linden518
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Art Dudley's Writing
KBK
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I was going to start a thread on Art's column from this month, in the monthly rag area, specifically complimenting Art on his writing this month. Very well written. Note my siggy change..

rvance
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Hi sd, Self-awareness, self-revelation (and the fearlessness needed to overcome the possibility of ridicule), a good ear, and a sense of playfulness are all hallmarks of good writing. AD's example is emblematic of what sets Stereophile's writers apart from mainstream press. Likewise, your posts add insight and style to these forums.

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I couldn't agree more, selfdivider. Although AD's interests in equipment and sonic priorities are very different from mine I still read his columns simply because they are a joy to read. Many times I find great pearls of wisdom within his analogies. It is clear that he thinks deeply about our hobby and has great passion not only for the equipment but more importantly the music.

bertdw
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I always feel sorry for the people who complain about the prices of the equipment. Stereophile is so much more than a shopping list.

piinob
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My thoughts exactly. AD's writings are inspirational to me. I returned to Audio as a hobby about two years ago and as soon as I found AD's archives online I read them all. In fact it is his writing about it that convinced me to get "Vinyl" again. Most of the writers here are good, but he is the best insofar as enjoyable reading. Just my .02.

bifcake
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I agree. He's my favorite. He sounds like a really nice, intelligent, laid back, go with the flow type of a guy. Great writer. It kills me that he's got to play weddings to supplement his income. A talent such as his should be able to make a living with his writing.

dcstep
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Alex, get over that please, he plays wedding because he likes to, I'm willing to bet. I;ve played quite a few weddings myself and it's not because I need the money. As a part time player, it's one of the better ways to actually play for an appreciative audience.

Dave

CECE
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Playing weddings is NOT what a musican wants to do. Nope, at least the ones I know. Weddings are for DJ's, ya put your left foot in, ya put your right foot in Do the Hokey Pokey ain't what it's about in MUSIC!!!

bifcake
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If you read that column, you get a distinct impression that he plays weddings because he has to, not because he wants to. It's one thing to play one or two weddings a year and it's quite another to play one or two a weekend.

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Dr. Seuss made a living writing his dopey stuff. But then what does a horse thing have to do with things audio? It got me all confused, almost stopped reading and turn the page, didn't see any point. Did AD write "I had a dream....."?
Or 3 little PIGS? Nooooo.

vladoslav
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Quote:
I read it twice because it was just terrifically written.

I think the right word is humane. Therefore I can fully understand AD frustration stated in May issue.

Recently I read a report from Canadian HIFI show and I was petrified by the prices of speakers from newcomer "companies".
Eight thousand of whatevercurrency is asking a young guy whose name is unknown even for his next door neighbor, another one twentytwo thousand... somebody else a kbuck?

BTW: Any really GOOD recommendation for floorstanders at 3.000 EUR / 4.500 USD ?

vladoslav
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sorry KBK, should be RE to selfdivider

dcstep
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DUP, what do you play and how would you know? I'm talking about classy receptions with no turntable in sight and people actually dancing to the music.

Dave

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Quote:

BTW: Any really GOOD recommendation for floorstanders at 3.000 EUR / 4.500 USD ?

Magnepan 3.6R. Nothing even remotely touches it for the money.

dcstep
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Quote:

Quote:

BTW: Any really GOOD recommendation for floorstanders at 3.000 EUR / 4.500 USD ?

Except maybe a Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Grand or Baby Grand.

Dave

Magnepan 3.6R. Nothing even remotely touches it for the money.

CECE
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I'm talking bout the musicans I know, I didn't say I play anything. Musicans want to do shows where people come to see them, not be background at a wedding, which could be done by a DJ and a TT. weddings are not what musicans dream of....playing an event where the people are there cus' of the band is what most musicans want.....in local clubs the draw is the band to keep the people there. Weddings are using the band as background, the people are there for the wedding not the band. Which band claims to have made it, when they do wedding gigs? None that I am aware of. this is the same logic that claims 5" speaekrs are meant for full range hi fi......

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Sad narrow little world you live in, DUP.
..........................................

Back to the topic, Mr. Dudley is great fun and a wonderful writer.

Let him include an occasional bunny picture!

bertdw
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Quote:
BTW: Any really GOOD recommendation for floorstanders at 3.000 EUR / 4.500 USD ?

This just got a good review:
http://stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/408psb/

dbowker
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Give ProAc a listen- very musical and full range.

dcstep
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DUP, we know you're not a musician, yet here you go trying to speak for us and tell us what we like and don't like to do. Being able to project yourself into someone elses shoes and empathize is nice, but when you get it totally wrong it's pathetic.

You apparently haven't even been to very many weddings and/or wedding receptions. The music is a big part of each. Musicians like it when people enjoy their music and that can happen in both instances. In general, for instance, a bride isn't going to provide a ten-piece, funk/rock/soul band unless she wants her guests to boogy, and the usually do. The guests take their cues from the bride and often have a blast. Maybe you only know dull brides.

Anyway, I was just reading Art's review of some horn speaker and starts off talking about taking his daughter to riding lessons and how the horses got loose and he had to shovel a little manure. Should we feel sad for him because he shoveled a little sh*t?? I think not. He said it with good spirit. Also, how many poor working musicians take their daughters to riding lessons??? It's not exactly a hobby of the poor.

I think that we can assume that Mr. Dudley pretty well is doing what he does because he wants to.

Dave

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Quote:
It kills me that he's got to play weddings to supplement his income.


I finally picked up the February issue and read Mr. Dudley's column.

I am amazed that no one else corrected Alex's blatent (deliberate?) misread of the column.

Mr. Dudley specifically states: "I love weddings."

Nowhere is there any indication that he must play weddings to supplement his otherwise paltry I-am-otherwise-going-to-starve income.

