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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. We're in business.

We're in business.

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  • G George K
    25 Jun 2022, 23:41

    @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

    That's rad.

    I lived at home during college, and that's when I really started to get into classical music. Every Sunday, I'd go to a local department store, EJ Korvettes, that had a fabulous record section.

    I would browse through the bins, and pick one album, one, every week. I did that for about 3 years. Most were RCA cheapo recordings, some Seraphim, etc. Nevertheless it was a great way to get into unheard music - it was always "That looks interesting!" And, I'd drop $3.19 and buy it.

    Today, it's, as you say, too convenient.

    There was also a record store that I walked by on the way to catch the bus home in high school. The owner, Val (RIP), and I got along well - I was one of her first customers. After watching me buy some albums, she ended up making recommendations for me. She was great.

    A Offline
    A Offline
    Aqua Letifer
    wrote on 25 Jun 2022, 23:48 last edited by
    #12

    @George-K said in We're in business.:

    @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

    That's rad.

    I lived at home during college, and that's when I really started to get into classical music. Every Sunday, I'd go to a local department store, EJ Korvettes, that had a fabulous record section.

    I would browse through the bins, and pick one album, one, every week. I did that for about 3 years. Most were RCA cheapo recordings, some Seraphim, etc. Nevertheless it was a great way to get into unheard music - it was always "That looks interesting!" And, I'd drop $3.19 and buy it.

    Today, it's, as you say, too convenient.

    There was also a record store that I walked by on the way to catch the bus home in high school. The owner, Val (RIP), and I got along well - I was one of her first customers. After watching me buy some albums, she ended up making recommendations for me. She was great.

    Checked out the linkβ€”that looks like a pretty cool shop.

    For me growing up, CDs and tapes were more of a thing of course, so it was an interesting mix of buying your own stuff, and making copies of what your friends had. But you still had to buy the things or make the copies. Took some effort, so you didn't just get your hands on any old thing.

    No awesome music stores near me in my home town, but it was way out in the boonies, so the nearest legitimate music store was in the mall a mile away. Which, blech, but they did have a decent collection. (It wasn't a Sam Goody or anything like that, it was just some guy who had a space in the mall.)

    Please love yourself.

    G 1 Reply Last reply 26 Jun 2022, 00:05
    • A Aqua Letifer
      25 Jun 2022, 23:48

      @George-K said in We're in business.:

      @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

      That's rad.

      I lived at home during college, and that's when I really started to get into classical music. Every Sunday, I'd go to a local department store, EJ Korvettes, that had a fabulous record section.

      I would browse through the bins, and pick one album, one, every week. I did that for about 3 years. Most were RCA cheapo recordings, some Seraphim, etc. Nevertheless it was a great way to get into unheard music - it was always "That looks interesting!" And, I'd drop $3.19 and buy it.

      Today, it's, as you say, too convenient.

      There was also a record store that I walked by on the way to catch the bus home in high school. The owner, Val (RIP), and I got along well - I was one of her first customers. After watching me buy some albums, she ended up making recommendations for me. She was great.

      Checked out the linkβ€”that looks like a pretty cool shop.

      For me growing up, CDs and tapes were more of a thing of course, so it was an interesting mix of buying your own stuff, and making copies of what your friends had. But you still had to buy the things or make the copies. Took some effort, so you didn't just get your hands on any old thing.

      No awesome music stores near me in my home town, but it was way out in the boonies, so the nearest legitimate music store was in the mall a mile away. Which, blech, but they did have a decent collection. (It wasn't a Sam Goody or anything like that, it was just some guy who had a space in the mall.)

      G Offline
      G Offline
      George K
      wrote on 26 Jun 2022, 00:05 last edited by
      #13

      @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

      looks like a pretty cool shop

      Yes. And, despite what I posted about the big department store, having a small, local "record store" where you got personalized attention and recommendations was wonderful.

      Now, some algo say, "Because you listened to XXX, you might like YYY."

      Fuck you in the ass with a cactus, algo.

      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

      A 1 Reply Last reply 26 Jun 2022, 00:18
      • G George K
        26 Jun 2022, 00:05

        @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

        looks like a pretty cool shop

        Yes. And, despite what I posted about the big department store, having a small, local "record store" where you got personalized attention and recommendations was wonderful.

        Now, some algo say, "Because you listened to XXX, you might like YYY."

