Audiophile Thread

Legacy Hi-Fi Brands Are Dying Out as a New Class of Audio Brands Takes Over​


Summit-fi pulled away from the middle

Meanwhile, prices at the very top have surged. Audiophiles now casually discuss $600,000–$750,000 loudspeakers and even $2 million systems as part of a “summit-fi” tier.

 
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The ‘Analog Warmth’ of Vinyl Has Been Mostly Digital Since the ’80s, Says Sound Engineer​


“That said, vinyl can sound different from digital, just not for the reasons many believe.

Some vinyl releases are mastered differently than their digital counterparts, sometimes with less compression or different EQ adjustments. This can contribute to a unique listening experience, but it’s not an inherent quality of the format itself.”

So actually, for material recorded in the pre-digital era, there are at least three buying possibilities today: the original LP, one or more CD’s and a new LP. Each of these will sound quite different. For me, the old LP always wins out, even if it is a less than perfect copy with a few sonic artifacts.

I think I posted here that a very kind friend once gifted me the new LP version of “Revolver”. After listening to the first song or two, it sounded so painfully different that I put it back in its luxurious plastic sleeve and gifted it to a friend (who doesn’t know the original donor). I then went out and bought the original Capitol first pressing, which I had foolishly traded in when the first round of CDs came out. Problem solved!
 



This development seems to mirror the state of the American economy in general, with the upper end and the lower end squeezing out the middle. I have always harbored dreams of purchasing a high-end audio system when I retire, repeating the pattern from when I got my first job in law.

However, now I am very happy playing my high end vintage turntable, cassette deck, and CD player through my computer system with Audioengine speakers. True, as Unsom has pointed out, this makes my experience digital even with analog source material. But it is simply not worth the effort or expense to put together a whole new system. And anyway, Mrs. Ojai was never enthusiastic about the notion of giant speakers and a rack of audio components in the living room. :rolleyes:
 
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