Coming January 10th: ..Dick Mueller gives a presentation on Big Bands music.... AudioletterAudioletter A PUBLICATION OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AUDIO SOCIETY • JANUARY 2008

DECEMBER 13th MEETING RECAP Text and Photos by Bruce Brown ell, I guess that’s cartridge, I’d have to agree. Not that was Jeff Foxworthy’s, Twelve Days what I call our new our previous MMF turntable was of Christmas. turntable. Yes folks, lacking in any respect, but the Rega Gary K. also brought in 2 fine W the Pacific Northwest just adds another dimension to put- albums that he donated to the Club Audio Society has a new addition. A ting together a world-class system for auction: Pavarotti’s Ave Maria special thanks goes out to our equip- for our club members. and a Rimsky-Korsakov Sche- ment committee for doing an exhaus- Speaking of club members, we herazade Shaded Dog. The coffers tive research of turntable options for had a few visitors at our December were treated well! our club. meeting. I’d like to welcome Laurie I love our December meetings. A vote was taken in November (nice to see eager female audio- It brings to a close a great year of and it was decided that the best op- philes), Mike, Peigen, Joe and Ivan. meetings, camaraderie and one- tion for our Club would be Rega’s P- Forgive me if I missed anyone. upmanship. US audiophiles are a 5 turntable. A few members have or Every December the club cele- unique group. I want to thank every- have had Rega turntables in the past brates the holidays with raffles, auc- one for making 2007 a great year for and felt this was the better bang-for- tions, great music and refreshments. the Pacific Northwest Audio Society the-buck out there. With our previ- This meeting was no exception. The and hope 2008 will bring even ously purchased Benz Micro H2 most unusual piece of music played greater things. Thank-you! „

Pacific Northwest Audio Society, P.O. Box 435, Mercer Island, WA 98040 www.audiosociety.org

The clubs new Rega P5 turntable was fitted with a new Benz H2 moving coil cartridge which was funded by member donations. Thanks to all who contributed.

By Jerry Pomeroy

appy New Year! We all at the meeting or drop me an Email The past two events have been allot know what that means, if and I will get the disc to you. of fun, listening to more music than you haven’t sent in your The topic for the January meet- speak so the event has lived up to it’s annual check for club ing is Jazz and will be hosted by name. Please RSVP by calling the membershipH you will now be dating Dick Mueller. I’m not sure all he has Seattle store 206-524-6633. More it 2008 instead of 2007. The easiest planned, but he will certainly bring details http://www.definitive.com/ way to pay your dues is just send a in some great examples of this The plan for the Feb 8th meeting check to the clubs P.O. box listed on American form of music. You proba- is to have Dr Bottlehead from The the last page of the newsletter. bly already guessed Dick has a large Tape Project to demo 15ips Reel to Enough said about sending money. Jazz collection of LPs, 78s and CDs, Reel tapes copied from the master We had a good time at the November as demonstrated by his Jazz Journal tapes. This is as close to getting the meeting, got to hear some Christmas published in our newsletters. Expect studio tapes as possible so it should tunes on the clubs new Rega P5 turn- to hear some vinyl on the new P5 be very impressive. More details on table and didn’t have to drive home table and some stories to go along the website in a snow or windstorm. I must con- with the music but that is up to Dick. http://www.tapeproject.com/ th fess; on Friday I opened the drawer Music Matters, Wed Feb 6 See Ya „ on one of my DVD players and there starting at 5:30 PM. This will be the was the Mannheim Steamroller DVD third year Definitive Audio will host Please welcome new I had given away in the raffle but in this event, it will be held at the 6206 PNWAS members: this case it was only the case. I Roosevelt Way NE showroom in apologize for the disappointment to Seattle as in the past. The event will Edwin Lee however got the empty case. How- consist of numerous demos in differ- John Parkey ever got the DVD case please see me ent rooms with the focus on music. Brian Taylor

