Congrats and welcome to the club. It can be addictive. But do yourself a favor.. one I stick to: ignore the a-holes in the audiophile community. There are a lot of them. Let your ears tell you what sounds right :-)
When I was maybe 8 years old in 1990 or so, I'd play a particular Beach Boys song (can't remember which) on my WalkMan, get "high"/dizzy by spinning around as fast as I could on one of those swiveling half-shell chairs, and vibe, the fuck, out. That was my first "immersive" experience with music. I was a weird kid. And I'm here for all the audiophile talk you'd like to dish out.
I remember my Infiniti floor speakers that were fantastic, and they went along with a Macintosh receiver. Once when we moved into a net little neighborhood in the Malibu Hills a neighbor (with a much bigger home and incredible equipment) invited us over for dinner, and that was the first time I ever heard Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. The experience may have been enhanced with some nice MaryJane, but I still consider that album one of the greatest ever.
Michael, Good choices on equipment and the gummy! I have the original Wiim Amp, and it is hard to beat on both sound and functionality. I chose the KEF R3 Meta speakers since I did not want to add a separate sub-woofer. I am sure our set-ups sound very similar. I used to go through lots of equipment looking for that certain magic, but now I know that with the quality of this modern equipment, it is more about the room and your ears (and mindset) than spending more money. I normally listen to CD-quality FLAC files stored on a local server, but I would guess in blind testing I would not consistently be able to hear a difference between that and 320 MP3 files. Have fun with your new stuff!
You convinced me, Michael. I just bought a pair of the KEF LS50 Wireless II Powered Bookshelf Speakers! Can't wait until they arrive on Sunday. KEF should give you a commission.
As a long time OMD and weed fan, I can certainly understand that feeling. I just saw OMD earlier this week for the 10th time and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Finally made me a paid subscriber. I have been chasing this since the early 90s. OMD's Sugar Tax album was the thing that got me. "So In Love" from their 1985 album "Crush" was killer on Walkman headphones. Had just ordered a new pair of earbuds last week so I can get the same high again on the go - now, thanks to reading this, I have to upgrade my home system. Thanks for bankrupting me.
Michael, could you do a brother a favor and tell him the make/model of your speakers? I'm looking for something for the "B" connection to my stereo-oh-oh since my Heresy's, although great, are 45 years of age and I have been wanting something a bit smaller for my drum/music room where I record lots and listen more. The heresy's are in the living room, where all can "enjoy" them, lololol, as no one in my home but me is using real speakers and accessories such as you just purchased and is bluetoothing via various bluetooth speakers.
WOW! I think you went the right way. There's always haters, but dang those got some hella specs! Nice price as well. Thanks again! Now, do the same you did the other night with some of your favorite tunes and start digging life even more.
A late singer I played in a blues band used to remark when we'd play "Reconsider, baby" that isn't it funny how sad blues songs can make you feel better all over?" I'm not sure how that works but when I got transmogrified as a hard rock drummer at 24 by a couple of hardcore blues lead guitarists who wanted me in their band. Those two guys are still playing together after all these years and in fact are playing in Houston tonight at Re-hab. This band has been together now since May, 1989 and I had to opt out as I was graduating law school and had to study for the bar. I've been in and out of that band from after the bar until 1995 when I got wed, and since then an awesome drummer has held down the chair.
I did discover that what the singer mentioned above (RIP Joyce-ey) was true. I had somewhat listened to the blues before that momentous in which I usually say I was kidnapped by two bluesmen until I learned to play the blues, but it was completely consensual. I still play hard rock at times, but if the blues ever gets in your heart, and that's starting with Son House and his song Death Letter, and then you listen forward to current times, it will never leave. Or so I found. It just continued that same experience that began at age 5 with the Beatles.
THat's why I say, get an instrument. There are SO MANY free lessons by high caliber teachers on you tube. Having a few in person lessons at the start is always helpful for those questions you have, but you know you can get into a good instrument for a crazy low price, no matter what you want to play. Craigslist doesn't have the bargains it used to, but I've found stuff in excellent condition at thirft stores (Goodwill can be cruised online to a store near you), Music to Go, a nationwide chain here and there, (I hear) Facebook has marketplace deals near you but I don't FB. For far less than you paid for those most excellent speakers that will soon be in my living room, and I mean far less, you can get literally any instrument you want these days. And since boomers like me are downsizing our gear, the market on reverb and eBay is FLOODED with great stuff that just doesn't move even at unprecedented low prices. Not uncommon to see just what I'm looking for on Reverb and it's been listed a year or two. You make a lowball offer and 90% of the time, they take it or negotiate a great deal.
