Zapping the Nasties from Your Speakers - Enacom CSS-1 Speaker Tuning CD

This is my third and last write-up on an Enacom product. Before the interruption of the KLIAV2010 show, I wrote about the AC Enacom and Speaker Enacom, both of which had the ability to give you a smoothened, refined sound from your system. The CSS-1 Tuning CD is the last item and I tried, it is of a mini CD size, smaller than the normal CD that we are used to. The CSS-1 is listed for RM200.

Ths size of the CSS-1 disc (right) compared to a normal CD

Is the CSS-1 the same as those 'demagnetizing' CDs? I don't know. Literature from Enacom did not mention anything about 'demagnetizing'. The signal on the CSS-1 is also different from those demagnetizing CDs that I have. The CSS-1 contains 2 tracks, with a total of 10 minutes of play time. It is to be played just like any CD. The signal is a series of throbbing sound in different patterns. It is rather noisy when played at the normal listening volume, which is, I am certain, an experience that no one would like to sit through. The best policy is to press play, leave the room immediately and come back 10 minutes later to sample the result.

The instruction from Enacom says that the CSS-1 is to be played once every 6 months and is best to be used together with the Speaker Enacom. This also means that I had only 1 shot in listening to the effect of the CSS-1 in my system, as after I ran it once there was no way for me to repeat the process to confirm the result for another round (i.e., no multiple A-B comparisons was possible).

The CSS-1 did show an effect on the system's sound. The effect was different from my experience with 'demagnetizing' where the effect was a smoothening of the treble and, if overdone, the system would sound dark due to rolled-off highs. With the CSS-1, the effect showed up as a heightened clarity to the sound, details in the music were highlighted. If you were a photographer, you would understand it when I say that the effect was like turning up the exposure level by around 0.5 stop. If a system was a bit dull or veiled, I believe the CSS-1's effect would be very beneficial.

This sense of heightened clarity lasted for a few days. Then the sound gradually shifted, something I would describe as a mellowness or a gentleness showed up in the sound slowly. Music sounded more comfortable than challenging, the artists' performance took on a gentler swinging quality rather than urgency. The difference was not very prominent but did give a different listening impression.

Unfortunately, like I mentioned earlier, I could not carry out multiple tests to see how consistent the results were. Just like any another accessories and tweaks, it is best to test the CSS-1 in your own system to see whether the effect suits you.

No doubt about it, the Enacom trio is a set of interesting and effective products for fine tuning your sound.

Enacom is carried by Nova Hifi, contact MK Lai, tel: 019-2226129

KEF Reference Series Speakers. Now Available In Colour From Perfect Hi-Fi.

Just some of the custom ed colour options available with the KEF Reference series line of speakers. There's a 15% price premium for the option of custom ed colour finishes.

KEF has been making fine hifi speakers since 1916. KEF has made many classic speakers in the past and was the sole driver supplier to classic BBC speaker designed models like the LS3/5A. The original KEF Reference series was launched in the early 80's, boasting CAD(Computer Aided Design) and stupendous sound quality(at the time).

For it's latest generation of Reference series speakers, in response to frequent request for custom ed coloured cabinets, KEF has finally relented, and has made available 12 custom colour range of automotive grade finishing for all their new Reference series line.

KEF's Asia Pacific Senior Business Manager, Franco Lock told me that today's high end speaker buyers not only want excellent sound, but also decor matching colour options. Now one can have it all!
A closer look at the Ferrari yellow automotive grade finish. Yummy!

Should you fancy one of these custom finished KEF Reference, simply contact Perfect Hi-Fi, KEF's Malaysian appointed dealer, ask for a demo, choose a model and colour of preference, pay a deposit for work to commence, wait 8-10 weeks for your speakers to arrive!

It's as easy as that.

Please call Alvin Tan at 012-6082168 or 03-21421693 for more details.

10 Qs For Robert Suchy, President Of Clearaudio.

Clearaudio's President, Robert Suchy.

I grabbed the opportunity to talk to Robert Suchy(pronounced Sukee), President and 2nd generation management of Clearaudio, the leading analog and one the largest turn table manufacturers of the world today!

I got John, boss of CMY to set me up for the Q & A session, hopefully to provide some insight in to the philosophy and ticking's of the company. Let's start!

Big E: Welcome to Malaysia, is this your first time here?

RS: Yes, and I am already starting to like Kuala Lumpur.

