riverrat

pm coming *EDIT* false alarm, thought J&R still had this, got a copy there recently but they are now out of this title..

No, it hasn't. I wish this was true, but it simply isn't. Please note that I am not saying that uber-expensive (or even sort of expensive) cables are worth paying for. Certainly, if you don't think they make any difference at all, you can save yourself considerable $$. Again, I am much more skeptical about the whole cable thing than the vast majority of audio enthusiasts. I've personally never spent more than about $30 on a set. There are those (probably like you) who think even this is ridiculously expensive, then there are those who say that the "low end" in cables goes up to about $250 or even considerably more. I am sure that certain people have not been able to detect differences in certain systems in certain double blind tests. But it does not follow from this that cables never make an audible difference in any system, ever. See what I mean about this being controversial?

This is a controversial topic, with some saying vehemently that there is no way interconnect cables can affect sound because all they are doing is transferring electrical current. The other side says just as strongly that cables can and do affect sound, all you have to do is listen closely to prove this to yourself. My system is mid-fi at best. By nature I'm a skeptic about this cable thing. And it seems clear that even if you aren't skeptical, this is an area of audio that is rife with snake oil products and extremely expensive bullshit. But I have to say that some interconnect cables do sound different in my system. The biggest difference I've noticed was with a set of cables with silver wire, which were purported to emphasize highs more than copper, and in fact did. I still don't spend a lot on cables, most of what I have are some nicely made but still inexpensive ones from MCM. (It looks like they may be out of 36" ones though.) Also, knukonceptz makes some nice, inexpensive interconnects. I also have a few sets of pricier ones that I buy opportunistically when I see them for sale used, e.g. Audioquest King Cobra, Kimber PB&J, which I got for a fraction of retail. You also should check out Blue Jeans Cables. They make very nice ones for a reasonable price. In short, I think the better your ears and the higher end your system is, the more chance there is that interconnects will make a difference. Since I'm at the lower end of the foodchain on both counts, I don't spend much on cables. But I do think that moving away from the absolute bottom of the line makes sense.

If you really need another thumbs up on Art Blakey!! Jazz Messengers!! I'll add mine, it is a great set, the equal of many of his BN dates IMO. And I will 2nd the Amazon reviewer who cited A La Mode as the standout track.

PM coming..

Arrived today, fast shipping and exactly as described, thanks!

PM coming on: Herbie Nichols- Gloom, cash love (still sealed) and Harold Mabern Trio- Straight Street

I love "vintage" audio gear. As some folks here may already know, the audiokarma website is focused primarily on vintage audio. There's a dedicated Marantz forum there, and at least one tech who specializes in recapping/refurbishing that brand. The 2230 is regarded as a particularly nice sounding model, even though it was relatively low in the line. Quite a few people say it sounds better than many of the higher powered models. A nice example of Chuck's 2325 can bring many $100's of dollars, not that he would want to sell it. They are "collectible" and only going up in value. A restored one in great shape with the wood case sold on eBay recently for $1375! I have a Marantz Model 20 tuner- their first solid state tuner- that I like a lot. I had the burned out bulbs replaced with blue LEDs that look great, along with a few caps replaced and an alignment. I could really use the cash and don't listen to radio that much but I can't bring myself to get rid of it...

My hunch is that their choices reflect business decisions more than personal preferences. They probably chose an array that would have relatively broad appeal, especially for the first few batches. Maybe they will feel more confident about throwing in some less mainstream titles in the future if the series does well. At least one Wayne Shorter title would please me greatly, starting with, say Night Dreamer...

