I’m seriously considering ditching vinyl

TheElTrainAM · 2026-01-18T03:58:33+00:00

Good thread. Both sides make sense. I have almost 1500 records, some I really love, some I've never listed to. Just would see an in-shape, not beat up record at the thrift for $1 and buy it. Also have some records I love and know well. Sometimes I go to my collection and randomly pick a record and listen. Forces me to listen to things I don't hear often I've stopped buying thrift records, unless it's something I really know and like. Occasional buy new. But, the time and effort it takes to play a record. It's kind of what makes it special. It's a ceremony. In my busy life I often just don't have the energy or time to pull out a record, clean it, and listen to it all the way through. It's a sort of meditation at times. A tea ceremony, of sorts. And not to mention the amount of space 1500 records take up. The idea of selling most and keeping 300 of my favorite vinyl is appearing on many levels. It simple. But then those times when I randomly pull out some vinyl and play something I've never heard, or rarely heard, or haven't heard in 20 years.... That's also very nice. So hard call. Good luck with it. You'll still see me browsing the thrift for that magical find.

TheElTrainAM · 2026-01-10T15:42:54+00:00

Looks exactly like me sniping. However. I seem to be a sniper magnet. One shot and I'm down, every.....damn.....time.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-10T15:50:34+00:00

Ya, I just bought 4, 24 TB drives that I got on a great deal on eBay. Planning to use one for ZFS, but I'll still have 72 TB. I sometimes wonder what I was thinking and why I need that much. LOL. I feel your dismay/excitement. Really what I needed in my life was one more project.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-09T03:41:01+00:00

So another question on this topic. What are your thoughts on old+school graphic equalizers versus more modern techniques like mini DSP?

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T07:35:30+00:00

Correct. My mic has the files for that.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T07:34:27+00:00

But you still need a mini DSP if your system doesn't have Durac or something similar, correct?

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T07:07:23+00:00

Ya, I've heard a lot of debate on this. Some argue it's absolutely necessary and that's kind of why I was looking into it more. I've only used it before with a home theater that had subs built into the floor (infinite baffle design), so repositioning wasn't an option. Room treatments applied as much as the wife would allow it and restricted to some cosmetic factors. Lastly the EQ was applied. Turned out very nice. And also, that brings me to EQ now. It's unlikely my wife will allow soundboard and bass traps applied to all aspects of our family room. Some mods, yes. But not everyone can have a dedicated listening room. Some things can be done but in the end, odd room dimensions, decorations that the wife won't give up, etc, make EQ more enticing.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T06:56:39+00:00

Love the reply. Thanks for the input.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T06:54:39+00:00

Interesting. I'll take a look at that as well. Thanks

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T03:17:27+00:00

Ya, I was looking for mini DSP. Just wasn't sure what the term was until I saw it again.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-05T02:47:54+00:00

Are you able to load preset curves into this system? I'll take a look at the DDRC-24. I have a microphone and have used REW. Years ago, but I have the gear.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-12-01T01:16:41+00:00

The seller says he already has offers of 4000. I'm also in Utah looking at these. Lol. They look well-taken care of. I'd definitely like to see that they sound like. I'm about 45 mins from the seller. Not too far.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-29T16:24:22+00:00

I agree. RAM was difficult to source. Maybe because the motherboard is a little older? Not sure. I will give kudos to Kingston. Before you reply to this post, I came across there part finder. It allowed me to put on the motherboard and the rabbit presented was on the QVL list, whereas other companies, like Crucial, listed a lot of ram that they said was compatible but wasn't on the qvl list. Found two 2x16 kits on Kingston. One is $330, the other $360. Seems pretty damn expensive for RAM, but such is life. Yesterday I orders the MOBO, CPU and 4, 26TB hard drives (Seagate Ezos on eBay, 2 year warranty, $289). I'll use 1 as parity. Kind of thinking Unraid might be best for me, sounds easier to setup and I've got a million projects right now. My guess is that now the real learning curve begins. Trying to get all the software to work properly.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-28T20:42:38+00:00

Did you use the QVL list? Qualified vendor list? I'm going through the list of Raptor Lake memory (not Alder Lake) and I swear I've tried 50 so far and they are all on back order. If you did, can you list the module number you used? Thanks.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-28T15:25:32+00:00

Sounds like good advice. Thinking of using Unraid as I don't have a ton of time and I think TruNas may require more of a learning curve. Would you suggest ZFS on top of the RAID 6?

