wbass
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Dec 11, 2023 at 1:23 PM
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Birthday:
Sep 1, 1979 (Age: 44)
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wbass

Friend, Male, 44, from London, UK

Pyrate

Looking forward to the upcoming kaiju wedding comedy: Godzilla Plus One. Dec 4, 2023

wbass was last seen:
Viewing thread SBAF Day of the Dead, Dec 11, 2023 at 1:23 PM
    1. wbass
      wbass
      Looking forward to the upcoming kaiju wedding comedy: Godzilla Plus One.
      1. Boops and Merrick like this.
    2. wbass
      wbass
      I've been in recording studios and have a general sense of how good-sounding records sound good, but how about mostly electronic albums?
      1. yotacowboy likes this.
      2. wbass
        wbass
        Is it all down to quality of patches and sources? Recording interface? Scrupulous attention paid to mixing and mastering?

        I always find Junior Boys albums great sounding. And Daft Punk. But, presumably, almost anyone should be able to achieve great sound if it's all "in the box"?
        Nov 29, 2023
      3. wbass
        wbass
        Btw, Junior Boys, Begone Dull Care is a great album for layering.
        Nov 29, 2023
      4. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        I've wondered similarly; if most of the music I listen to is never actually live, i.e., an actual musical event, does that mean it's a better or worse "fabricated" event when I listen to it on my speakers or headphones? Does my favorite DJ mix on crappy headphones?
        Nov 29, 2023
        wbass likes this.
    3. wbass
      wbass
      ECM: greatest record label ever? Every time I think I'm bored of them, I discover something totally new and weird and immaculately recorded.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. wbass
        wbass
        ECM goes so deep, I'm not even sure what's deep or shallow!

        A few off the top of my head, but maybe these are known....