2 Pacific Northwest Audio Society Audioletter January 2008

by Jerry Pomeroy

MovieBeam Comp USA shingle will come down disc. The home movie rental system after 23 years. Comp USA closed it’s started by Disney and Linksys was doors in Washington State about 2 Digital TV sold to Movie Gallery in early 2007, years ago. According to Consumer Electronics they have been unable to turn the Association more than 50% of US tide and their losses continued to Sony discontinues RPTV households now have digital TVs. mount. In December Movie Gallery Faced with declining sales of Rear The proliferation of digital display filed chapter 11 bankruptcy and has Projection TVs Sony’s Shinji Obana devices is expected to continue to discontinued the service. The Movie- announced the money loosing RPTV surge into U.S homes throughout Beam system was effectively a pay production lines will be closed. The 2008. Prices are expected to drop for per view rental system after the pur- company will focus on the much sets over the next year as HD pro- chase of the system. The server held larger and lucrative LCD and OLED gramming availability will increase. approximately 100 movies with trail- flat panel display market. In Decem- ers and with approximately 5 movies ber 2007 Sony started marketing an DTV Converter Coupon in HD. The trailers could be viewed 11” OLED TV XEL-1 in Japan that In Feb 2009 analog Over The Air any time without a charge. The mov- measures just 3mm (.12”) thick. broadcast (OTA) for TV will cease, ies were beamed to your house via Some market analyst predict OLEDs if you continue to use your old ana- UHF, changing about 6 movies outselling LCDs by 2015. log set and want to view digital OTA week. Although the system has gone broadcast you will probably need a the way of the Dodo bird I hope a Total HD disc digital/analog converter. The con- similar server system will emerge in Warner is about to release a new verters are digital OTA tuners with the future that will allow you to keep format HD disc that will contain analog outputs. The converters are movies you select, maintain the lat- both HD-dvd and BluRay. In order expected to cost between $50 and est releases and have no user fee to be a candidate for this format the $70 each. The US government is except for the actual rental charges. distribution company would need to offering $40 coupons for consumers have agreements with both the HD- to use toward such a device. Al- Comp USA DVD and BluRay groups. This also though the coupons are available the The company announce Dec 7th it means a 3rd format of HD disc, War- products aren’t and don’t expect had sold to Gordon Brothers. Most ner says these will market and elimi- them to show up till later on this year of the chains stock will be liquidated nate the apprehensive nature of con- as the end of analog OTA draws and some stores in good locations sumers that fear ending up with near. You can apply for the coupon may be sold to competitors. The movie collections on a 21st century at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling company started in 1984 was a pio- version of Beta. I think this new disc 1-888-388-2009 „ neer in the computer retail industry. will only add to the confusion that In an effort to expand its market into already baffles consumers. It remains home entertainment in 2003 the to be seen how retailers would stock company bought Good Guys. Unable these, they could put copies in both to compete with electronic giants HD-DVD and BluRay sections or like Circuit City and Best Buy the start a 3rd section for the Total HD

Pacific Northwest Audio Society Audioletter January 2008 3

by Dick Mueller

ne of the nicest things plated bronze, or wood, or paper – next to the Lenco (circa 1970), then happened to me over the all beautiful. Then in 1911, the first the SOTA, all representing the pro- Christmas holidays. A machine was built without a horn. gress of recorded sound playback O friend, who, with his The body of the player acted as the over the nearly 100 years just passed. family has been a client for many horn. You just opened the cabinet Now I can play Bessie Smith and years, (and who has referred many of doors to hear. Also about a dozen Louis Armstrong in style! his clients to me) called one day to years earlier a man named Berliner You know what? This is better invite me over for a little Christmas was experimenting with a system to than winning Lotto. Well, just as cheer. This friend is a collector of record sound on flat discs. Even lucky, anyway. But now, as luck early wax cylinders, one of the earli- more astounding, the new machine, would have it, we have some excep- est sound recording media. He may made by the Victor Talking Machine tional vocalists waiting in the wings have the world’s largest and most Company, utilized flat discs rather to be heard. Let’s see who they are. valuable collection. He also collects than cylinders. Revolutionary! the early machines to play them on. As we went around the room, You know - the ones with the big my friend told me the history of each horns and Nipper listening. machine, who had developed it, and I arrived at the appointed hour, how it worked. Then he demon- and noticed by the parked cars, that strated one, playing a wax cylinder. others had arrived. I entered by the Not audiophile quality, mind you, side door as usual, and called out but actual sound, which was aston- “Larry”. Larry yelled “High Dick, ishing in those days. I’m in the office. C’mon back.” He Then we went upstairs where he proceeded to tell me that his wife gave me a tour of their art collection, was having her office Christmas and collections of antiquities and party upstairs, so we could just visit other objects. Quite incredible. for a while. He said, “Sit down. I’m Then he said let’s go back down- going to tell you about the history of stairs. When we arrived, there was Roseanna Vitro - Reaching For the recorded sound”. He started by tell- the 1911 model of the Victor Talking Moon - (1991) CMD 8030 ing about Edison’s early efforts in Machine Company with a big bow Great looking gal, excellent 1877, and those of others in France tied around it, and Larry telling me it singer, wonderful music. I guess and Germany, and of Bell Laborato- was a present to me from their whole that’s why I bought the CD, but ries and the beginning of Columbia. family. I was in shock, and com- that’s not quite all of it. Cut #2 on He then got out a book which con- pletely overcome. The emotion of this CD is Duke Ellington’s “In a tained photographs of the earliest the moment was soon taken over by Sentimental Mood”. If you like the devices for the purpose of recording excitement - - you can just imagine. Duke, and you like this particular sound, and the progress being made After profuse thank-you’s, and be- song (one of his best), you need to over the next 25 years or so. It was cause it was raining, I asked if I have this recording. The arrange- fascinating. could return the next day for instruc- ment, with Kenny Werner on piano, Then he said, “let’s go into the tions as to its use and care, and of and George Coleman’s outrageous other room.” There he had set up course, to take it to its new home. tenor solo is exceptional, and then some of the earliest pieces of his The Victor Talking Machine is Roseanna’s rendition is so beautiful - collection, all restored to their origi- now proudly in my listening room, - well she just owns it. nal condition (maybe better). All awaiting the new furniture it will sit with horns made of brass, or nickel upon. The search is on. It will sit

