Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Mar 16, 2015 22:06:05 GMT
Nice! I'm going to see John Renbourn and Wizz Jones later this week Where are they playing?
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Mar 16, 2015 22:00:24 GMT
This discussion makes me recall the review in a certain magazine some years ago, where a Koetsu Black was found somewhat lacking when compared to a Linn Basik (which was an AT95 with a glued on stylus assembly). Nothing new under the sun! That "certain magazine" wouldn't be 'The Flat Response' would it? The amount of Linn/Naim sycophancy promulgated by its blinkered editor was beyond belief! I can remember them simply dismissing the Breuer Dynamic Type 8 arm, all because you could not fit the Linn Troika into the arm's fixed headshell using all three fixings. Fortunately the audio press and now, audio fora, have moved on.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Mar 15, 2015 0:40:51 GMT
Finding well-fitting and comfortable walking boots is essential if you are serious about trekking/hill walking. Over the years I've done a fair amount of trekking in many places in the world: Nepal, Tibet, China, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Thailand and Burma. In the past I used boots from Millets (don't laugh - they got me up Kilimanjaro) and I have also used Brasher boots (which were used without even 'breaking' them in!). My most recent boots are Meindl 'Burma' www.outdoorkit.co.uk/product.php?product_id=255&category_id=2456, which I used when trekking in Mauritania and most recently in the Sudan. They may look heavy but they're not. I bought them from Blacks and, like you Chris, I was given expert service and advice. They're the best boots I have ever had and are as comfortable as a pair of slippers. Incidently, the choice of socks used with the boots is also very important. With modern materials boot design has come a long way. Look after them and they may well last you a lifetime. Have a great time in the US Regards Barry
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Mar 13, 2015 1:54:05 GMT
Nitty Gritty RCM (can't remember the model number, and I can't find the instructions). Had it for years. It's starting to fall apart and leak, is noisy, gets hot, but does a good job cleaning LPs. I make up my own cleaning solution, for a fraction of the price of commercial fluids.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Mar 11, 2015 19:57:27 GMT
'Beatles for Sale' Had to save up my pocket-money for it, and it was a mono copy as my parent's Philips radiogram used a cartridge/arm that was only suited to playing mono records (LPs and 78s). For the life of me, I cannot remember what my second LP purchase was!
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Mar 10, 2015 22:46:27 GMT
That was tough finding the actual recording artwork, but it was this one; That was my first classical purchase. Think it cost me 12/6 (62.5p)
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Feb 28, 2015 3:03:59 GMT
I used to use the pointed end of a potato peeler! I don't like the idea of 'screwing' a tight-fitting record on and off the platter, any more than I would use a heavy weight rather than a record clamp.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Feb 19, 2015 23:44:44 GMT
Hell I just watched "Tod Brownings - Freak's" last night...... The images remain.......Sublime Terrifying. Not surprisingly, a 21 year ban was placed on its screening by the British Board of Film Censors.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Feb 6, 2015 0:29:26 GMT
I'll take the Ashkenazy Beethoven please Jerry.
Have sent you a PM on the AoS site.
Thanks Barry
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Feb 1, 2015 17:38:30 GMT
How would one ensure the etched groove had the required "v shaped" profile?
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jan 31, 2015 18:42:12 GMT
I agree - the effect 'Autotune' had on the singer's voice made me want to scream! But then I don't like the sound of 'Vocoder' (makes every one sound like Stephen Hawking) or the 'Talk box' (as used by Peter Frampton) either.
Agree it was a fascinating series - but I was left feeling depressed about the future of recording: there is just too much opportunity now to producing a 'market detemined' sound.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Dec 22, 2014 11:35:03 GMT
Gosh Chris, was it really over two years ago when we met up in a car park in Conwy and the G99/Decca changed hands? Have you abandoned thoughts of using the Decca ffss 'Super' arm with the H4E cartridge?
Whatever, you now have an excellent second record player - looking forward to reading of the comparison between the Goldring and the Gyro both fitted with identical arms and cartridges.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Dec 2, 2014 2:17:58 GMT
Oh goody – can I play? Given a limit of ¥ 3,000,000 to purchase a single source system from this particular Japanese audio emporium, I would be interested in the following items for a record based system: Front endGarrard 401 turntable with an EMT 929 arm (¥178,000) A bit scruffy cosmetically, but nothing to worry about. At least it come in a plinth. with an EMT TSD-15 cartridge (¥ 89,800) Alternatively, there is: Thorens TD124 Mk.I turntable with a SAEC WE-407/23 arm (¥ 348,000) also in a nice plinth, to which I would fit an Ortofon SPU–GE cartridge (¥ 55,000) PreamplificationFor the head amp I would choose the Mark Levinson JC-1AC, with selectable gain settings (¥ 118,000) which would feed either a Yamaha C2a preamp (¥ 138,000) or, not surprisingly, a Mark Levinson JC-2 preamp (¥ 198,000) or even a Mark Levinson (Madrigal) ML 380 SL preamp (¥ 398,000) I like this one as I like to use balanced line connections as much as possible. Power amplifierWell it would have to be the 200W/channel Mark Levinson ML-3 (¥ 448,000) Capable of driving just about anything, I believe it has a current capacity into 1Ω of 80A. Not so much an amplifier more a welding set! SpeakersOf those advertised for sale the following interest me: Apogee Diva (¥ 598,000) These have an insane impedance (< 1 Ω), so would need to be powered by the Levinson ML-3. Tannoy Autograph (¥ 1,580,000) I’m not a fan of horn-loaded speakers, but I would love to hear these. Tannoy York (¥ 745,000) More to my taste - 15" dual concentric drivers or the Tannoy Lancaster (¥ 238,000) Smaller than the Yorks, and thought by some to be too small a cabinet for the 15" dual concentric drivers. So out of the above what would I put together? Well if it is to spend as close to ¥ 3,000,000 then it would have to be the Garrard 401/EMT front end with Levinson JC1–AC/ ML 380SL/ ML-3 amplification and the Tannoy Autograph speakers. Total cost ¥ 2,811,800. But personally I would go for the Thorens 124/ SAEC/ Ortofon SPU-GE front end with the same Levinson electronics feeding the Apogee Diva speakers. Total cost ¥ 1,979,000. That would leave me with just over a million Yen, with which to buy some lovely Japanese pressings. Of course all of this is dependent on the above items being available at the used prices quoted – but it’s a nice game to play nonetheless!
