New year, new thread!
Just got out the pretty entertaining Denon DL-103 in a Midas aluhousing. A cart with a positive attitude, making you shake your rumpa’ or take the missus for a spontaneous dance!
And on the other side of the rack, this just entered!
A mid tier cart from DS Audio, the DS W3. After trying their entry level DS E1 and being completely blown away, i had no hesitation to dip my toes further in the optical cartridge waters!
And this is truly remarkable, i can only advise to try out the optical carts and equalizers from DS Audio (or equalizers from other makers, like EMM Labs, Soulnote etc).
This is not a subtle advancement, and really, really good, even for the money!
Theres an interesting article in this months hi-fi news with definitive so called audiophile vinyl releases.
After the MOFI admission that not all their albums are analogue they new state when they have used a digital stage.
The mag mention this. MOFI albums like Hotel California aren’t analogue and have a DSD stage. They are charging £140 for whats basically a CD.
You can get the uk 1st pressing for less than £10 inc postage.
I just wonder some times what world we live in. I certainly don’t inhabit the same world as the people who buy such product as the MOFI stuff.
For some, it’s a world driven by convienience and greed. How easily and cheaply can we get this product out, and charge the most for it?
Of course that’s a blanket statement and doesn’t apply to everyone. But we all know these people and companies exist.
There still are good people and companies out there though.
This place says they do all analog pressings and explain their process.
https://chasingthedragon.co.uk/
I have an order for several albums on vinyl with them. Plus I bought the DSD and some PCM versions as well. It’s good stuff.
This statement is incorrect. MOFI make a flat DSD256 transfer from the original analogue master tape, which is audibly undistinguishable to the analogue master.
They are not therefore selling you a CD.
Have you actually heard this MOFI release? I have it, and it sounds absolutely stunning.
A lot of the preference for vinyl over digital (CDs, downloads, streaming) has to do with dynamic range and dynamic range compression. Darko explains things fairly clearly in this video:
OOH but Woop Woop
I bought that version of the album for my son as his first vinyl album. I remember it being quite dirty and noisy so it required a couple of cleans
Welcome friend to a lifetime of poverty
Enjoy! Looks very good, and a great album, too.
Actually I didn’t get that on the sexy blue vinyl.
Might have to get that one for myself
Skint, but happy!!
I was being unusually brief as walking toy seat at the football
Yes absolutely
I still think it’s strange that we still collect these 12-inch bits of plastic, especially since we can stream the same music at the push of a button?
But I’m so glad I hung onto my turntable and records, when it was mothballed thirty-years ago. I was very close to getting shot of the lot then. It now brings me so much pleasure.
I have a good friend who got-rid of his turntable and records in the past, and now regrets it.
ENJOY Lewis, and welcome to the club!!
I couldn’t agree more with everything you’ve said
As I’ve stated many times before, when CDs were introduced back in the late 1980s and everyone was dumping their vinyl, I bought myself a used Linn LP12, which I’ve since upgraded several times, and kept and continued to grow my vinyl collection. I’ve had periods when I almost played any vinyl but for the past several years I’ve made a point of playing several records each week. And as I always like to say, almost all of my vinyl is 100% analog!
You’ll love it Lewis.
I still get that little ‘kick’ when I buy an album I love on vinyl
I still buy the odd SACD, but it doesn’t ‘mean’ the same…?
Vinyl is a truly beautiful, yet confounding medium!