Archive through March 24, 2005

Silver Member

Username: Two_cents

Post Number: 374
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 01:04 am:

Larry R,

I know Magnificat is available on DVD-A. Will check on the Chanticleer concerts. Thanks for the info. After one listen of Magdalena Kozena's cd of french arias, I'm totally delighted by the disc. If there isn't a big overlap of program, I'll check out Natalie Dessay's french arias. Ah, it's wonderful and frustrating to have a treasure trove of music!

Relevant Product Info

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 310
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 08:17 am:

Two Cents et al - well, well - Admin finally got this thread archived! Whew! I think there were 220 posts on it by that time.

Anyway - just finished listening (again) to the Kozena album - agree with your assessment (again).
And I'm going on Amazon right now to check on Chanticleer's format list. But I don't expect SACD from them yet. . .

See OperaNutz thread re Natalie Dessay - she's doing well after throat surgery. (yikes!!!)

Yes, sir - would be wonderful indeed to have the money to get every CD and DVD that I yearn to have!

As to the "Old Dogs" thread - I leave nit-picking to youze guyz, who obviously have both the intelligence and stamina to "go at it" over arcane and obtuse bits of information! (grin)
Guess it's good mind-exercise and all - but for 30 years I had either a man or woman hanging over my shoulder, saying something like: "keep it shorter," or "can't we do something about that paragraph - it's too long!" Editors, arrgghhhh!!!!
But necessary evils in the wacky world of wordsmithing. . .

More anon. . .

My Rantz

Gold Member

Username: Myrantz

Post Number: 1198
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 01:13 pm:

Larry,

Chanticleer is available in DVD-A mlp 5.0 and dd 5.1 see here:

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ReviewID=2528

Cheers

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 314
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 03:44 pm:

MR - thanks so much! Appreciate. . .

FYI all - finally did my B & W and Paradigm speaker auditions - see "Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks" thread.

The Polks sound worse than ever! SIGH!!!

Gold Member

Username: Kegger

MICHIGAN

Post Number: 2035
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 01:24 am:

Allright lar here's some pics of those speakers!

What a discovery! Jmlab 806s cobalt

Upload

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 320
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 09:23 am:

(Big Yawn) G-mornin' - thanks, Kegger - they look, uh, "scrumptuous!"
Will post later today. . .with thanks!

(gotta stop staying up that late! GRIN)

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 191
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 11:30 am:

Larry,

Several months ago, I made my own speaker test CD by burning 60-second snippets of music that I was most familiar with. Here's what I did:

1. I ripped 12 of my favourite tracks from various CD's into .WAV files onto my PC.

2. I then edited each track using Adobe Audition 1.0 (formerly Cool Edit Pro) to add fade-ins and/or fade-outs.

3. After I had done the edits, I burned my "audition" tracks onto a CD-R. So, I had a 12-minute test CD that ran the gamut of the music genres that I liked.

In each of our two cars, I placed a copy of the test CD so that each time I chance upon a hi-fi store, I have it handy. One shop that I recently visited asked where I had gotten the test CD. When I told him that I had dunnit myself, he had this "can I have one, too?" look in his eye. [Sorry, pal, if you want one, it's gonna cost ya no less than a 20% discount on the gear that I want ;-)

Anyway, my point is, if you want a similar thing, I can (a) make one for you --- you can tell me your preferred titles and/or artists; or (b) I can second-guess your preferences and choose the tracks myself; or (c) if you're really interested, I can give you a step-by-step procedure on how to do it.

Using one CD that has no more than 15 minutes of play time, you will be able to evaluate the speakers of your choice or at least give you an idea of how they would sound --- without taxing the patience of an anxious salesman.

Cheers and keep warm, old phart.

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 324
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 11:51 am:

Don: Thanks for the post - however, I've already done a rather crude CD "sampler" on my Nero disc-burning program. Have six tracks, each different music, and it seems to work pretty well.
Yeah, this audition stuff is hard on me! Good ting I've got lots of decent Scotch around the house!
This aft, of course, will be the "biggie" test, when I bring home the Paradigms. Made right up there next to you, I believe!
Interesting - this morning (Mer's gone out to do some art stuff) I began to "tweak" the tone controls to try to make the Polks sound anywhere near the Paradigms (I know- music memory lasts about 10 seconds).
Well, after twidding and wincing a lot - finally got "somewhere near" the same remembered sound. You'll be interested to know that, with the amp set at Bass +4-6 and Treble at -4-6 the Polks sound better. But still they "muddy up" when the music gets loud. Sigh.

