Sparky, I've got a pretty good starting idea of what you're hearing: my first exposure to the good stuff was Goldmund Reference -> SP11 -> D-250 -> tweaked Infinity RSIIb's
Frank
Frank
Digital Or Analog; How Do You Get Your Fix?
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My ratio was about 80-20 in favor of Analog but that's dropped to about 70-30. Now before I get stoned to death 
10% of that shift from analog to digital was the time spent DJing. I went from spinning 12" singles with the SL-1210s to spinning with Digital media either CDs or files on DVDs,SD cards, USB dongles or HD via Ethernet connection to my laptop. The summer has officially started here and the kids have taken an interest in it so I've started giving them their lessons. Amazing how quickly kids take to hardware.
10% of that shift from analog to digital was the time spent DJing. I went from spinning 12" singles with the SL-1210s to spinning with Digital media either CDs or files on DVDs,SD cards, USB dongles or HD via Ethernet connection to my laptop. The summer has officially started here and the kids have taken an interest in it so I've started giving them their lessons. Amazing how quickly kids take to hardware. HI Frank,
Yes, that system is in the ball park.
As of this week, I am officially retired from my engineering job. From now on I am on a fixed income. The major issue is if I can continue to support the D250 Mk 2 Servo amp. The last time I did a complete tube replacement (fortunately, not long ago) I bought the tubes from ARC. They cost a cool $1900! Figure the 6550's will last 2000 hours which has been the average I have determined over the years. There are 20 6550's in this amp. After I figure out my financial situation I will have to make a decision on the D250. I truly would hate to sell it. But, I may have to. There are other tube sources that are cheaper than ARC but these sources have been a cause of pain in the past. And the savings is only about 15%. Time will tell.
Fortunately, I do have good amps I can substitute. The D250 can be replaced by a Mark Levinson No. 23 amp which is currently driving my subwoofers. And I have an old but good Acoustat TNT200 to drive the subs. This would give me a system that would be good but not as good and the maintenance costs would be very low. My system uses a total of 50 tubes! But, most are small signal tubes that last a long time. I don't think they are a problem. Time will tell.
Sparky
100% Digital Playback from bits-only library.
28% Analog Source Material (LPs transferred to 24/96 digital).
72% Digital Source Material (ripped CDs or lossless download).
28% Analog Source Material (LPs transferred to 24/96 digital).
72% Digital Source Material (ripped CDs or lossless download).
This is a surprisingly close vote, with all digital/mostly digital maintaining a slight edge. I suspect that if the same question were asked 5 years from now that this small divide would be much larger.
I think an interesting side-question would be the length of time one has been an audiophile and the degree to which they listen to different media. In other words, recent converts might find obtaining CDs a lot easier than LPs (though more and more are in print).
I think the vast majority of us here became audiophiles even before the advent of CD, which is why the current poll stats seem surprising to me. Although some may not be willing to admit it, I suspect that the increase in moving towards digital has a lot to do with convenience, and not just the improved quality over the standard Redbook CD from way back when.
The CD never really was a competitor to vinyl on fidelity. It was a competitor to the casette tape on convenience (portability, durablity, use in vehicles, etc.) and prevailed. Now the CD is being obsoleted on the convenience front by compressed digital. You only need to look at the instrument cluster of your car to see it. First, OEM infotainment systsms (aka "radios") had casette players. Then they had both casette and CD players. Then it was just CD players, followed by CD players and iPod/USB ports. Now it's digital ports alone. The in-dash CD player is going the way of the dinosaur, taking the audio CD with it.
That is one of the reasons high-res digital isn't gaining traction. It is no more convenient than compressed digital.
There is some truth to what you have stated. Before cassette tapes, cars had 8 track tape players. Before that, some cars actually had record players installed. It seems like just yesterday that if you had a 6 CD changer in your trunk, you were styling. And you are right, CD players will disappear from cars very soon. Technology has killed off the CD. They just aren’t necessary anymore. I wonder who wants to be the last company manufacturing commercial CDs?
I knew CDs were in trouble 2 years ago when I went to buy a CD and realized that CDs have all but disappeared from stores. If you want something outside of the current top ten albums on the charts, you will probably have to order it over the net.
I knew CDs were in trouble 2 years ago when I went to buy a CD and realized that CDs have all but disappeared from stores. If you want something outside of the current top ten albums on the charts, you will probably have to order it over the net.
Maybe if the tapetechnologie (tapeproject) could be made more convenient and be revived there would be a big audiophilemarket , vinyl is much more hassle and takes a lot of commitment /time to get right.
A start/ stopbutton is what most want
A start/ stopbutton is what most want
Maybe if the tapetechnologie (tapeproject) could be made more convenient and be revived there would be a big audiophilemarket , vinyl is much more hassle and takes a lot of commitment /time to get right.
A start/ stopbutton is what most want
Remember the adage: "Nothing good comes easy."
Car manufacturers have a huge motivation there. The laser has poor reliability in high temperatures which unfortunately a car gets subjected to all the time. Imagine how hot it gets inside of a car in a hot day -- way above even many industrial applications. Some manufacturers actually route some of the air conditioner there to keep the darn thing cool so that it doesn't fail during warranty period. Likewise the mechanical aspects of CD transport is highly subject to damage from all the vibrations.
Practicality, easier access, newer technologies on high res audio; are all contributing factors.
Turntables are the coolest to manually operate, and they are also the most complex ones to setup properly. And even then ...
Digital high res audio from downloading is where we are at now. For the masses that is.
* Quality audio is like fine women; you have to keep feeding them your attention and love. :b
Turntables are the coolest to manually operate, and they are also the most complex ones to setup properly. And even then ...
Digital high res audio from downloading is where we are at now. For the masses that is.
* Quality audio is like fine women; you have to keep feeding them your attention and love. :b
From PositiveFeedback Online: "Want an uphill battle? Try pushing the bulk of consumers to embrace niche audiophile formats and upgrade to capable equipment."
Bob,
Are you joking?
Any turntable is easier to setup than properly setting a music server. See our debates on music servers. And at less we had good protractors and scales - 99% or the rimes if we followed established rules we would have immediate success, even without tweaks. Did you try to compare the number of existing true HiRez recordings available with the number of vinyl recordings that you can easily get?
I agree with you on the masses using MP3 and pirated recordings.
Bob,
Are you joking?
Did you try to compare the number of existing true HiRez recordings available with the number of vinyl recordings that you can easily get?
I agree with you on the masses using MP3 and pirated recordings.
I was referring to regular CD/SACD players. :b
* I know nothin' 'bout downloading music. I just read 'bout it that's all.
But no, I didn't check that thread you're talkin' 'bout; because of exactly what you just said.
Keith, I think America is different from quite a lot of the rest of the world: in Australia and Britain CD sales in the stores are still very strong ...
Frank
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