Are There any audiophiles on this forum ?

[O'Shag]

Thanks Ajani - I just hate to see the guy get hurt is all, even though some of his comments are from Pluto. Are you a Brit perchance?

[JSE]

And.......

Ya had to asked did'nt ya?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Heh heh heh. Look at it this way JSE... traffic on the forum has got to be the highest its been in a loooooooong time. The marketing firm here is smiling all the way to its imaginary bank thus, we live to play another day.

[melvin walker]

[QUOTE=markw]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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

You have been playing in the water again , A Honda can outperform a SL500 !

I will not go as far as calling the woman a whore , but if she was it appears she was a high class whore.

In America I think a person should do what they want with their money. What is common sense?
Now tell me if that Ferrari had run off and hide from that Corvette what would have been proven. He did not want to see the two young men hurt themselves. Drag racing on a public highway makes little sense.

Money is for spending by you are someone else. I recentley bought an Audemars Piguet
watch , bought it used. My wife asked me why did I buy another watch? My answer is as usual you only go around once, may as well enjoy it the first time.
Why get old and look back and wish you had done all the things you wish you had done ?
I wish I had the money to marry a beautiful young whore. Can you amagine the smile on my face each morning when I wake up , WOW !

[melvin walker]

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...

Tell me sir , where in the world will you find Blacks that are better off than in the United States ?
It would be nice if we in America could over look race , religion or ethnic origins. But we are people and people are not perfect , people are bias. That's the case all over the world.
In America we try and has had some success. Where in the world is there a Black middle class larger than the one in America ?

In a nation where Blacks are only 12% of the population a man is running for President who is Black. The highest ranking appointed office in our government is held by a Black women. One of the 10 richest women in the world is a Black women and the highest paid athlete in the world is a Black man all Black Americans I forgot one of the highest paid men on Wall street until recently was a Black man.

I have never said I was superior , you said that. I freely express my opinion. You can take it anyway you wish.

[mlsstl]

Than there are the classics...

You never clarified your earlier statement (or, for that matter, you've not been particularly lucid about anything to date.)

Mel, I have to say that you are an absolute riot! You are constantly lecturing others about their lack of historical and literary knowledge, yet you write like a 7th grader who's been held back a time or two. Your "facts" are often questionable and your field of vision is about as narrow as I've seen in a still sentient being.

Back to the subject you threw out - "Books printed in the 1950's I wonder when the bible was printed ?" - what exactly was your question about the Bible? We still don't know.

The Revox A700 did not need a Doby noise reduction system...

Now, returning to audio, here is another rich illustration of your inherent contradictions. You've spent endless words talking about how the "audiophile" is on this endless search for better. Just like a car buff. (Go back and read your own tale of woe about when you were embarrassed in your Jag.)

According to half of what you say, an audiophile is never content no matter what they own. He is always on the prowl for better. Yet here you talk about your Revox and how it doesn't need Dolby noise reduction.

First, the Mk III and IV models certainly had Dolby available. If it did not need Dolby, why did Revox put it on their machines? Simple. It made the machines "better." It added several dB to an otherwise fairly ordinary 60 dB-ish S/N ratio.

Or, are you now going to tell us that a 60 dB signal-to-noise ratio is all the world needs for perfection?

It certainly wouldn't hurt you to put a bit of effort into keeping your story straight. One moment you're telling us that audiophiles are never happy with what they have and are always looking to spend more money on better equipment. Then the next thing we know, you're telling how nirvana was reached 50 years ago and hasn't been equaled since.

If nothing else, thanks for the entertainment.

(Not an audiophile under the MW definition and that, my friend, is a badge of honor to be worn proudly!)

[E-Stat]

no car person would buy a Honda. I hope you get my point , how ever old you are.

Evidently, we not only disagree as to what constitutes an audiophile, we must likewise disagree as to what constitutes a car person. I own three Honda products.

rw

[E-Stat]

...reel to reel 10 1/2" machines ...

