DrJ

I'm still in shock reading Guy's comment about the first half of PHYSICAL GRAFFITI being great and the 2nd half sucking...I think it's Zep's best record overall and sides 3 and 4 were always my favorites precisely because they are less over-exposed on radio and push the envelope a bit. Plus hey - if you want proto-Zep hard stuff, uh, "The Wanton Song" may be IT and it's on side 4... Off point a bit, but: my favorite ever "quote about Zeppelin" came from REM's guitarist Peter Buck, who said (paraphrasing here) that he loved the LP PRESENCE (which I do too - even with Plant's shot vocal chords and all) because "the guitars all sound like they're made of metal."

Well you're entitled to your opinions jazzhound, but they are just that - opinions, not absolute truth. I'm puzzled in that you're arguing both sides of the argument - first saying "what sounds musical is distortion" but then claiming that as distortion is removed things sound more real/musical. So which is your real opinion? (seems like the latter but...). My only point was that I don't think it's SIMPLY or exclusively a matter of distortion that makes tubes sound so nice, but I do acknowledge it may be one factor - and my point was, so the f**k what? It's a really uninteresting argument to me, as I'm not into "specs," but just to address your point further: Many people would disagree with you about things sounding more musical the more distortion is removed. For example, Steve Hoffman, whose ears I honestly trust quite a bit more than yours (or mine), and a huge proponent of quality tubes - not just for listening but for cutting records and discs as well. All I can tell you is his DCC LPs and CDs sound better than any series of recordings I've ever encountered. The magic of tubes. The whole deal with tubes (or for me in particular, the single-ended triode tube) is that whatever distortion is being introduced and whatever else makes them sound so nice makes for a particularly magical, musical sound. While it's particularly amazing in the midrange (typical vocals for example), I don't think the sound suffers at any part of the spectrum assuming you have a good system. And I think the Audio Note Meishu amp I have qualifies as a true gem. I'm not saying that a real good solid state system won't sound highly pleasing to the ear. But personally I haven't heard one yet that can match a well-balanced, quality SET tube system for that magic in the mid to mid-high range and in the mid-bass range (string bass just sounds so much more natural and real on tubes!) which for me is where most of the musical action is. I can live without ultra-clean repro of the ultra-highs and lows. Most solid state systems sound artificial in those realm to my ears even when they arguably reproduce the sounds more "clearly" (bloated bass and harsh glaring highs that call attention to themselves rather than the overall musical performance - who needs 'em?) - which ought to get you thinking about whether these are "critical" to the musical listening experience in the first place. I don't disagree with the idea that the front end is critically, critically important - and in fact I've got both of mine up to where I'm extremely happy with them now (Nottingham Spacedeck table/tone arm with Sumiko Blackbird cart for analog; Audio Note 2.1 signature DAC/Audio Note CD zero transport). No question I heard an amazing difference going from a Technics SL1200mk2 table/Ortofon cart to the Nottingham/Sumiko pairing. But even given that I still prefer the sound of CDs and records played on a SET tube system. Last of all you do have to do some heavy listening work up front to get a nice speaker/amp pairing with SET tubes in particular. Zingali Overture .2s speakers were my choice. With my amp, heavenly. If you listen to SET tube systems where the speakers can't handle the low output or are otherwise inferior, well, you're definitely not giving a real listening to tubes.

Yeah, that Tina Brooks Mosaic auction wolff mentions has me shaking my head too - what is UP??? Well, the price of the SET for one thing...now approaching $400 and the damn auction still has a LOOONG way to go... BTW - that Brooks Mosaic that ended at $61 wolff mentions, I screwed up bad on - had it in the crosshairs but miscalculated when I needed to be back at the computer and missed out on bidding by 2 minutes! I think I coulda got it for $80 or less...oh well! A Hodges Mosaic LP set is on the way!

Highly unlikely to be the tubes at fault here, as indicated by several folks. Note to jazzhound: I have no problem with the idea of tubes introducing some pleasing, musical distortion. I really doubt very much that that's what makes my ears enjoy tube amplification, but if it does, GREAT - argument over, come up with another one solid state fans! What a silly way of trying to debunk a technology...sniping about "distortion" when it's all about what sounds musical, right?

Jeez, sorry for the delay in replying, I've been busy as I guess you can tell...yes, it is a constantly running motor. I've had the table now for about 2 weeks and it's amazing. Highly, highly recommended.

