Since I replaced my crappy standard phono cable with a high end Audio Note phono cable, I have been plagued with severe contact noise. Every time I, or someone else in the building turned a switch on or off, I heard a loud POP in my speakers. Nothing I need to experience at all.

I was going to go see him play with Karla Bonoff next week and found out he died August 18.

Crap.

He played on some fine tracks.

For me, it was at my friend Kevin's apartment. He had worked at a hifi store during the summers, and had built up a nice system. The turntable was a Linn, it was about 1980, but I am not sure of the details. I also recall that he had some big EPI speakers with large passive radiators to go with the woofers.

RE: Current Stereophile Poll -- What is the least amount you have spent on an audio component that produced music that made you happy?

1. Radio Shack Optimus CD-3400 Portable CD Player, $129.95 on sale at Radio Shack early 90s.

2. Rogers LS3/5A new in box $600 in early 80s.

3. Fisher 500 C receiver with original Telefunken tubes $1 yard sale. Upgraded to stiffer power supply and aircraft quality Bendix output tubes for $600 in 1995.

..into my cremation album, Dead and Monkey Gone To Heaven from Doolittle would have to be two of the tracks.

What about yours?

damn......just, damn.

http://www.higherfi.com/amplist/amplist.htm

Mark

A friend who owns a music business retailing musical instruments, mixers, etc and who rents & installs gear at concert venues thinks all audiophile tweaks are a form of insanity. He's sent me a cutting from March 2010 Hi-Fi news (www.hifinews.co.uk) which I've copied here as I think it sheds some light on a topic that's puzzled a lot of us for some time.
So, hoping I'm not breaking copyright law, I'll past the whole thing here for comment.
The Mains Chance

You like Huey Lewis and the News ? They're early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism... that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '87, Huey released this -- Fore, their most accomplished album.