Big E: Tell us a little more about Clearaudio please?

RS: My father, Peter Suchy started Clearaudio in the late 70's to manufacture speakers of time phase coherent design, do you believe that? Time phase coherent designs were considered well ahead of their time in those days. After all these years, we still get request to build a pair every now and then, mostly for the European markets. With the advanced speaker design, it quickly dawned on my father that another area needs to be seriously addressed, which is the source! At the time, the only credible source we had was the turn table, and my father started at the very beginning of the audio signal, the cartridge. It was from there that we then started to work on turn tables much later. Clearaudio is a family business and the second generation of Suchys, like me have joined in. Over the years, Clearaudio have remained focus in the analog market, we never thought about abandoning vinyl, even when at a time, CDs became the dominant music format.

Big E: Do you think the present vinyl revival would last all the way, or is it just a passing trend?

RS: I think most people who love music has come to realised, that there's no better way to appreciated music then thru the vinyl format. If you'd ask me this question 2 years ago, I would not be so sure, but now, I am very convinced that the vinyl format will stay for a long, long time!

Big E: Despite the fact that Hi-rez downloads are fast out selling physical music formats now and for a fore see able future?

RS: Yes, Hi-rez is very attractive as a format of convenience and will continue to evolve, but vinyl will still be the format of choice, if one values the most natural musical reproduction qualities.

Big E: I've listened to the Clearaudio "Statement" turn table before, and it's wildly impressive. What motivated you guys to come up with something like the "Statement"?

RS: After the success of the "Master Reference" turn table, both me and my brother, Patrick wanted to do something more radical, that would push the performance boundaries of analog reproduction at the time. Our father was actually horrified at the project, concerned about who would buy? can we turn a profit? from such an insanely expensive product. We persevered and after nearly 3 years of development work, and 21 test prototypes later, we finalised the design of what would be called the "Statement".

Big E: So how many "Statement"s have you sold till date? Has the project turned profitable yet?

RS: We sold 72 "Statement"s world wide till this day, but we have not made a profit on the product just yet. But I am glad we did it any way, because we could apply what we learned from the project and trickle down in to the lower models in the product line up. The "Statement" also raised Clearaudio's profile, in the market place, which is something we considered invaluable.

Big E: What parts of the "Statement" got trickle down to the lower models in the product line up?

RS: The "Statement" model thought us new ways to use materials, and new materials, re-examine in to every aspect of turn table design. The result you see is the new range of current Tangential tone arms,OSC(Optical Speed Control) DC motors, the CMB bearings for platter and tone arms, and a new synthetic vinyl like material called POM(Poly Oxy Methylene) for platers. By the way, talking about materials, did you know our Goldfinger cartridge's body is actually made of real 24K gold?

Big E: Really? I thought it's just gold coating! Does that mean Titanium cartridge body made using titanium metal? And the Stradivari cartridge, which my cartridge of choice by the way, uses real ebony wood, and not wood coatings?

RS: Yes, real gold for Goldfinger and real titanium for Titanium cartridges. As for your Stradivari, we only used wood coatings. Ha!Ha!.... No, I am just joking, we use real sustainable grade ebony wood for the Stradivari cartridge.

Big E: Tell me, how much of the "Statement" which cost like 100 times the price of the latest entry level "Concept" is filtered down to, in terms of technology?

RS: Technology from "Statement" trickled down to the "Concept"?(I answered YES!) That would be about 10%. The "Concept" turn table is about plug & play convenience, for people who appreciate the vinyl format's sound quality but do not want the hassles of vinyl set up. We do it all at the factory for you.
Robert doing the work shop demo with the Master Reference turn table at the CMY Audio & Visual room during the KLIAV 2010 show. The event was entertaining and fun to say the least if not educational on turn table set up methods, the Clearaudio way.

Big E: Some of my friends are a little confused by all the product lines in the Clearaudio turn table catalog. For them there seems to be too many products overlapping one another. Can you elaborate for their benefit?

RS: I don't think we have a big and confusing product line. It starts with the "Statement" on the top, then we have the Avantgarde and Champion lines, plus the Solution line, which all are up grade able by the way. This is followed by the Emotion and the more sophisticated Performance lines. Lastly, we have the Anniversary Specials. We have many models to cater to our very diverse markets. Certain models do very well in certain markets and others sell everywhere.