        Fuck you in the ass with a cactus, algo.

        A Offline
        A Offline
        Aqua Letifer
        wrote on 26 Jun 2022, 00:18 last edited by
        #14

        @George-K said in We're in business.:

        Fuck you in the ass with a cactus, algo.

        πŸ˜„ I'll check out things that are "recommended" to me from time to time, but never are those any good.

        I'm still primarily word of mouth. It's just that that now expands to folks whose podcasts I listen to and the like.

        Please love yourself.

        1 Reply Last reply
        • 8 Offline
          8 Offline
          89th
          wrote on 26 Jun 2022, 02:56 last edited by
          #15

          Dude that is great!! It is on my list to create a similar set up to listen to vinyl records, and yes I had this idea long before it became trendy I guess? Your two points about the scarcity and what makes it special are really spot on. Have you listened to any Rach3??

          Btw happy birthday (either today or in 5 days) I always forget which day it is. 25th or 30th. I think 6/30.

          1 Reply Last reply
          • A Offline
            A Offline
            Aqua Letifer
            wrote on 27 Jun 2022, 22:21 last edited by Aqua Letifer
            #16

            @George-K I have a dealer now. πŸ˜„ I went to a record store and picked up a few new ones:

            Toots and the Maytals - Funky Kingston
            Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales
            Iron Maiden - Senjutsu

            The guy there said he'd be getting a few more Maiden albums on Thursday if I wanted to stop by.

            And by the way, is it any fucking wonder vinyl's still sticking around? Here's what you get when you download Maiden's newest album on Spotify:

            IMG_3474.png

            Here's the vinyl version:

            IMG_1153.png
            IMG_1157.png
            IMG_1156.png

            Didn't intend on it, but ended up listening to all 3 records back to back.

            Really glad Bruce is back; his voice seems to be like it used to be.

            Please love yourself.

            J 1 Reply Last reply 28 Jun 2022, 23:59
            • A Aqua Letifer
              25 Jun 2022, 22:32

              Listening to Yes's Fragile now.

              How is this shit so good? I've heard "Roundabout" so many times it's almost become boring. But this is so different. Why?

              It's not a nostalgic thing. My dad listened largely to WDVE and DC101 growing up, his albums were in storage.

              It's not the record crackling. I heard that growing up and never gave a shit.

              I think it's two things:

              • With Spotify, instant access to everything means nothing is special. But you can only listen to records you own. Scarcity makes it kinda special.
              • It's a huge pain in the ass to select songs, so you don't, you select albums. You let them run in their entirety, beginning to end. So you're locked in: whatever the band and producers intended, that's what you're listening to. Which forces you to pay attention.
              M Offline
              M Offline
              Mik
              wrote on 27 Jun 2022, 23:07 last edited by Mik
              #17

              @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

              Listening to Yes's Fragile now.

              How is this shit so good? I've heard "Roundabout" so many times it's almost become boring. But this is so different. Why?

              It's not a nostalgic thing. My dad listened largely to WDVE and DC101 growing up, his albums were in storage.

              It's not the record crackling. I heard that growing up and never gave a shit.

              I think it's two things:

              • With Spotify, instant access to everything means nothing is special. But you can only listen to records you own. Scarcity makes it kinda special.
              • It's a huge pain in the ass to select songs, so you don't, you select albums. You let them run in their entirety, beginning to end. So you're locked in: whatever the band and producers intended, that's what you're listening to. Which forces you to pay attention.

              The music from that era - 65-74 - was so damn good. So inventive. Much of it had classical and jazz roots as well.

              Albums I highly recommend:

              ELO - No Answer
              The Move - Looking On
              Any early Yes and Genesis
              Love Sculpture
              Audience - House On The Hill
              Jimi Electric Ladyland
              Traffic - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
              New York Dolls - first album
              King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
              Queen - the first album (they got more sophisticated later but not as rock)
              Kris Kristofferson - The Silver Tongued Devil and I
              Dylan Blood on the Tracks
              The Byrds - Greatest Hits

              And about a million more that don't come to mind at the moment.

              "The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell." Simone Weil

              A 1 Reply Last reply 27 Jun 2022, 23:35
              • M Mik
                27 Jun 2022, 23:07

                @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

                Listening to Yes's Fragile now.

                How is this shit so good? I've heard "Roundabout" so many times it's almost become boring. But this is so different. Why?