4 Pacific Northwest Audio Society Audioletter January 2008

Dinah Washington - The Jazz Sides - (1954 – 1958) - Emarcy 824-883 Dinah Washington was one of the Carol Welsman - The Language of Cassandra Wilson - Blue Skies - all time greatest jazz singers. Grow- Love - (2002) Savoy 17196 (1988) - JMT 834 419 ing up in Chicago, she gained her Carol Welsman, renowned Cana- Interesting. She can definitely musical experience in a church choir, dian vocalist is a nice find. She sing and perform, but in her own and in 1939 won an amateur contest makes her home in Toronto, but is very individual style. She’s backed and was “discovered”. In less than away a good bit, touring internation- here by Mulgrew Miller on piano, four years she was singing with ally. In 2002 she was awarded the Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and Terri Lionel Hampton’s band, and gaining coveted Best Jazz Vocalist of the Lynn Carrington on drums. I’ve the opportunity for her first re- Year in the annual Canadian Juno never heard Mulgrew Miller sound cording which would bring her some awards, and has been a frequent better or more creative. Like a recognition. She stayed with Hamp nominee in other years. pitcher in a tie game in the ninth, two from 1943 to 1946, after which she There has been a long heritage of outs, bases loaded, 3/2 count, he struck out on her own, performing music in the Welsman family. Her throws a curve ball. Wow. Taking and recording with all of the top grandfather was the founder, and big chances like Cassandra Wilson jazzmen of the day. By 1958 she first conductor of the Toronto Sym- does here, putting her own twist on appeared as one of the headliners of phony Orchestra. Carol is a graduate standards. But if you’re good at the Newport Jazz Festival. of the Berklee School of Music in what you do, you can get away with Boston, it, refreshingly. Following in the footsteps of Bessie where she majored in piano. After Smith and Billie Holiday, you could completing Berkelee, she went to hear a little of each of them in her France to continue her education singing, but make no mistake, she with a noted voice teacher. had a style all of her own. One of I really like her singing. She has the great voices of jazz in an earlier an easy, comfortable style on bal- time, every jazz lover should have at lads. Her rendition of “A Nightin- least a little of her work. Sadly, she gale Sang in Berkeley Square” is was taken from us much too soon at worth more than the price of the CD. just 39 years of age.

