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Last night at Chapman Audio Systems

I wish all of you could have experienced what I experienced last night at the shop of Stuart Chapman Jones of Chapman Audio Systems. Stuart hand builds Chapman loudspeakers and has done so for several decades. His speakers have a reputation for superb build quality and for their ability to perform way beyond what one would expect from a speaker at their price point.
Many audiogon members are familiar with the Chapman products and the reputation that they have. Stuart is constantly seeking ways to make his already stellar products even better.
I live 3 miles away from Stuart and we get together at his shop at least once a week for critical listening to whatever pair of speakers he has going in the shop at the time. It might be an older pair of customer T7's that are in for the T7 upgrade program (which is phenomenal I might add), or it might be the latest new pair of T6MKII's or T77's. Regardless of what speaker model is running, it's always a lot of fun as well as a learning experience for us both. Our sessions ultimately benefit all Chapman owners.
Last night we had our first listen to my new pair of T6MKII's. Brand new, unbroken in, less than 24 hours on them...and they totally blew us away! These speakers do everything right! Unbelievable performance from a speaker that stands around 40 inches tall. They are quick, transparent, HIGHLY detailed and musical, and they fill the room with the biggest, most holographic, highly energized soundstage I've ever heard! Words cannot even adequately describe the experience! We literally got POUNDED by these speakers! We were swimming in soundstage. I wish all of you could have experienced it with us because words are inadequate to describe it. Most of us seem to be on a quest seeking musical nirvana. I think we heard it last night at the shop!
I don't want this to sound like an ad for Chapman Audio Systems because it's not, but I did want to share my astonishing experience with anyone interested in hearing about it. I'm not professionally affiliated with Stuart. We're just good friends and have been for over 20 years. I've been blessed to spend countless hours with him doing just what we did last night. Except last night's session was beyond our wildest dreams! I'm a lucky audiophile indeed!
mjfvashon
dweller's avatar
dweller
2,152 posts
 
Hi Mike,

Glad to hear about your adventure.
I've experienced something similar a few times in the past.
My term for this phenomenon is "paradigm shock".
When something is radically better (or different) than we expect, our brain "freaks out" and unleashes emergency energy to analyze the occurrence and make sure it doesn't threaten our survival.

When the big "B" is comfortable with the "new thing", it calms down and our senses return to normal.

I think this is why you can have a fantastic restaurant meal today that won't be nearly as good a second time tomorrow.

I'm sure the speakers you heard are damn fine products.
Lots of stuff we buy is very good.
But when the "P shock" wears off we're left kind of unfulfilled and don't know why.

This is why I put credence in magazine reviews where
the author has lived with something for months.
Gives a good perspective.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Chapman's mom needs to stop posting here.hahahaha just kidding, I know Doug Schroeder loves his new pair a bunch!
douglas_schroeder
1,824 posts
 
Crap! Lost a page of writing due to a brown out!
Ok, cut to the chase...

Them Chapmans? Exquisite.

The Pathos Classic One MkII amps bridged are treasures, too...

Together? Well, I'm not gonna spend more time talking to you guys. I'm going to have a listening session!
mjfvashon OP
47 posts
 
Dweller. I appreciate you taking the time to post a response and I respect your opinions. I can tell you however that I've lived with Chapman products and their advancements for over 20 years and I've NEVER been left feeling unfullfilled. I have been a part of some of those advancements that Stuart has made and they have always made us feel excited and energized. Nothing wrong with feeling like that in my opinion, and if I've purchased gear that I like and it works for me, or if we have tried something new and exciting, I like to share that with others. As I stated in my original post, I wish everyone could have experienced it with us. We would have even let you in because everyone's brain needs a shock now and then! Cheers.
arkprof
182 posts
 
I understand your enthusiasm and indeed have experienced what you describe, or at least I think so. Sadly, I'm not sure I've ever experienced bad audio, or at least I don't think so. I do know, however, that removing a component from Nirvana and placing it in my system, which is located in my very distinct listening space, here referring to configuration and materials, will produce an entirely different listening experience. Indeed, without all of the shared excitement that you describe, it could prove to be profoundly different, perhaps better or, unfortunately, perhaps worse by degree. Nothing's easy.

I now have the "best" audio system I've ever owned, at least in the sense that I thoroughly enjoy the musical experience it provides, but I must quickly add that it is far from the most expensive system I've owned. The key, at least for me, was switching to tube amplification.

Your description of the Chapman experience/reaction sounds very much like my assessment of the SuperAbbys/Bailey that I bought over a year ago.

How can we both be right?
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