REVIEWS Richard Fairbrother Article: Home Theater Talk I had the chance last Monday to visit with Mike VansEvers in Tampa. My time was well spent as Mr. Knapp is someone whom all people should have as a friend, and I received an ear opening foray into the world of Mike VansEvers. What! am about to write is based on my own experience and my own eyes and ears. So take all this as a grain of salt if you wish. If you tend to disagree, my only thoughts are twofold. Do not disagree with what I write, it is written as fact from my own experience, and secondly, those who need tests and charts and calculators in the world of sound and home theater, need to loosen ther tie's and just enjoy. First off, Mike and I traveled Tampa looking at "high end" stores from Home Theater. They were typical, overpriced and undercalibrated stores which had some cool Tv's - widescreen and DTV. I actually got Mike to say something my wife would agree with.. that I am too picky with NTSC HD pictures. I hate line structure and even on the high definition picture, I was a bit critical. So as to say, I did not go into the day simply thinking what Mike Knapp would show me would just simply win me over to his point of view. Now for the good stuff. We had the chance to visit Mike VansEvers which Mr. Knapp referred to as definitive proof that what I knew as stereo, was about to be blown away by something incredible. On first appearances. Mike VansEvers is exactly what someone who tinkers with audio should look like. A frumpled man with long hair In a pony tail, much like the buddys my dad hung out with in the 60's and 70's in college who just lived under a study lamp. Mike's place has stuff everywhere. There are cable and components around like some weird prop backlot room for a movie study kept by a mad scientist. Okay, this is hyperbole, but Mike lent himself instant credibility by being someone with a genuine smile and handshake. More importantly, before I met him, I was shown to a chair by Mike in front of 2 of the goshdarndest looking Green Mountain Audio speakers far removed from the back wall and toed in to the listener. The imaging was simply awesome. The quality of the sound was impressive, but more importantly, the imaging of the music was better. What I mean by this is that, when I sat in that chair, It was the closest thing to being in a room full of musicians without having them or me actually be in the same room together. Different instruments where easily identifiable by different positions in the soundstage. The vocals where in one place, and the high hat and drums were in another. The guiter had a localized place all it's own and gosh darnit, there was no music coming from the speakers. That's right. There was no sound coming from the speakers. What Mike VansEvers had set up was an image too profound, it just simply existed as music, not as thumping and twanging from the drivers and cones of the speakers. FOLKS, THIS WAS REAL STEREO. NOT GIMMICKY 5.1 CHANNEL SURROUND STUFF. When closing my eyes, I was at a concert. The reproduction of stereo music was too outstanding to even write about. I urge all of you who, even those who care not about the argument of stereo vs. 5.1 audio, to simply visit and sit for awhile with both Mikes to experience this. All of this came to being around and between the speakers without the benefit of a center channel speaker. Each component of the music, each instrument was exactly reproduced not only to the recording, but to the soundstage AS IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE MUSICIANS PLAYING LIVE!!!! Now comes the TWILIGHT ZONE. Mike had these blocks, with wingnuts and bolts attached to them lying on the receiver. He also had other wooden blocks lying around. I had no idea what they were until Knapp said they were tweaks. (NOTE TO SELF, WHAT THE HELL DO BLOCKS HAVE TO DO WITH SOUND?) Sitting next to me, Mike VansEvers asked me what I thought. Seeing my genuine surprise and shock over the sound quality, no rather the soundstage and imaging, he went on to share something most people would not for fear of skepticism. Using just the blocks and the direction they were In, he changed the dynamics of the music. Midrange depth changed depending on how many and the grain flow of the blocks he had on hand. Treble became more relaxed, and the image was pushed forward and backwards by simple little movements of BLOCKS!!!! You have to go listen to believe it. I SWEAR, THIS IS THE FREAKIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. Mike VansEvers was so matter of fact, saying "the sound reacts to the way the grain lies on the receiver (pre/pro)." I like Mike VansEvers. I like him a lot. He is so humble and earnest In wanting to show the audio world that there is a better way to listen to stereo. Nothing I can write will disclose my admiration for not only his technical products (first seen - the line conditioner at Phil Tuttobene's home theater meet In Orland), but his unexplainable tweaking authority. There are simply no engineering schematics which can account for the audio brilliance of this man. And proudly looking at his newest recruit to the way of stereo music, Mike Knapp stood with a twinkle in his eye as if to say, there is nothing that 5.1 can do to touch this. I will die believing it. THERE SIMPLY IS NO BETTER WAY TO TAKE THE POSITION AND SOUND OF MUSICIANS IN A STUDIO AND REPRODUCE IT THROUGH STEREO THAN THERE IS IN MIKE VANSEVERS LISTENING ROOM. Another fine point to make is that you can throw out the center channel speaker in every system if you set yours up like Mike and Mike's. The soundstage is simply incredible. Folks, anyone who has been there will agree with me. Anyone who hasn't cannot refute this experience without the refernce of experiencing it. Mike VansEvers, I thank you for your hospitality, and your knowledge. You have opened up my eyes to what music can be. And the best part of it all, there was attempt to sell me anything. What can be done to improve sound imaging and stage in his listening room, can be done in my own home, with my own speakers. People talk and argue and quote from textbooks, well folks this is from experience. Mike is right about stereo music being much better in integrity and intent when properly reproduced with 2 speakers positioned correctly. 5.1 cannot simply measure up. For all of you who are still with me at this point, just let me say this. If you ever get the chance to visit Tampa. Insist on visiting Mike VansEvers. You will never regret it. I promise you To Mike VansEvers - I am still shaking my head over your ability to understand and reproduce music so well. I truly thank you for an unforgettable experience. You are a genius. And I mean that sincerely. Regards and sincerely, Richard Fairbrother

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