The Eternal Return

By Stephen Mejias • Posted: Dec 27, 2005

...All configurations that have previously existed on this earth must yet meet, attract, repulse, kiss, and corrupt each other again.
— Heinrich Heine

Hmm.

My youngest sister, Briana, received a Magnavox boombox for Christmas.

While she was connecting the thin black and red wires, I wondered if she'd someday be listening to her Fallout Boy and Blink-182 CDs through an Arcam Solo. I kind of wish my mom would have consulted me before buying her a boombox. I mean, what good am I if I can't make some recommendations on audio equipment? If we couldn't have sprung for a $15,000 Burmester 001, at least we could have given her my old boombox.

Yesterday afternoon, I finally did it. I finally pulled the old girl out of its little wooden alcove beneath my Sharp television. For good, I think. I connected its small plastic speakers to its small plastic notches and tied its thin black and red wires in loose knots. Still, I can't imagine throwing her — it, the boombox — away. It still "works" perfectly. It's never given me a problem at all. Even the pop-top CD lid still functions flawlessly. In the world of boomboxes, mine is a gem. But, for now, the AZ9345 Portable Mini System with "Dynamic Bass Boost" and high-speed dubbing will stay in the closet. With yellowing report cards, blurry photographs, bad essays, miserable poems, wire coat hangers, and other dust.

Space doesn't stay empty for long. The space created by the Magnavox's departure will soon be filled by something else: the Musical Fidelity A3.5 integrated amp and CD player. For now, though, that space is occupied by another Christmas present: the Atari Flashback 2.

The Xbox 360's three separate core processors with all of their potential polygons and whatnot have got nothing on the Flashback 2's wood grain paneling.

Comments

Submitted by Jim Tavegia on December 26, 2005 - 10:00pm.

My son, Nick, got one for Christmas from a relative, and also 5 PS2 games. This Atari is old school. He seemed to like it, but with a PS2 it is not a fair fight. He said," ""What"," no Pacman""?At Best Buy when you see the new XBox 360 in high def", it is pretty awesome. I know already I am dead in the water when the PS3 comes out.

Submitted by Clay White on December 27, 2005 - 10:00pm.

You've gone and done it now. You're on the threshold of becoming a full fledged reviewed whether you want to or not. Comparisons of the MF goodies with your beloved Arcam are inevitable. I, for one, look forward to them.Remember, nonetheless, that the whole idea is finding pleasure in the music. Don't get hooked on the sort of listening one needs for meaningful reviews. At least not unless you're paid rather handsomely to do so.

Submitted by Monty on December 31, 2005 - 10:00pm.

I'm glad to see you trying some different electronics with your speakers. After the MF stuff, maybe a tube integrated for another perspective on reproduction? With your writing abilities, passion for music and a crash coursein how various components effect changes in sound, you too could invoke anger, jealousy, envy and an over-all sense of despise from industry professionals and competitors. :P

Submitted by Stephen Mejias on January 1, 2006 - 10:00pm.

>Comparisons of the MF goodies with your beloved Arcam are inevitable. I, for one, look forward to them. Thanks, Clay. I'm also very interested to see if I can hear differences between the two. Should be a lot of fun.

Submitted by Stephen Mejias on January 1, 2006 - 10:00pm.

>With your writing abilities, passion for music and a crash course in how various components effect changes in sound, you too could invoke anger, jealousy, envy and an over-all sense of despise from industry professionals and competitors.Ha! Thank you so much. Yes, I hope you're right.

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