Redgum Audio Rules OK!
Sep 9th, 2006 by guitarnews
It’s probably not often that a music/hi-fi buff gets to sit down with the people producing world class stuff in their modest factory surroundings, but I was recently privileged to spend a few hours listening to the exquisite Redgum Audio components at the factory in Melbourne. Ever since I bought my Redgum CD player I have been intrigued, not only with the Redgum products, but also with the team behind the products, designer Ian and his partner Lindy.
I was more than impressed with what I heard from my preferred CD player/amp/speaker set up and also the innovative Redgum surround sound system. I was even more pleased to meet, and spend time with Ian and Lindy, whose hospitality I really appreciated. Hopefully, I will visit again, but I’m definitely aiming to have the “preferred”‘ system sitting in my listening room the next time I listen!
The Lobby Loyde Benefit Concert - This was the very antithesis of my musical morning at Redgum, but what I should have expected. At “The Palace” it was very crowded, hot, smoky, and heavily populated by males consuming large amounts of alcohol and smoking. A constant stream of people pushing through on their way to/from the bar/toilet during the acts just added to the excitement. This without mentioning the poorly set up, but too loud PA, various under-rehearsed bands form the 60s and 70s making mistakes, with their volume controls seemingly glued to “11″ as if they were playing an outdoor gig in the 70s . Need I go on?
Having tolerated most of the first half,the where Brian Cadd/Axiom were reasonable, I departed the main arena early, but waited to see my favourite band “Spectrum”. They were very good, as being a working band they knew their stuff and they played at a level which allowed the music to be appreciated without overloading the dodgy PA.
I don’t know if following bands achieved this feat as I was no longer in attendance and I thus missed the highlight of the night, Lobby Loyde, the Aussie rock legend, who is dying of cancer. He played well apparently, still with his trademark cigarette! I guess he was setting the example for those blokes in the crowd!
