While the following is not specifically about modern stereo systems, I thought that it might be interesting to music lovers here.

Last month we undertook a long road trip to the Desert SW of the USA. We accumulated 7745 Kms/4800 miles in 3 weeks & satisfied our 'desert fix' for another year. One of the highlights was a visit to Scotty's Castle in northern Death Valley, California where there is a phenomenal 'Music Room' from the 1930s.

The full pipe organ there is comprised of:

The Welte-Mignon theater pipe organ features 1,121 pipes, a grand piano, glockenspiel, xylophone, chimes, orchestra bells, sleigh bells, bird calls and a drum and cymbal assortment. It cost more than $50,000 to purchase, deliver, and installed in 1928

The US Park Service Ranger fired up this monster & allowed the 'Player Organ' to play a couple of tunes for us (there is also a full organ keyboard for those who can play). What is really unique is the volume control. There are several banks of louvers in the sound wall between the organ & the room that mechanically open & close to control the volume as required when the organ is playing. The mechanical complexity of this beast is mind boggling.

And the sound - all acoustic & simply stunning & stupendous. Talk about bass!! It's the stuff that today's amp & speaker designers strive so hard to achieve.

Have a look here to see & hear it in action - note the louvers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKPBsIX13xo&feature=related

If you are ever in that part of the world, stop in at Scotty's Castle for a most unique musical experience.

Tom
Comox, BC

That sounds like such a cool thing to experience. I'll have to remember that if I'm ever down that way.

Very cool Tom. A live performance from a quality pipe organ is on my bucket list.

That's what she said.

Not to me. Thas 'splains the divorce.

I visited Scottie's Castle many years ago. I remember being quite impressed, and also very strange to find it in the middle of Death Valley.

Thanks for that tid bit of information. I'm with CV, must remember to stop in and hear it if I am ever down that way.