A trip to Istanbul

Last month I was invited to participate in the Echole Conference in Istanbul. My host was Kerem Küçükaslan, the Managing Director of Echole cables and Absolare tube electronics. The setting was four days of listening to his vision, that of his audio partners and clients in magnificent sonic venues. Every system I encountered was meticulously executed and solely 2 channel.
 
The first was in the home of a client, Mr. Can Elgiz , that not only played his super system for us, but had dinner catered and feted us with well chosen spirits. The man and his wife are the epitome of elegance and style. His art collection, retired Ferrari Formula 1 car memorabilia and Bugatti Veyron automobile left me breathless. While we were there, Fortune magazine was doing a photo shoot about (Echole Cables and this event), article to follow. The couples generosity of spirit made me feel like an old friend. That is the lasting impression of my invitation into his home.
 
Of course you’re read this far – so what about the sound! Everything I value was in evidence. The placement of the Wilson Alexandria’s was chosen to minimize the room interaction. It worked in a large room with vaulted ceilings. No obvious sound treatments were in evidence, but a practiced eye noted the first reflections were handled by great pieces of art, the canvas doing the job. Persian rugs damped the floor and the components were isolated by top line HRS components. The incoming AC was top notch as was the grounding scheme. All the prerequisites for adding the actual components were in place.
 
The turntable was the Clearaudio Statement with the reference tangential tracking arm and a second SME both with Goldfinger carts. The cabling was all Echole Obsession. The electronics were all Audio Note Kondo -- the M 1000 preamp/phono stage and the Ongaku amp.
 
The system exhibited all the refinement you would expect and none of the problems you would associate with 27 watts single ended amps driving a pr of Wilson Alexandria’s. Played at normal levels and on all types of music, the system was organic, deceptively dynamic, full range and most importantly -- emotionally connecting with natural tonal color. No doubt played at very high spl’s the amps would run out of power quickly. Additionally, what the bass lacked in absolute authority it compensated for in refinement. This system was assembled with great care to satisfy the musical taste of the owner. To say he succeeded is understatement – it is a tribute to balance – one that is rarely struck in my experience.

Our gracious host, Mr. Can Elgiz is on the extreme right of the photo below standing in the white shirt.

Our conference host, Mr. KeremKüçükaslan always made sure we were treated to the best restaurants including 4 of the top ten in Istanbul. The dinner pictured below was magnificent. We were transported there by water taxi having just completed a day of luxurious sailing.

While in Turkey, my generous host again delighted me in arranging a side trip to Cappadocia. An hour plane ride and a world away from Istanbul. Caves are still used as excellent shelters against the elements. It was 90 degrees the day the picture was taken below but amazingly cool in the cave. The gentleman that lived there has some very interesting artifacts on his walls. Note the black disk above my head on the wall and take a look at the next photo!

The owner was an amazing man – he washed my hands with lemon water as I departed and gave me a very warm reception into his home. This type of hospitality was the norm my entire stay in Turkey – I shall return.
 
 
 
My next stop was at one of the world’s greatest high end stores, Extreme High End in Istanbul. With nine beautifully appointed showrooms, replete with an in house kitchen, bar and server it was an amazing sight situated in the lower floor of a Sheraton hotel.
 
Each room housed examples of the world’s best equipment. Reference level components were in use in three of the rooms which were carefully set up in acoustically treated rooms. Of note, Stein H2 Harmonizers were used to great effect, as well as ongoing beta testing of upcoming Stein products
 
This store is truly a “cost no object” emporium where the attitudes of the owner, Mr. Orhan Aydogan and his staff are as accommodating as the people I met all over Turkey. Combine this with deep product knowledge, obvious system building capabilities and the love of music and you have winner. If you go to Turkey, Extreme Audio must be on your itinerary.
 
Here are some pictures of product and an idea of the room treatments. Musical instruments in the show rooms are a nice touch.
 
 

 
Finally, and most importantly, the Echole and Absolare products were demonstrated in my host, Kerem Küçükaslan reference room built within his artisan home. The system is anchored by a fantastic room which was built with the combined expertise of Kaiser Acoustics of Germany and members of the Echole/Absolare team. The resulting room is beautiful and sonically neutral. Proving aesthetics and great sound are not mutually exclusive.
 
An Echole modified Master Sound single ended tube amp was mated to an Absolare preamp and Kaiser Kawero loudspeakers connected by Echole Obsession cables. The front end was primarily digital again an Echole modified CD player and towards the end of our listening session,  Mr. John Park of Pyon Sound in Korea (an Echole partner) treated us to a listen to his newly developed and now for sale turntable and tube phono stage.
The retail prices of his very well designed products are extremely reasonable. Taken in the context of the sound they produced, a true high end bargain.  The overall sound of Kerem’s system was fantastic. Everything worked in harmony and yes, in balance. Kerem and his partners had spend countless hours auditioning different woods for the 400 pound (and beautifully veneered) component rack they will now market. The team listened to each iteration of wood until the right balance of properties was achieved. The system displayed amazing dynamics, texture, tonal color and treble performance with well integrated bass.
 
