jazzbo

Thanks Cary. It's a pain in the @%%. Anyone want to buy a house in central Austin?

Reading a piece that an acquaintance had published within.

I've gotten mine from Dusty Groove, so I'm no help.

Yes, moving to Bay Village, Ohio to help my parents stay living in their home, they're not doing that well, and as I'm retired, widowed, etc. here in Texas I feel it's time for me to do this.

I said that I hate them, I didn't even mention how they sound. I do hate the whole idea of stepping backward in audio quality as a standard, which seems where we're heading. I'm retired and I don't listen to music on the go because I'm either on a motorcycle or on foot right now, and don't feel it's prudent to listen to music in either of those situations these days in this town. I can hear the step down in audio quality on the systems I listen to and I don't look forward to the day when I'm expected to pay for MP3s about the same cost as a cd and there's few other options available. They just don't have a "convenience" factor for me and I'm avoiding them. Packing up all my stuff for a major cross-country move has made me realize I have far more recordings than I need and I only need to buy an occasional new reissue or new release, and I'll target vinyl when I can from now on because I'm really digging spinning vinyl! It's "new" for me again, digital is old hat.

Last night's Castle, Continuum, Fast 'n Loud and The Following (though the latter is wearing on me).

I guess so if you like drinking alcohol. I'm a very occasional drinker and I'm not a Scotch guy, though I've enjoyed some, I just don't drink much. Okay I was making an assumption just as you were when you say I only enjoy music on an expensive system, believe I hear things that can't be there, etc. Let's stop making assumptions. Let's enjoy the cds and whatever we're drinking (filtered tap water for me at the moment).

Yes, I'm a Jimi nut and I am always eager for another official release, and this one is even better than Valleys of Neptune.

Okay fine, just please quit misrepresenting what I'm saying and creating disagreement that isn't there. By the way, I sometimes wish I only had 20 large in my system. I'm not spending that kind of money just to enjoy music. I do get MORE enjoyment out of it by following my hobby, but I enjoy it just fine on an alarm clock. One benefit of my exploration is that I can get more enjoyment out of these challenged cd releases than others seem to. If I can enjoy a 7 dollar RVG that saves buying a 20 dollar Japanese version. With the quantity of cds I have, that savings funds a lot of my audio fun. You can do whatever you want with your money, I'll do whatever I want to with mine, and let's be happy.

Scott, just as one example it's been proven to ME by my own experience that if you remove some/as much as possible of the noise in the power supply, and you have cabling that will interfere less with the signal, you can perceive more detail and more of the dynamic information presented there comes through. I have two different systems with different components, different degrees of power conditioning, etc. and they each sound different, one passing through more of the dynamics on the material. It's not adding anything that isn't there, it's revealing more of what is there. If you want to be mid-fi snobby and have a closed mind about this fine, and I'm happy that you're happy with your system, but you're stuck on a point that I'm not disagreeing with (you can't get something that isn't there), and I'm certain that you can get more of what is there to be noticed, and it can bring more enjoyment. (That's what it's about for me, I'm not saying that anything can cure these recordings, but I have been able to make them more listenable for ME.) You note for example that tone controls mess with the sound. This is related to what I am talking about. I'm not going to keep arguing with you, but you don't seem to have grasped my point, and I wish that one day you could hear a better presentation to see what I mean. But that's cool. Please don't come back with more of the same at me, hopefully you see what I am saying, whether you agree with me or not, just don't keep misrepresenting what I'm saying--I am NOT saying you can create something from nothing. I am saying there are varying degrees of how much of what is there can be heard on different systems.

Awesome!

This isn't the bottom of the barrell. I have that on some bootlegs. I'm listening to the vinyl. Wow. I feel the Grundman mastered cd sounded better than the Marino ones before them, and these Grundman mastered lps are da bomb. I actually prefer these studio efforts to most of the live possible releases. I'm hoping one day they'll do the entire session where Jimi and Billy and Buddy work out "I'm a Man." Some might consider that scraping the bottom but I find it fascinating.

The new cd is a boot as well, n'est-ce pas?

No, it doesn't. The rest of your post is well taken, but this is simply false. Their playback capability is different, but the mix remains the same no matter what. This is silly Scott. I never said the mix was different. But if you think all systems present the same amount of information from the material. . . well I don't believe that to be true from my experience. Anyway, enjoy the music, that's what it's about.

Scott, Kevin and I have talked about his system and mine before, off the board as well as on another, I know what he has, what he believes is worth spending money on and what not, and thus I said that I knew he wasn't going to try these things, and that his system didn't include some aspects that would show him improvement. The final mix is the final mix. But extracting what is in that mix differs from system to system. Some will hide the flaws, some accentuate them, some can help them to be all they can be, and that can be more enjoyable than on another system.

I'm sorry if I'm coming across as an audio snob, I don't feel that I am. By fortunate I simply meant personally fortunate to have the funds to pursue this. Some people buy lots of liquor with their discretionary funds, or fancy watches, or expensive cars, travel to distant places, or go out clubbing looking for companionship. I don't do any of those things, this is what I do with my money. And the sonic difference is there, especially when you consider audio fatigue as Kevin was referencing. And there's not a tone control in my system. Not one. Though there's nothing wrong with tone controls really, if they allow you to enjoy music listening. I don't feel I'm a snob. I have enjoyed very modest systems that were quite musical. I'm happy for anyone who enjoys their system whatever the level. If they can't enjoy some recordings, I feel I know ways to make that less of a deal, but my presentation of this seems lacking as several haven't seen that's what I mean. I don't believe that RVGs and others are as "bad" as many assume, I feel their bad sonics can be improved. Should they be put out this way? Wouldn't be my first choice, but dealing with them head on and trying to make them more enjoyable is a choice, as is avoiding them and I guess trashing them. Again, I've discovered there are more dynamics there to be brought out, though it does take work on a system (work which will improve all other playback as well). I have learned my lesson, I'll keep that to myself. I'm glad you're happy with your system, I'm happy with mine. And apparently I can listen to discs that you won't, which I'm also happy about. I only object to your blanket condemnation of RVG reissues as I personally know that they vary in their sonic presentation, I have every one. You're free to believe what you want, and also make fun of me if you wish. Doesn't bother me. I'll let you trash all the RVGs too now if you want. I think my position is clear here, I understand why many can't or won't explore audio this way, and just feel personally fortunate that I want to and can. It's not that I "have to do all that." I enjoy this hobby. Bothers me too as a participant, a creator or receiver. Sorry, and I'm stepping away from this thread.

