MP3's originated as a way to transmit and store compressed files when transmission bandwidth and storage were both expensive. The compromise in sound was well known, but was determined by many to be a reasonable tradeoff.

Now that bandwidth and storage are no longer an issue, will uncompressed sound files make a resurgence? Everyone for whom I have demonstrated the difference can readily hear the better sound and prefers it. The only objection to listening to full resolution files is that they have already ripped and tagged their music and don't want to do it again.

John Atkinson and Micheal Fremer were among listeners that sucessfully identified expensive speaker wire in a blind comparison at the just concluded T.H.E. show.

Good job!

I'm looking to buy my first turntable and am wondering what anyone thinks of the eBay options below. I'm certainly open to other suggestions. I have a Onkyo receiver with a phono input and mordaunt short avant loudspeakers. Bottom line, I'm on a tight budget (<$200)...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...cTODAY.m238.lVI

or

just curious, what regions y'all are from? Don't want addresses, just general. I'm Metro DC/Northern Virgina, USA.

How things can change whenever you expand your budget & audition really good stuff. Revising my earlier post, here is what I am currently looking at:

Paradigm Signature S8 speakers
Audio Research SP16L preamp
Bryston 3B SST power amp
Cambridge Audio 840c CDP.

Your thoughts? (Other than I might be eating Top Ramen for the next decade).

Hello, I would like to enrich my home audio experience.
Currently I am running:
Harmon Kardon AVR 130 receiver,
Harmon Kardon DVD 22 dvd (cd player) for analog signal,
Xbox 360 for digital signal,
Polk Audio R30's for left and right fronts,
Bose Accoustimas II for center, rr, rl, and passive sub,
Monster Cable connecting everything except the XBox 360.

When listening to cd's I switch the reciever to stereo mode, and this is where I crave more. I am wanting a better music experience as opposed to home theater.

My living room measures:

Alright, so I was just watching The Price is Right (what else is there to do on a weekday morning?).

A USB turntable comes up, and Drew says "They still have music on vinyl? I can't believe it." He flips the price and says "$150 for this antique." So. Not. Amused.

I never thought Carey was funny before, but now I know he's a true hack. What a joke! Sorry, I just had to come here and vent to people who understand me.

Bob, thank you for your letter published on p. 13-15, a brilliant reply to "dirty sand" essay.

John Atkinson, thank you for introducing the new measurements with AP SYS2722, very suitable for contemporary high resolution systems.

I've had the same speakers for 18 years! Same turntable about 15 yrs (yes, have changed cartridges on it whenever needed). Same CD player 12 years. (newer DVD player tho, w/ SACD)(and have new CD Recorder). Same amp 10 years at least. Changed my preamp 5-6 years ago when the old one broke.
Somewhat newer gear on my secondary system.