        Anouar Brahem: Le Pas du Chat Noir

        Bengt Berger Bitter Funeral Beer Band

        Eivind Aarset/Jan Bang: Dream Logic

        Jakob Bro: Returnings

        Jon Hassell: Last Night the Moon...
        Nov 25, 2023
        gaspasser likes this.
      3. wbass
        wbass
        Generally, if there's no soprano sax on an ECM record, I'll at the very least be curious about it. Jan Garabek ruins so many otherwise great records with his shitty, smoothed over tone.
        Nov 25, 2023
        gaspasser likes this.
      4. Boops
        Boops
        Love this label also. Check out the Prism series of albums by Danish String Quartet if you like that sort of thing. Hafla by Siwan is also great. Many others…
        Nov 25, 2023
        Cryptowolf and wbass like this.
    4. wbass
      wbass
      Finally getting a chance to AB Enleum Amp-23R and Ferrum stack with Susvara and LCD-4. Prelim conclusions are Sus is better match with 23R.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. wbass
        wbass
        Nov 7, 2023
      3. wbass
        wbass
        LCD-4/Ferrum and Susvara/Enleum a nice study in contrast. First is close/tightly staged, very immediate, with strong slam and heft. Second is slightly pushed back, a touch mellower, low fatigue, but very detailed and still with solid bass.
        Nov 7, 2023
        Cryptowolf and yotacowboy like this.
      4. Armaegis
        Armaegis
        I'm always intrigued by "unique tech" as it were. The Bakoon/Enleum stuff interests me, and I've read good things. I do also have an OG HE-6 (4 screw) and have always wondered if I could find something satisfying that wasn't a full blown speaker amp.
        Nov 7, 2023
        Cryptowolf and wbass like this.
    5. wbass
      wbass
      Kinda wild how a different transducer can transform an album. Tonight it's Eivind Aarset's Dream Logic.
      1. Deep Funk, Cryptowolf and Justin S like this.
      2. wbass
        wbass
        For the last few weeks, I've been listening via HD58X, but I just got my Susvara set back up, and it's a totally different listen. The Sus presents a lot more detail, but it's the wider stage and better layering that also helps all of the subtle atmospheric stuff come out and also the surprising melodic coherence of such an ambient album.
        Oct 21, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Totally. It is a reframing of the material. I feel like the whole chain can change how you meet the music.
        Oct 21, 2023
        RestoredSparda and wbass like this.
    6. wbass
      wbass
      London Jazz Festival is pretty stacked. And well programed. A lot of left-field stuff. I'm impressed.
      1. Cryptowolf, bobboxbody and Gazny like this.
    7. wbass
      wbass
      Since Pyrates are talking HD800 rigs, what were the choice set-ups back in the Changstar days?
      1. Cryptowolf and Justin S like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Claritas
        Claritas
        There were three camps, and then there were people who went their own way (LFF, Hands), and some people (like me) who were still finding their way. The largest camp, by far, was Yggdrasil A1, EC/DNA, modded HD-800. There was speaker amp, HE-6. The smallest group was HeadAmp, Stax. People used to debate the sonic pros and cons of different headphone technologies. There was a thread about it.
        Oct 14, 2023
        Thad E Ginathom, JellyRhino and wbass like this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        That's a good summary @Claritas thanks. Hmm, so it seems like the big changes in HP-land are 1) Raal (seems to have somewhat faded in popularity) 2) higher-end planars (not hugely popular on here) 3) Utopia (still pretty popular but with some dissenters).
        Oct 14, 2023
        Claritas likes this.
      5. Claritas
        Claritas
        I know only about SBAF. I agree with you about Utopia (and other Focals). SBAF has had a big emphasis on modded HD-6x0's. First, the KISS HD-650. Lately, the JAR HD-600. ZMF and, more recently, ETA have also been deservedly popular. But the other big change is a much greater interest in IEMs, which started with the OG Andro. Great UIEMs have been a blessing. CFA has done very impressive work.
        Oct 15, 2023
    8. wbass
      wbass
      HD58X Jubilee & Enleum 23R. Crazy mismatch in $ but sounding great. Enleum still strikes as very clear, slightly bright, but also laidback.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. wbass
        wbass
        HD58X happens to be the other HP I have on hand. Since I'm stuck in temporary lodging waiting for my flat purchase to complete, and there was a lovely mold mite outbreak the other day, my Sus, VC, and LCD-4 are safely (I hope) away in their cases.
        Sep 28, 2023
      3. wbass
        wbass
        I wasn't expecting magic from the HD58X/Enleum combo, but am finding it very listenable and perhaps even considerably more involving than what I recall from, say, Piety or maybe BHA-1. Just more micro-detail and a more composed stage. Unsurprising, given the cost difference, but just stream-of-conscious thoughts here really....
        Sep 28, 2023
        yotacowboy likes this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        As for the Forte's: Still in storage. Hopefully coming to me in... a month or so?
        Sep 28, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
    9. wbass
      wbass
      While I wait for this flat purchase to go through, I'm staying with my aunt. Woke up the last few days to what I thought was yellowish dust
      1. DigMe likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. wbass
        wbass
        The Day of the Aphids
        Sep 24, 2023
      4. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        "The Day of the Aphids"

        *R*O*F*L*

        (five-star rofl)

        "There's also the dog hair and the hoarding of every knick knack under the sun."

        I should meet your aunt. Sounds like we would get on. I could bring copious cat hair into her life :)
        Sep 24, 2023
        wbass likes this.
      5. wbass
        wbass
        Ha, cheers. If I can get one laugh out of this, it won't have been a total hygiene nightmare. For some reason, in addition to tulip bulbs, the aphids like my headphones (head) and glasses (also head). So excuse me while I go dip my dome in DEET.
        Sep 25, 2023
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
    10. wbass
      1. CEE TEE, edd and Gazny like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. wbass
        wbass
        And/or search "Taylor Haskins--Alberto Balsam" on streaming service of your choice.
        Sep 13, 2023
      4. CEE TEE
        CEE TEE
        Hey- I like GoGoPenguin and this is is more downtempo but really nice. And yeah- a great track to test the Yggdrasil A2 boards that just came in. :)
        Sep 14, 2023
        wbass likes this.
      5. wbass
        wbass
        GoGoPenguin also great. Beat-driven UK jazz definitely still continuing its moment.

        On the Haskins track, the drummer is doing all sorts of fun subtle stuff. Really quiet chatter on the snare drum and so forth.

