500 members - a small but significant milestone!

[Peter Stockwell]

As far as hi-fi goes, I'm completely immune from marketing. That's why the 'terrible twosome' with their godawful computer speakers got short shrift here. Quite simply, unless I can see the sonic advantages of any new technology, and it results in superior sound quality compared to what I'd normally use, I'm just not interested.

I think it's really hard to be immune from marketing, you're either going to accept or refuse to try, n'est ce pas ? Or am I too simplistic ?

Computer Speakers ? Would you be referring to "giant killing" active two ways with a built in DAC, marketed from somewhere in gloucestershire ?

Did you give them a listen ?

cheers

[Marco]

Au contraire, you can make compilations on the fly with digital music files, you can arrange them anyway you want. You're not stuck with the sequence you first thought of. You're also not stuck with thinking about how you can fill the last 3' 29" of a tape side.

And for tactile, we got LPs and a record deck!

Exactly, Peter, and that's the whole point!! - Which you're somewhat missing...

It's the handling of the records and admiring the labels, the cleaning of them prior to recording them, the fine adjusting of the T/T in order to get the best sound from certain records, obtaining the correct recording levels and bias adjustment on the Nakamichi, the writing of the labels on the tapes - it's all the physical processes involved in recording music onto analogue tape which I'm referring to as the 'tactile experience'. I love all that, and you don't get it from streaming lossless files through an iPod

Do you see what I mean?

Marco, as for the cassettes, none of them are top notch cassettes, they're Evelyne's from a previous lifetime.

LOL! We'll have to agree to differ! I'll try to 'educate' you if come and visit. You have to listen to where I'm coming from before you can judge.

Marco.

[tfarney]

Well, I can't help you with the tactile part of the experience, but I can tell you that making playlists in iTunes is as musically satisfying, and much more efficient, than composing mix tapes ever was.

But I was never a big fan of cassettes. I had decks. I made mix tapes. Particularly for women I was attempting to seduce in my mis-spent youth. And of course I played tapes in the car. But for archiving vinyl (or "borrowing" it) there was always a Teac 3440 with its big reels and 15 ips there next to the Thorens. And of course that revealed cassette for what it always has been: a Dictaphone machine dressed up with noise reduction (otherwise known as music reduction).

Of course you must consider the source. I'll take a well-mastered redbook CD over any cassette. Or open reel. Or even vinyl (I'm currently ducking and running for cover). I believe in old school music. Old school media? Not so much.

Tim

[Peter Stockwell]

it's all the physical processes involved in recording music onto analogue tape which I'm referring to as the 'tactile experience'. I love all that, and you don't get it from streaming lossless files through an iPod

Do you see what I mean?

I'll try to 'educate' you if come and visit. You have to listen to where I'm coming from before you can judge.

Sure, I see what you mean now,. But, as Tim said, I did it too in the misspent yoof and for the same reasons, so why you still doin' it?

Each to his own, and I'm not judging. There's a lot more than meets the eye in using the computer as an audio source, not only as a hires source, but for portable music.

Another poster on here, spur7 (Paul Tapin) contacted me and he's gone much further overboard than I and many others here, with respect to computer audio.

Buying Stan's dac was the thin end of the wedge, I've just got myself a RAID storage array for added protection to my music files.

I thhink I'd like to reduce to computer audio for great sound and convenience, and the LPs when I want the real hands on experience.

cheers

[Marco]

Peter,

I think it's really hard to be immune from marketing, you're either going to accept or refuse to try, n'est ce pas ? Or am I too simplistic ?

Computer Speakers ? Would you be referring to "giant killing" active two ways with a built in DAC, marketed from somewhere in gloucestershire ?

Did you give them a listen ?

Yes those are the ones. And I didn't need to listen to them - Steve (Toy), Rob, Guy Sergeant, and quite a few other people whose ears I trust all said they were pish!

Apart from that, more seriously, being so used to huge stand-mounts with 12" bass drivers, and the huge type of sound they produce, I simply couldn't live with diddy little boxes no matter how good they were.

As for marketing, I'm exposed to it like anyone else, and digest it accordingly, but it seems to have little if any impact on me when it comes to hi-fi. Look at the type of gear I use. It's hardly mainstream 'flavour of the month, follow the herd' stuff, is it?

And nor will it ever be!

I'm extremely choosy and discerning about the equipment I buy.