At this point, Robert goes on to tell me about Clearaudio's new products you can expect within the next 12 months or so. They include an entry level MC cartridge of new design. Robert also talked about a new super high end phono stage of full balance design, with various EQ and custom ed curves, plus it could also accommodate up to three tone arms, but yet quite like nothing the market has ever seen before. "It's gonna take on the likes of Boulder 2008 phono stage class of products" he said.

I wish to thank John of CMY Audio & Visual for making this session possible.

Loving Music. Clearaudio Concept Turntable.

The Clearaudio Concept turn table package spinning in my audio cave.

This is the latest, multi award wining Clearaudio Concept turn table. This budget priced turn table comes completely packaged with the Verify tone arm and a MM Concept cartridge. The Concept also allows electronic speed changes between 33, 45 or 78 rpm at the turn of the front left knob. This allows the turn table to play LP(Long Play)s at 33, Singles at 45 and mono LPs at 78 rpm speeds. The Concept will play all kinds of vinyl available in the market today.

There's quite a few ways to look at this new product from Clearaudio. It could be one's first entry in to the world of vinyl, or Clearaudio. It could be the next upgrade step for all those Rega P1/P2/P3 or Project budget turn table owners. It could be for some one who has been thru the upgrade hoops and now just wants something simple to play music. In fact the Concept turn table can be many things to many people. Best of all, it comes pre set up, and assembled at factory, ready to plug & play.

All one has to do is to carefully pull it out of the well thought out for transport packaging, level the turn table upon placing it on a stable surface/platform, oil the bearing, attach the sub platter belt, then put on the main platter and lastly connect the RCA cables plus hook up the wall wart power supply and you're ready to go!
The Concept package right out of the box! Lot's of shipping tapes and packing foams used to protect the turn table, and the factory set up complete, by the time it reaches your home. Some one has clearly put a lot of thought in to the packaging for transport of this product.

The complete accessories pack, all you need to set up the Concept turn table package is provided.

All the above work took me a little more than 20 minutes. Then finally, it's time for me to adjust my Pass Labs X-Ono phono stage loading and gain setting for the supplied MM cartridge. I followed the recommended settings, which specifies 40db MM gain, 47k resistor loading, and 100pf capacitance loading. I did tried other settings for capacitance loading, but felt that the recommended settings sounded the best. The whole audio review is based on this settings.
After setting up the turn table, I adjusted the setting of my Pass Labs X-Ono phono stage.

I started by playing an ol' favourite of mine, a recently re-issued LP called Ella & Louis. In the track, It's a lovely day, Ella's voice sounded sweet, harmonious and gorgeous. Louis sounded deep, throaty and manly, just as he should. The Concept just kept me transfixed for a few hours on repeat of that same LP. I've never heard this LP played with so much vigour and freshness before. In fact during the Concept's time with me, I just kept playing all the music in my LP collection, irregardless of genre, bet it pop/rock, classical, jazz, Chinese or Hebrew! The Clearaudio Concept just let the music flowed freely and got out of the way. My Marantz CD 7 player was left neglected for the last 6 weeks or so. Knowing that I had a great turn table spinning at home, I also bought some new LPs to expand my new found vinyl joy.

I found the highs of the Concept turn table to be highly refined with a tinge of sweetness, that makes every recording so captivating. However, that said, for an MM cartridge the highs extended well enough and remained transparent, open and fluid all the time. The mids are un coloured, but with vocals remained very present in solid form, which I sometimes describe as excellent mid range density. It is only when I play some well recorded violin tunes, that made me crave for just a little more wood in the rendition of harmonics and texture. The bass is solid, warm and tuneful, just like a turn table should, but like the other end of the frequency spectrum, it just extends low enough and nothing more. I feel that bass guitar lines are especially well reproduced in the most realistic manner. Having said all the above, I was comparing the whole Concept package to analog set ups where the MC cartridge alone, is already far more expensive!

The Concept table is probably the most quiet amongst the budget turn table brigade. Woofer oscillation is very nearly non existent unless playing with my pre amp volume nearly full! But that's a foolish thing to do, unless one is seriously putting the Concept thru it's paces like I am. I also like the fact that external finger taps on the platform which the Concept rest on does not up set it's tracking abilities at all, and with very little "thud" noise coming thru the speakers, something which my ol' Rega P25 and the "suspended" Linn LP12 struggled to better the entry level Clearaudio.

