Where for art thou Sushi!!! - Axiom Message Boards

Sushi...come out, come out where ever you are.

I remember him saying he had relatives in town a week or so ago.....maybe that is what has him tied up.

Quick! Someone call the Dallas Police and file a missing persons report!

And thats more important than hanging out at the Axiom boards? Man!, when my relatives are around, I look for sanctuary from the wierdness

.

I'm deeply offended. Sushi's been gone for what, 3 days, and he gets 2 threads, but I was gone for 7 and didn't get any! :-(

Oh, and I feel like being the grammar nazi tonight. Wherefore means why. Not where. Does the play make more sense now?

Wherefore dost thou have thy trousers in a bunch on this wondrous eve?

'Cause my wife isn't getting a move on so we can leave.

In reply to:
Does the play make more sense now?

Hell no!

You've only got 500+ posts...Sushi usually can do that in a week.

What a caring, kind and observant group of friends I have here!!!

I've been perfectly okay -- just that I suddenly remembered that I had to go through a renewal review for my HHMI position!!! (incidentally, yes, I have a day job) BWAHAHAHA... My review defense went well in Maryland earlier this week, though, and so I am relieved now.

As a bonus, on my way back home, I dropped by a VMPS home-dealer in DC, and seriously listened to the RM40 for a couple of hours. I hope to write up a mini-review when I get a chance. However, in a nutshell, it was an anti-climax to be honest. Perhaps I was expecting a little too high, but the RM40 was a kind of disappointment as compared to the Maggies...

Yaaah! Sushi's back!

In reply to:
I've been perfectly okay -- just that I suddenly remembered that I had to go through a renewal review for my HHMI position!!! (incidentally, yes, I have a day job) BWAHAHAHA... My review defense went well in Maryland earlier this week, though, and so I am relieved now.

Where in Maryland? Heh. I live here in MD

.

Glad you're back! Its' a good thing Peter didn't file that missing persons report.

Chevy Chase, MD.

Hah - that's an odd name for a city

.

the guys on a roll, he's only back for a few hours and he's already posted more times than I have in the past year!!!! Welcome back Sushi!

Okay, I just posted my mini-review for the VMPS RM40 here at the AVS forum in my little journal of speaker search.

VMPS RM40

I've never heard the VMPS RM40 but here is my impression anyway:

Butt Ugly!

Yes, the real thing was even uglier than these photos.

Hey Mike, now that I am back, it's really time to invite you to my home. I know this is much to ask, but do you think it is possible for you to bring over your Maggies to my place??? (I am serious.) If no, that's perfectly fine and you are still invited, of course. I can come over to your house with my minivan if needed for the speaker transportation.

Sounds like a plan. Just say when. I think I can get the Maggies into the back of my Diamante wagon. I'll measure it and if it doesn't fit, then we'll have you transport them.

Mike,

How about the latter part of next week (Thursday~Saturday)? Remember we cannot use the front projector until after dark, since I don't have window treatments. Perhaps you can arrive in late afternoon/early evening, and we can start with the audio part.

Sushi if you're in the market for $5000 speakers, have you listened to anything from Snell Acoustics? They make some very nice high end speakers. Heck I have a pair of their lowly Type K/II bookshelf speakers, and they're excellent. Definately worth taking a peek at.

Don't be turned off by their less than stellar website.

www.snellacoustics.com

Thursday is no good for me. Saturday is a possibility but don't know yet. Friday would be ok except that I can't get away until 6:00 P.M. I'm guessing that driving time to your place is about 30-40 min?

BTW, did you get my PM regarding a certain person coming to Texas?

Yeah, I remember it was 30-40 min drive. Let me think about the schedule, and I will get back with you.

And yes, I did respond to your PM a few days ago, regarding the certain person.

Some how I missed the reply.

Craig,

Thanks for the suggestion. I found a Snell Reference dealer in the DFW area; I will visit them hopefully next week.