At least someone here knows what they are talking about.

rw

[Luvin Da Blues]

I own three Honda products.

Does this mean that your not a true audiophile then.

[basite]

Tell me sir , where in the world will you find Blacks that are better off than in the United States ?

and where can you find blacks that are off worse than in the USA? aside from in africa, where war terrorises every living human...

as you mentioned earlier (in another thread I believe), america is the country of the oppertunities. Unfortunately, those oppertunities are often out of reach for some.

btw, a question that has often came to my mind already...

Has your gear ever been restored? no matter how good, an old amp could definately use new caps. You'll be impressed by how much the sound improves.

and really, after you've done that, try different cables, as they really make a big difference. besides, what is $400 for someone like you Melvin...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[emaidel]

The Akai GX600DB was a dog with fleas. It needed all the help it could use.

NOW you tell me! Where were you 34 years ago when I could have used your help?

In truth, aside from my recent troubles with the machine (the various knobs and switches are intermittent in their operation in addition to the left channel being duller and weaker than the right), I received decades of flawless, trouble-free performance from this "dog," and it's never been in the shop.

It replaced a horribly troublesome Tandberg 64X which, while it recorded superbly at 3 3/4, was a mechanical nightmare, had a greatly inferior S/N ratio, and despite Tandberg's claim, performed very poorly in the upright position (excessive flutter). Revox made a superior machine, but the Akai was a good deal less expensive at the time. With both in perfect working order, aside from a few mechanical features of the Revox that were better than the Akai, I wonder if anyone could really hear much difference between recordings made on either one of the two.

If only I had known......

If a "dog" can perform so well for so many years, I can only wonder how I could ever have made such a horrible mistake in buying it in the first place. silly me.

[emaidel]

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?

I have to admire you stepping in to defend poor 'ol Melvin. I suspect the equipment he talks about (but has yet to state he actually owns) sounds pretty good. The speakers, preamp and power amp are all "legends" in the industry, and currently command price tags hardly commensurate with their performance. I have a good deal of personal experience with the Marantz preamp, and Mac power amp, and remember how much I liked them in 1966.

In using cars as an analogy (one of Melfvin's favorite pasttimes) a '57 Chevy today is worth a small fortune, and way in excess of what it sold for back in 1957. But just how good a car is it compared to, say, a new Ford Fusion or a new Chevy Malibu? Neither of those cars has a legion of adoring fans, but both will most likely outperform the '57 Chevy by leaps and bounds. Both are a good deal smaller, but with a great deal more interior room, and handle far better. Both are faster from 0-60, but neither "slams" the driver into the seat when flooring the accelerator; both get infinitely better fuel economy and spit out far fewer noxious fumes In short, both are better automobiles, but neither has the appeal of a collector's item, which is what a '57 Chevy is, as is the equipment Melvin brags about .

Melvin's chief problem (aside from his continued horrible grammar which he steadfastly refuses to either improve, or even acknowledge) is his complete intolerance of anything newer than that available back in 1975 as being any good. That's just not so.

But then, what do I know anyway? After all, my system is "inconsistant," my tape deck "is a dog with fleas that needs all the help it can get," and my turntable/cartrdige combo "cheap."

Those of us who've criticized Melvin's take on new equipment and adoring stance for older products never ridiculed those products as Melvin does ours. That is just not playing fairly.

[E-Stat]

Does this mean that your not a true audiophile then.

Well, he has not as yet critiqued my systems, but I fear that will be the case.

rw

[Ajani]

Tell me sir , where in the world will you find Blacks that are better off than in the United States ?

All over the world actually.... There are Blacks better, the same and worse off all over the globe... try looking....

It would be nice if we in America could over look race , religion or ethnic origins. But we are people and people are not perfect , people are bias. That's the case all over the world.
In America we try and has had some success. Where in the world is there a Black middle class larger than the one in America ?