Will post immediate reivews this aft, if possible.

Thanks again - Lar

My Rantz

Gold Member

Username: Myrantz

Post Number: 1202
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 04:22 pm:

Larry

Tone controls! Aren't they those things that interfere with the audio signal?

:-)

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 192
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 08:11 pm:

AV Guide Monthly, December 2004 issue, free download

There's a review of the PSB T45 on page 14.

http://www.avguide.com/AVG_monthly/issue11_hispeed.pdf

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 325
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 10:01 pm:

MR - rite U R, sir. Dey Dooz dat! (grin)

Don: thanks for the posting and link. I've tried to find a PSB dealer anywhere around here, but the closest listed was Sarasota - 2 hours north - and when I called both places they said they don't keep models in the shop - only order them for you. So - no way to even listen right now!

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 193
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 08:16 am:

Larry,

I think you should take Ghia's hint on the Old Dogs thread seriously <wink-wink>

I've auditioned the PSB Image 5T (now called T55) paired with a NADT753, and I was pleased with the detail that I had heard, using my own sampler CD [acoustic jazz, vocals, and classical, particularly, Andre Previn and the LA Philh. Orch's reading of Rachmaninoff's Symp. no. 2, on the Telarc label]. I didn't hear any harshness or tinny sound. The brasses, brushes, vocals, piano, etc., all came out clear and full.

I'm sure the NADT763 will be a perfect match with the Paradigm Studio 20's, (better than afleck and jlo --- OK, bad analogy). How it will match up with your Polks, I have no idea.

Really.

OK, I'm a bad influence, and Merri already knows that. But if I were living in the US, I'd seriously consider Ghia's T763.

Anyways, have a good weekend.

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 327
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 08:43 am:

Don: And good morning to you, too, sir!
Well, I take back the Paradigms this ayem, and will take in the Polks as well. I don't know what to expect at the shop.
If the Polks sound better there than they do here I'll know that I may have either an amp problem, or simply an amp that doesn't do what I want it to do!
Next step then - take in the amp to have them see about any problems.
Next step - depends on shop findings.

I'm pretty sure you're right about the Nad - but at this moment everything is in an upheaval, and I need to sit back and think a bit.
First - I'd need to get rid of either the Polks (for new speakers) or the Onkyo (for the Nad) before I could buy anything. Soooooo. . .

As I say, this is gonna take a bit of time!

Interesting to read about your PSB audition. Wish I could find a place within 200 miles of Swampville to give them a listen, also! But it's not to be - so I can only go on what you post as far as the speakers' sound qualities.

Must away to a tad of breakfast - then off to the HiFi shop (they spell it "shoppe" here, of course!) for some talk-n-testing.

I'll post later today on what they find and or tell. Sorta "show and tell?" (here it comes)
YEP. . .

More anon. . .

Gold Member

Username: Kegger

MICHIGAN

Post Number: 2041
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 08:47 am:

Yu know what else you could try lar is putting a 2 channel amp out the preamp
outs for your fronts from the onkyo.

I'ts really easy to do, hey maybe even tube!

All you do lar is look at the the back of your onkyo "maybe manual"

See the section labled output and you should see outputs for all the channels
your reciever has.

Then you take a pair of rca interconnects and connect them to the ones
labled (front) (L,R) then to the a 2 channel amp then on to your front speakers.

Gold Member

Username: Kegger

MICHIGAN

Post Number: 2042
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 08:49 am:

If a better amp is what you need that should do it.

And It's not very expensive to get a nice 2 channel amp!

Maybe you could even audition one!

Gold Member

Username: Kegger

MICHIGAN

Post Number: 2043
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 08:51 am:

Theres tons of 2 channel amps on the used market!

Maybe even a beloved mac amp!

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 194
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 09:10 am:

Re: Previn, that should have read, "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra", not LA.

Speaking of Previn, he's one of my all-time favorite music personalities: a great conductor, one hell of a jazz pianist, and an excellent lecturer. Always brilliant, never condescending.

Here's the link, if you're interested. This is my favorite version of the Rachmaninoff Symp. #2:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003CTM/104-6452662-2065507?v=g lance&vi=samples

Cheers!