Oops, that was email rather than PM, Mike.
Go check your email...

Nope, it's not there. Could have been accidently deleted. Sorry

.

You've got mail...

So... Last Saturday Mike (mwc) came to my house with his pair of Maggie MG12s. We had several hours of serious fun!!! Thanks again, Mike, for taking the trouble to carry the Maggies.

I am now convinced that:

(1) I will be able to place the Maggies appropriately in our living room (I am thinking about the 3.6/Rs). Thanks to its large openings to other rooms, the back of the panel can be wide-open.

(2) I will even be able to integrate a pair of Maggies adequately with my other 5.1 speakers, i.e., the Axiom VP150 and QS8s. In part thanks to the MCACC, the Maggies could provide a surprisingly seamless surround sound in the "demo" movie scenes in the DVDs Mike brought with him (Titan A.E. and Evolution).

In return (?), I think the session convinced Mike that he now wants a front projector in his house.

[btw, Mike, you left two things in my house -- your jacket and one of the DVD platters.]

Masa, the pleasure was all mine. Thanks for having me over and the gracious hospitality. Hauling the Maggies over there was a labor of love

.

I was concerned that the MG12s would be lost in the vast "Sushi room" but they performed admirably. I can only imagine what the 3.6/Rs will sound like (heaven maybe). I didn't expect the MG12s and the VP150 to blend as well as they did but I was impressed by how seamlessly they worked together. In fact, I thought the blend was slightly better than with the Hales. While I think timbre matching is important, after this session, I'm convinced that not timbre matching all speakers is not the "Great Saten" of home theater its made out to be, especially with MCACC/YPAO employed.

Yes, I do want a FP in my room!!! When that giant 120" screen came down and the lights dimmed and the picture flickered to life with that huge sound from the Maggies and Axioms and the great HSU VTF-3, I was simply mesmorized. What a wonderful alternative to going to the theater (which I've come to loath lately). The Shiner Bach and Guinness didn't hurt either. Yeah, my 36" Magnavox may soon be retired to the bedroom.

P.S.: Thats one of my favorite jackets, I'll need to swing by and pick it up. Did I leave one of my DVDs there? I thought I got home with all three. What do you mean by "platter"? Did you enjoy Finding Nemo?

Good grief...It's like you guys all operate in some other universe of listening. I can't fathom getting that into equipment

. And I love music and movies.

Perhaps once I get set up with SOMETHING I'll start to recognize it's shortcomings and want to upgrade.

-Nick

In reply to:
I can't fathom getting that into equipment . And I love music and movies.

I love music and movies too but the equipment thing is sort of like a side "hobby". I love the gadgetry.

In reply to:
Perhaps once I get set up with SOMETHING I'll start to recognize it's shortcomings and want to upgrade

Oh yeah, upgradeitis in inevitable

. You will be assimilated.

In reply to:
Thanks to its large openings to other rooms, the back of the panel can be wide-open.

The great thing about Maggies is their ability to project forward and backward equally well. I'm not sure what room is behind your home theater wall, but I suspect the sound in there will be much better after upgrading to Maggies.

Mike: Sorry I could not attend to what I promised you last week....I was on a 10 day XML training course.

Will definitely send you this week.

As with having front projection and Maggies I would say hell yeah!!!!

http://www.spacelofts.com/x1/mini-IMG_0940.htm

Right now running a phantom center which does an excellent job until I can figure out what center channel will work.

Sushi and Mike: Did you guys try out that rolling pink noise that goes throuh all the speakers to see if the VP150 integrated well with the MG12? With the PMC TB2 I found lots of discrepancies. It seemed at least with the TB2 the sound was tonally different than the MG12. I did not do any EQ adjustments on the speakers though.

Saturn

ps:ignore the puke yellow...its a rental.

I like the hockey puck vibration counter-measures between the components. Do they work better frozen or at room temp?

workin' on them forearms again?

