Kudos should go out to Fremer on defending audiophiles as music lovers first & foremost. He's right; Teachout's dismissal of him seemed almost purely based on Fremer's being an "audiophile." I'm a newbie to the hi-fi world, so I was surprised that the term "audiophile" had a negative connotation. Here's something to consider, though, for a more balanced look at the situation. Such a negative connotation on the word "audiophile," and the reductive binary of "audiophile" vs "music lover" stem also from within the hi-fi community as well.

...about the ways I listen to music, and how those ways have changed.

I don't recall the last time I've put on a CD or LP, then actively listened without doing something else. I used to do that all the time. I need to to do it again.

I do listen to music while I'm using the PC, or as background to doing other things, or in the car. I often stop what I'm doing and attend to the music in that situation (I had to pull the car off to the side of the road the first time I heard Tom Russell!).

Dudes, i bought AudioEngine2's for my computer and the Echo Mia soundcard. I installed the soundcard and could not hook up the speakers. The sound card doesnt have RCA or Mini-jack plugins. It has four inputs/outputs that i cant figure out what they are and an s/pdif plugs. The AE's only have minijack and RCA options.

This is my Review

Demo Started at 11:10 am in Yaramana Showroom and Finished at 8 pm. Nine hour Continous Listening Session helped me to write about sound of system. I was familiar with sound of Wilson loudspeakers and Krell amplifiers like Sophia, System 7, MAXX, FPB 750MCX ,

Well it all started with my wife getting all of her dad's old records as well as his TT but the TT didn't make it from storage (Technics SL-B2). So I started scouring around the forums trying to put together a nice budget setup. At first I wanted new gear but was recommended to search the used market as gems could be found.

So low and behold upon searching craigslist one day I came upon a man selling a lot of his gear so I called him up. Well needless to say I pretty much scored the deal of the century with the following:

Tricycles (2004) is by far my favorite Larry Coryell album yet and it has great sound to boot!

I discovered this gem last year. I think it is a must have for jazz guitar fans. Metheny sidemen Wertico and Egan are spectacular, of course.

I was recently at my dealer and when I asked about some of the new dCS gear in the high-end room I was told, jokingly, "Don't go in there!"

I only listened to it for a few minutes. I believe it was the new Paganini Transport and DAC through a massive Boulder amplifier, $20k Transparent speaker cables and a pair of Magnepan MG 20.1s. I can't seem to warm up to anything until I get it home in a room I am framiliar with, however.

Has anyone spent any time with the new line? It is supposed to be a lot better than the Elgar generation gear.

While I being a technical type as is J.A. I realize the fact that the mainstream media industry is a profit marketing based business. Their writers just repeat the marketing hype ad speak provided by their advertisers.
The mainstream media writers have no technical background or even basic writing skills.

Hi,

I don't know if anybody out there uses the Airport Express much? I just read John Atkinson's review of it, and I have some questions, particularly if you don't have a thousands-of-dollars DAC...

Just bought a used Airport Express, and I'm not crazy about the *analogue* sound. I don't really understand all the technical audiophile stuff, but I do know the sound isn't as crisp, clear and resonant as I'd like. I have a Tivoli Radio Two - I love the sound, but it doesn't have a digital in, Toslink or anything like that.

Starting in August of '07 I began a major upgrade of my system, adding the Vienna Acoustic Baby Grand speakers and a Pro-ject RM10 turntable in quick order with dramatic results. Next came a Conrad Johnson CA200 control amplifier (see review) and, most importantly a Sumiko Master Set placement of my speakers (see review).