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 328
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 09:59 am:

Kegger: thanks many, many times over - I just finished "stringing" 12-gauge wire from receiver into my den, which is about 28 feet from the amp.
Turned on - and played a coupl-ah discs. Have to say that you are right about one thing - the Polks sound much warmer and fuller in my little den than they do in the living room! OK!
But - that "thin" sound remains - as though the treble control were cranked all the way up. It's set at "0" - but the strange thing is that, whenever I've tried to boost or attenuate it, it makes almost NO difference! As though perhaps it's not hooked up? I would think it would make quite a difference in hi-end sound - but maybe it only affects frequencies at the very top?
Anyway - that done, I'll soon be away to the HiFi shop to return the Paradigms. I didn't try them in the den, as I'd already re-packed them, and to unpack again - sigh - a lot of work!

I'll be calling my friend later today to see if HIS friend has any 2-ch. amps lying around. I know he has a lot of "old" stuff, so he may have what I need for the test. We'll see. . .

DON: So - "another" Rach 2, eh? I don't think I've listened to that symphony in more than 10 years - thanks for the heads-up on it! But Mer says to tell you: "we're not ordering it right now!" Hmmm. . .

Speaking of Mer - she awoke today in quite a bit of pain - seems that she has an abcessed tooth, she says there's pus around it. YUCK! She's started on anti-germ mouthwash, and we'll try to get her into the Dentist pronto on Monday. Guess that's why she's really NOT interested in my stereo problems at the moment! Sigh. . .
Mark Twain was too right: "life is just one damned thing after another!"

Will post later today on any and all tests and amp-searches. THANKS TO YOU ALL!!!!!

Ghia Cabriolet

Silver Member

Username: Ghiacabriolet

NC

Post Number: 552
Registered: Apr-04

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 03:43 pm:

LR,

I'm sending you an email in a few minutes.

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 332
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 08:41 pm:

Kegger; As I posted on Old Dogs - sigh - one channel of the 2-amp didn't work. Drattttt!!!!
Sooooo - here we are, trying trying again.

I'm going to strip down the whole system tomorrow, clean all contacts, and re-connect. Then I'll do another test.

As I said on OD - the FM doesn't sound too bad, but the CD player does. As I recall, it did not sound this bad at first - which leads me to think there's some connection problem? No buzz or noise , however, so I'm in the dark.

I'm stil trying for a "loaner" receiver to set up here at home - so I can hear the CD player and speakers in their "normal" environment.

This is getting to me - sigh - too much pressure for an ole scribe!!! (grin)

More anon. . .

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 207
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Sunday, January 02, 2005 - 09:05 pm:

Lightscribe Direct Disc Labeling Technology

http://lightscribe.com/index.aspx

http://lightscribe.com/faq.aspx

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 370
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 06:27 pm:

To all: Well, since my posting above, I've got a new lease on life - soundwise, that is.
Got a new NAD 763, and it makes the Polk RTi6 speakers sing! But not as well as REnee Fleming. Sigh. Will have to exchange the Polks for something "better" in the coming months/years.
Looking forward to new sounds from new SACD discs in the coming months. If any of you have any new ones - please post your reviews here!
Will post more anon. . .

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 217
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 01:26 pm:

Larry,

Now that you have the NAD, I was wondering whether the sound of the Schubert Piano Trios CD (Ashkenazy, Harrell, & Zukerman) had improved somewhat?

Here's the link to your amazon.com review:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3AKB32L8MJH7Q/ref=cm_aya_rev_all/10 4-0036348-5714308?

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 416
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 02:30 pm:

Don: Well, I just put the disc back on to check, and while the "overall" sound is better, the CD is just plain grainy and strained. (sounds like baby food? Hmmm)
I'm going to play the second part a bit later, but from what I've heard so far - Nope! I've got one of those trios on another disc - and IF I can find it, I'll compare it. Will let you know by tonight some time.
Yeah, I've been trying out a lot of the CDs that I was ready to toss (to the library) - and so far all of them - while sounding "better" on the NAD - still sound thin and tinny. Mostly they are early-80s DG discs - which many people find uncomfortably shallow and tinny.
I'm still amazed at the difference between regular CDs and the few SACDs I've got. When I pop in a SACD, Mer usually comes into the room from her studio, and says something like: "wow, that sounds good!" That much difference, yep.
Haven't purchased any new CDs in awhile - trying to clear up year-end bills first, as you can imagine.
Have my sights on some, though - have my "wish list" all made up in Amazon! Maybe next month?
Again, Don, let me know what you've got, and how they sound - especially those Japanese discs you referenced earlier!
Our best to your family - and happy working!!!