                It's not a nostalgic thing. My dad listened largely to WDVE and DC101 growing up, his albums were in storage.

                It's not the record crackling. I heard that growing up and never gave a shit.

                I think it's two things:

                • With Spotify, instant access to everything means nothing is special. But you can only listen to records you own. Scarcity makes it kinda special.
                • It's a huge pain in the ass to select songs, so you don't, you select albums. You let them run in their entirety, beginning to end. So you're locked in: whatever the band and producers intended, that's what you're listening to. Which forces you to pay attention.

                The music from that era - 65-74 - was so damn good. So inventive. Much of it had classical and jazz roots as well.

                Albums I highly recommend:

                ELO - No Answer
                The Move - Looking On
                Any early Yes and Genesis
                Love Sculpture
                Audience - House On The Hill
                Jimi Electric Ladyland
                Traffic - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
                New York Dolls - first album
                King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
                Queen - the first album (they got more sophisticated later but not as rock)
                Kris Kristofferson - The Silver Tongued Devil and I
                Dylan Blood on the Tracks
                The Byrds - Greatest Hits

                And about a million more that don't come to mind at the moment.

                A Offline
                A Offline
                Aqua Letifer
                wrote on 27 Jun 2022, 23:35 last edited by Aqua Letifer
                #18

                @Mik said in We're in business.:

                @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

                Listening to Yes's Fragile now.

                How is this shit so good? I've heard "Roundabout" so many times it's almost become boring. But this is so different. Why?

                It's not a nostalgic thing. My dad listened largely to WDVE and DC101 growing up, his albums were in storage.

                It's not the record crackling. I heard that growing up and never gave a shit.

                I think it's two things:

                • With Spotify, instant access to everything means nothing is special. But you can only listen to records you own. Scarcity makes it kinda special.
                • It's a huge pain in the ass to select songs, so you don't, you select albums. You let them run in their entirety, beginning to end. So you're locked in: whatever the band and producers intended, that's what you're listening to. Which forces you to pay attention.

                The music from that era - 65-74 - was so damn good. So inventive. Much of it had classical and jazz roots as well.

                Absolutely it was. My dad put the vinyl in storage, but I heard this music all. The. Time. growing up. Driving 45 minutes into town to get dinner and a movie, blasting the shit throughout the house during spring cleaning, just everywhere. Especially when my uncles were in town.

                One was in the merchant marines, another a Ranger. When they were home, my parents partied. From when they'd meet up until sometimes 3 AM. This went on for decades. (Back then, they were the age I am now.)

                I can't tell you how many times I'd wake up on the couch at my grandmother's house (or ours), most of the lights would be off, but my parents and uncles would still be drinking beer and bullshitting in the kitchen. Telling jokes, talking football, talking movies. Steely Dan's "Do it Again," Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground," David Bowie's "Young Americans," and everything on "Wish You Were Here" are permanently burned in my memory.

                I loved waking up to those sounds: my family hanging out, music in the living room. Absolutely loved it. I know those songs by heart.

                Things got weird after my grandmother passed. Some stupid real estate bullshit caused a rift with my parents and my merchant marine uncle; he'd come into DC sometimes and we'd see live music together, but he and my parents only conversed on the phone and only when they had to. He died a couple years ago. His partner put together what I think amounted to a pretty halfass service, quite awhile after he passed at that.

                My other uncle lived in Germany for awhile, about the time I was born. Got married to a nurse. We met her a few times, she was nice. By the time we moved, he had divorced and moved back home. After my grandmother died, he disappeared into West Virginia, then Montana. Rumor is she moved in with him out there, but no one's seen him for about 10, 15 years.

                He used to live 4 miles away and would drop by in the mornings to read the sports section.

                I've some of those albums, Mik, but that's a great list. I'll start tracking down the others.

                Please love yourself.

                1 Reply Last reply
                • M Offline
                  M Offline
                  Mik
                  wrote on 27 Jun 2022, 23:42 last edited by
                  #19

                  It's hard to lose those touchstones of your youth. They were your foundation.

                  "The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell." Simone Weil

                  A 1 Reply Last reply 27 Jun 2022, 23:48
                  • M Mik
                    27 Jun 2022, 23:42

                    It's hard to lose those touchstones of your youth. They were your foundation.

