re: Audiophile/Vinyl Thread - Post Pics, Advice, Questions, Setups, etc.

The sign of a truly great record store...


Yesterday I was in BR and stopped in Capital City Records. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but ended up walking to the register with an Arcade Fire LP—a quick selection to just sort of buy something because I was there.

Dana Labat, the fella that owns Capital City Records, who remembered me and my audiophile leanings from my last visit a while back, suggested to me as I was checking out, the Analogue Production’s Double 180g live acoustic recording of Nils Lofgren. He told me that he had a friend with a high end rig and it sounded phenomenal on that—so he got one and it sounded great on his own high end rig. So I picked up a copy.

Well, this record delivers!...actually over delivers. It truly is an audio masterpiece and the music is also great. It isn’t an inexpensive record, but if you want to hear great acoustic music from a superb recorded and pressed LP, go pick one up from Dana.

I had not been to Capital City in almost a year, but when I walked in and the owner remembers your name, your audio preferences, and music tastes, that is a sign of a person involved in their trade—-hats off Dana!!


Here it is...






Nils Lofgren—“Acoustic Live”...Analogue Productions, 2 180g LPs, 2015.

Recorded at The Barns of Wolftrap, Vienna, VA, 1/18/97

quote:

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Analogue Production

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I've developed a real problem since I have discovered this! I've yet to buy something from AP that hasn't knocked my socks off.

Write a review of the Evans boxset for us once you digest it. I have been wanting to pull the trigger, but haven't done it yet. I have a lot of those recordings already, but the box looks awesome.

what do you know about Wilson Audio speakers? I'm thinking about making an offer on a seller's re-certified Sophia 2's, which were in production from 2005-2012 I think, and I'm not sure when these specific ones were made just yet.

The seller purchased these as re-certified speakers. Ideally I'd like to get them for under 6k, but I know they sold for much more brand new.

So I guess my question is, have there been enough advancements in speaker designs/tech in the following 13 years that it would just be smarter to purchase a new pair of speakers under 6k? Or is it still a good idea to get the most bang for my buck purchasing and older "higher-end" speaker that's really well regarded? Also, what is the lifespan of a "high-end" speaker? Are there certain parts you would need to worry about after a decade plus of use...assuming they were maintained properly?

My biggest problem is I have no real way of auditioning any of the speakers I'm looking at, so i'm having to base everything off of reviews, youtube video sound and articles.

Anyway, thought i'd reach out for some advice.


ETA: for example i noticed focal dealers have knocked significant amounts off their Aria & Electra lines. The two i'm specifically looking at are the Aria 936 & Electra 1028 Be's. So would a 13 year old designed wilson audio sophia 2 be the better option over a new focal speaker? I know this is probably impossible to answer given all of the variables.

I’m sure some of you saw that Analogue Productions are bringing back their UHQR (Ultra High Quality Record) series. The first title to be released will be Hendrix’s Bold As Love, mastered by Bernie Grundman, who I thought did a good job on the Floyd reissues. Although I have many versions of this title, it’s prob my favorite from Jimi, so I had to purchase it again. Most of my best pressings are from these guys. Bet it will sound like Heaven. Right now it’s limited to 5,000 copies, stereo and mono versions. Mono is sold out already.

Bold As Love

UPS was a little late today but some boxes have arrived.

Figured it was time to upgrade from my Onkyo AVR for music. I've been window shopping for far too long. I'm going to start out with PS Audio's "intro" Stellar system. Those are two M700 monoblocks. I was hesitant about the class D amps but they appear to be getting good reviews and I doubt I will be able to tell the difference with my current speakers. I jumped on these because they were new in box on Audiogon for nearly half of the retail price.

I also just snagged their "intro" cd player so that should be arriving soon as well. I'll probably end up with their Stellar Gain Cell preamp in a month or so. Should make a decent starter system.

quote:

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The sign of a truly great record store...


Yesterday I was in BR and stopped in Capital City Records. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but ended up walking to the register with an Arcade Fire LP—a quick selection to just sort of buy something because I was there.

Dana Labat, the fella that owns Capital City Records, who remembered me and my audiophile leanings from my last visit a while back, suggested to me as I was checking out, the Analogue Production’s Double 180g live acoustic recording of Nils Lofgren. He told me that he had a friend with a high end rig and it sounded phenomenal on that—so he got one and it sounded great on his own high end rig. So I picked up a copy.

Well, this record delivers!...actually over delivers. It truly is an audio masterpiece and the music is also great. It isn’t an inexpensive record, but if you want to hear great acoustic music from a superb recorded and pressed LP, go pick one up from Dana.

I had not been to Capital City in almost a year, but when I walked in and the owner remembers your name, your audio preferences, and music tastes, that is a sign of a person involved in their trade—-hats off Dana!!

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Hidden gem. One of the absolute best record stores I've ever been to. I've found albums there that I never expected to see on a shelf.

The M700's are hooked up. Apparently I've been missing some bass!