In appreciation of convenience
Posted by: dayjay on 02 November 2016
For the last three ish weeks I have been without my little Hugo and, thanks to Doug Brady Hifi, was very relieved to receive it back yesterday all working and fixed under warranty. I have been surprised how its absence, and the absence of digital music therefore, has impacted on the amount of music listening and associated pleasure I have been having during those three weeks. Despite the fact that I have a pretty decent vinyl set up and a Nat05xs I would guess that the amount of time I spent listening dropped by two thirds, and listening to new music, in the absence of the excellent Audirvana/Tidal option, dropped to virtually nothing. This has nothing to do with sound quality, in my view the quality of my RP8 and Hugo playback is pretty comparable with the quality of recording being the deciding factor more often than not, but more to do with convenience and ease of use. I have delved into my vinyl collection and played some old favourites and I've listened to more radio but what I have found is that my late night listening, which is when I have most time to do so, dropped right off. Now this could be because I'm a lazy so and so but I think it's more to do with how quick and easy it is to pick up the IPad, find a good album and have it running, and sounding lovely, very very quickly. I still love playing records on the Rega but it is something I do as a treat, when I have a Sunday to myself and can indulge in the ritual of playing the vinyl and not something I want to do at the end of a long day, at 10:30pm before bed so much.
I don't really care what source I use as long as it sounds good and I love all three of mine bug I've seen many disdainful references to convenience in the many digital vs vinyl discussions on forums that I have read but for me it would seem that convenience translates to length of time spent listening and musical pleasure. So I thought I would express my appreciation of convenience whist my lovely Hugo plays Bad Company in the background. It's lovely to have both back!
Richard Dane posted:David, I know you posted this in the Padded Cell, and at first I felt I would leave it there to see where it went, but now it looks like the Hifi Corner would be the most appropriate room, so that's where I moved it.
You've swapped it with the boxes thread! 
Richard Dane posted:Hmack, I don't do the tape project, although on a visit to Focal a few years back I was delighted to see some of their tapes on the desk of one of the directors who is an avid R2R fan. However, I am lucky enough to have around 200 or so pre recorded reels from the '60s and '70s, mostly from the USA where 4 track tape at 7 1/2 ips was as good as it got for many years. I still buy them when I can. Last one recently - tosca on RCA living stereo.
One of the reasons I still keep the 4000DS is that most tapes were originally released as 3 3/4 IPS, not the best SQ I agree. The B77 7/1/2 - 15 is mostly used for recording these days. Those original recordings or re-releases at 7 1/2 speed do not come cheap.
Slim68 posted:Tony2011 posted:I think you're missing the point here, Slim. I do streaming with Tidal, and CD rip replay all the time and I can understand it is really convenient But there are times when I feel like listening to my music a little "closer" and only vinyl or other analogues sources give me that felling.
Tony, maybe I am missing the point. But here I am listening to some Music on my iPad! I used to have a TT years ago and still have every LP I have purchased. For me I always have enjoyed CD replay and streaming has only added to my enjoyment.
Apologies if I came across I bit abrupt, Slim . It was not my intention. Although we may enjoy different formats, music comes first.
Enjoy it!
Tony2011 posted:Slim68 posted:Tony2011 posted:I think you're missing the point here, Slim. I do streaming with Tidal, and CD rip replay all the time and I can understand it is really convenient But there are times when I feel like listening to my music a little "closer" and only vinyl or other analogues sources give me that felling.
Tony, maybe I am missing the point. But here I am listening to some Music on my iPad! I used to have a TT years ago and still have every LP I have purchased. For me I always have enjoyed CD replay and streaming has only added to my enjoyment.
Apologies if I came across I bit abrupt, Slim . It was not my intention. Although we may enjoy different formats, music comes first.
Enjoy it!
No problem. 100% with you on that Tony, music first.