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Vinyl Asylum: RE: the Challenge... by John Elison

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RE: the Challenge...

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Hi Mike and J.D.;

I just want to interject some of my thoughts regarding J.D.'s request for a joint statement.

Unfortunately, Mike and I never discussed the Challenge in any detail. In fact, it was kind of a one man deal because I never participated, and even afterward, I never listened critically to my CD-R on Mike's system nor did I ever attempt the blind test. A couple of others attempted the blind test with Joe and Ted administering it, and they both failed. So, I guess my CD-R was reasonably accurate.

The only critical listening I did was on Friday before the actual Challenge when I made a preliminary recording just to see for myself how it would sound. I played it first on Mike's Meitner CD player and it didn't sound at all accurate to me. If I had used Mike's CD player I believe I would have lost the Challenge for sure. I then connected my 1995 Audio Alchemy CD player using Monster M-550i interconnects and my CD-R sounded much better, so I decided to use my own CD player for the Challenge. In fact, Joe, who was one of the Challenge administrators, commented on how much better my CD player sounded than Mike's.

Just before the blind test on Saturday, I conducted a test to determine absolute polarity. I discovered that there was an absolutely polarity reversal between Mike's Rockport turntable and my Audio Alchemy CD player. Fortunately, my DAC had an absolutely polarity switch to correct the situation. At that point I left the listening room and let Joe and Ted conduct the blind tests with Mike.

The next thing I knew was that Mike emerged from the listening room and told that I had won the Challenge. After that, at least two others attempted the blind test and failed.

That's really all I know. You kind of had to be there to understand the situation. There wasn't any debriefing. We just all went out and got drunk, especially me, because I had won.

Let me say that I did not go to Seattle to have fun, although I did have a very good time. Mike's system is something to behold. If you haven't heard it, you haven't heard the most impressive stereo system in the world. However, I went to Seattle to win a challenge, and my focus was on winning that challenge. I'm sure Mike's focus was equally placed, but there is always a winner and somebody else who must accept the loss.

Best regards,
John Elison


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Topic - Closure on the Challenge... - John Elison 18:27:59 07/5/07 ( 23)