User Details - Christine Tham


Name:
  Christine Tham
Details:
  I have been listening to "hi fi" since the 1970s - initially on my Dad's ever changing system (started out with Quad valve amp/KEF speakers and ended up with a full quadraphonic setup with both SQ and CD4 decoders). Currently have an integrated home theatre and surround music system. I listen to both Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio as well as lots of CDs and the occasional LP.
Location:
  Sydney, Australia
HiFi:
  We have three separate setups. Would probably like to connect them one of these days.

(Main living and audio/video room):
Sources: Sony SCD-XA777ES SACD player, Panasonic DVD-S97 DVD-Audio player, Oppo DV-970HD universal player, Rega P3 turntable with Dynavector DV20xL cartridge and P-75 phono stage, Nakamichi 680ZX cassette deck, custom built HTPC with Windows XP Media Center Edition (Intel Pentium D 830, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard disk, Nvidia 6600, E-MU 1820M), custom built CD/media player with network connectivity
Amplification: Musical Fidelity A3.2cr pre, Sony TA-P9000ES m-ch pre, Cary Cinema 6 processor, 4 x Musical Fidelity A5cr power amps for (2 x front L/R bi-amped, 1 x front Centre bi-amped, 1 x surround L/R), Behringer A500 (surround Back L/R) for a full 7.1 surround configuration (total amplification power over 5000 watts RMS spread across two dedicated power circuits!)
Speakers: B&W 4 x CDM7NT front and surrounds, 1 x CDMCNT front centre, 2 x DM601S2 surround backs, ASW2500 subwoofer
Display: Mitsubishi LVP-HC5000 1920x1080 LCD projector, 100" 16x9 ScreenTechnics screen

(Kitchen):
Sources: Panasonic DVD-S97 DVD Audio/Video player, Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck
Amplification: NAD 320BEE
Speakers: B&W VM1

(Study):
Sources: Pioneer DV-626D DVD Video player, Edirol StudioCanvas SD-90, E-MU 0404 USB, Roland JX-8P, Yamaha FB-01, Yamaha YSX-55, Boss BX-600, Behringer Eurorack UB1204FX-PRO, Audio Technica AT-822, M-Audio Microtrack 24/96, PC acting as digital audio workstation, MythTV backend server, Thecus NS-4100 1.6TB NAS, Windows 2000 Server.
Amplification: NAD 310
Speakers: B&W LM1
Email:
  ctham@bigpond.net.au
Web:
 
Posts:
  6

 
 
Reviews
Found: 31 show all

High Altitude Drums 07/08        
  November 5, 2009

Never have I been more (pleasantly) surprised with a review disc than I have just been with this title! This disc arrived from IsoMike about a week ago, and to be honest I did not look forward to reviewing it. "High Altitude Drums"??? Is the listening experience akin to suffering from high altitude ... more
  August 10, 2009

This is quite a unique disc, being the first SA-CD released by an Australian independent artist. It is an album of new age piano music. Unfortunately, you won't be able to find the SA-CD on retail music stores in Australia, although ABC stores will stock the CD version. It is orderable from ... more
  March 8, 2008

Be warned if your expectations are that this is a set of solo piano renditions of various popular songs (from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Sting, Bob Marley, Neil Young, Bob Dylan). Well, it is, and it isn't. The arrangements/improvisations are not straightforward, and even if you think you are ... more
  March 8, 2008

This is an somewhat unusual jazz trio, consisting of guitar, drums and Hammond organ replacing the acoustic bass. Brad Shepik plays guitar like a blend of John Scofield and Bill Frisell in a mellow mood, accompanied by Gary Versace on the Hammond and Tom Rainey on drums. The songs are all original ... more
  February 10, 2008

I fell right at home with this jazz trio recording. The style is vaguely ECM-ish contemporary jazz, but Arabic/Middle-Eastern influences on some tracks. Gordon Grdina plays the oud (not quite sure what kind of instrument this is) and guitar, in a style that reminded me somewhat of Pat Metheny (when ... more

 
 
Latest Posts

Discussion: Bach: Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould
April 9, 2007
Thanks for the feedback. I have corrected two typos (one was "50 years" instead of "60 years", and the other was a reference to the earlier SA-CD being of the 1955 recording instead of the 1981 recording). ... more
Discussion: Bach: Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould
April 9, 2007
Site review just posted. I will be interested any feedback, comments, alternate opinions. ... more
Just attended Melba's launch of "Das Rheingold" (from the Adelaide Ring Cycle 2004)
October 28, 2006
Well, "premature applause" is hardly a phenomenon unique to Australia - I've experienced it all over the world, including in London. Personally I think it's a good sign, because it implies that some members of the audience are being introduced to great music that is unfamiliar to them - to me, that is more heartwarming than an audience stuffed full ... more
Just attended Melba's launch of "Das Rheingold" (from the Adelaide Ring Cycle 2004)
October 26, 2006
You may want to check out my review of Die Walkure: http://www.sa-cd.net/showreviews/3888#3704 But nothing beats attending the live performances, which we did in 2004. The sets were truly jaw-dropping amazing - the pictures on the web site that you link to simply does not do it justice. They really broke the rules - using real fire (every one in ... more
Just attended Melba's launch of "Das Rheingold" (from the Adelaide Ring Cycle 2004)
October 26, 2006
Unfortunately, no, and I don't think there are currently any plans to make it available on video (even though the last cycle was captured on camera - but that was for closed circuit playback to Adelaide residents). There was a 1-hour "making of documentary" that was shown on ABC Television about a year ago - that's well worth watching if you can ... more