Audiophile Thread

I could have posted this alternately in the Mental Health and Psychology thread. Still, maybe I wanted to limit who reads it, so I'll put it here, instead. After all, who reads this shit, besides me? :(:worm:

In the last five months, my audio system has languished, unplugged and unbidden to render music. Within the first two weeks of unemployment, I thought how useless it was that I even had it. It was certainly sucking up electrical power just being plugged in, so in a fit of anxiety, depression, and pique, I unplugged some eight or more plugs. I covered up the preamp and power amps, to prevent dust from entering.

As I said, I can listen to music when I'm down, but not when I am anxious. During this time of heightened anxiety, I looked at my accumulated records and CDs, and thought to myself, "Ugh. This sucks."

Much of the anxiety lifted earlier last month. So, having started back to work over a month ago, and with several paychecks under my belt, why is my system still unplugged? Now, with music being a guiding light again, why do I not move forward? Anergia, or at least inertia? I have to wonder, myself. More-and-more, I have considered starting it up again, but will probably wait until fire season is over, and air conditioning season is in the rear view mirror.

There is no question pending, but ...I would appreciate any comments advising or suggesting courses of action or inaction. I may or may not listen to them. :thumbsdown::thumbsup:
 
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Unsomnambulist said:
^^I only want to congratulate for having the foresight (or gut instinct) to not sell your gear when you were at your lowest point, probably felt it would never end and were unable to listen to music. :thumbsup:
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Thank you. I was able to stay afloat without going to that drastic measure.
I brought in money off of Unemployment Income (UI) for the entire period, as well as being approved for Keep Your Home California (KYHC), which started paying my mortgage in April, I believe. I took about $12K out of a 401(k). I only needed 10K, but the extra was to cover Federal Income tax. I took early retirement (age 64 years, 10 months) but two days ago withdrew my application. I will be paying the three months back before the end of the year. Fortunately, KYHC has extended me a grace period of three additional months to help me get back on my feet. One cool sidenote is, the KYHC program ended a few months ago, having depleted all of its $2B in appropriated funds. I am not happy that it is unavailable to anybody else; I am simply glad that it did not end before I could catch the ride.
 
When BBC launched their famous BBC Monitors they incorporated an unconventional dip in frequency response nicknamed the BBC Dip. Is that famous dip still in use by manufacturers and designers of today's speakers as well?
 
patrikc325 said:
88$ for a nice starter kit!
This time it's a system with a Lepai LP2020TI stereo integrated amplifier that sells for the low, low price of just $38, mated with Dayton Audio B652 Air speakers that go for $50 a pair on Amazon. I'll cut right to the chase: $88 has never sounded this good!
https://www.cnet.com/news/this-starter-audiophile-system-sounds-outrageously-good-for-88/?ftag=COS-05-10aaa0h&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5ba6ccff04d30104fd857fb2&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook
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Buy it before the tariffs raise the price!
 
patrikc325 said:
88$ for a nice starter kit!
This time it's a system with a Lepai LP2020TI stereo integrated amplifier that sells for the low, low price of just $38, mated with Dayton Audio B652 Air speakers that go for $50 a pair on Amazon. I'll cut right to the chase: $88 has never sounded this good!
https://www.cnet.com/news/this-starter-audiophile-system-sounds-outrageously-good-for-88/?ftag=COS-05-10aaa0h&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5ba6ccff04d30104fd857fb2&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook
Click to expand...
Cool beans.

I read that as Lirpa, as in Loof Lirpa. ;) [But, I thought, it's September.]

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/history-lirpa-labs

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/lirpa-labs-mz1-949r-soundbar-review

http://www.audioreview.com/product/analog-sources/turntables/lirpa-labs/lirpa-turbo-steamtable.html
 
axolotl said:
I could have posted this alternately in the Mental Health and Psychology thread. Still, maybe I wanted to limit who reads it, so I'll put it here, instead. After all, who reads this shit, besides me? :(:worm:

In the last five months, my audio system has languished, unplugged and unbidden to render music. Within the first two weeks of unemployment, I thought how useless it was that I even had it. It was certainly sucking up electrical power just being plugged in, so in a fit of anxiety, depression, and pique, I unplugged some eight or more plugs. I covered up the preamp and power amps, to prevent dust from entering.

As I said, I can listen to music when I'm down, but not when I am anxious. During this time of heightened anxiety, I looked at my accumulated records and CDs, and thought to myself, "Ugh. This sucks."

Much of the anxiety lifted earlier last month. So, having started back to work over a month ago, and with several paychecks under my belt, why is my system still unplugged? Now, with music being a guiding light again, why do I not move forward? Anergia, or at least inertia? I have to wonder, myself. More-and-more, I have considered starting it up again, but will probably wait until fire season is over, and air conditioning season is in the rear view mirror.