Ain't nobody that's living a normal working life can afford this stuff anymore, due to our insane cost of living and even Obamacare insurance prices when reasonable.
I would hesitate a guess that if you learned some basics, you would be able to permanently throw yourself into the 5 second and other evening experiences you clearly love. Even without an edible. Then comes true nirvana when you use craigslist or other forums to locate beginners just like you, in lots of age ranges, who just want to play music with others. THAT'S when the real magic happens that sticks with you forever!
In any event, this is probably the best thing you've done for your wounded soul and ptsd in your life other than marrying Martha. Makes me happy!
I am a headphones guy, like my father before me -- he would stretch out on the floor of our living room with these big Aiwas over his ears, plugged into the HiFi system that he brought back from Thailand after the war -- and there is nothing in this world I love more than simply sinking into music that completely encloses my world. For many years now, my synesthetic musical experience is that a song is, in a very real way, a chamber or room or cavern into which I venture, and in there (sometimes) is everyone else who I've ever ventured into that chamber with in my life. You know how you're out at some event (clubbing if you're young, a wedding if you're old) and the DJ puts one of those all-time bangers on and everyone who knows and loves that track is suddenly all very much in a Time & Space together? That's the chamber, you are in that song together and sometimes, hearing that song again some later time when it's all around me, all of those past times fused together. It's the closest thing to time travel I've ever experienced. Music is pretty goddamn great magic. We've gotten rid of a lot of magic over the millennia but I am glad we hung onto music.
Maybe you’d like to play this year’s Tyler Family fun holiday track on your new system? (Release date TBD)
Congrats and welcome to the club. It can be addictive. But do yourself a favor.. one I stick to: ignore the a-holes in the audiophile community. There are a lot of them. Let your ears tell you what sounds right :-)
When I was maybe 8 years old in 1990 or so, I'd play a particular Beach Boys song (can't remember which) on my WalkMan, get "high"/dizzy by spinning around as fast as I could on one of those swiveling half-shell chairs, and vibe, the fuck, out. That was my first "immersive" experience with music. I was a weird kid. And I'm here for all the audiophile talk you'd like to dish out.
I remember my Infiniti floor speakers that were fantastic, and they went along with a Macintosh receiver. Once when we moved into a net little neighborhood in the Malibu Hills a neighbor (with a much bigger home and incredible equipment) invited us over for dinner, and that was the first time I ever heard Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. The experience may have been enhanced with some nice MaryJane, but I still consider that album one of the greatest ever.
Michael, Good choices on equipment and the gummy! I have the original Wiim Amp, and it is hard to beat on both sound and functionality. I chose the KEF R3 Meta speakers since I did not want to add a separate sub-woofer. I am sure our set-ups sound very similar. I used to go through lots of equipment looking for that certain magic, but now I know that with the quality of this modern equipment, it is more about the room and your ears (and mindset) than spending more money. I normally listen to CD-quality FLAC files stored on a local server, but I would guess in blind testing I would not consistently be able to hear a difference between that and 320 MP3 files. Have fun with your new stuff!
You convinced me, Michael. I just bought a pair of the KEF LS50 Wireless II Powered Bookshelf Speakers! Can't wait until they arrive on Sunday. KEF should give you a commission.
https://tinyurl.com/m5uhzf2y
Please give me full credit if you love them and I will accept no responsibility if you do not. (I love them so much.)
An ELAC Debut DB63-WNs featuring an aluminum dome tweeter, a woven-fiber aramid-fiber woofer, and internal bracing?!?
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
🤤🤤🤤
I collect old stereo gear, I love it.
As a long time OMD and weed fan, I can certainly understand that feeling. I just saw OMD earlier this week for the 10th time and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Don’t underestimate the gummy factor. It can pay major dividends.
Oh, I'm not. Gummis are stereo equipment.
Finally made me a paid subscriber. I have been chasing this since the early 90s. OMD's Sugar Tax album was the thing that got me. "So In Love" from their 1985 album "Crush" was killer on Walkman headphones. Had just ordered a new pair of earbuds last week so I can get the same high again on the go - now, thanks to reading this, I have to upgrade my home system. Thanks for bankrupting me.