Hey I didn't know about this one, thanks for the tip Jim! A while back I posted my raves about another excellent project on the IPO label with many of the same players: With Malice Toward None: The Music of Tom McIntosh That was one of my favorite "new music" purchases of the past year. Great music, excellent "natural" sound quality (not overly glossed). Sounds like this one's in the same class. And Thad Jones tunes! Yessss!

Yeah clandy, I know what you mean - but no worries, I'm a pretty disciplined buyer. Bidding that high was never remotely a possibility. In fact, the minute I saw that first $500 bid come in, my hand FLEW as far from the "enter" key as possible, for fear the seizure it induced might inadvertently lead to a bid! Seriously, I am very patient with eBay buying. My observation is as you say - if you wait you'll eventually almost always get a decent price even on fairly rare/obscure stuff. On that note, I was really fortunate to get a copy of the Plugged Nickel Mosaic Q LP set for a fair price not long ago, and I have to say that one absolutely torches the CD set - which while detailed and good sounding has an unpleasant harshness to the high end on prolonged listening. Not so for the LPs. Heaven. A Davis/Evans LP box WILL eventually be mine - but not for $500!!!

Hey, don't forget the stuff he did on Discovery, I think mostly or all reissued on Savoy. I have a nice 2 CD set of stuff from those sessions put out in Japan called COMPLETE SURF RIDE SESSIONS: Complete Surf Ride Lots of alternate takes, which may or may not float your boat, but to me when you have an improviser like Pepper they're well worth it. Worth tracking down. I waver back and forth about whether I prefer earlier or later period Pepper, but lately the answer has been "earlier."

Wow - what a wonderful unexpected windfall this would be. Agree- deluxe box, pull out the stops. Wonder what sound quality will be like?

OK I probably should have put this under the "eBay craziness" thread but just had to single it out: Davis/Evans LP Mosaic set I was going to bid and was willing to overpay just a little bit for this - since I have the CD set and could sell it to make up the difference - but HOLY COW - $500+??? I was about to put in my "measly" bid when I refreshed and saw the $500 figure and just about fainted (for one brief panicked moment, I thought I had put that in by mistake!!!). In looking at some online auction result listings I've never seen it go for more than about $300. Am I out to lunch or is this selling price way higher than usual?

Weighing in late. Schaap may be an idiot, don't really know anything about him personally, but as far as his version of the Carnegie Hall stuff - I like it a lot, and disliked the earlier CD - flat as a pancake. Guess my ears are screwed.

I got mine yesterday. Other than lousing packing (the back half of the box got bent, but they are sending a replacement so no big deal) it looks great. Definitely legit. What a deal (oh and I had a birthday gift card so I paid a grand total of $30!!!).

Glad you found NOW'S THE TIME David, it's a good one. Sonics aren't too bad either, but having A/B'd that disc with the tracks also on the new Japanese CROSS SECTION SAXES CD, this is one case where I do prefer the import (and usually I feel Japanese CDs are seriously over-valued and U.S. versions seriously under-valued around here). Not a huge difference, but much warmer and natural sounding, less harsh on the high end.

If you're in the market for a great little phono stage, or a "built like a rock" and good-sounding 6 CD changer, or a sweet little 10 band graphic EQ, check these eBay listings out: Onkyo DX-C380 6 CD changer Music Hall phono pack AudioSource EQ 100 10 band graphic equalizer

Now listed on eBay with a seriously low initial bid and NO RESERVE! eBay listing

Now listed on eBay, with a seriously low initial bid and NO RESERVE! eBay listing

I enjoy and admire the Byrd/Adams stuff and I'm glad it's in my collection, but it really doesn't resonate that deeply with me. I find this true of most of Byrd's music for the label, with a few notable exceptions. His electric stuff (pre-Mizell bros, that stuff is just plain hideous) - KOFI, FANCY FREE, ELECTRIC BYRD - I find has more staying power and depth. Funny, Clunky mentions Blue Mitchell's BNs in the same type of "throwaway" category but that stuff really resonates with me and I would rate it much more highly overall.

Well, another LP set I'm going to have to chase down...and really nice when the vinyl has extras the CD doesn't (as opposed to the usual other way around!).

I hear you Quincy. Of all TTs I've seen though the Spacedeck seems likely to be relatively kid-proof. It is built like a tank. More importantly, I also have a dedicated listening room. Our little guy is really good anyway; typically he won't touch stuff if we tell him no (well, not TOO much anyway!), and he doesn't go in there without me in tow. We do some father/son listening in there every once in a while - but at 20 months it only lasts about 5 minutes before he's bored and ready to move on. To keep his attention any longer I'd have to seek out the 180 g virgin vinyl pressings of all the Wiggles' recordings.

