After part II, I wouldn't imagine writing a part III. What more I can say that is not already said? Amber again? Give me a break and get outta here! But skeptics have to be converted in a non-conventional but convenient way. Is there a way for the Mountain to come to Mohammad?

Remembered in my first Romancing The Stone article, I ended by saying what else can Joe Lee think of next? Well, he didn't managed to get a scrap metal of MIR satellite as a tweaking device but instead this new age audio magician researched, tested and packaged the various types of beneficial amber (i.e. to sound) to form his newest trick, Pavane. Since its introduction, there are many articles written about it and allow me to skip those things already mentioned. Instead, I will go straight into its setup and a face-off with one of my more expensive amber that I have been using.

Pavane comes in a cute little zip pouch and in it contains a mini-sized 2-page instruction on how to setup it up. Since I do not have a CDP or CDT, which is said to be most effective on, the next best spot to place Pavane is on my tube pre-amp. So, out goes the 'medical' amber beads which have been resonating wonderfully since its introduction and in came Pavane.

The proper setup of Pavane poses the strongest challenge to me. How to make this bracelet of stones sit nicely as per instruction?

Note: The instruction reads that the amber bracelet, should be supported by four separate smaller amber discs ("legs") (See Figure 1). The skill to balance this act is not an easy one as I found myself juggling with the stones on the pre-amp top and at times, I wish a third hand would come in handy. This brings to mind that Joe has complaint of his shaky hands and his reservations on anything delicate like fixing turntable cartridge, I wonder what inspirations he was having to take this on with his pair of unsteady hands to come out with something like this?

After some practice (use of my "inner control"), I finally managed to get the setup right on top of my pre-amp. The first few notes from my system tells me that this is genuine stuff as the amber characteristics are oozing out like dry ice meeting water. I would not say it is day and night difference (between what I have been using) but Pavane has added romanticism and a tablespoon more "feelings" compare to my reference stones. This is huge credit judging by the fact that the dark reddish colored 'medical' amber cost me S$300. What's more, I have to take some risk in my purchase not fully aware of its characteristics and its effects sonically.

After much switching and swapping (and sweating!), I wanted to find out if I have reached the margin of diminishing returns in terms of amber tweak. As I already have many amber scattered in strategic places, would one more be less worthwhile than the last or sound too sweet, too slow and probably out of proportions? Without second thought, the 'medical' amber is reintroduced and I conveniently placed it on the base of my Spacedeck (turntable) with the Pavane position intact. Note: I didn't attempt to place Pavane on the highly polished MDF base of my turntable given that the smoother surface and the "volatility" of tonearm movement and record change wouldn't be conducive for Pavane.

There is a bigger jump factor this time. As expected, the music has become a tad slower. But there is much to gain especially in the vocals department. The throaty, breathy and bluesy vocal of Eileen Farrell gets even more real. On standard pressings from pop/rock group Prism and Dire Straits, the vocal become distinct and better detached from the music that I didn't expect. I like it. From then on, I became disinterested to further evaluate as I felt relax and enjoy the music.

The litmus test of Pavane (in a couple of days) would be the time when I "unplugged" it from my system. So far, signs are saying that it has its niche in my amber rich system.

With Pavane, skeptics and curious audiophiles have an absolutely risk free opportunity to try this out for the first time. Believe it or not and like it or not, you can now listen for yourself. And there is no denying that the Mountain has come to Mohammad courtesy of Joe Lee.

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