I saw the way that Terry Ellis works and he is very professional! He worked all day Saturday and Sunday to bring his followers this Report. Hope you Enjoy!!! Kudos to Terry to sum up this show so well! See you next year in the Ultimate Sessions Extreme 2024! All the best Miguel
Cool video🍻 And an interesting conclusion too. I worked at the Gryphon dealership in Glasgow for the best part of a decade and got to know just how good that particular brand was. But I also remember a customer rocking up with a full suite of Kondo electronics for us to sell on his behalf. And, well, it was a real eye-opener! In many areas the Kondo mercilessly whipped our best solid state - Gryphon, Ayre, Esoteric - without breaking a sweat. In terms of tone and timbre it wasn't even close. But I also recall that it wasn't really an all-rounder. If you wanted Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode or Led Zep (music with a steady propulsive beat) you would have run back to the SS brands I mentioned. And that's what makes the hobby interesting at the end of the day. No design is the best at everything and the skill is performing a balancing act that ends up suiting your own tastes. But yes, any first experience with Kondo will always end up moving the goalposts.
Powered speakers with active crossovers are modern high fidelity. There was non of these at that show. Passive speakers with ports and huge amplifiers are old school and very limited.
Thank you very much Terry for your report,its always good when we at Ultimate work so hard see our work apreciated,like you said the main goal was to bring 5 of the very best but all together diferent systems , for people listen and appreciate.
Although the Wadax items might well sound good . . . they are SO absolutely ungainly, (and I'm being generous here :-) they'd never make it into my listing space! YIKES! :-) Otherwise I really enjoyed the high end tour . . . Thank you!
System number 5 had it's speaker wires touching the ground in a few places drooping off of their stands. Everyone knows speaker wires touching the ground completely eliminates all frequencies between 1000-2200hz. Disappointing
😊thank you,i was doing the demos at the Dyptique room,even though was the least expensive system,i had a very good sound especially saturday and sunday.
Get those Audiovector R8 Arreté on the end of the Gryphon Audio Commander/Apex monoblocks perhaps some MSB and Burmester forming digital front end/Dac and that could be the end of my pursuit 😂😂😂 Ahh.. Dreams
For a huge amount of money, it makes sense to invest most of it on the right type of house. One away from neighbours with low background noise levels, enough internal room or insulation to allow the enthusiast to listen without disturbing others in the house. A large room with high ceilings to allow huge speakers and reasonable isolation for any turntables. The option to go true infinite baffle by having a spare room behind the listening room to vent into would be useful. With such a house, you wouldn't need to spend a huge amount of money to get a joint best in world listening experience.
Terry I heard the new Dali EpiKore 11 Speakers at the 2023 Munich High-End Show and they are very impressive you need to listen to a pair when they come out later this year !
So you would have enjoyed more me standing there for an hour reading out a series of numbers that you can get off the company websites. That is how you make a video noone wants to watch
Yeah you could see this in a shop but the shop would need to be huge and I don’t think many are large enough and imagine moving tons worth of weight for the different demos for someone. Not easy stuff
1 X MBL MBL 1621 A CD Transport 1 X MBL 1611 F Digital to Analogue Converter 1 X Der Vorverstärker - MBL 6010 D Preamplifier 4 X MBL 9011 A Mono Power Amplifiers 1 pair of MBL 101 X-Treme MKII Radialstrahler System loudspeakers. Hi Fi? Done. Best part of 600k? Gone.
I would like to see a full floor stander Mundorf/purifi speaker and audio note kit dac/integrated amp in the future of the channel. ❤affordable hi end ;)
I said the wrong thing by mistake, happens sometimes when your a man one crew as there is no one to tell you about the mistake and I missed it in the edit as well
@@PursuitPerfectSystem I thought I heard it wrong at first. We all make mistakes wasn't being nasty. Amazing systems but way out of my league. Great video though. We can all dream though 👍👍
Ongaku amps are like the audio equivalent of an open fire on a cold winter's day. The most soul warming system I ever heard was Ongaku driven. Great video.
Absolutely,ive been working on the audio industry for more than 30 years,and Ongaku by Kondo is the most beautifull sounding integrated amp ive eard,you kind forget that you're listening to a system,music flows everywere,timbres are the most correct and the timing is perfect...its why On Gaku means Music in Japanese,that tells everything.
