Are There any audiophiles on this forum ?

[GMichael]

I have no interest in drug heads. I am more interested in Iraq , health care , the economy ,
Presidential race , the Superbowl , world series , tennis grand slams, world events , etc.
Never heard of her. if she was on the news I would change the channel , get something more interesting.
My opinion.

The superbowl? But I thought that football was too low class for you.

[Rich-n-Texas]

I'm not even going to tell him I'm an avid bowler.

[emaidel]

Most of your system is inconsistant. Not very expensive by today's standards. Parasound builds a better preamp. Your speakers Dahlquist DO10's were medium priced speakers in their day. Why not Audio Research preamp are Conrad Johnson ? New.
Maybe Mark Levinson power amps, Cary Martin power amps, new. If you must have a cassette deck , you can do better than that. Your tape recorder is a dog ! Your Turntabe
lets say cheap , how about a Linn Sondek , if you have the cash there's Micro Seiki $30,000 or a SME for $22,000. New.

But you said you were on a fixed income , I understand. I should add a LP would sound terrible on that system , no definition LP's are more detailed , CD's have greater dynamics. You wouldn't know judging by that mid priced audio system you own.
The young man from Belgium will pass you by in a few years at the rate he is moving.
My opinion.

Well, there you have it, everyone. "God" has spoken. My system is "inconsistant,", my "tape recorder is a dog," and LP's can only "sound terrible on that system." How could I know anyway, "judging by that midpriced audio system [I} own."

How will I ever hold my head up again on this site? I'm soooooo, ashamed!

[Rich-n-Texas]

When a tape recorder is a "dog", does that mean it runs slow or something?

[emaidel]

Don't ask me, as I'm only a lowly earthling who clearly knows nothing about audio equipment.

Just as a point of interest, the Akai GX-600DB was one of the few, or perhaps the only, reel to reel 10 1/2" machines with built in Dolby noise reduction. When it worked properly (one channel currently is noticeably duller than the other), it was difficult, or impossible to tell the difference between the source or the tape during monitoring. Still, "God" said it's a "dog,'' and so it must be. Sigh......

[Groundbeef]

Well, there you have it, everyone. "God" has spoken. My system is "inconsistant,", my "tape recorder is a dog," and LP's can only "sound terrible on that system." How could I know anyway, "judging by that midpriced audio system [I} own."

How will I ever hold my head up again on this site? I'm soooooo, ashamed!

Huh, your only "inconsistant". Not much to brag about there big boy. According to Melvin, my system is "Creepy". Perhaps the Guinia Pig threw him off. Shes 3 year old, so in people years shes like 45. Coincidently, the same age as Melvins great-grandson.

[O'Shag]

Actually guys, there is one thing your wrong about. Melvin does have some really top notch gear. The Hartfields he owns give most high-end speakers a serious run for their money in some respects. If you've never heard the Hartfields you will be surprised at the sheer immediacy and quantity of information in the midrange. They're not perfect though, but they can make music seem alive and engaging the way few can..

The McIntosh 275 (I think thats what Melvin owns) is a honey of an amp, and is very synergistic with the Hartsfields. The Marantz 7c pramp which he owns is a classic -and is noted for a very analogue sound. Don't know what sources he uses. Current world value is always a good indicator of a product's sound capabilities, and here are a few 'guesstimates' on some of Melvin's old crap:
Marantz 7C Preamp: current price ranges from $4,500 - $7,000 depending on condition and serial number
JBL Harstfield - Current price ranges from $9.500 - $25,000 depending on condition and serial number
McIntosh 275 / Original - Current prices range from $3,500 - $7,000 depending on condition and serial number.

Some of you would be very surprised at just how good this stuff sounds. I'd hazard a guess that Melvin's 'old crap' can bring you closer to the music than 90% of the systems in Audio Review. Hard to believe - but true.

