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Reviewer's Bio
Nels Ferre
Born in Virginia in 1966, I have always had an insatiable appetite for music.
Grew up listening to rock music, being greatly influenced by my older siblings. Upon completion of my formal education, I ended up in the audio industry, pulling a ten year stint as a store manager for a small audio video chain in Orlando, Florida. After the chain closed,
there was another ten years in the automobile and computer industries and am currently employed as a manager in the trucking industry, for one of the largest carriers of refrigerated freight in the United States.
In addition to rock and roll, I love the blues, bluegrass, and classical music. My other hobbies include motorcycling and currently ride a Suzuki Boulevard C50 cruiser. Also enjoy dining out, deep sea fishing and reading.
Like Scott Faller, another writer at Enjoy the Music.com, I, too, have written for a European webzine. In that time, have learned a few things. First, every writer has biases and preferences that affect their viewpoint, no matter how unbiased one pretends to be. I prefer analog to digital, although digital has come a long way since its introduction. It involves more work to get good results, from setup, to record care to maintenance (stylus replacements and the occasional belt replacement.) The payoff, in my opinion, is more than worth the trouble. While most of my system uses vacuum tubes, there are excellent quality reasonably priced solid state components as well. While I have never owned a Linn component, can definitely understand the "Linn Logic": get it right at the source. This probably explains why I have held on to my trusty mid '90s vintage Infinity Kappa series speakers: each upgrade upstream has made them even more enjoyable. While I have reviewed other speakers through the years, some quite exceptional, I haven't found another compelling enough to justify an upgrade. On the subject of speakers, am not a fan of "full range" drivers Why? Because they aren't. They are an interesting diversion, nothing more. I prefer the door speakers in my car to remain there, they don't belong in my listening room. That's not to say that better than acceptable results can't be obtained from Lowthers and the like, but it usually requires an enclosure bigger than a refrigerator, or bi amplification. So much for "full range."
While the recording industry is currently experiencing a decline of which there seems no end, there is a renaissance of sorts in high end audio. Not since the Golden age of audio have there been so many different opportunities for music lovers. Computer based audio, a resurgence of interest in vinyl and tubes, and gear from the far east, professional modifiers, and upstart manufacturers have made this a great time to be involved in the hobby. Web based audio forums have made the exchange of ideas and advice easy. Websites like eBay and Audiogon have made it easier to find that elusive LP, CD or piece of equipment.
I am looking forward to exploring these exciting times with you.
Associated Equipment
Sources
Analog: SOTA Star Series III Turntable (Vacuum Platter with Outboard Power Supply)
Audiomods RB-250 Arm
Denon DL110 Moving Coil Cartridge
Dynavector DV20XL Moving Coil Cartridge Rebuilt with Ruby Cantilever and Line Contact Stylus
Digital: Apple MacBook Black 2.16 Dual Core Intel Processor, 4GB RAM Snow Leopard OS, iTunes V
9.X
MHDT Labs Havana DAC with NOS LM Ericsson 2C51/396A Tube
Drobo Storage Robot (First Generation)
Amplification
Line Stage: Juicy Music Peach with NOS 6H30DR (Russian Military) Tube
Power Amplifier: Bella Extreme Signature 3205 Mk. II Vacuum Tube Amplifier Shuguang Treasure Series KT88Z Output Tubes. JJ 12AU7 Input Tubes, Electro Harmonix 12AT7 Driver Tubes
Phono Stage: Bella Extreme Vacuum Tube Phono Stage with JJ 12AU7 Input Tube, new production Mullard 12AX7 Driver Tube, Outboard MC Step Up Transformer
Headphone Amplifier: Creek OBH11
Loudspeakers
Salk Signature Sound SongTower QWT
Infinity Kappa 6.1
Sony MDRV6 Headphones
Cables
Analysis Plus Oval 9 Speaker Cables
Belkin Pure AV Silver Series Interconnects
Belkin Pure AV Silver Series USB
Cables To Go Mini Toslink to Toslink Cable
Grant Fidelity PC-1.5 Power Cables
Power Conditioners
Dezorel LF-A1 MkII (Preamplifier and Phono Stage)
Panamax MAX 1000
Adcom ACE-515 (MacBook and Drobo)?
Power amplifier plugged directly into the wall
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