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In Reply to: RE: August Stereophile came today 7/9 posted by jamestavegia@gmail.com on July 09, 2014 at 15:31:35
That $32,000 piece of gear on the cover just turned me off - both for price and appearance. That thing is just plain ugly. YMMV, though.
Then there was the $5,300 Octave. And the $42,790 Lamm. The $449 Tascam seemed somewhat reasonable.
Overall, the Stereophile boys seem to have lost touch with reality. And what's with yet another Keith Jarrett review?
Follow Ups:
...a grotesquely oversized, mutated Rolex, shouting "I am very expensive, look at me, and be in awe of my designer. Then, be in awe of my owner (but to a lesser degree)."
"It is not what it is, but what it does. -Jim Tavegia"well said jim. the dan d stuff IS unconventional in appearance but a real joy to touch and feel. unique pieces that good can enhance one's sense of immersion in the hobby. besides, the feel of the gain control on the pre is voluptuous.
yeah, i very much like the feel of the gain control on my ARC SP3A1 and much prefer it to ANY electronic control. finding the sweet spot of volume comes much quicker and requires a lot let fidgeting (the button pressing up and down).
different horses for different courses.
...regards...tr
Edits: 07/12/14
I'd say it's egregiously ugly!
...reminds me of a modern stylized Marantz Model 9 amp.
These are highly prized and sought after in Japan, where big money is paid for them - to show off in display cases rather then use them.
I suspect there is a big market for Momentum equipment there as well.
See the link below.
bathroom scale I have ever seen!
Looks like it's filled with sea water. If you open it up, does the water come spilling out?
Maybe it's a set decoration from "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea".
"Maybe it's a set decoration from "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"."
I think you're close but maybe more 'Twenty thousand leagues under the sea'. Very Verneish.
Obviously it's mainly an I.D. product and a very grotesque example at that. Not my cup of tea by any means. But then again it's targeted at a whole different market niche than the one I occupy and exemplifies a philosophy which I abhor. I don't buy products for what they SAY about me but rather for what they can DO for me. Ironically the latter inevitably informs the former from whence came the VW bug people of my youth.
Viva la difference!
Rick
nt
I love the music of ... ... Gustav Mahler
That has always been my thinking on that equipment; the meter looks as though it belongs on some sort of diving equipment.
Maybe if they had a place for owner's comments on some of the very expensive stuff it would make sense to me. The fact that something went wrong with the meter on the preamp on the front cover seems troublesome to me, but that review piece may have some miles on it. Many review samples do. The price of it does not bother me and I'm happy someone can own it and enjoy it.
Jim Tavegia
Price is relative. It's certainly out of my league but some of the stuff I buy would break the budget of another. I'm just thinking that the looks of that piece alone would keep me away regardless of price. I tend to prefer a sharply squared off almost industrial or laboratory look. Pass Labs and ARC come to mind, not that own any at the moment.
I agree as I prefer the understated look of my gear.It is not what it is, but what it does.
Jim Tavegia
And, as I explained, there are alternate versions to the one I tested, the pictured one with a pullout drawer with an iPod connection, and one with a WiFi connection, and I believe a USB thumb drive enabled version.
Over the past 13 years at Stereophile and before that when I was at TAS I have concentrated (with a few side trips to nicer neighborhoods) on gear and complete systems that are excellent value for money, and I have recommended complete (CD Receiver-based) systems as affordable as $1500.
So, while the cover photo might annoy you (I have not seen this issue yet), I think that between RJR's long-running series on budget loudspeakers, all the gear recommended by the now-departed Stephen Mejias, and occasional bargains highlighted by Sam Tellig, JA, and others, we have not lost touch with reality.
I once met a subscriber who had spent a lot of money--a a lot, more than $100,000--converting a horse barn into a listening room. I think that as a whole, the magazine has to address the needs of the subscriber base as a whole, and I think it does.
Please note my correction in the subject line on the street price of the TASCAM CD-200.
JM
It's all about being relevant. Rather than all the focus on fancy, shiny gear, I'd like to see the mag do more "hands on/news I can use" reporting.