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 218
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 08:50 pm:

Larry,

It's been a while since I've contributed yet another "review" to Amazon's ever growing list of opinions from wannabes like me, but in response to your request, here's the link to my latest write-ups:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A17UFTELBIVZ25/ref=cm_cr_auth/102-30 75012-1324919?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I still have a lot of CD's and other things to write about, but as always, work (!) gets in the way. As to the Jap CD pressings I hinted at, I get frustrated and disappointed when I find out that a rare, hard-to-find CD is almost always as an "import" and thus, very expensive.

I agree with you on the thin sound of DG discs. I have quite a few of them, mostly Karajan reissues, and solos (piano, violin, etc.) sound rather airy.

Will post more.

P.S.

Did John A. say he was moving?

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 418
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 08:52 am:

Don RX-1 - Read your reviews - very good! You seem to hone in on the central and critical aspects of the albums, and put all in simple, yet eloquent terms.
Yes, sir - I learn on the forum that John A. and family are on the way back to England. That's about all I know - except that John said he wouldn't be posting much for the rest of the week.
I'm still intrigued by those japanese discs to which you refer. Not that I'll be buying any, but just didn't know of their existence.
Will send ye an e-mail later. Courage!

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 421
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 10:44 pm:

Well, to all who missed "Candide" on PBS tonight, sorry for you! Although I usually eschew "semi-staged" productions, this one had verve, spirit, talent and true inspiration. Led by the wonderful conductor Marin Alsop, whose career I've followed from her break-in period with the Denver Symphony, the production moved ahead with a degree of sheer joy that I sendom see anymore.
I hope that some who read this did, indeed, see/hear it. Your comments?

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 219
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 06:20 pm:

Larry,

Thanks for reading my amateur reviews on amazon.com.

My apologies for not replying sooner to your post/query re: Japanese CD pressings; haven't forgotten, just didn't get the chance to post back. Anyways...

Here are some examples:

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '77, Vintage 74 album, not available on CD, exceptthe expensive Japanese issue at US$32.49 (CAN$36.99 at amazon.ca)

Angel Eyes [IMPORT] Dave Brubeck - Larry, my friend, I know you are a Paul Desmond fan. I had this album on LP (Columbia label) many, many years ago and practically wore it out. Desmond's solos here are, IMO, his most lyricalthat I've heard especially on the slow numbers, Everything Happens to Me, Night We Called It a Day, and the killer track, Angel Eyes.

Conversely, he swings hard on Let's Get Away from It All and Will You Still Be Mine?. If you've been searching for that elusive Desmond + MJQ CD, you might also want to consider Angel Eyes. Dave Brubeck plays straight-ahead solos without any of his cliched off-signature rhythms; just pure jazz piano solos. That's why I love this album but I'm reluctant to fork out CAN$36.99. And this is where I lament the fact that some recordings from original jazz catalogs (Columbia, Fantasy, Riverside, Verve, etc.) are no longer in "American" hands --- how the exchange of ownership happened, I have no clue. Now, don't get me wrong: it's not a rant against the Japanese CD industry; it's the fact that we are losing control of what belongs here in the northern shores. The only thing you get out of these imported CDs is the CD itself! The liner notes are useless because they're not written in English. I bought a few Jap-import Miles Davis CD's a couple of years ago. I had to cut out the covers, glue them on cardboard, and reinsert them into the jewel case. (end of rant... time to put on the flak jacket).

Another example:

Paul Desmond - Summertime

And another, which I bought last Christmas as a present to myself, the Spinozza album which I had written and complained about on amazon.com:

Spinozza

In each one, you will see the brief description: "Japanese Only 20bit Mastered Release. Limited Edition"

Anyways, I hope the above answers your question re: "Japanese CD pressings" --- Who knows, some of your beloved masterpieces may be reissued on DVD-A as "Imports." Brace yourself.

Regards,

Don

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 435
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 12:26 am:

Don: Thanks for the always-welcome post, and all the album info. I truly was not aware of these Japanese import albums - but I thank you for the heads-up. Indeed, I've added the two Desmond albums to my Amazon "wish list!" Hmmm. . .
Been a bit sidetracked these last few days - reading a book: Jimmy Buffett's "A Salty Piece of Land." If you like good stories, and travel through the Caribbean, Yucatan, and South Pacific, then you'd like the book. Quite a romp, and Buffett does tell great tales!
Other thing about the book (from the library) is that it has a Buffett "single" CD in the back. A nice, Caribbean-like song about - guess what? - A salty piece of land!
So much for my diversions - at the moment!
Will post more later, but must get my beauty rest. Now there's a laugh for you! (grin)

More soonish. . .

