Finally hearing music again

[eatswodo]

This afternoon, after the last conference call of the day, I put a 37 year-old copy of Genesis' Foxtrot on my 25 year-old B&O RX, and cranked up 'Get 'Em Out By Friday'. It was luverly. Now I just need a nice little amp with tubes in it (like that old Armstrong receiver I refurbished back in the late '70s), and something like an Orb Classic One speaker setup. Oh, and a new Discwasher. Then I'll be really happy.

Oh dear. It's starting all over again... anyone have a good source for B&O cartridges? It would be good to have a spare...

[jps]

I first heard the Foxtrot "album" in April of 1972. That was when I saw Genesis for the first time and they played pretty much the whole album in a small gymnasium on the Case Western Reserve University campus. Couldn't have been more than 500 people there.

[marc61]

A true audiophile is never satisfied.

Not sure that I'm an audiophile...just wanna listen to some rock n roll. Does the fact that I'm picking up another turntable on Monday mean anything?

[jps]

Does the fact that I'm picking up another turntable on Monday mean anything?

It means you are on the right track to becoming an audiophile!

[jingle_jangle]

As much as I would love to have an absolutely SOTA system, that will never happen, so I really do listen to mine.

My description mostly applies to those who crave Stereophile and TAS.

I have subscriptions to both...they are entertaining and great gearhead (tubehead?) reading. A small part of their readers and subscribers have the "sickness" you describe, Jeff...the rest fit into all sorts of categories, from millionaires who can afford to indulge without breaking a sweat, to others who are occasional buyers and upgraders, to others who enjoy seeing and reading about how complex the "straight wire" issue can get once broken down and reassembled.

I wonder about so-called SOTA systems, because (1) they are oxymoronic, and (2) they are evanescent. As we've been telling Marc, if it sounds good to you, then you've scored. Some folks move on to absorb more lore and information (as we do with our Ricks), and if their budgets permit, indulge themselves, again, much as we do with our Ricks.

We are fortunate in that most penultimate Ricks can be had for less than $10K. There are only a handful of ultimates, and these are mostly celebrity-owned instruments, like V81 and McGuinn's 341/12SF...

Down the block from me is an audiophile friend who owns a mid-high-end system, which he plays both 2-channel and 7.1, with ALL 8 of his speakers being Martin Logan electrostatic hybrids; airline projector TV, and at least $300K in amplification. No, make that $500K. Not SOTA by any means; true high-end speakers alone would set him back $80K per pair, and his turntable is an older $10K model.

But, you could say he's got almost $700K in the system...

His occupation? He's head of psychiatry for a big hospital near here. Have I ever heard the system? Nope, but there's nary a speck of dust to be seen. His wife is tolerant, to say the least...and, of course I feel a twinge of guilt, because I don't play ALL my Ricks as often as I should.

[jps]

I used to be an ardent reader of Stereophile and TAS, now I will pick them up from the news stand if there is something that piques my interest. I am quite happy with my mid/high-end system; to me, I would need to sink significant unavailable funds to go to the next step, something my hearing these days can not justify.

I was poking fun at the Golden-Ears crowd but that is all in jest, I would hope that most who invest in these things actually enjoy them.

[jingle_jangle]

I used to be an ardent reader of Stereophile and TAS, now I will pick them up from the news stand if there is something that piques my interest. I am quite happy with my mid/high-end system; to me, I would need to sink significant unavailable funds to go to the next step, something my hearing these days can not justify.

I was poking fun at the Golden-Ears crowd but that is all in jest, I would hope that most who invest in these things actually enjoy them.

Yep. I'm still dizzy from considering that some people would plunk down $10K for a set of 3' interconnects...

[marc61]

I can't get over that I just spent 2 bucks on an FM antenna when I used to use a coat hanger.

[jps]

Highway robbery!

[cjj]

I could spend hundreds of dollars on FM antennas and still not be able to pick up anything worth listening to around here...

[jingle_jangle]

Yeah, CJ, it's the same in SF. I listen to KCRW (Los Angeles) on my computer instead.

For a biggish city, SF has the WORST radio (including the 4 public stations) programming and reception that I've ever heard. Talk and interviews, some news, and (GAG) Garrison Keillor 4X every weekend. I used to enjoy Click and Clack, but they're overexposed here, too.

[marc61]

I'm a big fan of satellite radio. Hardly ever listen to terrestrial radio anymore. Programing is the same nationwide, hardly any interruptions, and formats are pretty solid.

[marc61]

I'm a big fan of satellite radio( Mostly cuz the stock did well for me ). Hardly ever listen to terrestrial radio anymore. Programing is the same nationwide, hardly any interruptions, and formats are pretty solid.