Given his love of stringbands and Bluegrass, he clearly is a gigging musician that loves to play and and has a blast jamming.

Nothing sad, pathetic or unfortunate - just a guy enjoying making music.

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REAL MUSICANS don't play weddings!!! Then I don't know any accordian players or tumpet players. www.mattoree.com

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Quote:
sorry KBK, should be RE to selfdivider

Actually, it was quite funny.

It shoulda been in a movie, it could have given the audience a great laugh. We're one of those new companies who displayed at the Canadian show and have speakers which cost as much as the average new car.

And...Cables you have to bury in your yard, instead of using them as they cost so damn much the wife is going to kill you if she ever sees them... or sees them on that brand new credit card you secretly got and maxed out-just to buy them. The hint, if she's paying attention is that you volunteer to get the mail for the next few months, until you figure out you can switch to seeing the CC invoices only on line..which you do - only at work.

She begins to think you have a mistress..but you're just rubbing and fondling your cables. You just feel a bit guilty...is all.

I know it made me laugh. The whole thing was accidental and that's what makes it even funnier...

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Quote:
REAL MUSICANS don't play weddings!!! Then I don't know any accordian players or tumpet players. www.mattoree.com

DUP, is it impossible for you to carry on a conversation?

Dave

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AD has a stated preference for Shindo componants. You don't buy those because you are struggling along playing Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and Potty Trainings to get by. His Pre amp cost as much as my whole system. I was wondering if anyone else would notice that.

bifcake
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Reviewers don't pay retail for components. They get the "special industry accommodation price". Figure he paid about half for his components.

KBK
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Quote:
AD has a stated preference for Shindo componants. You don't buy those because you are struggling along playing Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and Potty Trainings to get by. His Pre amp cost as much as my whole system. I was wondering if anyone else would notice that.

When I was poor, my power amp cost as much as 4 months of my cash. Heck, more than that. I found a way to drum up the extra cash. I didn't care if I had to run around in dirty underwear-but my tunes?-they was rockin! Heck the tonearm I bought at the time was the same. Where there's a will, there's a way. I ate my macaroni and cheese and happily lisetend to my shiny new-to-me used records. Some of us are crazy like that.

It comes down to 'happy with my immediate meal'...or 'happy for years as I bought the really great record'. The record wins-no contest.

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Hi, all. I'm new here (just had to get in on this one) - and DUP your reputation is amazing. Regarding playing weddings; my wife (I'll admit some bias) is a REAL musician who plays weddings. Face it, unless you're at the very top, the pay isn't great. Even with teaching, weddings and such are good extra income. They are fun and she gets to hear comments like "how did you ever get a quartet of this caliber to play at your wedding??". 'nuff said for now...

CECE
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Don't be buying expensive audio if you can't afford clean underwear....that's JUST WRONG.!!!! I also recall a column by MF, that he has apartement neighbors that complained about something he was playing to loud or something, yet he owns a $100,000 turntable? If in fact he lives in an apt, and spends money on TT's like that, he is misguided.....and how could you take anything he says, or claims for real? If he put teh $100K into a house, he'd be able to crank it, and listen. I don't think he really lives in an apt, and buys $100K TT's and expensive speakers, don't he have Wilsons, all this in an apt? I thinks he ain't talkin' the truth. How do you lug Wilsons into an apt? Clean underwear FIRST. Expensive tone arms later. If you think the otehr way round, seriously wrong....

dcstep
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Welcome to the Stereophile Forums Mr. Reality. You are an adventurist for sure, addressing your first post to our Mr. DUP. We'd love to have you join in some of the adult conversations elsewhere in this site.

Ciao,

Dave

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DUP,

If memory serves, MF lives in an apt in the city. As far as his 100k tt, given that he gets the "special industry accommodation pricing", it probably cost around 50k if not less. Furthermore, given all the hobnobbing he does with the manufacturers, I wouldn't be surprised if he worked some kind of a payment plan on that TT. Something like $15/month for the next 100 years.

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Quote:
If memory serves, MF lives in an apt in the city.

Michael Fremer lives in a house in the suburbs.

CECE
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Hmm, I will have to go search the review where MF mentions appt neighbors.....hmmmm. DUP SLUETH....I know he mentioned being in an apt. cus of neighbors complaining, as i recall mentioning in a post about living in an apt and having $100K TT. it didn't seem logical...have i uncovered a misdirection of truth in reviews...are reviews just prose of happenstance. The only thing real in a review is teh measuremtns which can't be muddled in useless prose and side artifacts, like how the AD horse crap picking up relates to audio equipment. Artistic license, or just story telling when it should be facts and issues of the equipment

CECE
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And The Black Keys CD's have arrived, I will listen later, my observations to follow.

vladoslav
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And...Cables you have to bury in your yard...

Hi KBK,
I

Editor
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Quote:
Hmm, I will have to go search the review where MF mentions appt neighbors...

I think you are confusing Michael Fremer with Wes Phillips or Kal Rubinson, both of whom live in an apartment.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

CECE
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Well I have now managed a listen to the new Black Keys Cd and the Elvis Costello LP MOMOFUKU Both are a BIG disapointment,and i paid for this junk.... no energy, emotionless, nothing going on.... Big 0 from me. Elvis Costello's LP is a blur of nothing, Blck Keys is also a lifless, confused, no energy blorefest, nothing going on Both albums get a BIG AVOID like expensive wires. And I have several of EC stuff, some are great....best one is his first....he went off into tangents of blur. Blakc Keys are emotionless, boring lifeless zeros. And the one guy looks like the Geico caveman Ya want some guitar playing with some energy, this guys smokes em all. http://www.rockeyez.com/reviews/cd/matt-oree/rev-matt.html

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