Sounds like some nice stuff, wolff! Well I've been on a vinyl buying bonanza...I'm hooked, completely. Getting hard to listen to CDs even with my very good digital front end, a sure sign I'm a goner. That and the fact that I just upgraded from a Technics SL1200mk2 w/Ortofon cart to a Nottingham Spacedeck with Sumiko Blackbird cart!!! So favorite recent vinyl purchase? There's been a few. Been spending time filling in my classic pop/rock collection and chasing down some of those classics. WHO BY NUMBERS - an Italian RCA pressing (??? you say - but it's on very heavy vinyl and I kid you not one of the best sounding LPs in my collection) Beatles - Whole bunch of stuff, revisiting my childhood. Various early UK Parlophone pressings (mono REVOLVER and RUBBER SOUL and PEPPER), a couple German pressings that are to die for (DIE BEATLES, a -2 matrix number pressing - this is the German version of PLEASE PLEASE ME but with much drier and better sounding mix than even the UK original pressing - and the true stereo German MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR which is stunning). Also some Japanese Odeon red wax mono pressings from the 1980s - these were cut from the same stampers as the UK mono originals and you get the whisper quiet Aurex red vinyl. And the Toshiba Japan Pro-Use half-speed master of ABBEY ROAD which is to die for. ...and the Beach Boys - PET SOUNDS DCC 180 g vinyl is in the mail!!! For jazz, been obsessed with the Miles - COMPLETE PLUGGED NICKEL Mosaic QLP set. It's hard to believe how badly this one smokes the CD set.

Thanks to all for the input and suggestions, sorry I'm so late in responding. Well, after much deliberation and shopping and listening, I went for: Nottingham Spacedeck Sumiko Blackbird MC cartridge This pairing is a match made in heaven. The Spacedeck has incredible mass and that transmits weight and depth to everything. The Blackbird has clarity and transparency and just a bit of brightness at the edge that offsets what I think would otherwise be a tendency for the Spacedeck to darken the sound a tad. The pairing also sounds fantastic with my Audio Note Meishu single-ended triode tube amp (the dealer carries Audio Note gear and my Zingali .2s speakers, so I got to listen to it on basically the same system I have at home). I absolutely LOVE the Spacececk - built like a tank and the model of simplicity...no knobs even, just give the platter a spin to get it up to speed and manually stop it as well. Both are on order and hopefully here within the week! Unlike many with higher end systems, I am just not a tweaker. So with this, I'm hopefully done with my audio hardware for a long, long, long time.

For my money, Miles' best studio record ever, in hi res audio format This is the Columbia non-hybrid SACD; will NOT play on a standard CD player but sounds fantastic on SACD players. Near mint condition (opened and played only a couple times). Price: $12 plus shipping ($4 Priority Mail in US, will negotiate on shipping with buyers outside US)

The following are available at listed prices. Shipping $4 Priority Mail within U.S. Non-U.S. purchasers, I will negotiate on shipping method/costs. All items are in near mint condition (packaging and discs) except where noted. All of the Japanese CD titles have their original inserts but NO OBIs. Tal Farlow titles: A RECITAL BY TAL FARLOW (Japanese reissue LP MV 2586 Polydor Japan). I bought this used, no OBI (not sure if it ever had one), but does have the one-page original insert. Sleeve is VG+ (shelf wear only, no tears etc), vinyl is really clean to visual inspection but plays only at VG, with some noticeable but not overpowering surface noise in low volume passages. I'm a very tough grader, this is by the Goldmine classification. $10 TAL (Japanese 24 bit mini-LP edition). NO OBI but has folded insert. $15 THE INTERPRETATIONS OF TAL FARLOW (Japanese 24 bit jewel case format). $15 THE TAL FARLOW ALBUM (Japanese 24 bit jewel case format). $15 AUTUMN IN NEW YORK (Japanese 24 bit jewel case format). $15 THE SWINGING GUITAR OF TAL FARLOW (U.S. digipack). $5 Then two non-Farlow "wild cards": Jack Wilson - EASTERLY WINDS (1997 Japanese TOCJ 20 bit version). $15, a great bargain for all you fans of the BN TOCJ series! Red Rodney - 1957 (Classic Records 24 bit/96 khZ DAD - plays on DVD or DVD-A compatible players, NOT on regular CD players). Outstanding sound quality and generally quite pricey. $15, a sweet deal.

Item is SOLD!

Jim, that's not even REMOTELY funny (get it? REMOTELY?)...