Would it not be nice to organize a hifi show where none of the systems shown may exceed a price of say GBP 15,000.00 A lot of people who visit such a show can actually afford the equipment shown.
I was at one this weekend so they exist now and always have, but it’s important to think. The opportunity to spend time with hifi that costs under 15000 is relatively easy. The chance to hear not one but several at the level of this show happens once or twice a year if your lucky.
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Unfortunately no one seems to give a short impression of a show where affordable systems are shown. Impressions of shows in the USA,Germany, Thailand , United Kingdom etc. yes, but in all these shows the absolute top segment of High End stuff. Perhaps you could direct me to a channel where these affordable rigs are shown ? Thanks in advance Sir
@@alexandervaneijken7741 look for videos for the Bristol hifi show there is a real mixture there. To be honest there are tons and tons of video on YT for affordable hifi far more than the ultra premium stuff
Kudos for giving the top vote to the valves + horns system. You are now officially branded as a SET fan! Joking aside, this is a very interesting idea and I wish there were mores shows like this. In all fairness, the way most hifi shows are put together is anything but conducing to hifi audio, so how are they different to glossing over a stack of audio magazines? Granted, you can actually see the products and maybe, just maybe, hear something that might catch your attention but at the same time, I'd very sceptical about falling into this trap because there are all sorts of set up factors in these show rooms that could give you the wrong impression about an excellent system and thus make you discount it when you otherwise would not have. So, this type of exhibition presented here I think we might be seeing more of in the future.
What hifi shows give people is a chance to speak to the manufacturer and maybe other professionals to get help advice and info, they are also days out where you indulge in your hobby and have a fun day. It doesnt always have to be 100% technically perfect for every little thing, a taster or something is enough to show you whats good about it
@@PursuitPerfectSystem That's true too. You can also find new products or manufacturers you might not know about or cannot easily have access to - and meet people with the same interests, that's always exciting. On the other hand, I would love this type of exhibition where you can actually properly listen to a system and compare it with others as you wood in a showroom. Of course, hifi showrooms are there for exactly that purpose but I guess it's not the same as having a few great systems from different companies together at the same place as hifi showrooms usually are about a few manufacturers and not necessarily the ones you want to compare. This is also true for this type of show here but it is still one more option and, hopefully, quite a unique experience.
5 systems only? That’s not enough! I need at least 9 for each of my rooms. This must be the budget high end show! I agree with you though. The Aventgarde system is the one I’d pick. It at least has a nod to creating that emotional response snd subtlety. The rest of it was rather inefficient blingy kit that left me cold, the usual vulgar kit that appeals more to those with 7 figure disposable incomes than to genuine music lovers. Tbh that show left me cold. The HiFi Deluxe show at Whittlebury appealed far more to me and was far more relevant to music with some far more appealing systems. This one was for bragging rights.
The whole concept of this show is you get to see and hear extreme systems, that only 1% can afford yes but that is no different really to being at a show like Whittlebury when you still cant afford the stuff there. It doesn't really make any difference its nice to be there and get the experiences you never normally would.
these speakers belong in a center city atraction or museum...not practical...paying for abstract art...not music...wish companies would go back to the bbc days, where it was all about the music...still today those vintage speakers are better than any new stuff coming out...
BS. There is no way that di appolito does more direct and line array like sound than full spectrum horn setup. That is just absolute nonsense. He does not mean bad but he just does not have a clue what the words mean that come out of his mouth. Sure if it is smaller room he listened them in close proximity which affects it. But technically that is just impossible to have less room with ”standard” speaker compared to well calculated horn system.
Considering I am the one who listened to the systems and am not assuming I know more than someone else even without any experience of the systems in these rooms and am still making insulting bold claims - that is the BS right there.
Superb display of dream setups. Would be very interested in knowing the reason for pairing the Burmester Amp in system No 5 with the VAC Preamp. Of all the setups, system No 5 came across as a bit cobbled together with whatever gear was available. An all VAC setup would have been phenomenal IMO. Still kudos to Ultimate Audio for a great lineup!
