Limpia Sound

Hello out there. I've been quite ill this year. It's been touch and go but I'm much better now.

Contact me if you're interested in Dynaudio, Octave, Aurender, Audience, Bryston, Rega and Cardas. I can make that happen for you.

Don

When we think of that new piece that will make your systems sing, consider the company's history of servicing when things go wrong. And things do break down, even expensive gear. In my experience, Bryston is exceptional. If you chose Bryston, you get great sound and the entire company's backing should you need service.

I regret my partnership with REL Acoustics has been terminated. It was their decision. My rep said it was all about sales. I've had good years and bad ones but I've been a dealer for 20 years. I still recommend REL, I think there are the best. This one stings.

Maybe I'll seek public office. I have no platform or name but lovin' is my game. I have a serious loss of hearing so I listen very carefully. I watch the other's lips, eyes and movements while closing off my own thoughts and preconceptions as well as I'm capable. The rest is honoring truth wherever I may find it.

If you wish to contact me, please text or email. I get many scam calls everyday and I do not answer calls from numbers I don't recognize. I'm available by appointment only and I'd prefer to come to you.

Another award garnered by this esteemed company. The BDA-3, like everything Bryston makes, offers world class performance and longevity at real world prices.

More Bryston DAC Accolades!!

Bryston

What about expensive cables? Worth it? They may be. If the best electrical characteristics alone determine their worth, then Kimber cables are some of the best and moderately priced while their top range is expensive. Audience is my favorite and I like Cardas. Their top models are expensive too. So, are they worth it?

Sound is a funny thing and so is our hearing. My theory is there are two forces at play. The purely acoustic aspect and the psychoacoustic. One can be measured, the other cannot because it's relative to individual perception. It also depends on whether the system itself can reveal the differences cables can make. I know good cables are a part of a well designed high performance audio system but how much should we reasonably expect to spend ?

In my long experience with cables, I think a good way to determine that is use the 10% rule. Add the cost of the 2 pieces to be connected, then divide by 2. Ten percent of that number is in the neighborhood. You can certainly go higher if you have the budget, and your system will benefit and you can tell a positive difference, then it's worth it to you.

Hello friends. I have parted ways with McIntosh Labs. I've been a dealer for about 5 years and although Limpia Sound is a small enterprise with only this page and word of mouth, I have sold quite a bit. I admire the product and the people who work there but it was their decision to let me go.

Meanwhile, my new dealership with Mofi Distribution has opened 20 or more lines to me. Wharfdale is one that is garnering accolades globally. Rose Audio is another. I still represent Dynaudio, Harbeth, Hegel, Bryston, Rega, REL and indirectly, Linn Products. I am currently showing the Whardale Elysian 2 loudspeaker. They've hit a home run with this one.

I love boats. I don't have one but I have an affection for them, especially a Mako. There's something about the profile, the graceful, fluid lines and its way with the water. I fell in love with them decades ago in Genoa, Italy. My ship docked there a few days for some reason. Even in the harbor, the water was blue. The port authority used Mako boats to ferry people to ships anchored further out in the bay. I loved watching them go by.

With audio enthusiasts there's a similar reaction to equipment itself. We do look at the thing when we listen unless our eyes are closed. In fact, listening while looking ahead eyes open is different than closed because there's no distraction but we do listen eyes open much of the time. So there it is. Your system and I think it's likely you care how it looks. My point I guess, is there are many non audio variables at play when we listen. Our mood affects the experience greatly.

When I listen while looking at my system, I want to have that Mako experience. Both are designed for purpose, and high performance audio like Mako, is where design and function rises to the level of art.

The Wharfdale Elysian 2. New at Limpia Sound.

Hello my friends. I hope your hot summer is going well. A couple of updates. Hegel Audio is a new line I offer. It's priced similar to Bryston and likewise, it's rather spartan as well. Both companies avoid unnecessary frills. You get what you need to operate the thing and nothing more. DAC's and phono stages are optional. I like both and they are a high value line. Not cheap but all considered, they are well worth the cost in terms of sonics, build quality and durability. Secondly, I have known the owners of Houston's Timbre Audio for decades. They are one of the nation's few dealers for Linn products. Linn is famous for their Linn Sondek turntable. It's was introduced in 1973 and it's still in production. It has evolved over the years but the basic design is unchanged. I've owned two. I've had the second for 31 years and it was recently updated to current level. That's remarkable in itself but the sound is also. Nothing captures the moment, the pace and rhythmic flow of music like it does. I encourage a visit to Timbre. This is real high end professionalism. A family owned business with decades of experience. Mike and his dynamic father Joe, are simply delightful human beings that truly love music. Very cool.

I want to talk about vintage gear but I'll save that until next time. Stay cool, enjoy your music, spread your joy.

I've noticed how my appreciation for music has expanded as my system has evolved. Sometimes a record or CD that I didn't particularly care for before, I now enjoy. That's because as I improve the system my connection with the music deepens or it becomes more profound. When auditioning audio gear, I try not to focus on particulars like the bass or the highs but feel what my emotions are telling me. Great bass or shimmering highs will get your notice but only that emotional connection can tell you if it's a good choice.

BTW. I'm not in El Paso. I'm in Beaumont/Nederland. I'll fix that if I ever figure out how🤔

This a power amplifier. It's made by Octave de, a small German company of 20 employees. As you see, this is a vacuum tube fired amplifier. Sound is a funny thing. A solid state amplifier does what a tubed amp does but they sound different. I think there's something about beaming electrons across a vacuum as opposed to pushing them through crystal. You can hear the difference.

My sole analog source. The Linn Sondek (aka the LP12). Still built in Scoland in constant production since 1973. I've had this one 31 years. Timeless perfection that will never be obsolete.

Absolutely captivating. The most "human" system I've owned. Octave, Harbeth and Bryston on duty backed by REL.

The Bryston Mini T loudspeaker fronted by the Octave RE320 all tube power amp is startling. Dynamic, detailed and full bodied. This less than 2 cubic feet box will surprise you. Its capable of genuine deep bass requiring just a nudge from the REL to get the below 30HZ range fleshed out. This speaker has impressed me greatly.

I've used scores of different cables from several manufacturers over the years. I like Transparent and Cardas. Their products and the companies themselves are excellent. They both seem to sound better on some systems than others. Audience is the only brand that sounds the same regardless of system context. From their Ohno to the FrontRow, the family resemblance is obvious. It just gets better as you move up the line. The FrontRow is my reference. All interconnects, analog and digital and speaker cable. The power cord is next.