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THE REFERENCE COMPONENTS - Arthur Salvatore
- Thread starter bolly
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Bolly,
I can't comment on this guy's assessment of gear.
He appears to have heard quite a lot of exalted components,but in the end,it's the way they combine which makes the recipe's ingredients worth seeking-out.
I will comment that he has a recording in his 'Divinity' list,which I also own(and would LOVE to get another copy).It is an amazing LP.
Therefore,if his taste in recordings reflects his taste in equipment,he knows his stuff.
I'll just(off topic)put in a plug here for the Linn Records(yes the Scottish turntable firm)recording of Handel's 'The Messiah'.I've got it on LP(well actually I have 3 of them.....),and it is a stunning recording and a beautifully sung performance.I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Your normal programming,will now resume..........
I can't comment on this guy's assessment of gear.
He appears to have heard quite a lot of exalted components,but in the end,it's the way they combine which makes the recipe's ingredients worth seeking-out.
I will comment that he has a recording in his 'Divinity' list,which I also own(and would LOVE to get another copy).It is an amazing LP.
Therefore,if his taste in recordings reflects his taste in equipment,he knows his stuff.
I'll just(off topic)put in a plug here for the Linn Records(yes the Scottish turntable firm)recording of Handel's 'The Messiah'.I've got it on LP(well actually I have 3 of them.....),and it is a stunning recording and a beautifully sung performance.I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Your normal programming,will now resume..........
Chazb11
Vintage Human
Really? I agree with him completely.
NOT!!!!
He would have to have done a lifetime of listening tests to reach such conclusions, otherwise it's just hearsay. We all have our own opinions and if you're like me it changes from day to day! The oly thing I'm certain of is that the perfect piece of gear hasn't come through my door...yet.
marc mc
Super Member
I stumbled into Arthur's store 25 years ago and my audio journey began. The gear I saw and heard there over the following years was staggering. Arthur is a thorn in the audio industries side and lots of audiophiles as well. But he also had an army of fans that brought gear into his store and opened their homes for auditions. If Arthur said he knew a piece then you could be sure he knew that piece. By way of example, the guys that started Sonic Frontiers/Anthem worked for him.
I see the impact that my trips into his store and conversations has had on my audio journey, and have no doubt that my hobby and love of classical music are a result of him. His site is a gold mine of information and well worth the time it takes to get through it and though your opinions may vary from his, to doubt his knowledge of the gear on his site is total nonsense.
marc mc
I see the impact that my trips into his store and conversations has had on my audio journey, and have no doubt that my hobby and love of classical music are a result of him. His site is a gold mine of information and well worth the time it takes to get through it and though your opinions may vary from his, to doubt his knowledge of the gear on his site is total nonsense.
marc mc
Nikko75
Listener and Music Lover
I think he needs to expand his list of auditioned components too.
thunderroad
Life begins at 140 mph.
Personally I really enjoy his Web site, but there is so much information on it, that I have never been able to read it all. He sure seems to be a pain-in-the-butt to the mass-market hifi guys, but he also seems to really thrive on the controversy.
I'm not sure I'm any judge at all but to me Arthur Salvatore really seems to know his stuff about audio. I would absolutely LOVE to hear his system. He seems to be a k.i.s.s. principle-based minimalist that favors short signal paths, with the minimum number of amplifying devices in the signal path, and biamped or triamped tube-based systems. In his turntable reccomendations he sure beat-up on the Linn Sondek which I happen to really enjoy, but he does make some very good points along the way too. As a whole, his Recommended Components list is very interesting, but very high-end as well (i.e., unaffordable, for me anyway). But for those of us that can't afford Salvadore's silk purse, there will always be the well polished sow's ear.
I'm not sure I'm any judge at all but to me Arthur Salvatore really seems to know his stuff about audio. I would absolutely LOVE to hear his system. He seems to be a k.i.s.s. principle-based minimalist that favors short signal paths, with the minimum number of amplifying devices in the signal path, and biamped or triamped tube-based systems. In his turntable reccomendations he sure beat-up on the Linn Sondek which I happen to really enjoy, but he does make some very good points along the way too. As a whole, his Recommended Components list is very interesting, but very high-end as well (i.e., unaffordable, for me anyway). But for those of us that can't afford Salvadore's silk purse, there will always be the well polished sow's ear.
Ya know, I love guys like this. Has an enormous amount of opinions that he's just dying to share, and an enormous amount of experience to back up his opinions.
