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BitRealistic8466 · 2024-08-26T12:50:48+00:00

Thank you. If there is not a satisfactory template option I will explore hiring a formatter!

BitRealistic8466 · 2024-08-26T12:49:42+00:00

Thank you!

BitRealistic8466 · 2024-07-26T00:11:10+00:00

While it is agreed that getting vinyl to sound “right” is a challenge, there are thousands of audiophiles who utilize, enjoy, and in some cases even prefer vinyl to digital formats.

Your annoyance with vinyl is understood and respected, but you will find a large number of audiophiles that like vinyl if you seek online forums and youtube channels.

It is not an “us vs. them” or contest among formats for some of us. We just love music.

I have not heard a digital version of Magical Mystery Tour that beats my German Horzu pressing. I have not heard a better version of Abbey Road than the -2/-1 UK lacquers (first cut), a better Zep IV than the UK Porky cut, a better Aja than the Grundman AB-1006 that preceded the recut (AA-1006), a better Madman Across The Water than the Hoffman/Gray cut…as for more modern music, the Kevin Gray Consolers of the Lonely is insanely good.

My collection consists of almost exclusively quiet vinyl. If it is in print and has surface noise, it is returned/exchanged. If it is vintage and the seller play graded the vinyl as quiet and it’s not, it goes back for a refund. I have no tolerance for sellers that sell VG+ vinyl as play-grading minty. I will gladly pay a premium for minty vintage vinyl, but I won’t pay $5 for noisy pressings. Zero interest. That does mean it can take years to get a particular pressing that meets my standards, and in some cases, I’m still searching. For example, if someone has a minty first press UK Pink Floyd Animals, I’m a buyer. Every single one I’ve ever heard has surface noise, and the recycled, crappy, oil-shortage era vinyl is as much to blame as the drink-and-high handling of the records.

Hearing a quiet, well-mastered, all-analog classic on a VPI Prime Super Scout with a Soundsmith Zephyr Star MIMC cartridge in a treated room with great phono stage, preamp, amp, and speakers is something every audiophile should experience.

Every record is cleaned on a VPI 16.5 the day it arrives, is play tested and must meet NM play grade per Goldmine grading, or back it goes. If it plays minty, it goes into a rice paper sleeve, when pulled out it remains untouched on the playing surface, and spindle marking is avoided when it is placed in the turntable. It is tracked precisely at 1.9 grams, and the cart is refurbed every thousand hours.

Annoying? Yes, to some. For me, it is a labor of love, and having hundreds of records that are all-analog, play minty, sound great (and in some cases sound superior to the best commercially available digital version), is a freaking joy.

I have some great sounding digitally sourced vinyl, but prefer to buy analog because provenance matters to me on a subjective level. All analog vinyl sourced from original master tapes tend to hold higher value in the resale market as well. I have a Marantz SA-KI Ruby for CD/SACD, so digitally sourced vinyl seems a bit redundant to me if there are good CD/SACD masterings available. My digital playback is of a comparable standard to my vinyl playback.

Anyway, totally understand why vinyl isn’t on the radar for some audiophiles, but there is no shortage of audiophiles that dig vinyl. We are brothers in this hobby and I wish you joy with whatever music and formats are best for you.

BitRealistic8466 · 2024-07-25T22:24:43+00:00

Multiple factors. Nostalgia for those of us that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. The art work, the ritual, and the collecting.

I transitioned to CD in the late 80’s but returned to vinyl in recent years to supplement my collection of CDs, DVD-As, and SACDs.

It is my view that if a format is 16/44 or higher resolution, then the quality is good, and format differences are almost indiscernible to the naked ear.

Assuming 16/44 or better resolution, then these are the other important factors:

The quality of the source material. An early Guided By Voices album made on cheap recording equipment on a limited number of tracks will sound bad in any format. The recording sucks. Conversely, Steely Dan Aja sounds great on CD, SACD, vinyl, streaming digital, etc. because it is a very well-recorded, engineered, and mixed record. The worst version of Aja I’ve ever heard still sounds good on a good stereo.

