Google disables the image uploading really frustrates me like crazy as such, I could no long access to web images. I can now only use word to tell story instead of visual. Visual is a very powerful tool, a good visual tells better than word. Visual gives depth.
My audio buddies started 2013 with a bang, audio of course. Ladies and gentlemen, the banker is starring himself in "The Emperor's New Clothes", orchestrated by Puccini Wrong. If you do not know this figure, he is the unsung audio wizard. Hot on heels is the banker, he is now on a roll. He vows to shake off the "value/compromised" perception of his audio, he wants performance merited. Compliments, praises, nice word, positive feedback, he wins all those like business as usual already. Most concurred that he stretches his dollar to insane level. His system has a wow factor, a diminutive system that sounds bigger than it is, not rightfully so, makes people wonder why spend more.
The banker's eerie smile does not go down well with the old school, KF. In the eyes of KF, no bass no glory. KF is playing the war frum now. We all know KF's cards too well. Have you done vomiting? Hurry up! I am going to throw out soon.
KF has a plan. He had his fund ready to upgrade his speakers. How on earth did he make a U turn? At first, KF was skeptical about the effectiveness of Power Bank since he himself is coming from electrical background. He ordered his Power Bank much earlier than the rest of us but he wouldn't want to be a guinea pig. We went ahead with Power Bank because we trusted the designer. After hearing rave mini reviews, like a man who strike lottery, he suddenly becomes very quiet, and quietly installed his Power Bank. We all well awared of the magic spell of Power Bank, we have got over the excitement already. Thus, the underlying truth is that when you are up there, you would have little interest in a less accomplished system unless there is something that interest you. Look now, no denial syndrome here. Thus, we gave KF a cold shoulder.
Strangely, hardware eventually become dysfunctional if you do not use them often enough. KF showed up with a bitter face, his Marantz CD63 KI Signature refused to play. The transport died. Anxiety builds up for the Power Bank is coming. Without Marantz, no game. Nothing serious with the player, a belt change and Marantz gets back up and spinning again.
It takes two to tango, KF has been tango-ing alone. The passion wears faster, happiness and sorrow are meant to be shared among friends. KF is in geographical out of the manageable radius. Such is with KF, who lives some distance from most of us. Knowledge transfer would be difficult. Now, KF was excited with the Power Bank and hoped that Power Bank could catch up with the banker. KF extended the invitation to us to audition his revitalised system.
What can I say? We have moved on. We have got some kick ass Schumann Harmonisers. We have magic stickers that make CD sound incredible. We have the voodoo spikes. We have good power cords. We have .. We have... What is High End audio? In my context, it is about attention to details. You pay attention to the whole system, hardware, room, electricity, cabling, carpet etc. It is not about how much you spend on hardware, it is all about the attitude.
Look here! I do not intend to challenge anyone. I'm just being honest. You just do not condemn honesty, the least it is better than "Good, good, good...Pui, pui, pui." This phrase made famous by Puccini Wrong. The plot is a man was asked about what he thinks after listening to a mega system, he replied, good, good, good. Behind the back of the host, spewing negative remarks. And for all mega system owners, they have lost their right to the truth. Nobody dare to reveal what they really think.
So, you can never predict how wrong the timing can get, sometimes. Me, Puccini Wrong, Dr Mimosa and the banker hit south on one Saturday evening only to find out KF was attending a wedding dinner. We made the trip to enjoy the food there with or without KF. I lied to the restaurant operator without a blink of an eye that we were Ho Chak (a local TV show on eatery) crew members and we were scouting good food for the show. They bought my story. "You all bloggers can really make things up." Puccini Wrong said. He must realize that he too enjoys the fruit of my sin.
"This is the highest form of culinary preparing Talapia, a cheap fresh water fish.". Most people prone to overcook Talapia, the flesh turns soggy and loses its rightful texture. Our fish weighed like 1.5kg, with a healthy chunk of meat, cooked to perfection. Our fish was prepared in sushi slices. Each slice roll wrapped with spring onion and ginger stick, curled up like cuttlefish upon cooked, goes with simple soya sauce. The texture was similar to Snakehead, a fish that is known for its texture, sweetness and wound healing properties. Snakehead cost twice if you wanted to know. See, we are self proclaimed low cost gourmet!
So, KF brought his trusted buddy, a retired chef, over to get an honest opinion. All hell breaks loose. The retired chef was in awe with popping eyes and mouth opened wide grasping for air or something. Saliva was dripping all over. These reactions were quickly captured by KF. So cute! Isn't this satisfying? We all spend so much money just to impress our buddies. KF even burned a copy of CD played the very day as a gift to his buddy, and requested his buddy to play on his system. See, KF was having his little own audio fest, free admission, and a complimentary test CD. His buddy dare not play his system for a couple of days, let alone playing the demanding CD, it sits at one corner collecting dust. This was KF's catch! Naughty, naughty.
KF was super excited, started teasing the banker. Why with all those left wing tweaking? Just get a second Power Bank will do, KF said with full confidence. This is an act of pulling a tiger mustache, you would not want to disturb a sleeping tiger, would you? Holy moly, little did we know, KF went ahead and ordered a second Power Bank. He twisted the supplier's arm in order to cut queue. No wonder the timid KF had suddenly become so vocal, with full authority.
A diminutive system with twin Power Bank, are you kidding me? Like a monster truck with giant tyres, ready to run over anything in sight. I did have a short audition on this setup, too short to form an impression. Furthermore, the second Power Bank takes time to break in. I was amazed with the control somewhat like unlimited power supply. I promised KF that I will pay him a visit during a long break.
KF, you Kajang style alone, eh!
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