Your Walkman must sound tremendous plugged into that rig
Michael, could you do a brother a favor and tell him the make/model of your speakers? I'm looking for something for the "B" connection to my stereo-oh-oh since my Heresy's, although great, are 45 years of age and I have been wanting something a bit smaller for my drum/music room where I record lots and listen more. The heresy's are in the living room, where all can "enjoy" them, lololol, as no one in my home but me is using real speakers and accessories such as you just purchased and is bluetoothing via various bluetooth speakers.
Thanks much!
KEF LS50 Metas. I was going to get the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amators but I think the tariffs jacked up the price too much.
Thanks sir. Now about that one day subscribers party down...
WOW! I think you went the right way. There's always haters, but dang those got some hella specs! Nice price as well. Thanks again! Now, do the same you did the other night with some of your favorite tunes and start digging life even more.
A late singer I played in a blues band used to remark when we'd play "Reconsider, baby" that isn't it funny how sad blues songs can make you feel better all over?" I'm not sure how that works but when I got transmogrified as a hard rock drummer at 24 by a couple of hardcore blues lead guitarists who wanted me in their band. Those two guys are still playing together after all these years and in fact are playing in Houston tonight at Re-hab. This band has been together now since May, 1989 and I had to opt out as I was graduating law school and had to study for the bar. I've been in and out of that band from after the bar until 1995 when I got wed, and since then an awesome drummer has held down the chair.
I did discover that what the singer mentioned above (RIP Joyce-ey) was true. I had somewhat listened to the blues before that momentous in which I usually say I was kidnapped by two bluesmen until I learned to play the blues, but it was completely consensual. I still play hard rock at times, but if the blues ever gets in your heart, and that's starting with Son House and his song Death Letter, and then you listen forward to current times, it will never leave. Or so I found. It just continued that same experience that began at age 5 with the Beatles.
THat's why I say, get an instrument. There are SO MANY free lessons by high caliber teachers on you tube. Having a few in person lessons at the start is always helpful for those questions you have, but you know you can get into a good instrument for a crazy low price, no matter what you want to play. Craigslist doesn't have the bargains it used to, but I've found stuff in excellent condition at thirft stores (Goodwill can be cruised online to a store near you), Music to Go, a nationwide chain here and there, (I hear) Facebook has marketplace deals near you but I don't FB. For far less than you paid for those most excellent speakers that will soon be in my living room, and I mean far less, you can get literally any instrument you want these days. And since boomers like me are downsizing our gear, the market on reverb and eBay is FLOODED with great stuff that just doesn't move even at unprecedented low prices. Not uncommon to see just what I'm looking for on Reverb and it's been listed a year or two. You make a lowball offer and 90% of the time, they take it or negotiate a great deal.
Ain't nobody that's living a normal working life can afford this stuff anymore, due to our insane cost of living and even Obamacare insurance prices when reasonable.
I would hesitate a guess that if you learned some basics, you would be able to permanently throw yourself into the 5 second and other evening experiences you clearly love. Even without an edible. Then comes true nirvana when you use craigslist or other forums to locate beginners just like you, in lots of age ranges, who just want to play music with others. THAT'S when the real magic happens that sticks with you forever!
In any event, this is probably the best thing you've done for your wounded soul and ptsd in your life other than marrying Martha. Makes me happy!
✨🕊️
FREEDOM 🦋
💚💜
"More speakers! MORE!" ⏸️
I am a headphones guy, like my father before me -- he would stretch out on the floor of our living room with these big Aiwas over his ears, plugged into the HiFi system that he brought back from Thailand after the war -- and there is nothing in this world I love more than simply sinking into music that completely encloses my world. For many years now, my synesthetic musical experience is that a song is, in a very real way, a chamber or room or cavern into which I venture, and in there (sometimes) is everyone else who I've ever ventured into that chamber with in my life. You know how you're out at some event (clubbing if you're young, a wedding if you're old) and the DJ puts one of those all-time bangers on and everyone who knows and loves that track is suddenly all very much in a Time & Space together? That's the chamber, you are in that song together and sometimes, hearing that song again some later time when it's all around me, all of those past times fused together. It's the closest thing to time travel I've ever experienced. Music is pretty goddamn great magic. We've gotten rid of a lot of magic over the millennia but I am glad we hung onto music.
Ah. Your family experience likely parallels mine. Father Air Force? Our stereo also came from Thailand following the war. @Elder Dan
This too. We've had music since we began beating on logs and stuff.
We've gotten rid of a lot of magic over the millennia but I am glad we hung onto music.
Hearing Martin Logans through a decent amp was amazing.