I think having tons of money would take the fun out of it. Half the fun is wanting , saving and researching forever before buying , and trying to get the most for less. Millennium Falcon systems. Baddest hunk o junk stereo in the galaxy:)
Forgot to add - kudos for being willing to tune John Darko's room in Lisbon over Facetime : I didnt think that was even possible and there is at least one Dirac Live calibrator in Oz who would have charged John an arm and a leg for even attempting it. Well done.
Technically someone has to be but I worked out a way that it doesnt have to be me and I can still calibrate the system which is pretty cool right. I have been doing them for John for a few years now
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Cool ! John is working very hard to address a few myths around reverb and I look forward to the end result in Lisbon. That said, we've all endured venues where the acoustics are woeful but our brains usually adapt - humans are weird ;)
Love this content. A hifi set for the super rich. By the way, the background music that you used at the minute 12:14 is Flux Vortex - I’m going underground right? But i can’t find the audio only or the mix..thanks again
Nice presentation. I would really like to hear a recording of each room so that we could appreciate with our own ears a taste of what they have to offer. I know it is not perfect, but RU-vid demos do give a comparative taste of what is presented.
Great Video Terry, I think I'd just go straight to Audio Note UK and have Peter Qvortrup sort me out. If it's closer to the music you want, in my view, there's little that comes close to Audionote. How about you getting down there to West Sussex and do an interview and factory tour.
Thanks for showing the Diptyque. I believe that new reference system has not been shown in the US yet. Indeed, only at last week's Florida show did we see that Diptyque now has a US distributor, and they showed the lowest price model. This new reference speaker visually is much sharper than the first Diptyque models (which were a bit ... homely.)
You can only afford these systems if you tie your jumper around your neck . Or wear a scarf inside . 😅 Nice video Terry , shame no sound demo but after what you told me , it’s not worth the haters . 👍
Wish we could’ve heard a few bits from the show, you always manage to do good recordings - guessing it wasn’t possible this time around. Great work nonetheless 👌
It is my ambition to win the lottery,and I intend to squander a good portion of those winnings on a system that will stun with both its sight and sound .
The only thing missing is the audio capture with microfone that you usually make 🙂 Perfect review ! and a nice country to visit Terry!! Greetings from Lisbon
Here’s what I don’t get. Things like sitting position is important. How are people expected to sit behind 20 people and hear what the people in the front row hear. Thus these listening rooms are lame
Room acoustics are always an issue and always a factor. There is nothing stopping you deciding what seat you sit in for a demo and you could sit and listen in every chair. If you want a personal demo you arrange it. Sounds like you have never been to a hifi show before maybe try it and you will see. The biggest difference you will experience is in the bass but take the time to find a good seat and you get a good demo simple. The same as at home
I love listening to music doesn't matter what type of music it is as long as it makes you feel good what I don't like is overpriced systems to be honest I think it's ripping the piss out of the poor audio files this type of system is only for the super rich and to be honest I don't think they give a shit what they got cuz have them don't even bother listening to it they should make things a little bit more cost-effective and making systems out of materials that most people cannot even pronounce I think is pathetic even though some of these systems are stunning
If someone buys a mega system like this and uses it for 10 hours a week for 20 years then it’s earned it price, everything else is just how you see it which is a one sided view of the situation.
I stopped watching this after 5 mins. The cost is irrelevant, good is good, great is better. There is nothing unexpected about the prices of the various components here. I've stopped watching because for some unfathomable reason, Mr Ellis, you insist on appearing completely in front of the system which is properly, old school, annoying. The stats you list are largely inconsequential, the weight of any component for instance is neither here nor there. I'd prefer the focus to be on the connectivity of each component - what is it about one item that makes it a great pairing for what's next in the chain, etc. Lastly, if you're not Laurence Olivier, stay out of the light.
91,100 views yours is the only complaint of its kind, I think the majority appreciate someone who can present the different systems. I don’t know why they were selected and put together I didn’t do it, but you can always contact Ultimate elite in Portugal and ask them. Also if you stopped watching after 5 minutes how do you know what’s in the whole video? Stupid comment sorry but it is
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Hello, I watched up to the first two rooms. I did jump to a couple of places further up but that was just to check what systems were on display. Why stand almost completely obscuring the system? Why? Also by connection I mean the relationship of features. If I saw a system with a 1000watt tranny amp, paired to a 106db horn speaker, I'd question what I'm getting out of the system. Finally In 1969 400,000 sports fans waited eagerly to see the start of the Le Mans 24hr race. The drivers poised on one side of the main straight, their cars on the other. The lights turned green, the drivers ran to their cars as expected and as almost everyone seemed happy with. That is apart from Jacky Ickx. He alone refused to accept what everyone else thought was okay, that is to run to your car and start racing before fastening your seatbelts. He deliberately walked to his car. With the race under way, on turn 2, a competitor crashed before he'd had time to do up his seatbelt and died. Jacky went on the win his first of many Le Mans races. The following year the famous start procedure was abandoned......