Whether or not you agree with him is something different. I still like the guy. I'd love to spend an evening at his house drinking beer and arguing about hi-fi gear. Talk about an evening in heaven.:yes:
Whether or not you agree with him is something different. I still like the guy. I'd love to spend an evening at his house drinking beer and arguing about hi-fi gear. Talk about an evening in heaven.:yes:
reggaenaut
Addicted Member
I like the read. However I am a bit disappointed that he did not mention one of my favorite tube vintage: Radiocraftsmen 500.
Arkay
Lunatic Member
I don't think it is even possible for one human being to have fully heard and auditioned ALL the potential "top" gear out there (let alone all the mediocre gear!), but from having spent quite a bit of time reading pages on his site, I believe he has a wealth of experience, more than most audiophiles and even many (if not most) dealers.
Opinionated? Yes. But who isn't, when it comes to audio, and his opinions are backed by a genuine effort to be objective, according to his own specified criteria, and --as he points out somewhere on his site-- unbiased by any hidden agendas, since he no longer sells gear of any kind. I've never heard nor read of anyone making such an effort to be not only objective, but to explain and qualify his whole approach, openly and clearly. No one is perfect, but overall, I'd give his opinions a lot of respect.
Just like FisherDude, I'd love to spend some time with this guy, listening to tunes and discussing audio. I suspect he's forgotten more than I'll ever know about the subject.
I have one of the LPs on his list of great LPs; not even the top "divinity" list, but one on the list or two below that (IIRC): Laurindo Almeida Virtuoso Guitar (Crystal Clear Records, Limited Edition, Direct to Disc Recording, 45 RPM LP), and if that is anything to go by, the guy knows his stuff. It is one of the best-made recordings I've ever heard, period. I bought it when I saw it, in part because I remembered reading it on Mr. Salvatore's list. I was not disappointed.
If I had the options (i.e., ran across another of his recommendations as I did with that LP) and had the money, I wouldn't hesitate to try another of his recommendations, based only on his opinion. I might disagree with him on a few things in the end, but I doubt by too much.
Opinionated? Yes. But who isn't, when it comes to audio, and his opinions are backed by a genuine effort to be objective, according to his own specified criteria, and --as he points out somewhere on his site-- unbiased by any hidden agendas, since he no longer sells gear of any kind. I've never heard nor read of anyone making such an effort to be not only objective, but to explain and qualify his whole approach, openly and clearly. No one is perfect, but overall, I'd give his opinions a lot of respect.
Just like FisherDude, I'd love to spend some time with this guy, listening to tunes and discussing audio. I suspect he's forgotten more than I'll ever know about the subject.
I have one of the LPs on his list of great LPs; not even the top "divinity" list, but one on the list or two below that (IIRC): Laurindo Almeida Virtuoso Guitar (Crystal Clear Records, Limited Edition, Direct to Disc Recording, 45 RPM LP), and if that is anything to go by, the guy knows his stuff. It is one of the best-made recordings I've ever heard, period. I bought it when I saw it, in part because I remembered reading it on Mr. Salvatore's list. I was not disappointed.
If I had the options (i.e., ran across another of his recommendations as I did with that LP) and had the money, I wouldn't hesitate to try another of his recommendations, based only on his opinion. I might disagree with him on a few things in the end, but I doubt by too much.
reggaenaut
Addicted Member
:thmbsp:
Fast996
Mod that Vintage Gear
"Accurately reproduce low-level musical information.
The ultimate effect of this capability is that the component will sound "natural", "musical", "complex", "expressive", "intelligible", "Unpredictable", "alive" and, most of all, "complete", in contrast to sounding "mechanical", "simple", "dead" and "electronic".
This is the rarest and most elusive quality in the quest for accurate musical reproduction. Most importantly, it is my personal experience that it allows and even compels the listener to become more involved with the music and forget about the system."
Salvatore.....I agree....this observation alone....gives him credibility....
The ultimate effect of this capability is that the component will sound "natural", "musical", "complex", "expressive", "intelligible", "Unpredictable", "alive" and, most of all, "complete", in contrast to sounding "mechanical", "simple", "dead" and "electronic".
This is the rarest and most elusive quality in the quest for accurate musical reproduction. Most importantly, it is my personal experience that it allows and even compels the listener to become more involved with the music and forget about the system."
Salvatore.....I agree....this observation alone....gives him credibility....
