Putting Curtains in the Man-Cave

Audiophile in hot pursuit of perfection I was having a conversation with my father this morning on the way into work. I think Kathy will attest to the fact that on any car ride of more than a few minutes I am usually on the phone to a family member or a friend - hand's free - I'd like to say it was because I am just that efficient, but it really isn't that.   True, and yes, not efficiency; this is an ongoing thing in our household. :)  Usually we talk about politics, news events, our dogs, kids and family news, but this morning he started opining on the reasons someone would spend a lot of money on a stereo.  This was after I told him, the previous day, the price of some speakers that I was very curious about (for those keeping score, it was German Physiks ). German Physiks Speakers ... the object of my eye "It's got to be that they are after a trophy to show off to their friends" he started with, but throughout his theorizing it boiled down to ...

Etta James - she OWNED the song Did you know that Beyonce did a cover of Etta James's "At Last?" Etta James "owns" that song -why would anyone do that? She's not the only one - a relatively obscure singer, Eva Cassidy, did a cover of it as well. I think we have a second challenge. Ya think? Etta James Beyonce Knowles Eva Cassidy Audiophile Darling or serious Cover-Girl? Before we get too deep into this we have a few disclosures to make.  There are a ton of biases at play, and we will have some guest inputs as well from Anthony and Maria, Kathy's kids and my steps - who will weigh in as well the two of us. And Anthony loves Beyonce.  In fact, I think Maria might as well.  Kathy already dismissed Eva Cassidy as an "Audiophile Darling" with a motion of her hands that would make an Italian proud (She's half Italian and Half Basque - trouble if I have ever heard it). Hey! Yes, her rendition was just like this. Am I th...

There is an old audiophile rule of thumb about the priorities when it comes to playback.  I mention it mostly because it is counter-intuitive. The basics go like this: The most important influence on quality playback is first the turntable, second the tonearm, and third the cartridge.  When an audiophile is feeling a bit pedantic they will sermonize about the quality of the recordings and how most recording engineers clearly have tin ears, or the producers of the records and artsts, yadda yadda yadda.  But rarely do they mention record cleanliness - I suspect because it is interesting in the way taking out the trash is interesting.  Both lead to a better experience if you do it than if you don't - but it isn't something that people relish doing. Dirty Grooves - the source of the "pops and "crackles" ill informed journalists think audio fans like.  A cleaner will remove them, and improve the sound I have wondered why clean records never really get...

Warning!  Spotify + Sonos + Family can lead to mayhem! It was time for bed - we old farts were tired. All six of us went upstairs: two yawning adults, one college kid, one high school kid, and two goofy Standard Poodles. Nice picture, right? Due to bathrrom scheduling issues (1.5 baths for 4 people is a bitch) Brent and I were crashed on our bed with our iPads while our daughter was finishing up in the bathroom. I was innocently playing Candy Crush on my iPad, cursing under my breath at this "ducky" level, and all of a sudden I hear a quiet snicker from the clown beside me. K: "What?" B: "Oh, nothing..." (grins evilly) Then the music starts. Okay, he's playing with Spotify, and probably found another theme song for the puppy, I think. Boy was I wrong... "Hey Mr, mistertambourineman. mistertambourineman, play a song for me!" Proof that if you are an actor stick to acting ... It was William Sha...

If Pink Floyd was an acapella group this is how they would have done DSotM - honestly, it's that good Dark Side of the Moon (DSoTM is how I might refer to it to save typing) is a mainstay piece of music.  Not only is it the most popular Pink Floyd Album, I believe it was the artistic high-water-mark for the band.  And I love it.  I have about 4 different LP pressings (Including a treasured Mobile Fidelity copy that is astonishing in quality), a CD, and an SACD of this one album.  Once in awhile it needs to be played.  No one in the house complains, though I am pretty sure the kids aren't as in to it as I am.  In fact, I think Kathy doesn't like it as much as I do, either. When I got into audiophile gear, I also found out it was recorded very well, and is one of the audiophile standards where not only does it sound good - nearly everyone likes the music.  There is so much in the audiophile repertoire that isn't that way - its when you find yo...

I think it is something audiophiles everywhere know, but few outside this tiny community really understand. Audiophile components, in order to get them to give you the realism we're all after, are like a beautiful but high maintenance spouse.  It takes a lot, I mean a lot to see their good side.  Treat them like the princesses they feel they are, and you will have the best one ever.  But one false move, and you are in the doghouse. Let me illustrate audiophile versions with a couple of examples: YOU are the starting motor ... There is a turntable from a British firm called Nottingham Analogue Studios called the "Ace Space Deck."  You see, the designers felt that the biggest barrier to superlative performance was a motor that was too powerful to run the platter causing degrading sonics.  To this end they made the motor barely strong enough to turn the platter once it was set into motion by its owners hand.  Seriously, it will sit there all day, g...

Where he rants a bit ! There is something most audiophiles will claim as a truism.  There are flame wars over this, but frankly like most things on the internet, it is people shouting at one another with a "stance" rather than trying to find the truth or common ground.  When an audiophile, nearly any audiophile, is making this claim, it simply isn't true.  What claim, you ask?  They say, with nose in the air sometimes, "It is all about the music."  If you have stared at an audiophile setup you know right away that this is about as truthful as a politician making a promise on election eve.   If you haven't seen them, let me fill you in: A typical audiophile component has a sort of look to it - be it an expensive faceplate, a clear-coat finish, or a speaker with exotic veneer that would make a furniture maker jealous.  Cabling (another source of controversy as in "do cables make or fail make a sonic impact" - which is the wrong question, by the...