Nancy Wilson - Yesterday’s Love Songs, Today’s Blues - (1967) ST 2012 One of the all-time greats, Nancy

(Continued on page 6)

Pacific Northwest Audio Society Audioletter January 2008 5

Wilson was a Capital recording star Now here he goes again, talking this. It has my very highest recom- in the 60’s and early 70’s, and per- about people nobody has ever heard mendation. formed as a single well into the 80’s of. Well no. Not everybody, and when she was touring the globe with anyway, isn’t that what I’m here for? Well, that’s it, kidlets. The final Chick Corea and his group, includ- To tell you about artists you should of 36 Jazz Journals. Now you know ing Joe Henderson, Stanley Clark know about. Norma Winstone lives everything I know (and maybe and Lennie White. Nancy, at her in England - - always has. When she more). I loved doing it, and hope pinnacle, was known as the greatest was starting out in the later 60’s, that through it all, I brought you a singer of love songs, and fortunately plying her trade in English pubs, she new tune, an artist you hadn’t heard for us, has many albums to prove it. developed a style of sing like one before, or a better understanding of The featured album here is one of would play a horn, actually pattern- the music. I call it the thinking her best, and backed by the great ing herself after Miles Davis. Her man’s music. The melody lines and Gerald Wilson Orchestra. great range, crystal clear tone, and the chord structures are not simple After her recording days slimmed perfect pitch were just right for like rock or earlier classical music. down, she hosted the hour-long jazz blending her voice in with a jazz This is music straight from the heart, show on NPR in the 90’s, which combo. She started putting words to soul, and imaginative skill of the honored a famous jazz mucisian each songs that were just known to jazz artists. It takes a little “getting into”, week. It was excellent just like she lovers, like Clifford Brown’s “Joy but once it’s in your blood, you’ll is. One of the truly great members Spring”, or Coltrane’s Naima. treasure it forever. of our jazz community. It worked so well, that in 1971 she I wish you happy listening. Take was voted England’s top jazz singer. care. „ Later in the 70’s she joined Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor to form Asimuth, a jazz trio that recorded on ECM. Strangely enough, these three people are still working together, but generally in a different format, often times as guest performers in jazz orchestras throughout the world. Here, it is just Norma and John Taylor, one of this planet’s extraor- dinary piano players. The tunes are varied and wonderful, the perform- Norma Winstone - Like Song Like ance even better, and a bonus - great Weather - (1999) - Koch 7875 sonics. Give yourself a treat and get

Oscar Peterson: One of the best Jazz Pianist the world has seen died from kidney failure Dec 23 2007. Born in Canada 8-15-1925 the 8 time Grammy winner had performed with the best: Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Ray Brown and many more. He suffered a stroke in 1993 re- sulting in a week and slower left hand, his love for music continued and within a year he cut another album entitled Side by Side. He received the Life- time achievement Grammy in 1997. Several histori- ans feel one of his big break came in 1949 when Jazz promoter Norman Granz heard a live perform- ance of Peterson on the radio and then booked him at Carnegie Hall with other great jazz legends. Granz became a close friend as well as Peterson’s manager.

6 Pacific Northwest Audio Society Audioletter January 2008

C o m I n g A t t r a c t I o n s jazz orchestras, and saying a few words showroom in Seattle as in the past. The about the groups. If you find that you event will consist of numerous demos in don't care for the music, and are miser- different rooms with the focus on music. able, have a donut and some coffee, and February 8, 2008 you'll feel better soon.. PNWAS Meeting January 23, 2008 Dr Bottlehead from The Tape Project to Audio Engineering Society Meeting demo 15ips Reel to Reel tapes copied Room Correction, Perceptual vs. Acous- from the master tapes. January 7-10, 2008 tic Ideas Presented by James (JJ) May 24-26, 2008 CES & T.H.E. Show / Las Vegas Johnston - Microsoft Corporation and VSAC The Super bowl of audio. Serge Smirnov - Microsoft Corporation. Looks like VSAC (Vacuum State of the 7:30pm, Microsoft Studios, Redmond, January 10, 2008 Art Convention) is back! It will still be in WA. PNWAS Meeting the Northwest but it may not be in Silver- February 6, 2008 Dick Mueller will be presenting a pro- dale. There isn’t a web site yet but we MUSIC MATTERS gram of big bands. We'll be playing the will post more details as they become Definitive Audio will host this event, it will music of the top modern big bands and available. be held at the 6206 Roosevelt Way NE

