So there I was stuck in De Waal drive traffic late one afternoon this week. And then lights came on " why not give Achim from 13 HOF a call? "Being the true gentleman he is, he accepted my insistence on a visit all though it was way past 5 pm!
On arrival a quick tour of the premises with interesting art and decor everywhere, and various listening rooms filled with delicious audio products :rubhands: Then down the passage into the main listening room.....TADAAAA to be greeted by the Godzilla of all loudspeakers, THE ADVANTGARDE TRIO'S :notworthy:
Please remember now that that these are regarded as some of the world's best (some insisting that they are the best) in High End Audio circles. Neatly stacked between these daunting array of Horns were x 2 Unison Research Reference Tube mono blocks, glowing gently in the background ready with no less than 100 watts of Valve power to drive these majestic horns.
Achim in his layed back manner strolled over and inserted the first disc in the spinner. WHOWAAA WHAM "HOUSTON WE HAVE LIFT OFF" :drool: OMG nothing, but nothing can prepare you for this revelation in sound! I am sure by now it is known that I don't hand out compliments easily
, but man! this is another level!!! And just as I thought I was in Nirvana land Achim stepped forward and upped the volume some more. OMG !!! Lightspeed Warpspeed call it what you want, again we went to another level. Ladies and Gentlemen here for all our ears to hear is just how far Audio technology has come, and how isolated we are here in the Southern point of the "dark Continent".
THE SOUND: I honestly don't know where to start." Overwhelming " "larger than life" "real 3D music" etc come to mind. I can promise you that most artists have not heard themselves this way!! It is truly that amazing, and this coming from someone who has professed his dislike of tube amplifiers :BWAHAHAH:. Personally I cant wait to hear them on full blown class A babies . Interestingly others have noted that too and Avantgarde themselves recommend there own solid state amplifiers. Achim said I'm welcome for round number two when the Gryphon Mephistos arrive :rubhands:.
Oh yes and speaking of Achim (sorry Achim I forgot you in the background) after this memorable listening experience! What an amazing and knowledgeable person with all things Audio.Thank goodness for people like him and 13 HOF that everyday "Boertjies" like you and me can also have the priviledge to see "how the other side lives".The combination of his European knowledge and know how mixed with the variaty of products on hand makes 13 HOF every audiophiles dream! The South African audio community needs people like you, so keep up the good work :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
So guys if your serious about Audio and ever in Cape Town trust me, it is well worth the visit. My Audio reference point is now reset of what is capable today! Now where is that bloody Lotto ticketray:
Last but not least. On the way out the door Achim handed me a NuPrime IDA 8 to test drive. All I can say so far is WOW "Dynamite in a small packet" but I will post my thoughts on that one separately
On arrival a quick tour of the premises with interesting art and decor everywhere, and various listening rooms filled with delicious audio products :rubhands: Then down the passage into the main listening room.....TADAAAA to be greeted by the Godzilla of all loudspeakers, THE ADVANTGARDE TRIO'S :notworthy:
Please remember now that that these are regarded as some of the world's best (some insisting that they are the best) in High End Audio circles. Neatly stacked between these daunting array of Horns were x 2 Unison Research Reference Tube mono blocks, glowing gently in the background ready with no less than 100 watts of Valve power to drive these majestic horns.
Achim in his layed back manner strolled over and inserted the first disc in the spinner. WHOWAAA WHAM "HOUSTON WE HAVE LIFT OFF" :drool: OMG nothing, but nothing can prepare you for this revelation in sound! I am sure by now it is known that I don't hand out compliments easily
, but man! this is another level!!! And just as I thought I was in Nirvana land Achim stepped forward and upped the volume some more. OMG !!! Lightspeed Warpspeed call it what you want, again we went to another level. Ladies and Gentlemen here for all our ears to hear is just how far Audio technology has come, and how isolated we are here in the Southern point of the "dark Continent".THE SOUND: I honestly don't know where to start." Overwhelming " "larger than life" "real 3D music" etc come to mind. I can promise you that most artists have not heard themselves this way!! It is truly that amazing, and this coming from someone who has professed his dislike of tube amplifiers :BWAHAHAH:. Personally I cant wait to hear them on full blown class A babies . Interestingly others have noted that too and Avantgarde themselves recommend there own solid state amplifiers. Achim said I'm welcome for round number two when the Gryphon Mephistos arrive :rubhands:.
Oh yes and speaking of Achim (sorry Achim I forgot you in the background) after this memorable listening experience! What an amazing and knowledgeable person with all things Audio.Thank goodness for people like him and 13 HOF that everyday "Boertjies" like you and me can also have the priviledge to see "how the other side lives".The combination of his European knowledge and know how mixed with the variaty of products on hand makes 13 HOF every audiophiles dream! The South African audio community needs people like you, so keep up the good work :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
So guys if your serious about Audio and ever in Cape Town trust me, it is well worth the visit. My Audio reference point is now reset of what is capable today! Now where is that bloody Lotto ticket
ray:Last but not least. On the way out the door Achim handed me a NuPrime IDA 8 to test drive. All I can say so far is WOW "Dynamite in a small packet" but I will post my thoughts on that one separately
