SM Audiophiles?

[Nibby]

I went yesterday but I’m afraid the nuances between each speaker in the same price bracket we listened to was unnoticeable to me.

 

[DLax69]

I went yesterday but I’m afraid the nuances between each speaker in the same price bracket we listened to was unnoticeable to me.
View attachment 112239

What's that owing to...?

 

[Nibby]

What's that owing to...?

My bad ears perhaps Den, I'm afraid it gets too geeky for me. I think tbh there are two types here, someone who loves the 'ins and outs' of all home audio gear and is their main hobby and someone who loves listening to music. I fall into the latter one.

 

[CatmanV2]

There's probably nothing wrong with your ears, just the differences were too small or not impactful for you.
At that kind of price point you're well into the law of diminishing returns.

C

 

[DLax69]

There's probably nothing wrong with your ears, just the differences were too small or not impactful for you.
At that kind of price point you're well into the law of diminishing returns.

C

Guess that's what I was thinking, but wasn't sure...

@Nibby I can absolutely appreciate the distinction you are drawing...I can't play an instrument nor carry a tune, but I appreciate those who can!

 

[Nibby]

Nintronics, Welwyn Garden today

 

[Ewan]

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.

 

[Bebs]

Oscar Peterson

 

[DLax69]

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.

As an idiot, in the late 90s or early 2000s while exiting a relationship I sold allllllll my vinyl. Because who was ever gonna listen to it again, right? And my old man had cobbled together an amazing catalog, which was the only thing I got from him besides the flag that draped his coffin and a paperweight and a letter opener and a pinky ring. He had 45s from the 50s and 60s; first pressings of Meet the Beatles and Sgt. Pepper's...just so much good stuff, and I just sold it all.

So, as I have begun putting my collection back together, I have found that there are plenty of charity/resale/outlets that will sell used albums at $1 US...and I just have a needle to play the used stuff, and another for the new. For the new, I have gotten a lot off of an artist's own site...Bowie, for example, runs deals on their stuff that can beat anything on Amazon. Also, oddly, booksellers here are stocking vinyl...in store and online...and the membership things they offer typically provide a decent discount. Grabbed a Nick Cave "Ghosteen" at one of them for $13 US, new and in the wrapping, for example...

 

[Nibby]

Nintronics, Welwyn Garden today
View attachment 112358

He decided it wasn't his speakers letting the side down and ended up buying a Gryphon amp.
My mate whose into it big time swears by cd's now over vinyl, he has the obligatory Linn Sondek sitting there but rarely gets used.

 

[Andyk]

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.

Vinyl is just silly money these days. I think when it started to come back into fashion prices were up because most were bought out as limited runs but now everything is vinyl and prices are still high.

 

[Ewan]

Just read that vinyl outsold CD’s last year for the first time since 1987. Though obviously still small compared to digital purchases, let alone subscription streaming.
But other than to listen to in a car with a CD player (which is why I still occasionally buy one), why buy a CD (say, for home use) when you can now stream in CD quality?

 

[CatmanV2]

Though obviously still small compared to digital purchases,

Still very small compared to the glory days of either medium. Tiny in fact.

stream in CD quality?

This

Makes no sense to me to not have everything upstairs for easy access. Something like 10300 tracks on my NAS....

Although there is a physical pleasure in handling vinyl (and less so IMHO CDs) which is lost.

C

 

[boomerang]

Tidal streaming via a top DA converter and Roon....compared to CD and certainly vinyl....no match.
Of course there is something magic, playing a high quality record on a ultra high end player, but at the end, in most cases the digital (streaming) variant simply sounds better.
Never thought i had to admit this, looking at the huge amount of money put into my record player.

 

[Ebenezer]

Said it before. Perceived sound quality of the recording itself has a high impact. Some stuff just sounds bad to me but it might have been recorded like that on purpose. I listen to my collection on shuffle quite alot these days and some stuff sound yuck but others, fantastic in comparison. If I didn't know my hifi better I'd be chucking it out sometimes!
Eb

 

[CatmanV2]

Said it before. Perceived sound quality of the recording itself has a high impact. Some stuff just sounds bad to me but it might have been recorded like that on purpose. I listen to my collection on shuffle quite alot these days and some stuff sound yuck but others, fantastic in comparison. If I didn't know my hifi better I'd be chucking it out sometimes!
Eb

Totally agreed

C

 

[DLax69]

Honestly...could be my ears, could be bias...but to me, CDs sound the worst of the three options outlined above. That said, I still miss some of the ol' tape hiss...

 

[Ewan]

The cassette tapes I have to play in my old 400i are fantastically awful. Not only because they are tapes, but mainly because they are pirate versions bought in the Middle East back in the early 1980's!
But I'd not change it - it's all part of the fun and nostalgia of driving an old car. And the Blaupunkt player itself looks cool.

 

[CatmanV2]

The cassette tapes I have to play in my old 400i are fantastically awful. Not only because they are tapes, but mainly because they are pirate versions bought in the Middle East back in the early 1980's!

I bought *so* many of those in Abu Dhabi! My youth's version of Spotify. Dh6 if memory serves

And the lyric sheets!

C

 

[Andyk]

Just read that vinyl outsold CD’s last year for the first time since 1987. Though obviously still small compared to digital purchases, let alone subscription streaming.
But other than to listen to in a car with a CD player (which is why I still occasionally buy one), why buy a CD (say, for home use) when you can now stream in CD quality?

These days it is only in the car I listen to music and must say I do like getting a CD as I did with LP’s. Having something physical is so much better but I get the steaming thing but not a convert to that yet. Maybe it is an age thing.