Sure, I see what you mean now,. But, as Tim said, I did it too in the misspent yoof and for the same reasons, so why you still doin' it?

'Cos I like it, it sounds good, and I enjoy the process. So why shouldn't I? I might give up on wearing short pants soon, though

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

Apart from that, more seriously, being so used to huge stand-mounts with 12" bass drivers, and the huge type of sound they produce, I simply couldn't live with diddy little boxes no matter how good they were.

I'm extremely choosy and discerning about the equipment I buy.

Marco.

I wish I could give home to some Klipsch's, but they'd never a) get the WAF nod, nor b) give the neighbours any sleep. If you're used to trouser flapping bass, then it's hard to adjust to the lack of foundation. It does affect the rest of the range.

I happen to like diddy boxes as the best compromise for the constraints of where I live, i.e. a 2 bedroom flat. I get bass down to 30Hz from my speakers, with 165mm bass mid range units, but anything with more bass output would be too unmanageable in the 24m² that serves as lounge and music room. I'll be sticking to diddy boxes for sometime. I haven't heard a big speaker system for sometime. The last time 'briks at RKRs gaff, I didn't care for them but I can see why some people would. In fact I'd like for that 30Hz range to diminish somewhat in our room.

Atthe end of the day, it amounts to whatever opens up the world of music, that's what pulled me into this hobby, I love the music. I get a kick out of the various projects, SL1210, Computer audio and what have you, to support it.

cheers

[Marco]

Well, I can't help you with the tactile part of the experience, but I can tell you that making playlists in iTunes is as musically satisfying, and much more efficient, than composing mix tapes ever was.

We're obviously just different, Tim. "Efficiency" is of zero importance to me, because when I'm not working I've got all the time I need to do these things and I like the 'home-made' result of my recordings on tape. You'll also have to trust me when I tell you that they sound fab. Do I seem like the type of person to you who would settle for mediocre sound quality? Whether making playlists in iTunes would be as "musically satisfying" to me as it is to you is also somewhat debatable.

Marco.

[Marco]

Peter,

I wish I could give home to some Klipsch's, but they'd never a) get the WAF nod, nor b) give the neighbours any sleep. If you're used to trouser flapping bass, then it's hard to adjust to the lack of foundation. It does affect the rest of the range.

Yep, that's it in a nutshell, and WAF has never been an issue for me. My wife is very understanding as far as hi-fi goes and anywhere we've lived I've always had a dedicated music room. The communal lounge has always been a separate entity.

I happen to like diddy boxes as the best compromise for the constraints of where I live, i.e. a 2 bedroom flat. I get bass down to 30Hz from my speakers, with 165mm bass mid range units, but anything with more bass output would be too unmanageable in the 24m² that serves as lounge and music room.

I completely understand and appreciate that. However, my situation is entirely different. I live in an old lodge with extremely thick walls dating from 1887 which stands on its own (fairly significant) grounds - well away from any neighbours. I have listening sessions with my mates at 2 and 3am sometimes at gut-wrenching, trouser-flapping, intestine-rearranging levels that would awaken the dead!

And I disturb no-one (alive!), apart from perhaps some owls in the garden...

I'll be sticking to diddy boxes for sometime. I haven't heard a big speaker system for sometime. The last time 'briks at RKRs gaff, I didn't care for them but I can see why some people would. In fact I'd like for that 30Hz range to diminish somewhat in our room.

You must come over for a little holiday sometime and see what you think of my humble little Dansette

At the end of the day, it amounts to whatever opens up the world of music, that's what pulled me into this hobby, I love the music. I get a kick out of the various projects, SL1210, Computer audio and what have you, to support it.

I love music very much, too. I certainly wouldn't go to all the bloody bother of recording tapes for the car, like I do, if I didn't. I listen to music all day when I'm working from home, and in the evening when enjoying a glass or three of vino. Even when I'm on holiday or away from home from any length of time, as soon as I'm back I can't wait to put my system on and listen to some tunes. I miss it like mad! However, I also appreciate good sound, too, and hate making compromises unless I absolutely have to.

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

You must come over for a little holiday sometime and see what you think of my humble little Dansette

Thanks Marco,

We usually manage at least a week in the British Isles every year, last time in what was my native region, near Northampton. We've been to Chester once and I think I could innocently arrange another holiday that way

cheers

[Marco]

Chester is only 15 mins from me. Like I said, you're welcome anytime, Peter. Just PM me when you fancy it and we'll compare diaries

Marco.