SM Audiophiles?

DLax69 · Mar 16, 2023

What I meant was:

1. Vinyl
2. Streaming
3. CD

...just to clarify. Tapes are total nostalgia...some of that included them melting in a hot car, or my buddy jumping a curb and slamming us into a tree because his drink had spilled on his box of cassettes, or miserable summers in Abu Dhabi where the radio only played three songs on repeat.

I do NOT miss 8-tracks.

Ewan · Mar 16, 2023

I well remember my uncle having an 8-Track in his Aston Martin DBS in the late 70’s and (nearly) always playing Babs Streisand. Happy memories.

CatmanV2 · Mar 16, 2023

DLax69 said:
What I meant was:

1. Vinyl
2. Streaming
3. CD

...just to clarify. Tapes are total nostalgia...some of that included them melting in a hot car, or my buddy jumping a curb and slamming us into a tree because his drink had spilled on his box of cassettes, or miserable summers in Abu Dhabi where the radio only played three songs on repeat.

I do NOT miss 8-tracks.

You used to be able to get them in heat resistant boxes in Abu Dhabi

C

Wack61 · Mar 16, 2023

Ewan said:
Decided I should treat myself to some fresh vinyl. Old music, just new copies. A few staples from the likes of Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Bettye LaVette, Oscar Peterson, AC/DC, etc.

I now discover records are about £25 each, which was a surprise. Last time I bought any (late 1980’s) I recall them being £5.

I simply bought these off Amazon. But are there any particular specialist vinyl dealers (on line) that I should look at?

Anyway, am still waiting for the hi-fi chap to come over and set it all up and bring the new cartridge, so still haven’t actually listened to any of my new kit.

You need to go into hmv and flick through the vinyl, there's quite a bit of it in there

And yes £25-30 is the norm these days but the vinyl is much heavier that the flimsy 70s versions so better quality sound.

Ewan · Mar 16, 2023

Wack61 said:
You need to go into hmv and flick through the vinyl, there's quite a bit of it in there

And yes £25-30 is the norm these days but the vinyl is much heavier that the flimsy 70s versions so better quality sound.

Indeed. The records that arrived today are all 180gms. No idea what they were 40 years ago, but they seem heavier now. Anyway, nice things to have, hold, look at, and then play. Which is not something we can say about a download.

hashluck · Mar 16, 2023

Ewan said:
Indeed. The records that arrived today are all 180gms. No idea what they were 40 years ago, but they seem heavier now. Anyway, nice things to have, hold, look at, and then play. Which is not something we can say about a download.

My analogy is always making coffee. Streaming mp3s is Nespresso, streaming Studio Master 24-bit is a really, really good bean to cup machine, vinyl is grind, tamp and brew - a bit hit and miss with lots of variables but can be outstanding.

DLax69 · Mar 17, 2023

CatmanV2 said:
You used to be able to get them in heat resistant boxes in Abu Dhabi

C

Yes...but not in coastal South Carolina, where some of the longest (and shortest) nights of my teenaged summers took place. Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Jedda and Haifa were different...in many ways and for many reasons.

Wack61 · Mar 17, 2023

Streaming has come on a long way since MP3 , Tidal is CD quality Tidal Master is Hi Res audio, to put it in perspective, spotify free is 160kbps, £9.99 spotify premium is 320kbps, £9.99 Tidal is 1411kbps CD quality, £19.99 tidal master 9126kbps Hi res Audio

Tidal vs Spotify: which streaming service is best for you?

The streaming world's audiophile and mainstream services of choice go head to head

www.whathifi.com

If you only play the same 30 albums over and over (70s prog, men with beards who drink real ale and last had sex when Peter Gabriel left genesis) buy the CD or vinyl but if you like discovering new music streaming is definitely where it's at

CatmanV2 · Mar 17, 2023

It's probably worth pointing out that streaming can happen locally as well. Doesn't need to be over the interwebs

C

Nibby · Mar 17, 2023

DLax69 said:
What I meant was:

1. Vinyl
2. Streaming
3. CD

...just to clarify. Tapes are total nostalgia...some of that included them melting in a hot car, or my buddy jumping a curb and slamming us into a tree because his drink had spilled on his box of cassettes, or miserable summers in Abu Dhabi where the radio only played three songs on repeat.

I do NOT miss 8-tracks.