LP surface noise is well isolated, and is seldom transferred to the speakers along with the music. That probably contributes to the quietness of the turn table. I find the Concept throwing an open sound stage and life sized imaging which makes listening to my hifi system so believable, it's a joy every time.

I found one small problem with the Concept turn table though, is that when playing a well recorded solo piano tune, wow & flutter shows, especially when playing towards the end of the inner grooves of the LP. To be fair, I did not witness this wow & flutter issue with other non piano tracked LPs, except the two that I have with solo piano performance. I used both LP's of different piano tracks just to make sure that I am the hearing wow & flutter. However, my previous Rega turn table was just as guilty of this sin. In fact, I think most budget tables will not do well on this test!
The Concept clamp. Designed to match the Concept turn table visually.

John Yew, boss of CMY Audio & Visual suggested I try out the Concept LP clamp too, which is an extra cost option at RM$465.oo a piece. When I add the LP clamp in to the equation, I found that the already quiet Concept just became even quieter. Images just seem to float out of the sound stage back ground that bit more convincingly, yet the tune never suffers from any heaviness or constriction. The wow & flutter issue mentioned earlier also improved some what, it is less notice able but the use of the clamp did not completely eradicate the issue. In all honesty, I previously never liked to clamp my LPs while playing, but with the Concept, I just preferred to use the clamp all the time, every time! In my opinion, the Concept clamp is not an optional but a necessary accessory.
A closer look at the Concept MM cartridge installed and the Verify tone arm.

An even more detailed look of the Verify tone arm's special feature, the magnetic bearing which is nearly contact less with the rest of the turn table. The arm just floats on alnico magnet power! Brilliant design that, I am sure contributed a huge part to the sound performance! Which other turn table at this entry level price range packs so much technical excellence?

The beauty of the Clearaudio Concept package is that the overall sound performance is so very complete and convincing, yet requires the knowledge of a turn table dummy to achieve from the very beginning. Vinyl replay and turn table ownership does not come anymore painless than this! Priced at RM$5,890.00(without clamp), the outlay is not extravagant for a complete start up vinyl system, in today's high end audio land scape.

I also see Clearaudio offering a new Concept MC cartridge for the future up grade route. However, if one is learned later, and wants to be adventurous, one can always up grade to a different level MC cartridge as the Verify tone arm offers nearly full adjust ability. One just needs to refer to the very detailed user manual, which is extremely helpful with full graphics description too.

As for me, I really enjoyed this Concept turn table on a musical level. I bet many will be smitten by it's classy yet simple design, excellent, if light build quality, and just as much for it's overall well balanced sound performance, despite the budget price tag. It has opened my eyes, and ears especially in regards to a turn table's full performance potential, when set up accurately. This turn table truly lives up Clearaudio's Loving Music Concept!

Also stay tune for my 10 Qs with Robert Suchy, of Clearaudio. It's an enlightening and fun session.

Clearaudio products is sold by CMY Audio & Visual, contact John, at 03-21439206.

10 Qs For 2V1G. Featuring Winnie Ho, Jeffrey Lim & Maggie Lurva.

2V1G, now, whose the virgin and whose the gay here?

I had the opportunity to sample some of the new 2V1G songs from their up coming sophomore album, thanks to Hifi Maverick, who arranged the session with our good friend Maggie Lurva(who also happens to be the producer of the group). For those who still need to know, 2V1G comprises of 2 vocals, in the form of the Winnie Ho and Jeffery Lim(who replaced Regine Tai from the debut album) and lead by finger stlye guitarist Roger Wang.

I was kinda disappointed that Roger Wang couldn't make it for the 10 Qs session, due some last minute rescheduling of engagements. I had prepared quite a few Qs for Roger specifically as I am a great fan of the Sabahan guitarist. ML took over where Roger left off the Qs.

Here goes:

Big E: There's an alternative take to the name 2V1G a.k.a 2 Virgins and 1 Gay, it used to be pretty obvious previously who's what, but with Jeffery in the mix now, specifically, are you the new virgin or gay? Ha!Ha!

JL: I used to be a virgin, but perhaps now I am more gay? Ha!Ha! I am most happy when I sing, hence perhaps now days, I am feeling more gay, if you wanna put it that way.

Big E: Being the new member Jeffery, what do you feel you bring in to the group, musically?

JL: I feel when we do romantic ballads, which is a 2V1G specialty by the way, I think a male and a female duet is more meaningful. Perhaps it's just me? Maybe I am the old fashion kinda guy.

