quantum of solace - km ng's take on maggielurva's system

PLACE: Somewhere in Malaysia
TIME: Sometime in Oct O8

SECURE SMS 057/369-2A
CLASS LEVEL: ALPHA-SUPER
FOR KM'S EYES ONLY
BEGIN SECURE SMS:

Cables run-in and cooked.
Power OK.
Can come listen.
Sunday Nov 2, 12:00 hrs.
Come alone.

M

END SECURE SMS.


This would set the mood of this report.

When M summoned you, you have to respond without question if you want to Die Another Day.

Therefore, on the appointed day, I jumped into my T5 wagon (my Aston DBS was loaned to Ethan Hunt, you know, that other not so famous guy), did a fast Lewis Hamilton on the streets, and exactly at 12:00 hours, I was at M's residence, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

"What would you like to listen?" M asked.

"Something pink. Shaken, not stirred." I replied.

"It's too early to drink!" M retorted.

"Oh, anything on your playlist then," I answered. Actually, I wanted to listen to Pink Martini but M didn't catch it.

I sat on M's designer chair and M proceeded to play some Chinese but mainly English numbers on his system.

"What do you think of the sound?" M asked.

"I would give it a D,D,D and an E," I answered.

Before you guys are shocked of The Living Daylights, thinking D,D,D and E are the colourful marks on your student report cards days....

No, they are not!

D, D, D and E stand for Detailed, Delicate, Dimensional and Emotional.

Detailed like you can hear more into the DNA of the music; like having a GoldenEye to look into the intricacies of a Pollock painting.

Delicate like you can feel the shimmer of the drummer's gentle brush strokes on the cymbals; like Octopussy in her silk lingerie on her soft skin For Your Eyes Only, sending shimmers and chills down your body.

Dimensional like you have fullness out of emptiness in the music images and space (hope not too zen to understand); like The World Is Not Enough in the soundstaging capabilities.

And, the best for last.

Emotional like the singers and musicians are expressively singing/playing out of the fullness of their hearts to you; like Tomorrow Never Dies to lift your spirits up if you are feeling down or sad.

Okay, I know you will think of this next in your train of thoughts.

Any areas to Goldfinger M's system?

Well, M is The Man With The Golden Gun, eer, Ear and since You Only Live Twice (and I don't mind dying once for the sake of music), here it goes.

The system sounded a bit like you are driving with the hand-brake slightly engaged - the music felt like running against the wind, the highs and lows not fully bloomed yet. M explained he has just changed his ELCB, fuse box and MCB only yesterday and they are running-in now.

Also, I would have preferred more power, attack and slam on the macro scale in the mid-bass and bass areas. But, then again, I was spoilt by the Thunderball (lots of thunder and cast iron balls) Wadia 581/Naim 500 & SL2 system I heard just 14 hours ago.

Since my last visit, M's system has leaped to a much high stage (pun intended) after he reloaded it with his top gun Stage cables and upgraded his A/C supply.

M's sound is a Quantum Of Solace for anyone who has ears for good sound and fine music.

His D, D, D and E have the Licence To Kill any system on the planet.

My congratulations to you, M.

maggielurva's reply:

km, have you considered writing a book or changing your career to a fiction writer? marvelous piece you have there!

luck is definitely not on your side as after you left, our LS3/5a guru came, and the sound suddenly took a turn for the better (guess the ELCB breaks-in quite fast) and he had an enjoyable 2.5 hours session. you know him, he wouldn't stay for a minute longer if he isn't enjoying himself. i will dedicate a post to mr. LS3/5a next.

note to readers:
this will be a last review on my system, lest people think that i am bragging or over-promoting my system.