                    A Offline
                    A Offline
                    Aqua Letifer
                    wrote on 27 Jun 2022, 23:48 last edited by
                    #20

                    @Mik said in We're in business.:

                    It's hard to lose those touchstones of your youth. They were your foundation.

                    Just the tip of the shitberg. πŸ˜„ On my mom's side, I grew up with two uncles, an aunt, and 6 cousins I was very close to. On my dad's, 7 aunts and uncles, 8 cousins. We grew up together.

                    Today, I have my parents.

                    And my wonderful in-laws.

                    Please love yourself.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • B Offline
                      B Offline
                      brenda
                      wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 01:26 last edited by brenda
                      #21

                      Love this thread, Aqua . So glad you are enjoying the great music of that era. Yes, things happen in families, and it doesn't always stay as fun as we would like, but the music remains, and it's still great stuff.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • F Offline
                        F Offline
                        Friday
                        wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 07:06 last edited by
                        #22

                        Congrats on your set up Aqua. Happy listening.

                        I think it's sad that the technology for listening to music has actually gone down since I was a kid.

                        I have a friend who spent well over $100K converting a portion of his basement into an audio room. He tried to get his kids interested but they only want to listen to music on their cell phones.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • J Offline
                          J Offline
                          Jolly
                          wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 18:25 last edited by
                          #23

                          Didn't Onkyo bite the dust recently?

                          β€œCry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                          Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". β€” Buck Sexton

                          8 1 Reply Last reply 28 Jun 2022, 19:08
                          • J Jolly
                            28 Jun 2022, 18:25

                            Didn't Onkyo bite the dust recently?

                            8 Offline
                            8 Offline
                            89th
                            wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 19:08 last edited by
                            #24

                            @Jolly said in We're in business.:

                            Didn't Onkyo bite the dust recently?

                            Yes.

                            https://www.lbtechreviews.com/news/hi-fi/onkyo-has-gone-bankrupt

                            Which is timely since that was the audio receiver I tried setting up in my basement but didn't work well with Zone 2 (nor was it user friendly) so I returned it and went with an Amazon Link Amp.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • M Offline
                              M Offline
                              mark
                              wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 22:37 last edited by
                              #25

                              @Aqua-Letifer

                              I am anxiously waiting for the new Porcupine Tree album on vinyl to arrive.

                              It was released last Friday and I do have the MP3s and the FLAC files. I listened to it on my big system using the Foobar2000 App on the PC through Bluetooth to a Topping Dx3 Pro DAC to my AKitiKA Pre-amp and amp combo, out to the Klipsch RF-7 Towers and twin 12" Klipsch subwoofers.

                              It's like the band is right there in living room. The bass drum shakes, rattles and rolls your bones.

                              The FLAC files sound incredibly good. I will be doing a side by side with the Vinyl when it arrives.

                              I am at the the point of needing a new stylus. I have well over 1,000 hours of listening on the Nagaoka MP150. The stylus for the MP150 is not cheap and I think I might just spend a little more go for a Boron cantilevered, MP200 stylus this time around. Just waiting to find a good deal on one. I broke my Grado Opus3 cantilever and the only thing Grado has is a replacement discount program. So, no cheap and easy fix for that one. Still deciding on what to do about that one. The discount is significant. They are offering a $500 discount on their $1500 cartridge. That's the top of line in the series. They have 4 levels of pricing starting at $180 for a replacement Opus 3.

                              A G 2 Replies Last reply 28 Jun 2022, 22:42
                              • M mark
                                28 Jun 2022, 22:37

                                @Aqua-Letifer

                                I am anxiously waiting for the new Porcupine Tree album on vinyl to arrive.

                                It was released last Friday and I do have the MP3s and the FLAC files. I listened to it on my big system using the Foobar2000 App on the PC through Bluetooth to a Topping Dx3 Pro DAC to my AKitiKA Pre-amp and amp combo, out to the Klipsch RF-7 Towers and twin 12" Klipsch subwoofers.

                                It's like the band is right there in living room. The bass drum shakes, rattles and rolls your bones.

                                The FLAC files sound incredibly good. I will be doing a side by side with the Vinyl when it arrives.