By the way, Isn't being an audiophile is just as much about being a gear-head as loving music; I would say it is. Some lean further one way, and others, the other way. I've always loved music. I listen to all types of music. Some would consider my tastes in music pretty bad. While I love Classical, Jazz and Folk; I also love R&B, World music, Techno, New Wave, some punk, and Reggae. I will even jam out to the hardest rock as long as it has a musicality to it that appeals to me. I like natural harmonies and rythms. If a piece of music is a-harmonic, it better resolve itself in a meaningful way not too far into the piece or I will lose interest - thats just me. Some of the modernist classical movement (the weirdo stuff) just lost me - I think much of it it is a mess. I can listen to Bach or Mozart, and immediately switch to Kenny BabyFace Edmonds the Cure, the English Beat, or Ravi Shankaar, They can all sound incredibly musical, good music trancends genre. But I also love my electronics gear - the tweaking, setup design, variations, discussing and sharing with others passionate about science, electronics, and music - its very much a guy thing and nothing to be ashamed of. Right now I'm sitting looking at my KEF Reference 109 - The Maidstone. Theres no music coming from it at present, but I can't help admiring it as a beautiful work of art - in terms of electronics and build. Isn't that also what being an audiophile means?

[Groundbeef]

When a tape recorder is a "dog", does that mean it runs slow or something?

Boy, you are dense. The man said it was a dog. He means it is a dog. You need to get a book on reading. Read more.

Freakin' illiterate!

[audio amateur]

I'm an audiophile. But no equipment

[Rich-n-Texas]

Here ya go emaidel:


No Dolby NR, but "The original Crossfield Recording Heads". I've considered on occasion getting it refurbished (yes, the left channel was fading); I even found a site that would do the work, but others things took priority.

The Crossfield 4 track heads:

[markw]

There ia a car dealer in St. Louis that has a slogan we sell want ,not need.

If so, he would be out of business. He sells what he needs to sell to make a profit.

A man who buys a Honda needs a car. The man who buys a Mercedes SL500 wants a car.. There is a difference.[/quptye]Yes. the man who buys Honda wants a Honda. MA man buys a Mercedes to impress his friends because he lacks the self-confidence to buy the plain but superior machine.

As for as driving a car to it's fullest , there is no need , when there is nothing to prove. A friend of mine had just bought a Ferrari Testarossa , as we were driving down the highway alone came two young men in a Corvette, they raced their motor, made faces , but he ignored them. What was there to prove ? A Corvette , a Testarossa.

What's there to prove? Obviously nothing. He was afraid t hey would be able to handle their "inferior" car better than yourfrield could handle his. Your friend was apparently satisfied believing that simply throwing down money makes him a superior person.

It's not the tool that does a good job, it's the workman. It would have been interesting to see who was really the better driver. Two shallow people in an expensive car outto impress themselves.

One Hartsfield can feel a stadium with sound , in a large living room , one can produce standing waves. Why ?

The same can be said about any large PA speaker. What's your point?

[QUOTE=melvin walker]The same with a Ferrari. Why ?[//quote]That's what I'm asking you but you're not getting it.

One buys a Ferrari for two reasons in my opinion , one because others can't afford it and two because it is one of the finest sports cars in the world. The same with a Patek Philippe watch or a $100,000 audio system.
These people buy want not need. An item can be both impressive and expensive.

And most are in the hands of people with too much money and not enough common sense to use them for their intended purpose. They just wantto look at them.

A lot of gangsta rap stars would fit right into your circle. They can buy and sell your tys but does that make them better than you? Well, in this case, I'd have to say yes.

As for as Anna Nichole Smith is concern , the old fellow married her for the same reason he bought the Ferrari , most can't afford her and whoever she is , she must be beautiful.
The old fellow is both a car person and a women person.

You make marrying a whore sound acceptable. Is that how your circle lives?

That explains a lot of your anger, old boy. Dunno about cars, but you can bet your bippy that if you have a pretty young wife who married you just for your money, and you can't give her what she needs (and it ain't all about $$, old man) someone else is gonna be driving her when you're not around, or sleeping.

[Ajani]

Actually guys, there is one thing your wrong about. Melvin does have some really top notch gear. The Hartfields he owns give most high-end speakers a serious run for their money in some respects. If you've never heard the Hartfields you will be surprised at the sheer immediacy and quantity of information in the midrange. They're not perfect though, but they can make music seem alive and engaging the way few can..