But the most important thing I heard was coherence and a sound that was once again – organic and emotionally connecting. This is the thread that ties dissimilar systems together as evidenced by the two I have chronicled in this missive.
 
If you cannot visit Hi Fi One in Carlsbad, I offer the Kaiser Kawero review in issue 51 of Positive Feedback written by Jim Merod as the next best way.
 
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue51/kawero.htm
 
Hi Fi One is committed to “science in the service of music”. It is more than a company tag line. I actively seek out designers that have distinguished themselves by being knowledge workers and applying themselves to create products worthy of your money.
 
To this end, I proudly represent David Berning, Ron Sutherland, Masa-san of Concert Fidelity, Steve Mc Cormack of SMc Audio, Paul Wakeen of Stillpoints, Joe Reynolds of Nordost, Allen Perkins of Spiral Groove, Jonathan Carr of Lyra, John Mc Donald of Audience, Frederik Caroe of Duelund Coherent, Laurence Dickey of Vivid, Rainer Weber of Kaiser Acoustics and my gracious host in Istanbul, Kerem Küçükaslan of Echole and Absolare.
 
As always, I invite your private auditions by appointment 7 days a week. 612 817 1599.
 
Rick Brown

My next stop was at one of the world’s greatest high end stores, Extreme High End in Istanbul. With nine beautifully appointed showrooms, replete with an in house kitchen, bar and server it was an amazing sight situated in the lower floor of a Sheraton hotel.
 
Each room housed examples of the world’s best equipment. Reference level components were in use in three of the rooms which were carefully set up in acoustically treated rooms. Of note, Stein H2 Harmonizers were used to great effect, as well as ongoing beta testing of upcoming Stein products
 
This store is truly a “cost no object” emporium where the attitudes of the owner, Mr. Orhan Aydogan and his staff are as accommodating as the people I met all over Turkey. Combine this with deep product knowledge, obvious system building capabilities and the love of music and you have winner. If you go to Turkey, Extreme Audio must be on your itinerary.
 
Here are some pictures of product and an idea of the room treatments. Musical instruments in the show rooms are a nice touch.

Finally, and most importantly, the Echole and Absolare products were demonstrated in my host, Kerem Küçükaslan reference room built within his artisan home. The system is anchored by a fantastic room which was built with the combined expertise of Kaiser Acoustics of Germany and members of the Echole/Absolare team. The resulting room is beautiful and sonically neutral. Proving aesthetics and great sound are not mutually exclusive.
 
An Echole modified Master Sound single ended tube amp was mated to an Absolare preamp and Kaiser Kawero loudspeakers connected by Echole Obsession cables. The front end was primarily digital again an Echole modified CD player and towards the end of our listening session,  Mr. John Park of Pyon Sound in Korea (an Echole partner) treated us to a listen to his newly developed and now for sale turntable and tube phono stage.

The retail prices of his very well designed products are extremely reasonable. Taken in the context of the sound they produced, a true high end bargain.  The overall sound of Kerem’s system was fantastic. Everything worked in harmony and yes, in balance. Kerem and his partners had spend countless hours auditioning different woods for the 400 pound (and beautifully veneered) component rack they will now market. The team listened to each iteration of wood until the right balance of properties was achieved. The system displayed amazing dynamics, texture, tonal color and treble performance with well integrated bass.
 
But the most important thing I heard was coherence and a sound that was once again – organic and emotionally connecting. This is the thread that ties dissimilar systems together as evidenced by the two I have chronicled in this missive.
 
If you cannot visit Hi Fi One in Carlsbad, I offer the Kaiser Kawero review in issue 51 of Positive Feedback written by Jim Merod as the next best way.
 
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue51/kawero.htm
 
Hi Fi One is committed to “science in the service of music”. It is more than a company tag line. I actively seek out designers that have distinguished themselves by being knowledge workers and applying themselves to create products worthy of your money.
 
To this end, I proudly represent David Berning, Ron Sutherland, Masa-san of Concert Fidelity, Steve Mc Cormack of SMc Audio, Paul Wakeen of Stillpoints, Joe Reynolds of Nordost, Allen Perkins of Spiral Groove, Jonathan Carr of Lyra, John Mc Donald of Audience, Frederik Caroe of Duelund Coherent, Laurence Dickey of Vivid, Rainer Weber of Kaiser Acoustics and my gracious host in Istanbul, Kerem Küçükaslan of Echole and Absolare.
 
As always, I invite your private auditions by appointment 7 days a week. 612 817 1599.
 
Rick Brown