Some of them early cd's (a copy of Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks springs to mind) were terrible which even my ears could work out how bad they were but they have come on leaps and bounds.
Do you remember Den when people use to decorate hedgegrows on the side of roads with tape? Normally come about after you re-winded Jimmy Page's guitar solo on Stairway To Heaven too many times.

zagatoes30 · Mar 17, 2023

Streaming is for on my walks and listening to in the car, often find new stuff that way but when I sit down to listen at home its vinyl all the way, now at the point if I only have an album on CD that I want to listen to I will put it on begrudgingly but will be on t'internet later to see where I can buy it.

If anyone sees a vinyl version of Germ Free Adolescence by X Ray Spec as it is alluding me at the moment (cheapest I have found is £60 plus £15 delivery plus £19 import duty which is a tough ask)

DLax69 · Mar 17, 2023

Nibby said:
Some of them early cd's (a copy of Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks springs to mind) were terrible which even my ears could work out how bad they were but they have come on leaps and bounds.
Do you remember Den when people use to decorate hedgegrows on the side of roads with tape? Normally come about after you re-winded Jimmy Page's guitar solo on Stairway To Heaven too many times.

Oh my yes!!

And I hope to never hear "Stairway" again...

Nibby · Mar 17, 2023

DLax69 said:
Oh my yes!!

And I hope to never hear "Stairway" again...

Do you remember that debacle at Live Aid?
One of the presenters said “I think they’re going to play Stairway” Plant’s voice was embarrassing. Two of the best drummers in the world behind him that day probably thinking why did I get roped into this reunion.

DLax69 · Mar 17, 2023

Nibby said:
Do you remember that debacle at Live Aid?
One of the presenters said “I think they’re going to play Stairway” Plant’s voice was embarrassing. Two of the best drummers in the world behind him that day probably thinking why did I get roped into this reunion.

I do remember...awful. And one of many lowlights at that thing...the "Dancing in the Streets" vid being another. At least the outtakes and raw footage helps make up for that one.

Saw Plant last on his "Now and Zen" tour...and all the high notes were sampled/lip synced to.

Nibby · Mar 17, 2023

DLax69 said:
I do remember...awful. And one of many lowlights at that thing...the "Dancing in the Streets" vid being another. At least the outtakes and raw footage helps make up for that one.

Saw Plant last on his "Now and Zen" tour...and all the high notes were sampled/lip synced to.

I see him on that tour Den at the Town and Country Club, he had the guy out of It Bites supporting him I seem to remember.
That Bowie and Jagger DITS was a cringe, I know I’ve said it many times but 80s music post 82 was very forgetful in most cases imho. And don’t get me started on my mullet hairstyle, cringe.

DLax69 · Mar 17, 2023

Nibby said:
I see him on that tour Den at the Town and Country Club, he had the guy out of It Bites supporting him I seem to remember.
That Bowie and Jagger DITS was a cringe, I know I’ve said it many times but 80s music post 82 was very forgetful in most cases imho. And don’t get me started on my mullet hairstyle, cringe.

Lawd, so true

And if I recall...Cheap Trick opened for Plant. Shudder...

Agreed...we hit a real cultural nadir with a handful of exceptions from the end of disco to the grunge era...never had any use for most "hair metal" or those terrible 'dos....

Ewan · Mar 18, 2023

Nibby said:
I know I’ve said it many times but 80s music post 82 was very forgetful in most cases.

Are we allowed to keep Guns n Roses?

DLax69 · Mar 18, 2023

Ewan said:
Are we allowed to keep Guns n Roses?

Yes...but mostly "Use Your Illusion" era.

Ratt is a no-no

Nibby · Mar 18, 2023

Ewan said:
Are we allowed to keep Guns n Roses?

Yeah but keep the volume down.

MarkMas · Mar 18, 2023

Nibby said:
Some of them early cd's (a copy of Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks springs to mind) were terrible which even my ears could work out how bad they were but they have come on leaps and bounds.
Do you remember Den when people use to decorate hedgegrows on the side of roads with tape? Normally come about after you re-winded Jimmy Page's guitar solo on Stairway To Heaven too many times.

"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now
It's just a spring clean for the May queen"

Dur-dur-duuum, dur-dur duuum, dur-dur duum, duum, duummmm, bwang....

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