The McIntosh 275 (I think thats what Melvin owns) is a honey of an amp, and is very synergistic with the Hartsfields. The Marantz 7c pramp which he owns is a classic -and is noted for a very analogue sound. Don't know what sources he uses. Current world value is always a good indicator of a products sound capabilities, and here are a few guesstimates on some of Melvin's old crap:
Marantz 7C Preamp: current price ranges from $4,500 - $7,000 depending on condition and serial number
JBL Harstfield - Current price ranges from $9.500 - $25,000 depending on condition and serial number
McIntosh 275 / Original - Current prices range from $3,500 - $7,000 depending on condition and serial number.

Some of you would be very surprised at just how good this stuff sounds. I'd hazard a guess that Melvin's 'old crap' sounds way better than 90% of the systems in Audio Review. Hard to believe - but true.

By the way, being an audiophile is just as much about being a gear-head as loving music. Some lean further one way, and others, the other way. I've always loved music. I listen to all types of music. Some would consider my tastes in music pretty bad. While I love Classical, Jazz and Folk; I also love R&B, World music, Techno, New Wave, some punk, and Reggae. I will even jam out to the hardest rock as long as it has a musicality to it that appeals to me. I like natural harmonies and rythms. If a piece of music is a-harmonic, it better resolve itself in a meaningful way not too far into the piece or I will lose interest - thats just me. Some of the modernist classical movement (the weirdo stuff) just lost me - I think much of it it is a mess. I can listen to Bach or Mozart, and immediately switch to Kenny BabyFace Edmonds the Cure, the English Beat, or Ravi Shankaar, They can all sound incredibly musical, good music trancends genre. But as much as I love music, I also love my electronics gear - the tweaking, setup design, variations, discussing and sharing with others passionate about science, electronics, and music - its very much a guy thing and nothing to be ashamed of. Right now I'm sitting looking at my KEF Reference 109 - The Maidstone. Theres no music coming from it at present, but I can't help admiring it as a beautiful work of art - in terms of electronics and build. Isn't that also what being an audiophile means?

Actually none of us have a problem with Melvin's equipment... we just dislike Melvin....

[Rich-n-Texas]

Boy, you are dense. The man said it was a dog. He means it is a dog. You need to get a book on reading. Read more.

Freakin' illiterate!

Dogs can play cassettes? New one on me.

And... I didn't know they made books on reading. Do they sell them at Half-priced Books? Would they be in the Self Help area?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Actually none of us have a problem with Melvin's equipment... we just dislike Melvin....

Actaully, we don't know if Melvin really has the equipment he brags about.

[Ajani]

Actaully, we don't know if Melvin really has the equipment he brags about.

Good Point!!! The only thing worse than a pompous @$$ bragging about his expensive toys, is a lying pompous @$$.....

[JohnMichael]

Don't ask me, as I'm only a lowly earthling who clearly knows nothing about audio equipment.

Just as a point of interest, the Akai GX-600DB was one of the few, or perhaps the only, reel to reel 10 1/2" machines with built in Dolby noise reduction. When it worked properly (one channel currently is noticeably duller than the other), it was difficult, or impossible to tell the difference between the source or the tape during monitoring. Still, "God" said it's a "dog,'' and so it must be. Sigh......

Sounds like you need your tape heads aligned.

[JohnMichael]

Melvin's posts are like disasters. You hate that they happened but you can not look away.

[O'Shag]

I don't agree with some of what Melvin says, but then a lot of people won't agree with some of the things I say. Honestly, I think you guys should cut Melvin some slack and take it a bit easy on him. He's just an old-timer set in his ways, and that is common to find. I've found some of the stuff Melvin says quite interesting, and some of his notions I take with a grain of salt. He's proud to be an American Republican, and sometimes this can come out a bit pompous like - but what harm is done? He loves his gear, and thinks the best happened 50 years ago - thats cool by me. I may be saying the same thing when I'm his age, who knows.. I really don't believe Melvin is intending to harm or offend anyone, he's just stating an opinion.

[mlsstl]

What's next ? depends on the money. Books printed in the 1950's I wonder when the bible was printed ?

Can anyone translate the point of this into English? I'm not sure if he's looking for a Gutenberg original or something else. He might have some trouble making this acquisition. There are fewer than 50 copies in the world and the last sale was 20 years ago and went to some Japanese fellow for excess of $5 million.

