Let's hear it then, what have you got?

I loved seeing the title of your post!

For me, the enjoyment part of the hobby is not equipment specific, but more like a collection of great "moments" that occur more often in this pursuit than in some other parts of my endeavors.

The late night session with me, Frank Sinatra, and my turntable; the time the christmas tree between the speakers seemed to make Tom Petty step into the room; sitting in my friend's basement listening to DCM Time Windows and marvelling at how they created a great soundstage sitting there in a concrete alcove; the time I thought that Duke's band sounded like it could actually be in the next room when I heard a horn section start blowing from another part of the house.

All those small bits of joy meld together to form my affection for this hobby.

The other fun part is kind of like enjoying a great wine - something that is best enjoyed with another person or people. Listening sessions, good or bad, are great social lubricants that generate conversation and the sharing of opinion. Again, like wine tasting, even a relatively crappy taste/listening experience can end up being a fabulous experience based on the interractions it creates with other people.

Heck, these forums make the hobby more fun because they make me think about how other people think and listen. This hobby is so great, I can enjoy it even when I'm not listening to my gear!

Yup, when my state of mind, my (or another pesron's) gear, and the music meet and create "that feeling," it's bliss!

Thanks for reminding of that!

Quote:
Let's hear it then, what have you got?

What does it matter?

RG

Quote:

Quote:
Let's hear it then, what have you got?

What does it matter?

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I read about DBT's, neutrality and imageing and find myself wanting to argue my opinions to any one who will listen or even those who won't.

So,lets argue.

RG

5-3-06
O.K. guys if I gotta come up there and argue with you, I will!
I agree if we're all kids here who still claim to be adults, then an open admission should be stated as to what equipment you may be using. Now I must admit I sometimes feel a little intimated by others' systems out there, but its all relative to ones' budget,likes,dislikes, experience and knowledge. I have heard systems that most wouldn't believe what was being used, and with the 'correct' program material, and the listener's mood, the systems sounded great. Going back into the early 1970's at times it was the drugs and our 'head-spaces' that also added to how wonderful any given system would sound. But getting back to equipment listing, I love to brag to open ears as I am very proud of how long I held on to my equipment while most others were replacing their stuff with flavor of the month components.
I run vintage amps with vintage speakers and input components. Even as close as the early 90's, friends were making fun of my old AR's and Phase Linear amps. Well guess what,the system is still cranking out beautiful sounds that even now 35 or more years since I bought them(I've added stuff here and there), my listening guests are hard pressed to realize that what they're hearing is making such a big and realistic and great sound.
So go ahead, I wish some one would ask me what I'm driving, cause I have 'vintage' bragging rights and I even enjoy driving an old vintage American car too.
Respectfully, Frank Marsi

Hey Frank:

Glad you found us. I don't think anybody here would make fun of what you enjoy -- I think we're all in agreement that preference is just that: preference. It's when people start telling other people what they can and cannot hear (or listen to), that's when we turn fractuous.

As to cars, I've probably owned better cars, but my favorite car is still my first -- a '59 four-door robin's egg blue Studebaker Lark 259 in3 V8. I spent many afternoons trying to Turtle Wax it into a satin finish, but it steadfastly remained unshiny. Wish I still owned it.

I owned a PL 400 in teh early '80s. It was my second real high-end component.

So, what are you driving?

Hi, Frank -- welcome. Actually, I'll bet those AR's (3's?? 3A's?? 2's??) sound pretty good with Phase Linear amplification. As I recall, the Phase Linear had plenty of grunt for the ineffecient AR's, and their strong sense of an upper midrange would complement the somewhat laid back AR's. I always loved the way the AR3's and 3A's sounded with the massed strings in symphonic recordings. One of my closest friends still has a '62 Buick Roadmaster. Aptly named. It has a friendly list to starboard, but is not to be messed with. I love driving it here in Southern California, the home of the world's rudest drivers, because the 3 missing front teeth show a definite willingness to rumble, and your average Lexus WILL defer when push comes to shove. May all your tunes have lift, and all your arguments be friendly. Cheers, Clifton

If you can be content with what you have, have tweeked all you want, found the sound that makes you want to stay up and hear "one more song"...it does not matter what anyone else thinks.

Sonic bliss and contentment is generally what most of us want and the chance to hear some really great music. If you can't get away from the "what am I missing" merry-go-round, frustration will be your companion. Who needs it?

I have learned much coming here, and I have learned more by what other forum members are "listening to", as I am hoping to be more software driven in the balance of my life. So much music and so little time.

I am glad that RB has started a blog as I am looking forward to being pushed into new musical directions. Hopefully the age of software enlightenment is near. Many forum members have pushed me toward new discs that I would have never found on my own. I also have music I did buy years ago and I now ask myself: "What was I thinking"?

I hope you enjoy your time here. I think most of us do most of the time. There are members here that are lightyears ahead of me equipment wise, but they bring so much info and many have great writing talents to make what they bring very entertaining.

Welcome, Frank. I think you've come to the right place. Most of us, I suspect, had a pair of AR's (mine were 3a's) and, I suspect most of us envy you for having kept them. Mine went to an ungrateful kid.

I think, on the other hand, you'll find that someone in the group this forum brings together will have (or have had) any component you can think of, but except for answers to specific questions, equipment is secondary to the music and the nuttiness we share in our quest for the audio holy grail. Stick around, you're gonna like it.

You had a better Christmas tree experience than I did, Buddha. When my system consisted of and Empire turntable, Sherwood receiver, and Wharfedale speakers, we lived in a rented townhouse with a long, narrow living room. The speakers were on one short wall and they fired into some nice absorbtive furniture. The Christmas tree called for relocation of furniture, the result of which was a standing wave that literally lifted the arm off the record. Silent Night, indeed.

Still has a 62 Roadmaster eh, that's California for you. They rust out here in Illinois, but a friend of mine had a 60's vintage Roadmaster wagon well into the 90's. Hauled a drum kit around with it with no difficulty. I was always fascinated with the transmission - no discernable shift points - just vary the angle of the vanes and keep going faster.

We used to laugh at "detroit iron", but face it, the Detroit stuff of that era got no maintenance, started every time you turned the key, and was capable of going about 100mph shortly thereafter. Not sexy, but you have to respect that.

I apologize for my absence. If I started a small fire in a post here regarding vintage components and speakers, I

Your approach and feelings about your listening habits are not at all unusual. Most of my stuff comes under the vintage category. When I'm not being charitable it's just old. No matter, I like the way it sounds. I'm also in agreement about Kim or someone of that caliber.

I have loved this hobby since plonking a needle on a wind up gramphone 78 in the 60's as a child. That was my defining moment is discovering the beauty of recordedf music.