Kevin, just because you haven't been able to achieve listening without fatigue doesn't mean that it can't be achieved. I will repeat myself one more time. Power treatment is key, it lowers noise system-wide and allows what dynamics are there to be more recognizable. Also improves the high frequency sound by removing "hash." I treat my power with a PS Audio Power Plant Premier, and also two PowerBases, one to the Premier, one to the transport and DAC, and also use AC-10 and AC-12 power cords. Makes a big and significant difference. My DAC allows me to select five different digital filters. And also to apply different oversampling to the signal, or no oversampling at all. These create subtle differences that can influence harshness, introduce smoothness, etc. I can also bring what dynamics are there to more prominence by "riding the gain" between three gain stages. This is something that Decware owners and Steve Deckert discuss on their forum. Riding the gain can also "thicken" the sound of a "thin" recording, and vice versa, to a degree. I've spent good money on interconnect and speaker cables as well that can reveal a bit more of what's there. I also have a supply of different rectifier tubes that alter the sound of the amplifier and can make program material appear a bit more dynamic or vice versa. Ditto input tubes, voltage regulation tubes (my amp has voltage regulator tubes for the input stage as well as the output tubes). I can also adjust the tweeter output of my speakers to alter the tonal balance, and that influences perceived dynamics. I can even change capacitors in the minimal crossover, which has an effect as well. All these things are incremental but do add up to a more enjoyable sound. Not everything sounds wonderful by any means. But I have been able to lessen listening fatigue for many discs. All these things and more can be done. I realize you're not going to try them, and I believe you when you say that your system won't help in this regard. But that's not true of all systems. I spent a lot of money on these and I know how fortunate I am that I can do so. They really have allowed me to enjoy listening to many discs that others whine about. I am happy that I don't have to be frustrated and disappointed purchasing many discs. And I enjoy the hardware and its interaction, just as I used to enjoy setting up to record. I'm discovering vinyl is easier to set up to enjoy and at a lower price point for similar sonic quality, but that's another story. I'll say no more, don't want to increase the boredom apparently rampant with my posts along these lines.

Whatever.

Edited to say: oh well. It's not that many times, I just have been tenacious trying to make that point, that the lack of dynamics is over-expressed and there is more there than most systems bring out. I get bored about some of the things you are definitive about and repeat, and your passion for correcting grammar and spelling. I'm passionate about audio. Part of being on a forum. You don't have to read my posts, I don't have to read yours.

I'm re-reading my posts and didn't ever state that, if you got that impression, oh well.

I love the Dagger rehearsal cds but this is something different. I was not as bowled over first time through as I have been replaying the disc. Best sound (mastering) of any of the releases too in my opinion.

I've never once disputed that. Again, what I am saying is that in my experience there are more dynamics there than you probably realize that can be accessed and made enjoyable. You don't believe that, I've experienced it and play around with it and enjoy more discs in my collection that way. I prefer this than being constantly disappointed and leery of discs. You're welcome to your opinions, I just in my own home have had different experience.

No of course not. I hate listening to MP3s and just don't if I don't have to.

Okay, I get that, but it's the best of both worlds. Can't fix the past and supply what wasn't there. I neither listen exclusively to lps nor cds, I listen to both. I don't like pesky digital files, so I don't have to worry about not listening to lps on the go, or needle-dropping. I can buy the JSP Calloway material and the IARJC Kansas City lps and enjoy both. For the rest of my life. Life is good and music is a great part of it and I'm no longer limiting myself to digital. There's enough in both formats to seek out and enjoy the rest of my days. I think for the next few years I can track down lots of Chicago Style stuff from Wild Bill, Eddie, Pee Wee, Max, Jack, and so many others, a good portion of which have not appeared on cd. I love this stuff, and it sounds great on vinyl. Now I'm off to lunch with my gal, another wonderful aspect of life. You've met her, I'll tell her you say hi.

Hans, we've been through this before, no worries, I don't expect you to believe me, believe what you will, I know your mind is not open to this idea. The point that I would like to emphasize is that there's more there than is generally believed, and if you have a system that can allow you to get to all of what is there, there's surprisingly more enjoyment. Also, DACs in players and separate of this century are better than those of the previous century and can yield better results this way. As for doing to your system . . . it's fun for me to do this, and I got my start and my cue from my several years of recording bands that I played in at the close of the 'eighties. A perfectly flat sound recording can be really really dull. Engineers do all sorts of things to make recordings sound better to them on their systems, and remastering engineers do more in their turn. To just passively playback what they release is not the only option. Judicious and careful use of tone, balance, gain, and certainly cleaning up one's power is a viable route to better sound. I was tired of just being a prisoner to what they release, experimenting led me to find some more enjoyment. I guess it's not for everyone, but I don't believe all these blanket condemnations of masterings, remasterings etc. are a stopping point. Anyway, I think I've made my ideas clear and I'll go back to some enjoyable listening.