The year-end “Reiji Asakura's Digital Top 10” finally leaves only the best 3. This year's top three were "new work that will leave a name in the history of audio", "work that conveys the history of music to future generations", and "work that opens up a new era of visuals". Let's look back on 2015 with Mr. Asakura's introduction of the audio board, "This is the first time I've ever had such a rich musicality."
Reiji Asakura's ``Sound of Music'' pilgrimage vol.3 is taken from the stairs of the Memphisberg hill overlooking Hohensalzburg Castle in the second half of ``Do-Re-Mi''. A few years ago, when the Museum of Modern Art opened, the stairs were renovated, so it became impossible to reproduce the same composition as in the film. . Only the top 3 are left, but what kind of items will come out?Mr. Asakura: Before that, let's insert another extra edition. We will show you a super-class audio board made in the United States by a Japanese "sound master".
Mr. Asakura: The second installment of the extra edition is the audio board "CCHS-XR" by a manufacturer called Crazy Carpenter Craft in Los Angeles, USA.
- Is that an audio board? Mr. Asakura has been introduced to HR boards using Krypton's neo-fade material in the past, but the fact that they are appearing here means that they are at a considerable level.
Mr. Asakura: Of course, I have tried various audio boards so far, but I have never come across a board that emits such a rich musical sound (more precisely, it makes the device emit that sound). It's my first time. My audio layout uses quite a lot of equipment, and unfortunately it's not possible to put each one in a rack independently according to "audio theory". This forces me to stack my equipment, so the board is a must for me. When I test a new product at home for an interview, I always put some kind of board under one piece of equipment.
--I couldn't believe my eyes when I first entered the Asakura Theater. After all, everything from famous machines to the latest equipment is lined up in a narrow space, and the upper wall is covered with a large amount of software. I'm convinced that normal theory doesn't work physically
Mr. Asakura: What is the magnificence of CCHS-XR? Literally speaking, ``The musicality contained in the signal that was sealed or confined is placed under the amplifier or CD player. At once, it is released, and it is powerfully radiated into the listening room space. The sound acquires lively movement in detail, the harmonic radiation is visibly increased, and the density of the sound field space is greatly improved. The layout of the sound image also draws a clear three-dimensional effect in the depth direction, and you can get the experience that the speaker disappears and the music is born from that space.
――In pure audio, erasing the presence of speakers is like the most important issue. Once upon a time, when I went to a certain audio store to listen to a certain player, I had the experience that the presence of the speakers was a hindrance and I could not concentrate on the sound. It was a system where the total amount was not less than 1 million yen, but after listening to the audition, I felt very disappointed...
Mr. Asakura: Audio equipment during music playback should be devoted to shadow warriors. You should be listening to "music", but if the main role is "equipment", it's putting the cart before the horse. In that respect, this board is a wonderful accessory that understands the essence of audio. The quality improvement can be described as "terrible", and I have never experienced this level with the boards I have used so far.
It is certainly possible to make such a difference by changing the amp or CD player itself. But what I used this time, I'm sorry to say this, but it's "just a board". "Isn't this an ultra-high-performance accessory?"
The CCHS-XR audio board is made by sandwiching a metal plate between 13 layers of laminated wood on each side. It's heavy when you pick it up.Mr. Asakura: This board is a "work" created mainly by Mr. Akira Taguchi, a former recording producer of Victor who now lives in Los Angeles. There is a reason why it is called a work rather than a product, and this board has the taste of a handmade craft rather than a mass-produced product.
After developing the high-quality CD "XRCD" during his time at Victor, Mr. Taguchi moved to Los Angeles and developed various audio activities. One is room tuning, which adjusts audio rooms in studios and ordinary homes.
--XRCD is a pioneer of high-quality sound CD, isn't it? It is a technology that aims to improve sound quality by reviewing the production process itself, rather than improving sound quality by changing materials such as "SHM-CD" and "Blu-spec CD" that came out later. We set very strict standards for sound quality, such as production work in the middle of the night when there are few factors, and re-cutting if the sound quality of the master is below a certain level.
Mr. Asakura: I once interviewed Mr. Taguchi's tuning process at a user's home in Japan. I remember seeing an astonishing change in the sense of clarity and resolution, and the presence of the speakers disappearing, thinking, "Wow, this much information was on the disc?!" The board this time is just like the utility of that time.
On the other hand, in collaboration with Mr. Thomas Benaud May, the head technical engineer of the mastering house "Bernie Grundman Mastering", Mr. Taguchi launched the handmade accessory maker "G Ride Audio", which I also use. We are developing power boxes and cables. Crazy Carpenter Craft, which specializes in wooden accessories, was established this time. Designed by Mr. Taguchi and produced by a professional craftsman (who calls himself Crazy Carpenter), Mr. Taguchi inspects and ships it.