        For Aphex Twin jazz covers, I also love The Bad Plus' version of "Film."
        Sep 14, 2023
        CEE TEE likes this.
    11. wbass
      wbass
      Enleum Amp-23R in the house. Testing with Sus and LCD-4. Initial impressions are pretty good. It's less warm than expected, and quite clear.
      1. Cryptowolf, yotacowboy, jexby and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. wbass
        wbass
        Listening with the Susvara now and enjoying it a lot. Not wanting for dynamism or liveliness at the moment. Based on audio memory, Sus does seem a touch brighter out of the Enleum than the Ferrum, but it's also a slightly easier and, again, cleaner sound.
        Sep 15, 2023
      4. wbass
        wbass
        I think I'm starting to hear that somewhat tube-like sound some folks have mentioned. It's a bit more liquid, less hashy than other solid-state I've heard. At the same time, I would't call it forward. It's not a "front row seat" kind of amp. Not thus far anyway.
        Sep 15, 2023
      5. wbass
        wbass
        "Vivid" and "more tonal colors" are also coming to mind. I hate audiophile-speak. Could also be new-toy syndrome. Who knows? Unscientific, stream-of-conscious impressions, for whatever they're worth.
        Sep 15, 2023
    12. wbass
      wbass
      6 solid to strong records in good shape for $30. Crate digging like it used to be.
    13. wbass
      wbass
      Been fun crate digging the last couple weeks. Some (hopefully) solid scores. I took a flier on a few, in classic digging tradition.
      1. bobboxbody and Biodegraded like this.
      2. wbass
        wbass
        Mostly jazz: Oliver Nelson/Dolphy, Kenny Wheeler, Willis Jackson (soul jazz guilty pleasure), Barry Altschul, Charles Earland, Randy Weston, Benny Carter, John McLaughlin (early rock-fusion), Tadd Dameron/Coltrane

        Finally found a good copy of Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, too.
        Aug 12, 2023
      3. wbass
        wbass
        A few others I maybe could/shoulda left behind, but that's digging.
        Aug 12, 2023
    14. wbass
      wbass
      Anyone have a record hunting/carrying bag they like? I've gotta take about 30 or so crate-digging scores on a couple flights.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. wbass
        Aug 8, 2023
        Biodegraded likes this.
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        "Is 19" x 19" big enough to fit LPs now adays?"

        Aren't they the same size as they always were?

        It's been a long time (like decades), but... 12"?

        (I'd have to climb to a ladder-access cupboard to measure one)
        Aug 9, 2023
        wbass likes this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        I think of a jacket as 13" x 13", which leaves room for over-sized jackets. Those flight/helmet bags look really handy, but maybe a bit big. I also like the roll-top backpacks for LPs, but I need a shoulder bag in this case.
        Aug 9, 2023
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
    15. wbass
      wbass
      In addition to being interesting to excellent post-Rachael's crossover/classical/ indie/whatever, Balmorhea is often quite well recorded.
      1. bobboxbody and yotacowboy like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. wbass
        wbass
        Not sure if there's a direct connection--oops, didn't mean to imply that--but they definitely cite Rachael's as an inspiration. And Mogwai and Tortoise. A lot of acts have been hip to those bands, but Balmorhea have been more interesting than most IMO.
        Jul 8, 2023
        DigMe likes this.
      4. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        If i were to recommend any one album of theirs as a jumping off point, it'd be Stranger. Then move through Clear Language and The Wind. Then move back through their earlier catalog. I'm still parsing out their newest, tho. There are portions that I'm still trying to understand how they fit with the overall sensibility of the album as a whole.
        Jul 8, 2023
      5. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        I very much appreciate how most of their work grows in intricacy through familiarity, where that's usually not the case with a lot of music. At first blush things sound rather simple, but generally there's more going on, and the nuance is in what we don't notice, almost as if an intention of the group.
        Jul 8, 2023
        bobboxbody and wbass like this.
    16. wbass
      wbass
      Should be getting my hands on Enleum Amp-23R this week and shooting out w/ Ferrum stack + Susvara and Verité Closed (via Gustard R26).
      1. gsanger, jexby, zottel and 7 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Armaegis
        Armaegis
        Very curious to hear about the Enleum. A friend of mine had that as his last rig (only sold it all because he had another kid).
        Jul 8, 2023
      4. wbass
        wbass
        Yeah, very curious to hear the Enleum. Ferrum is excellent but not always toe-tapping. Susvara is great, but can sometimes be slightly reserved dynamically, so more power might be the ticket. I think the Enleum is meant to have a mild mid-bass hump, which I think will also compliment the Sus well.
        Jul 8, 2023
      5. Taguro
        Taguro
        @wbass Will wait for your impressions on the AMP-23R. My Susvara has been sitting here for weeks because of the lack of "toe-tappiness" as you've said. As much as I want it to be an all-rounder, it's been limited to select genres + non-music listening (YouTube, podcasts, etc). Hopefully more power really does the thing. Been triangulating findings with fellow local hobbyists, and they've also said the same thing.
        Jul 8, 2023
    17. wbass
      wbass
      Anyone else shift genre choices when they're listening to HPs as opposed to 2ch? My go-to HP listening lately has been minimalist electro.
      1. Tchoupitoulas likes this.
      2. wbass
        wbass
        Electronic music/production seems to favor hard-panned detail, texture, deep bass, lots of panning effects. In short, ear candy. Probably b/c most of its made and mixed on HPs. I prefer band stuff and acoustic instruments on 2ch. And 50s-70s recordings on vinyl.
        Jul 2, 2023
        lithium and Biodegraded like this.
    18. wbass
      wbass
      Okay, for fun, help me build a new, somewhat down-sized system?? New, smaller apt means my two-box ARC pre and Allnic phono might need to...
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        P3ESR-XD (not the original P3ESRs), Heed Obelisk SI MKIII, a smallish REL turned way down for fill and staging. They'll fill a medium sized room at a distance or pull them in for pretty striking staging in nearfield. Very very natural sounding.
        Jun 30, 2023
        Johnny Opps, wbass and Inoculator like this.
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @wbass I somehow missed that you are also looking for something for the Susvara. While I have not heard that combo, folks rave about it. AMP-23r is too perfect of a fit for a small profile device for Forte+Susvara.
        Jun 30, 2023
        wbass likes this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        @Justin S Probably not moving away from the Klipsch Forte III. I'm not a huge mini-monitor fan, personally, and the Forte's do well at lower volumes, which I might be forced to embrace. But thanks for the suggestion.