C l a s s I f I e d A d s 1 pr. Absorption Panels 18x48 List $390, Sell $185 1 pr. Absorption Panels 24x48 List $470, Sell $225 Ads are free to members and will run for three consecutive 1 pr. Diffusion Panels 18x48 List $530, Sell $250 issues unless renewed. Please limit ads to make, model, short All in excellent condition. No other improvement compares description, condition, MSRP, asking price, contact informa- with the bargain of treating your room. Buy these and I’ll help tion. you plan it out. ********************************************************* Dick Mueller - [email protected] I have been remodeling my Theater/listening room and have 425-450-4070 some things for sale and will pass on a even better deal to any club member. I have 60" x 80" wall mounted Stewart Studio Tech 1.30 screen. The studio tech 1.30 was developed for Joe C l u b D I s c o u n t s Kane as a color neutral reference screen to evaluate projec- tors on, it still is the standard in the industry and Joe Kanes Northwest Sinfonietta favorite screen for evaluation. This is 1.33:1 aspect ratio The Northwest Sinfonietta (classical chamber or- screen not a 1.78:1 widescreen. The screen material is in chestra) provides discounts to members of our club excellent condition, the frame has a rub spot in the black felt. for performances of the 2007-2008 season. The The screen is still on the wall but have all the original packag- regular single ticket price of $38 will be only $20 ing. $325 non club members. I have a matched set of Target B per person per performance at the door (or by series five shelf steel equipment racks, current model is HF- phone or mail). Just tell them or note on your order 570 MSRP of $399 each. These are very solid the shelf that you are a member of the Pacific Northwest frames are welded to the corner post with carpet spikes on the Audio Society. Information and order forms are bottom and black wooden shelves. These are in good shape also available at their website: with a few abrasion marks but none go through the black www.nwsinfonietta.org. powder coating. None member price $300 for the set. I also First Impression Music have a Target Pro turntable wall shelf, this has a 22 x 24" www.firstimpression.com shelf, it has never been installed $100 non member price. order through club president Jerry Pomeroy. Denon DVD-3910 with silver finish, like new aprox 100 hours on it, I was going to modify this but bought another exemplar KOSMIC already modified so it has been setting in the box. This is a www.kosmic.us highly rated DVD player with very good scaling and audio Contact Joe Pittman DACs, Non members $550. 206-878-3833 Jerry Pomeroy 253-350-3916 Pro Sound and Vision [email protected] Contact George H. Pro ******************************************************** 425-889-9499 Echo Buster’s Room Treatment 425-445-3308 (cell)

Pacific Northwest Audio Society Audioletter January 2008 7 Visitors Welcome! 3. Give members opportunities to be- Music Committee Chair: Renan Jef- Meetings are held on the second come familiar with the techniques of fereis Thursday of every month at 7:30 audio manufacturing, testing, repair, Volunteer: Leo Hrechanyk p.m. at 4545 Island Crest Way, Mer- recording, broadcasting, etc. Editorial cer Island, WA 98040. 4. Explore related avenues as the membership deems appropriate. Editorial submissions are welcome. PNWAS Mission Statement Content must be audio-related or of > To bring together people with a Club website general interest to the club. We common interest in hearing music www.audiosociety.org reserve the right to edit for style, reproduced at its best, for their mu- content, and length. E-mail tual edification and pleasure. E-mail Editorial deadline: two weeks before [email protected] > To facilitate the exchange and dis- meeting date. semination of accurate data con- U.S. Mail U.S. Mail Publishing any editorial material is cerning audio equipment and musi- Pacific Northwest Audio Society, P.O. contingent upon the approval of the cal recordings. Box 435, Mercer Island, WA 98040 Executive Committee. > To promote, sponsor, and cultivate Annual dues Editor: Joe Pittman 206-878-3833 the highest quality reproduction of email: [email protected] music in the home. $60 due each January. New members pay a prorated $5 per month for Disclaimer > To encourage maintenance of high remainder of year. Opinions in this Audioletter are those standards in the performance, re- of their authors; the Pacific Northwest cording and transmission of music. Executive Committee Audio Society itself does not endorse President: Jerry Pomeroy 253-350- or criticize products. © Copyright 2008 PNWAS Objectives 3916 by the Pacific Northwest Audio Society 1. Provide a forum for meeting other Vice-President: Bruce Brown except as noted; all rights reserved. audiophiles and exchanging infor- No part of this publication may be re- Treasurer: Andrew Kosobutsky mation on musical recordings and printed or otherwise reproduced with- audio equipment. Editor: Joe Pittman out the written permission of the Ex- ecutive Committee. 2. Demonstrate and compare such Equipment Committee Chair: Dick equipment and recordings. Mueller

P.O. Box 435 Mercer Island, WA 98040