WH: I thought Jeffery brought out a lot of detailed emotions that we, as a group have never quite experienced before in the studio, I can only hope that those emotions are captured on the recording and the experience, translated to our audiences when they listen to our CD.

ML: Overall, the 2V1G concept has matured and the sound has mellowed a bit I would say, Roger is now more adaptable to the Chinese pop music style and he seems more comfortable leading the group musically. Roger no longer need to play as hard but yet able to express more through his guitar. I think he has refined his technique over the years to a point where he could actually offer more by playing less.

Big E: No plans to put in another instrument in to some of the songs of the new album?

ML: We are committed to the 2 Voices 1 Guitar concept. I must add that it was a tempting idea. We did try to put in some percussion instruments in to some of the songs. But in the end I still feel a guitar is big enough an instrument to carry two voices. You'd be surprised, that a single guitar in Roger's capable hands, can express so much harmonic overtones and musical dynamic range.

Big E: When Regine departed 2V1G, how did Jeffery came to join the group?

WH: I have known Jeffery for many years now as a truly talented male vocalist in Malaysia, but never had the chance to work with him. So when Regine left, and there was an opening, the first person that came to my mind was Jeffery! I spoke to ML and Roger about it, and they agreed. It was easy as that.

Big E: We have come to know Winnie since her Astro Talent Search winning days, and Roger is already well established as an artist before coming to 2v1G, what did Jeffery do prior to joining the group?

JL: I was in once the lead vocal for a local boy band called "Baby'. Unfortunately, the group disbanded after cutting only one album with Rock Records. Every one then went their separate ways and that was 8 years ago.

Big E: Do you guys do this(the recording artist thing) full time, or do you guys actually have day jobs?

WH: We actually sing for the passion of music. We are pretty realistic about the local recording industry has to offer, income wise. We do have day jobs to pay the bills of course. Singing is not so much about the fame and fortune, but it's a bonus if we get those too!(At this point Winnie goes, Giggle!Giggle!)

JL: I agree, I am a Graphic Design Artist by profession, and I only do singing for the fun of it.

ML: At Pop Pop Music, we actually encourage all the artist signed with us to have day jobs. We know the world wide music market is declining, and now even audiophile labels like us are not spared from the phenomena called down loads, thanks to the availability of hi-rez music files recently.

Big E: Winnie, what do you do for your day job?

WH: I am in to event management. I have my own company called Love Story. So if anyone wants to do any events, please let me know.

Big E: With the success of 2V1G's first album, selling well over 10,000 copies, expectations are naturally high with this follow up album. Is there pressure to repeat the success?

WH: I think best ML answer that question! I am just happy to lend my voice to the album.

ML: 2V1G will be the first audiophile music group to crossover in to mainstream pop with this album. Radio stations are friendlier to us this time round, and 2V1G will be on 98.8 FM play list once the album is out. We are also having road shows to go along with the 98.8 FM promotion gigs. I think our chances for sustained success is good.

Big E: That's good to know, but with the mainstream pop music buyers, many do not buy the original CDs, unlike the folks in the audiophile market. How do you communicate with your fans about getting the real thing?

WH: I would educate music lovers and our fans about the need to appreciate our music in the full sound quality possible, as we intended for them to hear. They would be missing out on a lot of subtle musical details and nuances not captured on the pirated disc, or down loads. We put a lot of effort in to the recording quality, to ensure that our audiences connect with our songs on an emotional level. If one buys a pirated disc or down loads he/she will not get to hear our work in it's full glory.

Big E: Winnie, any further thoughts you'd like to add for our last Q?

WH: Over the years in the recording industry, I've come to form this conclusion. An amateur looks for fame and fortune. A professional cultivates culture. I hope our audiences have the culture to appreciate honest and good music. Do not take things for granted. The way I see it, I'd still be singing good music in the future, irregardless of fame or fortune.

ML: Yeah! our artist at Pop Pop Music are not the shallow type, you know? We have musical depth, artistic culture and offer superior recording qualities to our audiences.
Winnie and Jeffery sings romantic ballads together, do they feel the romance? I am just being naughty here of course.

With that last question, I have also come to form my own conclusion about the 2V1G members, sans Roger. Maggie Lurva is the director of the project. Winnie Ho is the chatty, giggly girl of the group. And lastly Jeffery is the rather shy, introvert type!

We await their new sophomore album with bated breath, as Pop Pop Music plans to launch it by mid August 2010.