Actually when my Bryston cooks a little... some of the pucks release the same smell as black has...... ops..
wrong forum..

hash-browns? I hate it when they burn my hash-browns, too!

In reply to:
Will definitely send you this week

.

In reply to:
until I can figure out what center channel will work.

How about the CC3?

No we didn't try the pink noise but the Axiom VP150 seemed to do an excelent job with the Maggies.

btw, those Maggies in white sure are striking in appearence

P.S: Don't sweat the yellow wall, just be thankful its' not pink.

Saturn,

Right, we should have run the panning pink noise from the AVIA DVD -- we were too busy enjoying the actual music/movies. But I could already tell from the MCACC calibration tones (various pink noises) that the Maggies and VP150 would work together pretty well.

Mike,

You got all the DVD cases with you, but the Saturn A.E. platter was left in my DVD player.

Sorry I didn't catch them when you were leaving (all of our attention went into loading your Maggies back to your car). I will mail them to you if you prefer...

Nick,

Yeah, I too am more of a music lover than an audiophile. For me, audio equipment is no more than a tool to enjoy the music -- that's why I have kept my Hales speakers for as long as 12 years (although I did a serious amount of research and auditions when I bought them). But I will tell you, once you find a feasible way to improve the sound quality of your system further, it is darn hard to escape from that thought. And I know that a better sound quality will increase my enjoyment of music, which does matter to me...

In reply to:

How about the CC3?

For $1100 retail that doesnt sound too appealing. The VP150 rings about right. The QS8 will definitely be my surrounds.

Saturn

I'm gonna cryyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys had the perfect oppurtunity to test the VP150 with the Maggies. I definitely already made up my mind with the QS8. The VP150 was still up in the air. Since I was gonna do custom colors I doubt the 30 day refund would work.

WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys let me down.

No, Saturn. Like I said, to my ears the Maggie/VP150 match was at least as good as the Hales/VP150 match, which I consider is excellent -- judging from the pink-noise test tones during the auto-calibration. MCACC puts various test tones successively and repeatedly to each channel, so it is sort of like a pink-noise pan (although it doesn't really pan).

I don't think you will be disappointed by the MG12/VP150 combo.

I was just joking above. See the winking face.

Playing by ear when watching a movies or having the pink noise does help but not totally I find. I did the same thing with my old (2 months old..esshhh) PMC TB2 and it worked well in pink noise for calibrating....but when I did the pink noise pan....thats where it came out wrong. when going from L to C to R with a panning pink noise it was like listening to a waterfall from the top at the L and when it panned to the C the pink noise seemingly dropped down like a waterfall till it was full center sounding like the bottom of the waterfall and then went up again when it was on the R. This was calibrating by ear, with SPL, with old Rotel. Now with my new Elite...I know MCCAC does have EQ changes to tonally match the mains. That I did not do becaue by then the center channel was gone. Actually now the PMC Db1 are gone too now.
Back to when the Tb2 was center and maggies were the mains... So when watching movies the sides of the soundstage was vast/airy and then the center seemingly sounded compressed/smaller/compact by nature. It wasnt bad but just different and odd.
Oh yeah the stage on the left and right with the maggies seemed way far back and vast. The stage on the PMC was about 1 foot in front of the speakers. I thought I was in Escher world.
I'll be ordering the Qs8 in a day or two...and was contemplating VP150 for $420cdn + $150cdn eggshell white or used MG CC3 for $1096cdn+shipping+duties

So when are you getting your speakers?...Or have you not have made up your mind yet?

Saturn, I want to listen to the GR-Research Alphas one more time before I decide. GR-Research is about 2-hour drive from Dallas.

Obviously, $5000/pair speakers are really a major purchase for me, and I've decided not to do this in a hassle. After all, like my Hales, the new speakers will stay with us for a decade or longer.

I was lookng at those too months back. Since it started not so far away from me(in location) as a DIY kit and someone local was selling one last I recall. I just dont have the time, patience and brains to build those big monsters.