[JohnMichael]

I don't agree with some of what Melvin says, but then a lot of people won't agree with some of the things I say. Honestly, I think you guys should cut Melvin some slack and take it a bit easy on him. He's just an old-timer set in his ways, and that is common to find. I've found some of the stuff Melvin says quite interesting, and some of his notions I take with a grain of salt. He's proud to be an American Republican, and sometimes this can come out a bit pompous like - but what harm is done? He loves his gear, and thinks the best happened 50 years ago - thats cool by me. I may be saying the same thing when I'm his age, who knows.. I really don't believe Melvin is intending to harm or offend anyone, he's just stating an opinion.

Melvin of course has as much right here as anyone else and is a member of AR. On the other hand I think he is enjoying the give and take more than it might be bothering him. I hope the exchanges are firing him up as much as it is firing the rest of us up.

[melvin walker]

Sounds like you need your tape heads aligned.

There were several reel to reel recorders of that era that didn't really need Dolby noise
reduction, Revox and Tandberg comes to mine. The Revox did add Dolby later and used a 10 inch reel.

The Akai GX600DB was a dog with fleas. It needed all the help it could use.
The Revox A77 Mark lV had Dolby plus used 10 inch reels. The Revox A700 did not need a Doby noise reduction system and also used 10 inch reels.
I have a Revox A77 runs perfectly , has been in for repair only three times in 40 years.
The last time it was in the repair shop the technicians enjoyed the playback of the 40 year old machine.

[Groundbeef]

Can anyone translate the point of this into English? I'm not sure if he's looking for a Gutenberg original or something else. He might have some trouble making this acquisition. There are fewer than 50 copies in the world and the last sale was 20 years ago and went to some Japanese fellow for excess of $5 million.

He should have bought a Ferrari for that kind of money. What a fool. Probably drives a Honda.

[JSE]

There were several reel to reel recorders of that era that didn't really need Dolby noise
reduction, Revox and Tandberg comes to mine. The Revox did add Dolby later and used a 10 inch reel.

The Akai GX600DB was a dog with fleas. It needed all the help it could use.
The Revox A77 Mark lV had Dolby plus used 10 inch reels. The Revox A700 did not need a Doby noise reduction system and also used 10 inch reels.
I have a Revox A77 runs perfectly , has been in for repair only three times in 40 years.
The last time it was in the repair shop the technicians enjoyed the playback of the 40 year old machine.

I think something else needs repair!

[melvin walker]

Can anyone translate the point of this into English? I'm not sure if he's looking for a Gutenberg original or something else. He might have some trouble making this acquisition. There are fewer than 50 copies in the world and the last sale was 20 years ago and went to some Japanese fellow for excess of $5 million.

Than there are the classics, you have heard of the classics , The Three Musketeers , Ivanhoe , David Copperfield etc. All written before 1950.
You must start reading more and not just comic books !

[Ajani]

I don't agree with some of what Melvin says, but then a lot of people won't agree with some of the things I say. Honestly, I think you guys should cut Melvin some slack and take it a bit easy on him. He's just an old-timer set in his ways, and that is common to find. I've found some of the stuff Melvin says quite interesting, and some of his notions I take with a grain of salt. He's proud to be an American Republican, and sometimes this can come out a bit pompous like - but what harm is done? He loves his gear, and thinks the best happened 50 years ago - thats cool by me. I may be saying the same thing when I'm his age, who knows.. I really don't believe Melvin is intending to harm or offend anyone, he's just stating an opinion.

I think this is the key problem many people have with old Mel, is that we think he knows exactly what he means to say and that he says it....

It could be just a case of getting old and stuck in his ways or he may always have been pompous....

The problem being that he's gone out of his way to let everyone know that all their inexpensive audio gear, cars, jewellery, clothes etc... are totally inferior....

He makes statements about people being low class and about Blacks in America being the Smartest, Healthiest & Richest in the world (now just change the words from 'Blacks in America' to just being 'Americans' and you will understand how stupid that comment is)...

He essentially comes off as being a rich snob who looks down on everyone.... and in turn people think very little of him...

O'Shag, you clearly have a very high-end setup, and you are clearly quite proud of it and rightfully so.... but you don't act as if you regard yourself as being superior to the rest of the forum... Now if Melvin would just follow your example, I don't think any of us would have a problem with him...