To what has been offered so far I would add and comment: 1. Yes, if you have a large CD collection, it is a huge time sink to rip all of them. But you only have to do it once. 2. Because of the time involved with ripping and the availability of huge, cheap hard drives, it is pointless to use a lossy file format (e.g. MP3). 3. If you take this step, back up your work. Then back it up again, so you have three copies. Update the backups periodically. Backup, backup, backup! 4. This is still a rapidly moving area of technology and options for file serving and playback. I can envision many different types of solutions that have not been offered yet, e.g. one box with bays for hot swappable hard drives, a built in modular DAC that can be upgraded or swapped with other ones (ala tube rolling) with a separate touch screen for selecting music, viewing album art, and controlling the media player. Oh and with a great remote as well. 5. I use open source for ripping (Exact Audio Copy), storing (FLAC) and playback (Foobar2000). I use a cheap used DAC and a cheap laptop to interface with my vintage audio gear. 6. Music playback from digital files is clearly the wave of the future, but I do agree that something is lost as we let go of physical media (CDs)...

Are you looking to buy or sell? *EDIT* I see you said this in your subject line. Do you live in a large metropolitan area or a small outpost? If you live in a larger city, a lot of good stuff can pop up on CL, and you have the benefit of checking it out in person before buying, and avoiding the cost and risk of shipment. Sellers obviously vary widely but it is usually relatively easy to determine if they are informed about what they are selling, or they are just flipping a yard sale find. If you are a seller and want to use CL, you may want to have buyers meet you at some agreed upon location other than your home, just in case. Most audio buyers are probably OK folk but once in awhile you hear about problems arising from buyers finding out where you live. Audigon has a huge array of quality gear, and has the benefit of the feedback system. You are probably less likely to find any smokin deals on audiogon, sellers are generally knowledgeable about what they have and current values. There seems to be a near-universal attitude there that the buyer is responsible for paypal fees.

Slade sets are still available..

PM sent with question RE the Slade sets..

This is still available. My mistake, and apologies to LWayne. OK we got payment details worked out and I am still in for this one. Payment sent, unless someone else beat me to it while I was dithering...

This is still available. My mistake, and apologies to LWayne.

pm re Hank Mobley TOCJ-1568 (no OBI)

IMO that one is the best of the three similarly named releases in the series. But the other two are worth hearing, for sure.

Thanks to all!

I have not heard this session in several years, but recall really liking it. My early 90's McMaster versions were lost in a theft years ago, and I would like to re-acquire this music. I know that as a performance, this recording is pretty essential. Sonically it is reputed to be good but not great, unsurprising for a live recording from 1957. I am wondering if the BN Works a.k.a. "TOCJ" versions are worth the extra $$ and time to locate, or if the RVG sounds good enough. I could also just get used copies of the old McMasters as a fallback. To the best of my knowledge: 1. The McMasters were issued as Vol 1 and Vol 2 (2 separate CDs and cases). 2. The BN Works were issued as Vol 1, 2 and 3 (3 CDs). 3. The RVG is a 2CD package in a single case. I'd love to hear from anyone who has actually compared all of these. Failing that, some thoughts on the RVG would be appreciated, there was a lot of variation in how those sounded..

I will help out...never hurts to bank a little extra karma, eh? Never know when I might need it...PM coming

Thank you all for the knowledgeable comments!

I just became aware of the fact that Cal Massey recorded a session under his own name, just this single one it seems. I sure like Massey's compositions that I've heard, probably the most memorable of which (for me) is "The Are Soulful Days" on Lee Morgan's Leeway. Is Massey's Blues For Coltrane worth picking up? If so, would there be any preference for either the 1st CD issue in 1987 or the next in 2006? (I.e. are those the same remastering?)

I'm a big fan of the BN Works series (TOCJ-4XXX) as well. But the new SACDs sound better, IMO. The ones I have heard seem to combine the warm, analog sound signature that I like about the BN Works series with the greater detail and resolution that most of the RVGs offered.

Thank you so much ejp626! $25 works for me! I found a used copy of Carnet de Routes, but it did not have the booklet of photos. As a photographer (of sorts) this was a disappointment. But the music is great.

Just turned this up in a search, would love to find a copy: Romano, Sclavis, Texier, Suite Africaine: 12$.