Brought home the VP150 and QS4 tonight.
Watch T3 and it did pretty well. Better blend than my old PMC center. What did the trick was the MCACC Auto Eq calibration. I tried it by ear but failed miserably. Althought the VP150 did a better job than the PMC TB2 center it still was not 100% matched but liveable. The QS4 was not matching to the VP150 as well either. I bet the QS8 would have done a better job. One thing though is that if this system did not have an auto or even manual EQ calibration ... the speakers definitely as it stands would not match my Maggies. My old Rotel did not have this feature. So yes the MCACC feature is definitely awesome. Kudos to the Pioneer Elites to having this feature.
So next week I will place an order for QS8 and VP150 to match up with the Magnepan MG12. I just have too figure out what color of the rainbows I wanna paint it with.

Saturn

ps: by ear I could not tell the tonal difference once playing pink noise on each speaker. Where you can actually hear if all speakers have the same tonal characteristic is through circular PANNNING pink noise in the high and low bands. When doing that the center channel seem constrained, less ambiance, also has a little lower tonal charateristic. It is not as obvious as other speakers I have tried. Phantom center is tonally correct but lacks the ummppphhh of the center channel dialog using the VP150.

I hope he hasn't abandoned us

.

Yes, noticed that a couple weeks ago. Maybe the mice have been acting up and demanding more attention.

Does anybody know if Sushi is actually around and OK?

I haven't heard from him since our last listening session about 5 weeks ago. I'll send him a PM and see if he responds. It just ain't the same around here without him

. I've also noticed that a lot of the "old hands" don't post as much anymore

. Could be because folks have less time during the holidays. BTW, Happy Holidays to all

.

Heh - holiday time is pretty hectic for gift buying troubles, etc...

Probably because us newbies came along and took over. Curse us and our uninformed opinions!

I am also disappointed to see Sushi absent. He's been very helpful as I've done research answering questions.

-Nick

Research can be a very time consuming activity, speaking first hand.
I'm sure sushi will be back once his work crunch slows down or his vacation ends.

Yeah, you disappeared on us for a while Chess, but you're back. I'm sure Sushi will return as well, probably with about 10 posts within 20 minutes.

Maybe Sushi finally bought his Maggies and is just spending way too much time listening to them to have time to be on the board.

In reply to:
Probably because us newbies came along and took over

No way! Masa (sushi) loved to offer help to newbies and I would venture to say that it is one of the things that attracted him to this board.

In reply to:
He's been very helpful

Yeah, he's been a great help to us all, newbie or not.
COME BACK SUSHI!!! (was that loud enough?)

I'm sorry to say i'm only back for just a single day.
I've taken a short break while i have company in town but my deadlines have past and work is still in progress.

Sushi shall return.
That is my prediction.

In reply to:
I'm sorry to say i'm only back for just a single day

So sad.

All work and no play....

. Well if you must, just hurry back

.

Still no sign of him. Has anybody heard from him?

He hasn't replied to my PM. Very unlike him.

Maybe Axiom/Amie or a forum member has a phone number? This kind of worries me.

All you Axiom owners are fine and all...but I liked Sushi's posts.

My best guesses:
1) he's in Japan on holidays
2) he's busy with research

Or maybe he finally bought the 3.6/R and can't pry himself away from them.

Since Masa works for the same company that I do, it would be very easy for me to determine if he's on vacation. Shall I do a bit of sleuthing? I can call his lab in Dallas for some info.

Just give me the go-ahead and I'll spring into action.

I say start springing.

Hey, you've got my permission...hehehe!

Ok, the feelers have been extended. I only get voice mail on his phone, but I e-mailed the administrative office as well. I'll keep you posted.

I see a court adjunction stating all you guys have to be 500m from Masa's location at any time.

If you guys open up a Masa Fan Club....I'll commit myself.

