What is not generally accepted, is that the world of ’Analogue Audio’ is as much ’ArtForm’ as it is Science.
The fact that so little is known about WHY we are able to hear such differences between cartridges, tonearms, turntables, drive-systems, solid state vs vacuum tube.....should make it obvious that we are in the hands of ’Artists’, ’Creators’ and sometimes even ’Geniuses’ for the advancements in ’Analogue Audio’.
Apart from the ’Genius’ of Sony’s one-piece diamond cantilever/stylus....have a good look at the SHAPE of the STRUCTURE....
Why is it shaped like this...?
Look at the SHAPE of the Copperhead Tonearm compared to all other tonearms 🧐
Why is it shaped like this...and unlike any other tonearm?
And why is there a similarity between these two ’shapings’?
Both tonearm and cartridge-cantilever....when in use.....are structurally defined as ’Propped Cantilevers’ NOT pure cantilevers....and the structural forces (Shear and Bending) within ’Propped Cantilevers’ are graphically ’mirrored’ in these ’shapings’ 🔬
I’m not claiming that these ’shapings’ are solely responsible for the fact that the Copperhead is the best tonearm I have heard and the Sony XL-88D the best cartridge......
What I am claiming, is that ’Analogue Audio’ design involves so many arts and sciences that the only way a designer becomes proficient (let alone brilliant), is not only to be highly educated in all the sciences involved.....but more importantly to be mentored by their elder masters and craftsmen who in turn have also been mentored by past masters.
This is the nature of artistic endeavour and for it to advance and prosper.....a thriving, inspiring and profitable industry needs to exist to maintain the core of elder craftsmen whilst also attracting new apprentices.
This state of affairs has not existed in ’Analogue Audio’ for 30 years and the elder masters and craftsmen have virtually all disappeared together with the vast data-banks they had assembled within their mega-billion $ companies.
The result has been, that the recent resurgence of ’Analogue Audio’ has inevitably led to ’self-taught’, under-educated and inexperienced ’newbies’ entering the industry to fill the vacuum.
Their sole contribution to the ’Art/Science’ of cartridge, tonearm and turntable design is ’technology’ 🙏
They believe that everything can be improved by the advancements in materials science, computers, lasers, 3D printing, CNC machining, chemistry etc.
They are mistaken.....!
And so are all the gullible, innocent followers of most of the new analogue products launched over the last 15 years.
Because I have listened to so many products from the past as well as the present, just like Chakster has 🧐
Most dissenters from this viewpoint have simply not had the same depth of listening experiences with those ’hard-to-obtain’ products.
Why is technology NOT the ’silver bullet’ for ’Analogue’?
The Swiss Watch Industry (just like the Analogue Audio Industry) was virtually wiped out in the 80’s and 90’s with the revolution of ’digital’ watches.
Dozens of small firms disappeared and only Rolex and Patek Philippe maintained their ownership structure.
Luckily.....unlike the audio industry.....the digital revolution was shortlived
and a sudden huge consumer market developed for high-horology and ’Statement’ analogue watches which is almost out of control....🤯
This allowed those artisans and elder craftsmen in the Swiss industry to be retained and to mentor a new wave of apprentices, but the new watches of High-Horology produced today, are very much created the same way as in the past with hand-finishing vastly valued over machine-finishing.
Watches from the 60’s and ’70s continue to set the multi-million dollar records at auctions.
The ’Golden Age’ of the internal combustion engine is at an end and never again will the world be able to match or improve upon engines from this period.
The same applies to the Golden Age of Analogue Audio 🤗
* The views expressed above are solely those of Halcro and not supported or condoned by anyone who derives a current living within the Audio Industry
The fact that so little is known about WHY we are able to hear such differences between cartridges, tonearms, turntables, drive-systems, solid state vs vacuum tube.....should make it obvious that we are in the hands of ’Artists’, ’Creators’ and sometimes even ’Geniuses’ for the advancements in ’Analogue Audio’.
Apart from the ’Genius’ of Sony’s one-piece diamond cantilever/stylus....have a good look at the SHAPE of the STRUCTURE....
Why is it shaped like this...?