――So the attention to sound that you saw with XRCD is still alive in a different form? I have nothing but respect for his attitude of continuing to pursue the insatiable pursuit of sound even after changing places and methods.
Mr. Asakura: Mr. Taguchi says this. “In order to produce good music without damaging the sense of reality, spatial expression, texture, energy, passion, etc. contained in the signal, it is said that the ratio of good power supply and anti-vibration ratio is 8:2. I used to think that, but since a few years ago, I've come to realize that it's half-and-half. At the time of XRCD, as a power supply countermeasure, you were aiming for 2 o'clock in the middle of the night when many factories stopped and the power supply stabilized. However, Mr. Taguchi later changed his view that not only the power supply but also the anti-vibration measures were more important for good sound. With that in mind, I went to the United States, where I was deeply involved in the development of XRCD, and teamed up with a woodworker living in Los Angeles. It is. There are two types of products: CCHS, a popular version, and CCHS-XR, a high-end version that focuses on musical reproduction. CCHS is an abbreviation for "Crazy Club House Sandwich". It is made up of 3 layers with a metal plate sandwiched between the 25 layers of thin plywood.
Mr. Asakura's method is to put an insulator on top of the component, place the CCHS-XR on top of it, and stack another layer of components. In audio, it is generally considered to be better to lay all the equipment flat or store them one by one in a rack as a countermeasure against noise, but at the Asakura Theater where the equipment and software are placed like a mountain, they are physically racked. It's impossible--When I held it earlier, I felt that it was quite heavy for a laminated board, but I see, there is a metal plate inside. However, the naming sense is also quite excellent. I think it's aptly named "Clubhouse Sandwich," an American-born sandwich made with thin slices of cucumber, tomato, ham, or turkey.
Mr. Asakura: When I asked Mr. Taguchi why it is better to use plywood instead of a single plate or stone, he replied, "It's to pick up vibrations evenly. Natural stones such as marble and granite are dense. Because the coarseness is different, the distortion will appear.”
The point is the metal plate sandwiched in the middle. It doesn't make sense to put it away.To prevent this, a metal plate is sandwiched.In other words, the vibration of the device is shielded by the metal plate and is not transmitted to the bottom.Lay the CCHS-XR under the speaker that vibrates frequently. If you put your finger on the top and bottom of the metal, you can see that the vibration modes are different.” (Mr. Taguchi)
Taguchi-style craftsmanship always has the characteristic of "listening to everything and deciding." After listening to and comparing a number of candidates, we carefully selected the type and thickness of plywood and metal, and also paid attention to adhesion. Crazy Carpenter Craft also has cable insulators, but we choose different types of wood because the vibration coefficient varies depending on the material. The adhesive also works to absorb vibration, so it seems that it was carefully selected.
From the outside, you can see that the 13 layers of plywood on top and bottom are exposed like strata. It is quite unique as an audio board design specification, and it is a finish that is not often seen as a general product. If the sound deteriorates, there is no point in sticking to materials and structures,” he said. It is truly a “craftsmanship”.
A recent shot of the Asakura Theater. Although not shown in the image, a large vacuum tube power amplifier sits behind the row of components. It is unrealistic to put it on the shelf because the equipment is frequently changed for interviews. is increasing. They also dislike the coarseness and fineness of the annual rings that are characteristic of natural wood, and most of them are aimed at equalizing the density of the material, but what is wonderful about Mr. Taguchi is that "in the end, it's your ears that decide whether it's good or bad." I think. Optimization judgments can also be made with a measuring instrument, but in that case, what the user hears is the "sound of the measuring instrument." I felt that Mr. Taguchi's listening test clearly shows the idea that "in the end, the product is only for humans."Mr. Asakura: This is the essence of audio, where you can deeply appreciate human work through sound. This attitude is also reflected in the sales format of Crazy Carpenter Craft. Because the products are basically custom-made according to the user equipment and environment, Crazy Carpenter manufactures them by himself after receiving an order, and Mr. Taguchi checks the quality before shipping. Therefore, it is not possible to make prospective production, and mass production is also impossible, so store sales are not possible. Mr. Jun Yoshino, a graphic designer who has a personal relationship with Mr. Taguchi, usually acts as an import agent, but unfortunately Mr. Taguchi is currently in the hospital and production has stopped.
――I think that Mr. Taguchi is a “master of sound” who embodies “what is music and what is audio” in the form of an audio board. I just wish you a speedy recovery
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