49gjkf0d
The Bessnow’s home turned tonight in absolute Nirvana, as far as I concerned.  We kind of have a slow evening (Amy is on calls) and we desired to convert into true quality time. Kitty decided to let me to smoke my Cuba’s Cohabits in house.  So, my 18 years Laphroaig glassed and her Georgian Pirismani 2006 served. We sat in the phenomenally comfortable Opera Room chairs (thank you Amy’s grandma), lit the huge fire in the fireplace (thanks to the Nor'easter’s fallen trees – we have firewood for 10 years ahead) and are spending the night of a pure decadent pleasure.

The musical program of the evening is pure BSO, all air-check master dubs:

Steinberg Bruckner 7 from 1971
Klaus Tennstedt Bruckner 4 from 1982
Klaus Tennstedt Bruckner 8 from 1974
 
I am lying in the chair like a beached whale, bitching about the BSO play, passing the cigars smock and looking at that gorgeous cute creature on the chair next to me. The creature is deep into her Sunday ritual – the NY Times. She is lying in her chair and with her left foot she is patting Koshka. God!!! That is pure Nirvana… I looked at Amy’s face and what our eyes met I told her: ”I love you, honey”. She replied: “You are at the end of your Cohiba and you must be high.” Well, I think she have learned my art of caustic retort too much.

I slightly contemplating the idea to install a pole in the mid of the Opera Room… Oh, those fantasies….
The caT
 

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-20-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
clarkjohnsen
Boston, MA, US
Posts 298
Joined on 06-02-2004
Post #: 73
Post ID: 20174
Reply to: 20173
Cohabits and Cohibas
fiogf49gjkf0d
It's great that you two both have the Bruckner habit -- a Bruckner cohabit? 

Of the three recordings I know only the Eighth, but at the time it seemed to me and mine one of the greatest Eighth performances ever. How does it hold up? And where's it from? Finally, may I have a copy?

c
10-22-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 74
Post ID: 20182
Reply to: 20174
Mendelssohnian Bruckner 8
fiogf49gjkf0d
Clark, of cause you might have any copy you want but I need to warn you that it is, in my view, very far from the “greatest Eighth performances ever”. The BSO history attributes to Tennstedt the great debut with BSO in 1974. It was a good debut and BSO did play nice but it is not particularly overly memorable Bruckner 8. Tennstedt took very brisk tempo that is terminal for 8th symphony and he run what I call “concert version” of Bruckner. As the result the Bruckner 8 sound s more like Mendelssohn symphonies instead of Bruckner. Also, it was BSO. The fact that brass played in tune does not make it great Bruckner. There are some occasions very nice moment in thee but it does not rises to the greatest Eighth performances.

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-22-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
clarkjohnsen
Boston, MA, US
Posts 298
Joined on 06-02-2004
Post #: 75
Post ID: 20184
Reply to: 20182
Haven't heard it for over three decades, so...
fiogf49gjkf0d
...who knows? Is it the Friday or the Saturday? Most people back then thought the former was better.


I was at the Saturday so I'm prejudiced.


c
10-28-2013 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
mem916
San Diego, CA
Posts 52
Joined on 10-14-2011
Post #: 76
Post ID: 20212
Reply to: 16967
Ring
fiogf49gjkf0d
Can someone suggest a good DVD or BlueRay of the Ring that is a good compromise between video/audio quality and performance?  I didn't make it to the Seattle Ring this summer and have been wanting to try watching it on my projector at home.  Thanks!
11-02-2015 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 77
Post ID: 22188
Reply to: 20147
The Opera room, two years after.
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Romy the Cat wrote:

OperaRoom2013_fall.jpg


During the last two weeks I spend a lot of efforts to baby-proof my two playbacks (main and in opera room). Thomas is rolling the floors like a tractor eating everything he can touch. He is even fight with Cats for cat food! The most prized however he feel about wires. This like monster if he see a piece of wire a room a way he would crawl in the room with speed of light and then spending a great hour of pieces tranquility to jerk the wire. So, I decided o get run of any ground wide and all playback equipment in Opera room’s floor and put everything on the walls. Also, the Opera Room is becoming kind of his play room, so I need a large space for his toys. To balance the equipment need and the kid need is kind of complicated but I think I did it at least in Opera Room. I kind of think with fear when he begin to walk and climb…

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
11-03-2015 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,166
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 78
Post ID: 22194
Reply to: 22188
Love that wall-mount!
fiogf49gjkf0d
Here is the rack that I put on the wall with all opera room equipment to tin it from Thomas.  I was not able to pit in there PP3000 and it is at different location. Frankly the wall mount tune out to be very convenient idea even without baby. 
 

OperaRoom_WallMount.jpg



"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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   Target    Threads for related reading   Most recent post in related threads   Forum  Replies   Views   Started 
  »  New  Altec Model 19 in Boston...  Cetla 91 circa 2018...  Horn-Loaded Speakers Forum     61  582409  03-13-2010
  »  New  Romy's Multi-cell Horns Where Are They?..  Love The Look...  Horn-Loaded Speakers Forum     2  23969  08-17-2013
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