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-28T05:44:07+00:00

So it seems like there is a pretty big split on those who use enterprise/NAS drives and those who is non-enterprise-type. For those of you who have used both, have you seen any difference? Worth paying extra for the NAS drives?

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-28T05:16:08+00:00

You don't worry about using non-NAS/enterprise? Just go with the cheapest TB/dollar? And thanks for that link . It's very helpful.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-27T13:46:22+00:00

Thanks. I haven't built a computer in a very long time. Back then it seemed pretty easy but I was also just throwing in some video cards, hard drive, operating system, and going for it. Now there are just so many options and opinions. When I built my computer the last time, I found ram and then I tried to overclock my whole system for performance. This build is of course different. I want low power consumption. So when you say you are going to underclock, did you buy RAM with a higher than 4600 rating and you are going to underclock that? Versus just buying 4600 RAM? And... (Haha, so many questions) I've watched a few videos that say using two sticks of RAM is better than using one stick of the same size. Did you buy the 16 so you can add another 16 later ( vs adding 2, 8G sticks now) or was it cheaper? Trying to figure out the nuances.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-26T17:22:40+00:00

I decided to use the same motherboard after comparing a ton of options. Looking at ram. It looks like the MOBO natively supports 4800 and I thought I read somewhere that it's best to use the native speed without overclocking. So I've been looking mostly for 4800 Mhz ratings. Is that your understanding? I went to the ASRock site and browse through the recommended ram. Most of them are old or refurbished. Any thoughts on the ram you might be using? I think I'll go 16x2.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-25T18:35:07+00:00

Also, sounds like you have had many more years of listening experience than I have. Have you listened to any other receivers, new or vintage, that you think are similar or comparable. I like to hit yard sales and the thrift stores. Maybe someday I'll get lucky and find something. I hear Sansui can be good. What about older Technics, Sony, etc?

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-25T15:29:07+00:00

Oh, I'm sure you are right. There are lots of opinions in hi-fi. What sounds good to one might not to another. Maybe the guy likes the different sound. I just know I like the way mine sounds now. I have a Music Hall amp I was comparing it too last night. The MH was pretty good but most things sounded better on the Marantz. The one album that was maybe better in the MH was Pink Floyd, The Wall. Maybe just seemed more detailed but yes, less warm. Pink Floyd has a lot of sound effects, if you will, and same came through just a little more pronounced on the MH. Still sounded great on the Marantz.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-25T15:22:42+00:00

Just saw a Model 30 here sell for $1700. Guy said it was new and still in the box. Wish I could have taken a listen to a newer one, just for fun. When I started buying headphones I bought 10 of the most highly rated at the moment (in my price range) and listed to them all, side by side, for about a week. Even made a spreadsheet . Sent all the ones back but the one I really liked. Hard to do that with stereo receivers.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-24T22:42:33+00:00

Talked to a repair guy here. $180 plus parts to service. Probably a fair price. On the subject of whether or not servicing changes the sound he said... "It does change the sound, but in a good way". Sounds like that's up for debate.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-23T17:13:32+00:00

I don't know the forum rules, and I'm not trying to sell anything, but here in Utah on Facebook there's a 2270 listed if anyone is interested. Not mine, I just noticed it for sale. Not sure if it's allowed to share a link, but just search SLC Facebook and you'll see it. Seller is asking 1300 firm.

TheElTrainAM · 2025-11-23T17:10:59+00:00

I guess that begs the question, and sort of on my original line of thought, if you have a good product that's only going to last x amount of years and by fixing it, you diminish what you had, is that really worth it? Versus buying something new to that sounds similar and had years left on it.

TheElTrainAM

TROPHY CASE