There is no question pending, but ...I would appreciate any comments advising or suggesting courses of action or inaction. I may or may not listen to them. :thumbsdown::thumbsup:
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@axolotl , I missed this post somehow. Thank goodness times are better around your house. Actually, I’m like you in that music loses its appeal if I’m stressed.

One question: is your system your only/main source of music or do you listen on other devices?
 
Ojai Sam said:
@axolotl , I missed this post somehow. Thank goodness times are better around your house. Actually, I’m like you in that music loses its appeal if I’m stressed.

One question: is your system your only/main source of music or do you listen on other devices?
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I used to have Spotify Premium here on my computer and Sirius XM in my car. Both of these I shut down in the early going. Since I got a work car last week, I will likely not get Sirius XM, again. That was mostly for discovery. I notice that I do not have the regular access to the feeds that you post via Spotify, likely because I am not a Premium customer. I will probably change that and start paying for SP, again, especially since we are doing the MG album selection thread.

My only other listening is done via a teeny mp3 player, for when I take walks, jog, or run. There are about two dozen albums on that, and I could list them without looking them up. ;) I have The Mysteries of Life, The Vulgar Boatmen, Mindhead, Mandrake Project, kilowatthours, Rum Diary, Sunny Day Real Estate, et al., etc., on that device.

There have been weekends lately where I think about the stereo, and ponder, "Why not now?" It might happen soon. Hopefully, everything works.
 
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axolotl said:
I used to have Spotify Premium here on my computer and Sirius XM in my car. Both of these I shut down in the early going. Since I got a work car last week, I will likely not get Sirius XM, again. That was mostly for discovery. I notice that I do not have the regular access to the feeds that you post via Spotify, likely because I am not a Premium customer. I will probably change that and start paying for SP, again, especially since we are doing the MG album selection thread.

My only other listening is done via a teeny mp3 player, for when I take walks, jog, or run. There are about two dozen albums on that, and I could list them without looking them up. ;) I have The Mysteries of Life, The Vulgar Boatmen, Mindhead, Mandrake Project, kilowatthours, Rum Diary, Sunny Day Real Estate, et al., etc., on that device.

There have been weekends lately where I think about the stereo, and ponder, "Why not now?" It might happen soon. Hopefully, everything works.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Axo. I ask because I too have been without a real sound system for some time. My ripping turntable is connected to my office computer and my big Synology external library drive is there too. Whatever I want to listen to at the moment I upload to Dropbox and play on whatever device is handy. And then of course there's Spotify and Sirius XM. Mrs. Ojai is surprisingly tolerant of the Bluegrass Junction channel on the drives to our namesake village.

Why no sound system? Because it went into storage when we remodeled our house. Now I don't spend enough time sitting in one place listening to music to justify the space it takes up. More importantly, I have embraced mobility. Having what I want to hear wherever I happen to be trumps pristine sound quality. Maybe someday when I retire. :zzz:
 
^ I can relate to that, Sam. I have my turntable, amp, speakers and about 2,000 vinyl albums stacked in the back room, which has become an overly cluttered storage room (didn't help when more stuff came from my mother's house). They have been there for many years. We want to redo the room into our living room/entertainment space. But to do that, everything has to come out so we can rebuild/remove walls, do the floor, put in windows, etc. And my wife said that the records have to go. WHAAAT?!!! OK, maybe the one's I have on CD now. But I have lots of rarities and imports that will never see the light of day on CD. Those are not going anywhere.
 
Nickyboy said:
^ I can relate to that, Sam. I have my turntable, amp, speakers and about 2,000 vinyl albums stacked in the back room, which has become an overly cluttered storage room (didn't help when more stuff came from my mother's house). They have been there for many years. We want to redo the room into our living room/entertainment space. But to do that, everything has to come out so we can rebuild/remove walls, do the floor, put in windows, etc. And my wife said that the records have to go. WHAAAT?!!! OK, maybe the one's I have on CD now. But I have lots of rarities and imports that will never see the light of day on CD. Those are not going anywhere.
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Hang tough, my friend. Vinyl is irreplaceable. But then, so is your wife. :surrender:
 
Ojai Sam said:
Hang tough, my friend. Vinyl is irreplaceable. But then, so is your wife. :surrender:
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Cue Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love But I Won't Do That."

While a wife may well be irreplaceable, I'm here to confirm that one can still be here and living (well) without one's wife.

If a wife leaves one time more than she returns home, it is a fait accompli. I am not here to suggest it is a reasonable alternative, or even one that a spouse should contemplate without adequate provocation, but rather simply that life continues, with the best that one can make of it. :heart:
 
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