First off, have you actually tried looking or do you just assume that the best place to be Black is America? Is America the best place to be Hispanic? To be White? To be Indian? America is a land of opportunity but it's not the only one... It may be the 'largest' land of opportunity (though technically I think Canada has greater land mass)... Contraire to popular belief, there are countries richer than America, some are even black (yes I know it's shocking... not all black countries are war torn and impoverished in some remote part of Africa)... You do realize that even some countries in the Caribbean, like Cayman and Bermuda have stronger currencies than the US? You do realize that some countries in the Caribbean have no income tax? You do realize that many of these countries are majority Black?

In a nation where Blacks are only 12% of the population a man is running for President who is Black. The highest ranking appointed office in our government is held by a Black women. One of the 10 richest women in the world is a Black women and the highest paid athlete in the world is a Black man all Black Americans I forgot one of the highest paid men on Wall street until recently was a Black man.

Using the Caribbean example again... there are may Presidents/Prime Ministers of these countries who are black (not just hoping to become their party's candidate)... The Highest ranking officials in these countries are majority black.... The richest men and woman in these countries are Black....

The point is that you have Healhty, well educated and Highly succesful people all over the world... and yes some of them are Black...

I have never said I was superior , you said that. I freely express my opinion. You can take it anyway you wish.

Neither myself nor anyone on this forum has claimed that you were superior... nor would we... I said that you let us know how inferior our CHEAP audio setups are....

[markw]

[QUOTE=melvin walker][QUOTE=markw]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.

What's there to prove? Obviously nothing. He was afraid t hey would be able to handle their "inferior" car better than your friend 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 out to impress themselves.

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


Well, since you blew the HTML, the "real" post starts below.

You have been playing in the water again , A Honda can outperform a SL500 !

That depends on what you mean by "performance" If that means starting every time you turn the key and not needing to spend in exorbitant amount of time n the shop. then the Honda wins hands down. If you mean going fast when it does run, then the Mercedes wins.

I will not go as far as calling the woman a whore , but if she was it appears she was a high class whore.

Perhaps, but it's just a matter of price. Her type prey on old farts with more desire to impress others than avail themselves of a fine ride.

In America I think a person should do what they want with their money.

True, but most don't try to rub their good fortune (or inheritance) in others faces and equate that with being a "better person". That's called "class", something your ilk obviously lack. No wonder your type has to pay for women.

What is common sense?

Naturally, you would have to ask that question.

ow tell me if that Ferrari had run off and hide from that Corvette what would have been proven. He did not want to see the two young men hurt themselves. Drag racing on a public highway makes little sense.

Actually, your tense is off again. Such a shame for such a self-proclaimed erudite person. It should be "hid" but that's immaterial. All it proved is that you're trying to alibi his inability to drive that fine piece of machinery. In this case, using my workman analogy from a previous post, it's simply a case a tool driving the tool.

Money is for spending by you are someone else. I recentley bought an Audemars Piguet watch , bought it used. My wife asked me why did I buy another watch? My answer is as usual you only go around once, may as well enjoy it the first time.!

Why get old and look back and wish you had done all the things you wish you had done ?
I wish I had the money to marry a beautiful young whore.Can you amagine the smile on my face each morning when I wake up , WOW !

Well. so much for your respect for your wife. Sell those speakers and maybe you'll have a chance. Go out with a smile on your face. It's obvious that all your material possessions don't do that.

And, at your age I'm sure simply waking up is a surprise. It's too bad you spend your remaining days trying to impress this community instead of enjoying whatever life you have left.

Your fanciful stories are fun to play with. If you don't get it yet, we think you're a fraud, but you're such an easy target. We're still waiting for some more info on your radio show. Now, THAT can be verified.

[markw]

Well, he has not as yet critiqued my systems, but I fear that will be the case.

rw

Now that he knows you're a moderator, I wouldn't worry about it. Look at how he kissed up to JM once he realized who he was.

[GMichael]

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?

I don't have a problem with Mel's gear. H.ll, it's nicer than I'll ever get to own. It's just that he talks as if, having more money makes someone a better person. I do have a problem with that.