        Mostly just trying to figure out the amp/phono pre situation. Down the road I might check out Quad 57s though, as had a pretty amazing audition of those a few years ago.
        Jul 1, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
    19. wbass
      wbass
      Flat hunting (in London) as an audio-nut has been an interesting process. A lot of places have gardens, and a lot of people put fancy sheds
      1. View previous comments...
      2. wbass
        wbass
        I plan to keep bike commuting. In fact, I liked this flat, b/c it has a relatively calm route to work. And storage enough for 2-4 bikes. Been cycling quite a bit lately and want to do some touring and gravel soon. But I really don't like to cycle when it rains, and it does, of course, rain.
        Jun 27, 2023
      3. wbass
        wbass
        So, tube access will be nice. And, of course, there are cross-city trips best done via train. Also, 20 minutes to King's Cross and trains to Brussels, Paris, and beyond. And it's the same line out to Heathrow, too.
        Jun 27, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        But I'll probably have to turn my subwoofers way, way down. Ha. Priorities.
        Jun 27, 2023
        Biodegraded likes this.
    20. wbass
      wbass
      I don't like shit in my ears, but somehow have accumulated a little IEM collection, all bought on heavy discount, but one really saves by
      1. Cryptowolf and Jinxy245 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Kernel Kurtz
        Kernel Kurtz
        SBAF will do that to you :-). When I joined I didn't even have a headphone rig never mind a DAP and multiple IEMs. They do all sound really good though...
        Jun 8, 2023
        wbass likes this.
      4. CEE TEE
        CEE TEE
        Hey, thanks for buying the Noble X and FD-X1 that I worked on. Appreciate it. :) (Side note: I have been re-buying up used FD-X1 for my oldest/best friends...)
        Jun 9, 2023
        Joshvar and wbass like this.
      5. wbass
        wbass
        Ha ha, your technical and marketing prowess worked on me. I like the FD-X1 and find them a solid to strong listen, especially for the price. The Noble X I'm a bit divided on. Have had some good sessions, but they don't like to stay in my ears. Beautifully made though.
        Jun 9, 2023
        CEE TEE likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    Sep 1, 1979 (Age: 44)
    Location:
    London, UK