How many HiFi videos have you made, how many shows have you been to and made videos there? When you have around an hour over a lunch break to visit 5 rooms when the rooms will be empty and no music is playing to setup a camera to shoot yourself, to compose yourself think about what your going to say, think about lighting camera settings sound and composition and a few other things. Thats less than 20 minutes per room sounds like a lot give it a try. Its always a challenge to be in the shot with a hifi system this large because you have to shoot wide angle to get he system in the shot then come close to the camera to be the presenter which means you block the shot. BUT throughout the video you see all the systems from all manner of angles. So in the videos entirety you see more of the systems than you do me but when I am talking you see me. That is how I make all my show videos and they have had millions of views with no complaints. When millions of people think one thing and just one something else I dont think its the one we should be listening to. You cant please everyone and I dont pretend I do but I also invite you to do better and look forward to seeing your videos.
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Hello, I don't doubt it is challenging, but I suspect you very much enjoy it [which cannot be said for everyone in every position]. How many videos have I made? None. How many would I like to make? None. Would you agree that scales of difficulty are largely dependant on the desire to do the thing in the first place? Finally, my Ickx example was to show it is what one says that counts, consensus of opinion is of no moment. This does not mean you change anything to please the one person talking against the wind. If you're happy and the largesse of your audience are happy why would you change. I spend my days managing the funding, the allocation and analysing the impact of £77bn of offshore electricity development. Thank you for the invite but I think I'll continue to do what I enjoy and am very good at.
I am glad you have been honest that you have never made a video before, let alone one like this. That shows you have waded in with your comments without considering the context of how a video like this is made. Ignorance to the situation that sounds harsh but it’s true. Had you taken a step back first before you commented and thought how did this guy make this what were the challenges. I could tell you you suck at your job but it would be meaningless as I don’t know how you do your job. It’s easy to be overly critical but actually how many other videos are there for this show and are they better? Nope and nope this is as good as it gets for this so maybe appreciate it’s there for you for free and it was a weeks work with international travel for someone like me
One does not "invest" into a planned depreciating asset. Few audio gadgets have ever gained in value over time. Most people pretty worthless after a few years. Buying _stuff_ is just spending discretionary income. As for winning a lottery: that is hard, very hard to accomplish.
Investing in one’s life enrichment and free time enjoyment is still an investment. Doesn’t have to be financial and you could argue it’s even more important. You only have one life and can’t take it with you.
All that money, then you put in a £4.99 cd 😅 ok ok a £49.99 vinyl 😮 see for me that’s where it all falls down .. The increments are so small for the outlay, but I suppose if you buy that gear, it’s just showing off .
Interesting comment, because if you attend a show like this and listen to a system like these and then listen to even a very good normal hifi system the difference is enormous not small. or incremental. These big system take the humble CD and blow it up to something special that normal systems just cant do. There is definitely some showing off for the visual designs but thats not all it is.
@@PursuitPerfectSystem I have missed the point then, a 20k system is not comparable to them systems, perhaps we should just make do until we save enough penny's and listen to the real deal .. I shall depart and know my place on high end Audio .
I cant speak for every system, but I have had systems that cost a lot more than £20k and yes they didn't get me close to the big system s here that cost well over half a mil. That doesn't mean the £20k system cant be enjoyed and still be excellent but a difference exists. We wish it didn't exist but it just does and I am fine with that as I will never have the big system, but I take what I can from it and try and make that work for what I can afford.
The average salary in Portugal for the most recent year (2022) is 33,000 EUR per year. That's around 32,117 USD per year according to the Oct. 2022 exchange rates. I wonder who of the local visitors is able to afford…
Portugal is a country with great tradition in highend equipment and superb stores,people here especially the aficionados always find someway to buy good stuff😊