                                I am at the the point of needing a new stylus. I have well over 1,000 hours of listening on the Nagaoka MP150. The stylus for the MP150 is not cheap and I think I might just spend a little more go for a Boron cantilevered, MP200 stylus this time around. Just waiting to find a good deal on one. I broke my Grado Opus3 cantilever and the only thing Grado has is a replacement discount program. So, no cheap and easy fix for that one. Still deciding on what to do about that one. The discount is significant. They are offering a $500 discount on their $1500 cartridge. That's the top of line in the series. They have 4 levels of pricing starting at $180 for a replacement Opus 3.

                                A Offline
                                A Offline
                                Aqua Letifer
                                wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 22:42 last edited by
                                #26

                                @mark said in We're in business.:

                                @Aqua-Letifer

                                The FLAC files sound incredibly good. I will be doing a side by side with the Vinyl when it arrives.

                                Please report on what you find! Still trying to navigate the greater world that is the vinyl soundscape. πŸ™‚

                                Please love yourself.

                                M 1 Reply Last reply 28 Jun 2022, 22:59
                                • A Aqua Letifer
                                  28 Jun 2022, 22:42

                                  @mark said in We're in business.:

                                  @Aqua-Letifer

                                  The FLAC files sound incredibly good. I will be doing a side by side with the Vinyl when it arrives.

                                  Please report on what you find! Still trying to navigate the greater world that is the vinyl soundscape. πŸ™‚

                                  M Offline
                                  M Offline
                                  mark
                                  wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 22:59 last edited by
                                  #27

                                  @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                  A 1 Reply Last reply 28 Jun 2022, 23:03
                                  • M mark
                                    28 Jun 2022, 22:59

                                    @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                    A Offline
                                    A Offline
                                    Aqua Letifer
                                    wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 23:03 last edited by
                                    #28

                                    @mark said in We're in business.:

                                    @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                    For audio? Both Spotify and Apple Music.

                                    Please love yourself.

                                    G M 2 Replies Last reply 28 Jun 2022, 23:28
                                    • A Aqua Letifer
                                      28 Jun 2022, 23:03

                                      @mark said in We're in business.:

                                      @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                      For audio? Both Spotify and Apple Music.

                                      G Offline
                                      G Offline
                                      George K
                                      wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 23:28 last edited by
                                      #29

                                      @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

                                      @mark said in We're in business.:

                                      @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                      For audio? Both Spotify and Apple Music.

                                      Do you see a difference? If so, what?

                                      Selection? Quality?

                                      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                      A 1 Reply Last reply 29 Jun 2022, 00:02
                                      • A Aqua Letifer
                                        27 Jun 2022, 22:21

                                        @George-K I have a dealer now. πŸ˜„ I went to a record store and picked up a few new ones:

                                        Toots and the Maytals - Funky Kingston
                                        Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales
                                        Iron Maiden - Senjutsu

                                        The guy there said he'd be getting a few more Maiden albums on Thursday if I wanted to stop by.

                                        And by the way, is it any fucking wonder vinyl's still sticking around? Here's what you get when you download Maiden's newest album on Spotify:

                                        IMG_3474.png

                                        Here's the vinyl version:

                                        IMG_1153.png
                                        IMG_1157.png
                                        IMG_1156.png

                                        Didn't intend on it, but ended up listening to all 3 records back to back.

                                        Really glad Bruce is back; his voice seems to be like it used to be.

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        jon-nyc
                                        wrote on 28 Jun 2022, 23:59 last edited by
                                        #30

                                        @Aqua-Letifer

                                        Did you get a free mullet with that album?

                                        Thank you for your attention to this matter.

                                        A 1 Reply Last reply 29 Jun 2022, 00:03
                                        • G George K
                                          28 Jun 2022, 23:28

                                          @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

                                          @mark said in We're in business.:

                                          @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                          For audio? Both Spotify and Apple Music.

                                          Do you see a difference? If so, what?

                                          Selection? Quality?

                                          A Offline
                                          A Offline
                                          Aqua Letifer
                                          wrote on 29 Jun 2022, 00:02 last edited by
                                          #31

                                          @George-K said in We're in business.:

                                          @Aqua-Letifer said in We're in business.:

                                          @mark said in We're in business.:

                                          @Aqua-Letifer what streaming service(s) do you use?

                                          For audio? Both Spotify and Apple Music.

                                          Do you see a difference? If so, what?

                                          Selection? Quality?

                                          Quality, no, but selection? Definitely. Spotify has more. But, they can and do pull albums at any moment. Usually only happens with fringe stuff but it's still pretty bullshit.

                                          Please love yourself.

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