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 222
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 10:06 pm:

Ian G. Masters' article on Speaker Listening

http://www.mastersonaudio.com/tips.shtml

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 439
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 09:45 am:

Don: Thanks so much for the post - and the link! REad it twice, and agree totally. I think I'd accidentally accessed the chap's site once before, then lost it.
Yeah, I hate to admit it, but I AM on a speaker-quest. While the NAD has made a marvelous difference, there is still an unknown "something" lacking in the Polks - and it is not just bass. Indeed, the NAD has brought out bass in the Polks (running flat, no bass-boost) that I've not heard before.
Also - a more natural sound - to me, anyway. So, the NAD is a wonderful start. I hate to think of spending even another dime, but may have to bite down after all. Mer, of course, may have contrary opinions!! (grin)
OK - I'm asking this here, and on the Old Dogs thread: is it possible that a stereo system can sound "better" after it has been playing for 20 minutes or so? Mine "seems" to do that - and I'm wondering if it's just my ears adjusting, or what. Maybe it's aliens, after all! (snicker)
Away to some domestic chores - hope you and your family have a great week! Lar.

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 225
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 03:56 pm:

Dell dismisses the iPod...
http://www.osopinion.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3261& mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

...while Volvo officially endorses it...
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000227027770/

...and bloggers have a field day:
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/10665684.htm

John A.

Gold Member

Username: John_a

Post Number: 2745
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 01:27 am:

Don.

Thank you. Yes, I am now in London. Love it. See Old Dogs for a bit more.

Nice links, also.

"But on the upside Volvo will feature custom playlists on iTunes featuring today�s �best� Scandinavian artists."

They mean "downside". Having fled from that place I find it entirely in character that Volvo knows what you should be listening to. They will log your playlists and prevent you listening to anything except Abba and Sibelius,

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) feels differently. ``If the copyright owner and artist is making the choice to use this tool to distribute their music, we think that's a great thing,'' says RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy in an e-mailed statement. `....What concerns us is when someone else has taken it upon themselves to make that choice, and distribute music they do not own, when the copyright owner has not given permission.''

Total nonsense.

Question: who "owns" music?

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 448
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 09:15 am:

John A. - good to see that you're back in "civilization" once again!
As to who "owns" music? Well, nobody owns the vibrations that create the sound in our heads, but many people own "the penned or performed versions" of that music.
Mer, for instance, has copyright protection on a lot of her artwork. Does she "own" art? Certainly not - but she does "own" particular creations that come from her studio. Thus, she must get royalties from anybody selling that particular artwork or artworks.
The same with music. Individual works of art/music are, indeed, "owned" by the creator, or whomever copyrights them.

And have a great day!. . .

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 226
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 10:12 pm:

Article: Sound Pundits

"...reviewers and consumers should listen to the musical attributes of a system and not its sonic virtues."

http://www.jazztimes.com/reviews/audio_video_files/reviewDetail.cfm?ReviewID=16

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 455
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 09:55 am:

Don: Wowzer, my friend! Thanks for the link. Read the article twice - and took some notes. Guess I'm on the right track with the NAD, but everything else is - uh - ???. Hmmm. . .

Mer's gone to teach for the morning, so I'm back in "HiFi Heaven," with speakers ablaze and the house gently rocking to some Desmond. Ahhh. . .

Yep - music, not knobs! Good tinking dere.

Silver Member

Username: Two_cents

Post Number: 409
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 07:52 pm:

Don, thanks for the link to the article. Finally a sane view for the audiophile. I particularly liked the following:

�I�m troubled by how much worse some of the stuff has gotten,� Dudley laments. �I think amplifiers and preamplifiers are the main suspects. In specific, I don�t know anyone in the industry who doesn�t really think that early products by companies such as Audio Research, Conrad-Johnson and Krell were superior to their current offerings. The cynical view�which is to say my view�is that once these companies saturated their small markets, they had to keep coming up with reasons for owners to keep trading in toward the new stuff, and the only way they could do that was to keep making their initially good electronics more complex."

That is exactly what I'm discovering. Another reason to buy used gear.