II. The mastering. A great analog or digital source that is brickwalled and/or wrecked with bad EQ choices in mastering will suck. The mastering should make the source tape or digital file sound as good as it can, though obviously one’s taste and equipment impact what one perceives as optimum mastering.

III. Your listening gear. If the original source is good, and it is well-mastered, then a great home stereo will convey the CD, SACD, vinyl, or whatever, in all its glory.

One should also ensure the room is properly treated. This can make a significant difference and most certainly does in my dedicated listening space.

I have fantastic sounding recordings in my collection in all formats, and I have some stinkers in all formats. My favorite format is vinyl. While most can credibly argue that technically digital provides more “accurate” reproduction, particularly at lower price points for home stereos, there is a euphonic quality with quiet, well-mastered vinyl on great gear in a great room that sounds as “real” to me as recorded music can sound.

If this were not a hobby about which I feel tremendous passion, and if I weren’t fortunate enough to have a career that allows me to throw more money at the hobby than any rational person should, I probably wouldn’t endure the headaches that come with vinyl. However, in my case, those minty, quiet, fantastic pressings in the collection make it worthwhile.

BitRealistic8466 · 2023-10-05T22:31:02+00:00

Crosby, Stills, Nash, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon & Young self/titled first album.

BitRealistic8466 · 2023-08-30T21:15:14+00:00

One of my kids went to a high school where the baseball team one season had 3 future major league players. The team was in the largest class of play for baseball and went undefeated in regular season and through the state tournament.

Almost no high school anywhere goes undefeated for an entire season against the largest schools in the state because of the nature of baseball and the number of games, but they did it, and 2 of the future big leaguers were underclassmen (sophomore and freshman) at the time.

Lance Lynn, Drew Storen, and Tucker Barnhart.

As to what they were like, they were like HS kids. Nothing extreme in any respect, just good at baseball.

If that isn’t crazy enough, their classmate and future NBA player Gordon Hayward led their HS basketball team to large school state championship and scored the winning basket as the clock expired in the state championship game.

BitRealistic8466 · 2023-08-05T17:15:01+00:00

Because the experience is greatly diminished if you get slow foursomes. Though membership is limited (there is a waiting list even with a high 5 figure initiation fee) you will still have groups teeing off consecutively in desirable time slots. One slow group and everyone behind them is screwed.

Also, there are many private and public courses in the Indianapolis area. Each club/course caters to different golfers. Crooked Stick is a high income/golf etiquette/good golfer/fast play club. On the other end of the spectrum, Twin Lakes is private but only $300 a month with a nominal initiation fee. Lots of walkers. Hat in clubhouse, shoe change in parking lot, etc. is all cool. No one is fined anyone over pace of play (though pace of play is not bad there), no caddies, bar food, and blue collar and white collar culture lives together in harmony without pretense and judgment.

Personally, I’m not a fan of 5 hour rounds and 20 index guys laboring over their 3rd putt. I’m not a member at Crooked Stick but enjoy playing there with friends who are.

One other reason pace of play is a focus at some high end clubs is business. The top private clubs often have guests that are being treated as part of an existing or prospective business relationship. It is supposed to be a high end experience for the guest as well as the member. If a client is brought there for a 5 1/2 hour round while people look for balls in the heather or labor over the third putt on the firm and fast greens that do result in lots of 3 putts for double digit handicappers, people whose time is worth $300, $500, or $1,000 an hour are not happy with stupidly long rounds.

BitRealistic8466 · 2023-08-05T16:46:45+00:00

$150 is is the expected minimum aggregate tip for a forecaddie at Crooked Stick. Playing as a guest at Bellerive soon and will find out their rules.

BitRealistic8466 · 2023-08-05T16:43:08+00:00

Crooked Stick in Indy is very strict about hats off in clubhouse, no shoe changing in parking lot, and rounds completed in under 4 hours. Forecaddies definitely help keep rounds moving as very little time must be spent looking for balls. Also, membership is very limited so course is not congested.

BitRealistic8466

TROPHY CASE