The past meets the future


I have become a huge advocate of streaming over the last few years as streaming has at long last reached audiophile sound quality. So, for someone that is new to audio or does not have a lot of money invested… it is hard to recommend this route.

However, as an old fart. One that suffered through low end turntables, unbelievable surface noise, scratched records, and debatable fidelity for much of his life. Owning a tremendous analog end is such a pleasure. I recently upgraded my contemporary Linn LP12 to nearly the maximum. I have a Audio Research Reference 3 phono stage so the sound quality is simply stunning.

Taking a Covid break and going to my local record store… buying a half dozen great old blues albums… cleaning up to pristine condition. It is such a pleasure to hear such fidelity and musicality from a ritual I have performed since a teenager… record store, spinning. That has been mainstream for me for over fifty years. I guess it is like the old Shortwave radio guys when I was growing up. They had the 25’ antenna sticking up above their suburban houses in the 1960’s.

Just a nod to the era and tradition that will soon pass into history. It has been a blast.

ghdprentice

...mid-'60's, I grew up and lived across from one of those 'ham' operators with the big antenna.  Walt was one of those Morse fans that used a Lighting Bug keyer, although set up for voice....

Walt was a pleasant reserved kinda guy....looking back, he looked like what recently would be a archetypical 'geek'...

Don't remember the plastic pen protector for his shirts, but was more curious about his gear.  Bought a SW receiver later on....got more enjoyment out of the 'stereo stuff that followed....*S*

Thanks for the flashback, @ghdprentice 👍

I have never had a vinyl set up and I feel it’s probably too late to start but I bought my son a starter vinyl set up last Christmas and he seems to really like it. 

emrofsemanon

191 posts

 

i just don't get people who say that "good phonographic playback is totally noiseless" - that is basically like saying that analog tape is noiseless when it is quite obvious to anybody with ears that it is not. even a dolby A-encoded master tape has a residual amount of tape noise. even virgin vinyl in a lab-grade clean room has surface noise. how anybody can deny this is beyond me. 

Sorry you've never experienced "good phonographic playback".

@asvjerry 

 

😊☹️… I have a few pocket protectors somewhere… must be next to my slide rule.