[E-Stat]

Now that he knows you're a moderator, I wouldn't worry about it. Look at how he kissed up to JM once he realized who he was.

I welcome it and would be curious as to his reaction to the Sound Labs (if he has ever heard of them before) I'm just another guy here who's just trying to hekp keep a modicum of order here.

rw

[bobsticks]

Wow. I missed a great deal of fun yesterday, eh.

[Groundbeef]

Wow. I missed a great deal of fun yesterday, eh.

It was a real hoot. Melvin called my setup "creepy", and Emadail's "inconsistant". I guess I can now host the AR Haloween Party. I just have to keep GM away from Elvira. He would ruin her.

[Groundbeef]

I welcome it and would be curious as to his reaction to the Sound Labs (if he has ever heard of them before) I'm just another guy here who's just trying to hekp keep a modicum of order here.

rw

I appreciate your efforts. With all the loose language being thrown about here, sometimes its a little scary.

[melvin walker]

and where can you find blacks that are off worse than in the USA? aside from in africa, where war terrorises every living human...

as you mentioned earlier (in another thread I believe), america is the country of the oppertunities. Unfortunately, those oppertunities are often out of reach for some.

btw, a question that has often came to my mind already...

Has your gear ever been restored? no matter how good, an old amp could definately use new caps. You'll be impressed by how much the sound improves.

and really, after you've done that, try different cables, as they really make a big difference. besides, what is $400 for someone like you Melvin...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

There are many places where Blacks are worst off, western Europe , South America , Africa , , the Caribbean etc. . There is a very large Black middle class in America the largest in the world. Example in the St.Louis metro area , most Blacks live in the suburbs , which you will find is the case in most American metro areas.

The average income of American Blacks is greater than 90% of most of the world's people including some western Europeans , and certainly greater than eastern Europeans.
In America every citizen has a right to succeed or fail. Many Black Americas are succeeding and there are some who are failing , same as with any group including White Americans.

The only update has been to remove the 075 tweeter and replace it with a 175DLH to
smooth out the high end.
I have my amps and tuner checked out once a year , usually to add new tubes. My Revox was recently in for repairs. My TT and arm is also checked out , especially the cartridge.
I treat my audio system no different than my cars.

[Bernd]

In America every citizen has a right to succeed or fail.
.

So they have in many other countries. This is not an american monopol, and many countries have better safety nets than the US, should you fail in your attempt to succeed. I have had success in several different lands.
But what has all that to do with the question posed?
You said you were an audiophile. So what are you now?

Peace

[basite]

The only update has been to remove the 075 tweeter and replace it with a 175DLH to
smooth out the high end.
I have my amps and tuner checked out once a year , usually to add new tubes. My Revox was recently in for repairs. My TT and arm is also checked out , especially the cartridge.
I treat my audio system no different than my cars.

no, I don't mean things like that.

over the years, the electrolytic capacitors in your gears dry out. Causing your system to sound different, and eventually it can cause damage (a too high DC offset and such), have them checked out next time you have your gear checked out.



Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[melvin walker]

I don't have a problem with Mel's gear. H.ll, it's nicer than I'll ever get to own. It's just that he talks as if, having more money makes someone a better person. I do have a problem with that.

I never said " Having more money makes one a better person .
Having money enables one to have a higher standard of living. I would much rather be rich than poor.
I appreciate the finer things in life. Music . art . cars. clothes , jewelry , travel , food , wines , books , etc,etc.
I make no excuses for that. I have visited people in America and in other parts of the world who are very poor. I am not only glad , but proud to be an American.
America is truly in my opinion the land of opportunity. If you can't make it in America , you can't make it anywhere.

My parents taught me to work hard , plan hard , and not make excuses for my failures.
Look in the mirror first. Identify your problems and than do something about them.If you enjoy cars , why drive a Honda when you can drive a Porsche ?
Greed is good , greed is necessary.
That is my opinion.