Newbie Preamp help needed please

Hi everyone. My name is Jeff, and I'm have a couple of questions I hope someone experienced can help me with.

I've been listening to and buying vinyl for about a year. My GF has a Panasonic "component" stereo that's probably from the late 80s early 90s, that has a twin tape deck, receiver, and a TT built in on top. It's pretty sufficient. But I learned that once the needle goes that's it. You can't replace it or the cartridge apparently. SO...

Whats the deal with Mastering

my band is about to get our record mastered.

i want the record to have the full rich sound it deserves, and only with the level of compression necessary (or if necessary at all.

what can yall tell me about mastering? tell me anything and everything. trends. techniques. gear. your favorite masterers. why? any references for a guy who can master a fantastic rock record? what makes a good master. a bad master.

i just got back a mastered sample of one of our songs, and it sounded horrible compared to the original pre-master, but i know it doesn't have to be this way.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today

Oh, crap. This is good. Recently signed to <a href="http://www.4ad.com/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti/">4AD</a&gt;, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti are poised to release <i>Before Today</i>, their first full-length album for the acclaimed indie label, on June 8th. Whee!

JA's "As We See It"; "90% of music is crap"

I generally agree with and like and enjoy your writing JA (apologies in advance for addressing you directly). But besides being a bit self congratulatory and rambling and unfocused, your commment that "90% of music is crap" doesn't sit well with me at all. Let me tell you a couple of short stories. A few weeks back a buddy of mine and I drove from my hometown of Columbus OH to Newport KY to see Alejandro Escovedo.

Damien Jurado: Saint Bartlett

Damien Jurado: Saint Bartlett

I’ve been infatuated with Damien Jurado’s new album, <i>Saint Bartlett</i>, due to be released on May 25th from <a href="http://www.secretlycanadian.com/onesheet.php?cat=SC192">Secretly Canadian</a>. Its twelve songs take us on an emotionally powerful trip, from the drunken sway of “Arkansas” to the jaunty swagger of “Wallingford” to the heavyhearted confessions of “Kansas City.” Altogether, <i>Saint Bartlett</i> is deep and beautiful and addictive.

Too much civility ?

Has anyone noticed an alarming lack of hostility at the open bar ?

Was it Mother's Day ?
Or, as I suspect, has StereoPhile finally found a way to medicate our water supply ?

I was playing a Phile CD in reverse (hard to do when streaming) and heard the message "renew, renew, renew"

Most alarming is that Lamont hasn't called anyone a dumbass in far too long.

Upgrading media players

Having an older Denon 2930CI and an inexpensive Pana Blue Ray player, I am looking to consolidate to one universal player that provides audio quality better than my 4 year old Denon and provides me an excellent Blu image on my Sony Bravia HDTV.

Read fairly good reviews regarding the Oppo 83SE and have also spoke to a salesman regarding the upcoming Denon 2011.

The basic question I have is whether the universal player is a good audio/video solution or a compromise over discrete components when used with my existing Rotel 1560 AVR and Paradigm Studio 60/CC590 v5 speakers.

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