SimplyMcIntosh

Bronze Member

Username: Simplymcintosh

Post Number: 14
Registered: Jan-05

Posted on Sunday, January 23, 2005 - 11:39 am:

2C,

Have you heard Peter Salett? I had downloaded one of his tracks(Heart of Mine) from iTunes as part of a compilation and loved it. His website has some mp3's and he reminds me a little of Wilco meets Elliott Smith. I think I'll pick up a couple of his CD's.

Silver Member

Username: Two_cents

Post Number: 410
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 11:53 am:

S-M-A-to-the-C,

Thanks. No, I haven't heard of him. Most of the music I've been listening to lately has been classical and jazz, except yesteday I picked up an Ian and Sylvia record from the 60's for a hard-earned buck. Pretty wonderful stuff.

Always interested in what you have on your playlist though.

Silver Member

Username: Ojophile

ON

Post Number: 234
Registered: Jun-04

Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 10:34 am:

Website link:

100 Greatest Jazz Vocalist Albums

Not to be taken as "fact" or gospel, but it's a good list nevertheless. I have 22 of them in my collection (LP's included); lost or misplaced 9 because of moves or loan-outs to people who honestly forgot to return them.

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_jazzvoc-album.html

Silver Member

Username: Larry_r

Naples, FL

Post Number: 507
Registered: Oct-04

Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 03:45 pm:

Don, Two Cents et al - sorry, but I've been busy elsewhere, and have forgotten my duties here on Discoveries! Or maybe it's because I haven't "discovered" anything of note recently!

Well, today, I "found again" one of my new SACDs. It had been filed in the wrong place, and until I took down the bookcase for cleaning I couldn't find it.

Wonderful sound! From the late 50s, yet. George Szell and the boys in the Cleveland Orchestra (yes, it was mostly boys then).

this is one of those "we crammed two LPs onto one SACD" thangs: Antonin Dvorak's Symphony #7 and Carnival Overture - and Smetana's (Gee, I LOVE this piece!) The Moldau - along with some Bartered Bride dances and the overture to same.

Well, I did my usual "clean" thang, then put it on the (heh-heh, almost called it a "turntable!") CD player. Hit "play" and got out of the way! Oh, my - such sound! This is one of the 2-channel discs, but heck, it doesn't matter that much to me.

I'd just played an old (1981) CD of Beethoven's violin concerto - and the sound from the SACD just plain overwhelmed me!

Any who claim not to hear a difference in the SACD should have ears examined, for sure! As I don't have a "regular" CD recording to match the SACD against, I have no direct A-B comparison, but what I'm hearing on this disc makes me want to go out and buy every SACD I can find! (grin)

Don: I'm not forgetting about jazz, my friend! Just been doing the classical thing recently. I bombed out completely on trying to find the Desmond/MJQ CD - guess that, unless somebody re-issues it, it's a goner.

Two Cents: Been thinking of you a lot recently, and how I hope that you get some new speakers very soon! Mer and I keep talking about wanting to get out there to God's Country to hear some music, etc., but it doesn't look like that's about to happen in the near future. Soooo - attend a few concerts for us - please! Probably not a hard job for you, eh? (grin)

Mer is away teaching a fused-glass class, so I can turn up the stereo and "get into" the music! Three half-days a week are "mine" here - and I have solid wall-to-wall music then! Yes!

Despite Mer's dislike, I'm going to order some more of the Niehaus CDs - and, of course, play them while she's away doing her teaching-thang.

Keep the light burning, all! I'll have more input soon - promise!

Silver Member

Username: Two_cents

Post Number: 429
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 08:12 pm:

Larry,

Thanks for your thoughts. As it turns out, I made a deal to get new used speakers. Sent the money yesterday. Hope to get the speakers by next Friday.

I've been listening to a lot of music. Here is a sample of my discoveries and re-discoveries (they're all exemplary recordings):

Brad Meldau, The Art of the Trio, Volume 2. Virtuosic jazz piano playing and group improv.

M. Uchida, Complete Mozart Piano Sonatas. Lots and lots of fine, nuanced classical piano playing.

Stephen Hough, Piano Music by Federico Mompou. Charming piano playing in the style of Erik Satie. A big surprise. I love this disc.

I think once you get your new speakers, regular CDs will sound a lot better. The difference in sound with SACDs won't be as noticeable.

BTW some people consider your God's Country the Devil's Playground. Either way, I'm sure you would enjoy what it has to offer. Perhaps someday you'll make over here...

Cheers