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Nov 16, 2014 23:40:44 GMT
Kirsty McColl - 'Days'
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Nov 16, 2014 23:37:17 GMT
My word, what a lot of smug, conceited, elitist and arrogant tosh is being spouted in this thread.
As far as I am concerned, the compilation albums, “greatest hits”, “best of”, call them what you will, definitely have a place in my music collection. There are many, many performers I quite like, but not sufficiently to buy any of their albums, yet enjoy their hits. So after a career of say a decade with several hits under their belt, why shouldn’t I buy a compilation album of their best work?
The compilation album may be the only way of experiencing some kinds of music: much of the early American blues artists of the 1930s; some of the early jazz players of the 1920s, and virtually all of the traditional, or ethnic “world” music. Thus for example:
Leadbelly Charlie Parker Django Reinhardt (with or without Stephan Grappelli) Fats Waller Louis Armstrong Oscar Peterson Bix Beiderbecke Coleman Hawkins King Oliver Jelly Roll Morton Scott Joplin.
So to those artists who only have a passing interest for me (in the sense that I like their ‘hits’ but don’t like the artist sufficiently to buy an album), we have:
Bacharch & David John Barry Shirley Bassey Chuck Berry Ray Charles Joe Cocker Nat King Cole Creedence Clearwater Revival Spencer Davis Echo & The Bunnymen The Eurythmics Georgie Fame Juliette Greco Aretha Franklin Jacques Brel Buffalo Springfield Chris Farlowe Roberta Flack George Harisson François Hardy Buddy Holly The Levellers Jerry Lee Lewis Mamas & Papas The Pogues Otis Redding John Renbourne Righteous Brothers The Smiths Diana Ross & The Supremes The Shadows Nina Simone The Stranglers Lynard Skynard Squeeze Thin Lizzy Ike and Tina Turner Ruby Turner Ultravox Stevie Wonder.
Of course it can be that a compilation album may lead me to buy stand alone titles by some artists, and vice versa (since a compilation album makes for an easy choice when choosing what to play), so in this category we have:
The Animals Joan Armatrading The Beach Boys The Blues Brothers Buffalo Springfield Dusty Springfield The Byrds Blondie Joan Baez Jackson Brown Johhny Cash Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Michael Chapman Eric Clapton John Coltrane Leonard Cohen Country Joe & The Fish Ian Dury Bob Dylan Fleetwood Mac Free Jimi Hendrix Billie Holiday The Kinks Jefferson Airplane John Lennon Madness John Martyn Van Morrison Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers The Police Redgum Rolling Stones Nina Simone Soft Machine Steely Dan Taste Traffic Jethro Tull Velvet Underground Johnny Winter Steve Winwood The Yardbirds Frank Zappa Led Zepplin.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Nov 16, 2014 17:29:22 GMT
There are some stars to be seen, if you look carefully. They appear as very small pin-pricks of light, because there is no atmosphere to cause diffraction, which would make them appear larger, as they do on Earth.
The same comment was made about the photographs taken of the moon landings and were used by conspiracy theorists as 'evidence' that the landings were faked.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Nov 6, 2014 21:55:37 GMT
Volvo paint "468, Lavasand Pearl" is a very good colour match to the "Quad bronze" of the Series 3 and Series 4 electronics.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Oct 1, 2014 1:37:59 GMT
I was a little later that year and bought a Philips CD-104 in a show deal that included a bundle of discs. I wish I had kept that player, it was well built. I'm pretty sure it had the cast metal swing-arm drive before they went all plastic.
The Philips 101 was a poor player; hardly any better than its forerunner, the 100. The 104 was just about acceptable, unfortunately it was so well made, Philips made a loss on every machine sold. It also suffered from the fact that it was a very (read "too") compact player. The component packing density was such that the machine ran hot; the heat-sinking was inadeqate for housing the player in a shelf unit and because of that, the player could fail. Mine did, as did a unit of a friend of mine, though my local, friendly, repair man, sorted it, and at the same time 'touched up' all the soldered joints on the PCB.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Oct 1, 2014 0:56:36 GMT
There is an American firm who make electronic test equipment.
Wayne Kerr. Wayne Kerr were a British company. Named by the founder after his favourite actors: (John) Wayne and (Deborah) Kerr, the name should be pronounced "Wayne Karr", but of course the illiteratii would pronounce it "Wanker"!
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Sept 18, 2014 23:25:35 GMT
Ah! Chicken Shack - 'Can Brits sing the blues?'
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