Galibier Listening Room Photos and Commentary

[galibier_numero_un]

After completing the listening room on the upper level, (which will hereafter be called listening room #1), I was prompted to post photos of both rooms, as well as to update the dealer/audition page on the website (http://www.galibierdesign.com/dealer_home.html).

The goal of Room #1 is:

• To compliment a horn-based system with one that features a world-class box speaker
• To dispel the myth Galibier turntables are suited for only those inclined to listen through single ended triodes and horns

There's a commonality to both listening rooms. The major contributors (Lou Hinkley of Daedalus, Ralph Karsten of Atma-Sphere Music Systems, and Mike Sanders of Quicksilver Audio) all have pro-sound backgrounds. More and more, I'm finding that the guys who get it right, have been exposed to a lot of live music. Big surprise, huh? The three of them are also first class individuals.

I'm thrilled to represent and sell Quicksilver and Atma-Sphere, and if Daedalus had a dealer network (they sell direct to the consumer), I'd be carrying them as well. It's more important for Galibier to have a first class reference system for your auditioning experience than to choose a speaker for other reasons.

Wit that preamble complete, I give you ...


Listening room #1:

• various Galibier turntables/tonearms (http://www.galibierdesign.com/products.html)
• Quicksivler Audio Preamplifier and MC step-up transformer (http://www.galibierdesign.com/prd_quicksilver.html)
• Quicksivler Audio Triode Amplifiers
• Daedalus Audio Ulysses Loudspeakers (http://www.galibierdesign.com/prd_daedalus.html)

Comment:

In the coming weeks, I'll profile Mike Sanders and Quicksilver Audio in more detail. Quicksilver is a company which has managed to make musical, reliable amplification for over 30 years. The have to be doing something right. N'est ce pas?

I went through an extended auditioning process with the Daedalus speakers, finding them to be very revealing of upstream components. Don't be premature in your assessment of these loudspeakers. They are sonic chameleons. You will find some very good amplifiers to leave you wanting. Others will provide sonic bliss, and you might well be surprised.


Listening room #2:

• various Galibier turntables/tonearms (http://www.galibierdesign.com/products.html)
• Atma-Sphere Music Systems MP-1 Mk III Preamplifier http://www.galibierdesign.com/prd_atmasphere.html)
• Atma-Sphere Music Systems M-60 Mk III Amplifiers
• Azzolina Audio Horns

Comment:

This room is where the stereotype about Galibier comes from ... at least as far as speakers are concerned. The horns are by the short-lived and now defunct Azzolina Audio.

The bass cabinet is actually an impromptu napkin design of Bill Fitzmaurice (another pro-sound guy). Bill was musing about how to extend the bass response of the Klipsch LaScala without destroying what it does well. Even his "throwaway" designs are spectacular. These cabinets go down into the upper 30's, and they do it well. I have great respect for Bill. We have a small performing venue planned which will most certainly include Bill Fitzmaurice designed PA, bass, keyboard, and monitoring speaker cabinets. You can read about his pro-sound efforts over here: http://billfitzmaurice.info/.

The upper horn utilizes a 5" Alnico Lowther in a LeCl'each expansion - inspired by Martin Seddon of Azzura Horns in Australia (http://www.azurahorn.com/index.html).

I'll fill in the details about what makes Atmasphere Music Systems' designs so appealing to me - starting with the fact that Ralph Karsten is a man after my own heart. He devised a good, solid, basic architecture and has spent the better part of 30 years refining it.

Cheers,
Thom

[galibier_numero_un]

Updated room (essentially listening room #1) is shown at our room at Rocky Mountain Audiofest - 2011:



Cheers,
Thom