Look at the SHAPE of the Copperhead Tonearm compared to all other tonearms 🧐
Why is it shaped like this...and unlike any other tonearm?
And why is there a similarity between these two ’shapings’?
Both tonearm and cartridge-cantilever....when in use.....are structurally defined as ’Propped Cantilevers’ NOT pure cantilevers....and the structural forces (Shear and Bending) within ’Propped Cantilevers’ are graphically ’mirrored’ in these ’shapings’ 🔬
I’m not claiming that these ’shapings’ are solely responsible for the fact that the Copperhead is the best tonearm I have heard and the Sony XL-88D the best cartridge......
What I am claiming, is that ’Analogue Audio’ design involves so many arts and sciences that the only way a designer becomes proficient (let alone brilliant), is not only to be highly educated in all the sciences involved.....but more importantly to be mentored by their elder masters and craftsmen who in turn have also been mentored by past masters.
This is the nature of artistic endeavour and for it to advance and prosper.....a thriving, inspiring and profitable industry needs to exist to maintain the core of elder craftsmen whilst also attracting new apprentices.
This state of affairs has not existed in ’Analogue Audio’ for 30 years and the elder masters and craftsmen have virtually all disappeared together with the vast data-banks they had assembled within their mega-billion $ companies.
The result has been, that the recent resurgence of ’Analogue Audio’ has inevitably led to ’self-taught’, under-educated and inexperienced ’newbies’ entering the industry to fill the vacuum.
Their sole contribution to the ’Art/Science’ of cartridge, tonearm and turntable design is ’technology’ 🙏
They believe that everything can be improved by the advancements in materials science, computers, lasers, 3D printing, CNC machining, chemistry etc.
They are mistaken.....!
And so are all the gullible, innocent followers of most of the new analogue products launched over the last 15 years.
- This is NOT the ’Golden Age’ of Analogue!!!!!
- The 70s and 80s WERE the ’Golden Age’ of Analogue.
- The digital tape-decks used today are INFERIOR to the analogue ones used in ’The Golden Age’
- The recordings produced today are INFERIOR to those of the ’The Golden Age’
- The quality of records themselves are INFERIOR to those stamped in ’The Golden Age’
- The cartridges produced today are generally INFERIOR to those of ’The Golden Age’
- The tonearms produced today are generally INFERIOR to those of ’The Golden Age’
- The turntables produced today are generally INFERIOR to the ’great’ ones of ’The Golden Age’
Because I have listened to so many products from the past as well as the present, just like Chakster has 🧐
Most dissenters from this viewpoint have simply not had the same depth of listening experiences with those ’hard-to-obtain’ products.
Why is technology NOT the ’silver bullet’ for ’Analogue’?
- Why can no-one paint or sculpt like Michelangelo 500 years ago?
- Why can no-one make a violin to compete with a Stradivarius made 400 years ago?
- Do you think today’s mosaic or stained glass industry could compete with that of the Byzantine or Gothic eras?
- Do you think today’s watches are better than those made 30-60 years ago?
The Swiss Watch Industry (just like the Analogue Audio Industry) was virtually wiped out in the 80’s and 90’s with the revolution of ’digital’ watches.
Dozens of small firms disappeared and only Rolex and Patek Philippe maintained their ownership structure.
Luckily.....unlike the audio industry.....the digital revolution was shortlived
and a sudden huge consumer market developed for high-horology and ’Statement’ analogue watches which is almost out of control....🤯
This allowed those artisans and elder craftsmen in the Swiss industry to be retained and to mentor a new wave of apprentices, but the new watches of High-Horology produced today, are very much created the same way as in the past with hand-finishing vastly valued over machine-finishing.
Watches from the 60’s and ’70s continue to set the multi-million dollar records at auctions.
- Do you think that in 20 years time, anyone will be able to design and produce a naturally aspirated Flat 6, V10 or V12 that will be better than today’s Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari ones?
The ’Golden Age’ of the internal combustion engine is at an end and never again will the world be able to match or improve upon engines from this period.
The same applies to the Golden Age of Analogue Audio 🤗
* The views expressed above are solely those of Halcro and not supported or condoned by anyone who derives a current living within the Audio Industry