I feel strangely guilty doing this "dick-work" (as in detective)...

Even though I don't own Axioms....I really like this board. And I like Sushi's posts.

I would like to say that I recruited him to spend all his time on the Ascend Forum......but that didn't happen.

You're just checking up on a friend. Although he probably is in Japan or on sabbatical or something. But you think he would have mentioned it to someone.

I don't like prying into peoples business.
but look for

awards in NY.
His hard work has paid off and has been busy due to recognition of his work in the later part of this year.

So are we saying he is just too busy even to say "hi"?

hmmm....true..didn't think of that. But..umm...we all really don't know each other...just a friendly repoire on this forum is the connection. Hmmm....im not even gonna think up scenerios of what could have happen.

I'm guessing he may have gone to Japan for the holidays.

I know.....hey Mike (since you know where he lives due to your latest demo)....you wanna drop on by Masa house and do some snooping? Don't blame me if you get arrested for tresspasing or shot by some Yakusa clan (joking! Actually they wouldnt use a gun .. they just chop your head off with a Samurai).. hasann CHOP!

Even in Akihabara I remembered he was posting threads about his session with his DLP projector.

But it does make sense if he did go on vacation for a while and not notify anyone that his house would be vacant.

I'm going on vacation and doing some boarding at Tremblant. If anyone get ideas that they want to take my Maggies...you got another thing coming. I have this killer fish. His name is BigHead. I am not feeding him when I am away so he will be hungry. BEWARE KILLER GOLDFISH!!!!!

ps:thats really not my fish...mines cute-er

How does Tremblant compare to Whistler/Blackcomb?

Whistler/Blackcomb is one of the best in the world. Tremblant is the closest fun place to my location. I like Tremblant but it doesnt come close to Whistler. Tremblant is a third the size of Whistler and 1/8 size of vacilities/properties etc. It is as good as most 3000 feet mountains.

I've been to lots of places. I might have to put Tremblant on my list.

In reply to:
you wanna drop on by Masa house and do some snooping?

NO WAY! I don't want to get pinched for stalking

.

His last post was 6 weeks ago.

In reply to:
His last post was 6 weeks ago.

it is funny to see that Masa has obtained celebrity status, to the point of near stalking! I hope we see him back soon.

Maybe stalking was what sent him away.
Hmm?
Anyone?
Fess up to that one kids.

OK OK....that is all I will post on the matter.

My observation has been that when someone leaves a discussion board either temporarily or permanently that there's rarely any explanation given. If somebody who wouldn't consider it an unwarranted intrusion wanted to do so, they could simply phone him at home.

What is your best place to ski?

That is a tough one to answer. Most, if not all, have their redeeming qualities. The winter I skied 19 resorts was a buffet of conditions and accommodations. I would have to say that either Telluride or Whistler/Blackcomb are the all around best in my book. It's hard to choose between them.

I see Whistler/Blackcomb and start thinking of code names for Microsoft products. I never realized they were ski resorts and that's where the names came from.

You never heard of the real whistler/Blackcombe? Its the shitz.

Very few places compare to it.

This looks like Blackcombe bowl on the first run after a dump...look familiar Jim?

The other place I snowboarded that was good as this was snowboarding the Andes at 12400+ in Chile.

Ahh Blackcombe. I miss the bowl drop at the top of the Glacier. Spanky's ladder is also a good memory. As well as first tracks on 7th heaven on Whistler. The baby keeps me grounded, have to wait till she's a few years old and she'll be boarding w/ her old man...

In reply to:
Ahh Blackcombe. I miss the bowl drop at the top of the Glacier. Spanky's ladder is also a good memory. As well as first tracks on 7th heaven on Whistler.

7th is excellent. We did that so many time past year since the Blackcomb bowl was crappy, hardpacked and icy when we were there. It was mostly closed due to high winds on top and people sliding of the early part of the bowl and getting that steep pitch.

Nice! I'm ready for some skiing now