My Visit to the Cape

[Taylode]

First off, this was my first visit to Cape Cod, which is strange since my favorite east coast city is Boston. And, I must say what a wonderful place the Cape is. I could be very comfortable and happy living on the Cape. I see why both Robert Kraft and Ivan call it home. I think that Evelyn and I will be planning a Cape vacation in the future.

“The Compound” as Donna likes to refer to it, is where their home is located. The compound has two championship golf courses, a beautiful clubhouse, a wonderful beach club and restaurant, as well as a quaint shopping center. There are also numerous walking trails that meander though the woods making it a very comfortable place to call home. Leaving “The Compound” to take in the other offerings that the Cape has must be a challenge since there is so much to see and do right at home.

Now for the home, it is elegant and spacious as well being very comfortable. Everything is well executed with beautiful hardwood floors throughout the downstairs. The kitchen is well appointed so the home chef or caterer has all the tools necessary to create spectacular creations. The home also has a wonderful back patio where Ivan and I enjoyed a couple of nice cigars and watched the golfers playing the 7th hole. With the great weather it was very easy to lose track of time sitting there taking in all the beauty. As nice as the 1st and 2nd stories are, the house has an amazing secret – there is an equally elegant home just underneath. Ivan calls it a basement but when I think of a basement this is not what comes to my mind. It has a wonderful guest room that has a guest bathroom to die for with a beautiful claw foot bathtub and a shower right out of Star Trek with programmable mood lighting and more showerheads than you could imagine. It will also have a guest laundry and if you get hungry a full kitchen. Now the kitchen isn’t just for guests but I think you get the picture. Also, there’s the game room and lets not forget a world-class home theater and 2-channel room to boot (I’ll post on them a little later).

I hope I was able to convey what a beautiful place Ivan and Donna were able to create and that there hospitality is second to none. I was truly made to feel as one of the family. It doesn’t get any better than that and I promise in part two of “My Visit to the Cape” I’ll give you my impressions of the theater and the 2-channel room as well as which I prefer Florida or the Cape.

[Masterlu]

Dennis, I'm so glad you were able to make it by and visit me here in the Cape. We too had a great time showing you around town.

I also look forward to your impressions of my newest creations.

[Taylode]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Dennis, I'm so glad you were able to make it by and visit me here in the Cape. We too had a great time showing you around town.

I also look forward to your impressions of my newest creations.

I'm working on that now!

[-E-]

I'm sure I type for many others that we wait with baited breath.

[PHC1]

I have to take that 6 hr trip someday soon to visit Ivan up at the cape.

[Taylode]

Even though Ivan documented the build out of the home theater and 2-channel room seeing it in the flesh still stunning. There are little subtleties that your eye picks up that the camera misses. And then there is all the detail – holy cow! The planning and execution that went into these three rooms is mind-boggling. There is only one oops that he confessed to and he had to point that out (no I won’t share it). I can tell you that if you looked for a week you’d never find it. And, unless you go into the equipment room you have to really search to see any cables. Did I mention Ivan’s attention to detail? If you do go into the equipment room, and everyone really must, you will witness a masterful implementation of cable management. The volume of cables, fans, meters, etc. is staggering.

First I’ll start with the 2-channel room. When you first enter you know you’re in a serious listening room. Your eye is immediately drawn to the “Wall-of-McIntosh” and after absorbing that you notice the two stunningly beautiful Sonus Faber Stradivari. You haven’t heard a note and you’ve already had your breath taken away. Fortunately, there are two very inviting chairs welcoming you get comfortable because you may be there a while. I can tell you when the door closes and Ivan begins playing music, time stops. The sound was so hauntingly accurate, rich, warm, precise, etc. it almost felt like a religious experience. I told Ivan that I’d heard the Strad’s before but never like this. Previously, my take was an excellent speaker and that excelled at strings, vocals, etc. but lacked somewhat on dynamics. Needless to say, I know longer have that opinion. We played a wide range of music and everything we threw at them was handled effortlessly. The realism was staggering. Once again, it just goes to show what you can accomplish when you take care of all aspects: electronics, cabling, power, and room treatments. Btw, I’d have been satisfied if we’d never made it to the theater that’s how good the two-channel room is.

The home theater: When you walk into the home theater you notice how elegant the room is. Everything is so well laid and everything there has a purpose and at the same time there is nothing to distract your attention. This is very much a purpose built room. I can’t imagine a Hollywood screening room being any better. The seating is superb whether you’re front row or back and the seats are “very” comfortable. Once the show starts hold on because you’re in for a treat. The front soundstage is perfect and whatever the MX150 is doing it’s doing it very well. There is no right center left there is just perfect sound. The blending of the surrounds and rear speakers is seamless as well. Now lets not forget the Gothams. Lets face it no theater is complete without subs and the Gothams have no equal. Those two Gothams probably have enough power to launch one of my kidneys into outer space but Ivan has them tamed to provide just the right amount of punch – very realistic! So whether you’re watching Mario blast his way around the track, Shakira gyrate around the stage, or the Transformer blowing everything up it all comes across as real.

Now for the hard part, Cape or Florida. Donna asked me that and my response was whichever theater I was in was the best. I think she liked that answer; however, Richard asked me the same question later in day and he wasn’t so easily put off. So after much hemming and hawing I conceded that I preferred the Cape to Florida. Both systems are outstanding but there were some subtitles with the Cape that gave it the edge to me. Both are extremely attractive but the Cape is just a little more refined. Because all the equipment is outside the theater there are less distractions and because of the rooms color palette the massive XR2Ks and the XC2K amazingly just seem to vanish. Thereby, furthering the realism. And you can’t exclude the 2-channel room. That provides a completely different listening experience so for me that puts the Cape in the clear lead. And even though Ivan, in my opinion surpassed Florida, I don’t think that Florida has been reduced to the “Idots Home Theater”.

In conclusion, if you’re ever presented with the opportunity to listen to any of these systems, do. You will not be disappointed and I guarantee that you will walk away the better for it. You will learn so much and you will get the chance to meet a truly great individual, one that I’m proud to call friend!

[MC352]

Great write up on your visit with Ivan. I will get there someday. It's only a 4 hour ride for me.

Ivan and his family are fantastic hosts.

[Vintage Pete]

Nice write up Dennis.....I look forward to (hopefully) one day experiencing the "Cape Creation"!

Pete

[Taylode]

Originally Posted by MC352

Great write up on your visit with Ivan. I will get there someday. It's only a 4 hour ride for me.

Ivan and his family are fantastic hosts.

Chuck you really owe it to yourself. 4 hours is too close to miss this kind of an opportunity.

[Taylode]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

Nice write up Dennis.....I look forward to (hopefully) one day experiencing the "Cape Creation"!

Pete

I know you'll make it there Pete. Since you've been to his Florida home twice now I think you have a pretty good idea what only Ivan is capable of.