http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/01/youre-idiot-of-33rd-degree.html

J. H. Todd
1212 Webster St.
San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Sir,

I was listening to some Los Lonely Boys last night, loving the guitar work and the harmony, when I noticed the drums. They sounded a lot like drums. Not in terms of slam or volume, I only have bookshelf speakers and have not yet replaced my subwoofer!

They sounded like drums in terms of space and scale. This was weird as they were panned fully across the soundstage. But then I realized that my speakers are placed about 7 feet apart while I sit 9 feet from them. My former set up had them 13 feet apart while I sat 9 feet away.

Some of the things I've always loved when listening to great audio, is the way instruments and voices just hover in the listening room, the way the treble works as a natural extension to the midtones, and not plays all the time no matter if it should or not. The way the bass plays different notes that are fast and easily recognizable, and starts and stops immediately when needed. The way the drums, cymbals and hi-hats are clearly "visible" in the soundstage, the recording rooms borders.

Quote:

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The financial reform bill expected to clear Congress this week is chock-full of provisions that have little to do with the financial crisis but cater to the long-standing agendas of labor unions and other Democratic interest groups.

Principal among them is a measure to make it easier for unions, environmental groups and other activist organizations that hold shares to put their representatives on the boards of directors of every corporation in the United States.

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Sad news. One of the modern greats is gone:

News link

So I'm watching "Covert Affairs" (pilot show on USA Network) and I see a character (CIA operative) sporting a pair of Grado wood bodies. Cool, I think.

But then the lead (Piper Perabo) asks him what the phones are for and HE SAYS OUT LOUD! "Oh, Grado RS2's. Great for monitoring operations...and listening to Mingus when I'm supposed to be working."

How often does hi fi AND jazz get a plug on a tv show???

Can anyone familiar with the Cambridge Audio Azur 640P phonostage let me know if this unit is good enough for a newcomer to vinyl? I am just getting into vinyl and don't want to spend much on a phono stage in case I don't care for it. On the other hand I need to get a unit good enough to let me hear the wonders of vinyl to see if this is for me.
I don't want to spend more than $200.