Talk to me me about the slew of Internet radio stations - who's the best in different genres and why, who's new, who's gone, who has the best bit rates, etc. Maybe a monthly series on a dozen or so staff finds/recommendations, too.
Talk to me about all the streaming services - who's best and why, who has the better content, what's new, etc.
Talk to me about how best to get audio from my iPhones, iPods, iPads, PC, etc., into my system in a different room. In short, how about some PC 101 reporting? Talk to me about the music managers like iTunes and how to deal with a full 2 TB drive and moving it to a 4 TB drive and making the 4 TB drive the main source.
Sure, Stereophile does "some" of that. Do more with the same energy and space new components get.
And, say, how come my subscription is $14 a year and all these other folks get it for $7?
I think that Michael Lavorgna now appearing in the print issue should address your issues nicely.
FWIW, for everybody I know who has totally gone into served music, there are at least as many people who listen to Pandora when they want something playing in the background, and then switch to SACD, CD, or LP when they want to listen seriously.
JM
"FWIW, for everybody I know who has totally gone into served music, there are at least as many people who listen to Pandora when they want something playing in the background, and then switch to SACD, CD, or LP when they want to listen seriously."
JM, that is exactly how I listen and I've spoken to many others who do the same. I, for one, appreciate reviews like yours on the Tascam CDP and look forward to reading more of the like in the future.
Complaining about CDP reviews-
This jump on the latest bandwagon atitude reminds me of what happened when CD's took over the marketplace and the same kind of nay-sayers complained about the magazines that still published reviews of turntables, tonearms, and cartridges. We all know how that went :-(
Cheers,
Al
I enjoy reading about stuff that I will never own, and yes it is audio bling for sure, but that is what DD does some times. He is not alone with most high end manufacturers. Wilson speakers certainly call attention to themselves in a room, and that would be when they are off.
I like the science and math of Fremer's col and I enjoy AD and JM and the test reports to try and verify if something meets the marketing hype. If I find one piece of new music that I can enjoy that is good enough for me. Most of the time As We See it...usually makes me think some.
Most of the gear that I can afford would not require a test report to outline most of its flaws. It would fall in the Tascam CD200 category, but with everyone on the DAC craze, maybe finding a good disc spinner could be a good thing.
I get a lot more upset when I read a news paper or Drudge Report. This is an Oasis. The real world stuff is more worth getting upset about.
Jim Tavegia
I also enjoy reading about stuff I'll never own, and I learn about what to listen for in my system and the equipment of others. Occasionally I will learn about a piece of music that I want to hear.
I tend to skip the stuff I don't like or find interesting--which is exactly the way anybody reads a magazine! My flip-page-quickly articles are (because I find them a space-waster and can't imagine too many other people who don't) Art Dudley's interminable Popular Mechanics articles on rebuilding 60 year old equipment and (because they are well written but I no longer use my turntable or upgrade it) Fremer's reviews.
An oasis is exactly what HOBBIES are meant to be! I like the analogy.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
and don't necessarily disagree.
I do think they've lost touch - to some extent. I'm still waiting to see some things I've picked up reviewed - maybe the Schiit Mogi and Magni, for starters. They've been out for nearly two years now and while they don't cost a savings account (at $99 each), they deserve some respect. I'm happy with them.
Yes, that Tascam CDP looks nice, but I'm pulling the stand alone player from my setup as I increasingly rely on my PC-based system and a Bluray Disc player that plays CDs in a pinch and has a nice USB input for the flash drive I use for my new stuff - and it works at home and in the car, too!
Like you, I look forward learning about some new music each month and I really hope they expand that offering.
And so it goes ...
I'm not sure why they chose to review the budget Tascam CDP. In my opinion, those who are still buying CDPs in this audiophile hobby are probably seeking something much more high-end. Do I need a $300 - $500 CDP? Does anyone?
Like you, many of us are pulling the CDP out of our systems and replacing them with modestly priced streamers, DACs, reclockers, USB cables, and PC/Mac music servers. Why review a 'pro' CDP that most readers have no interest in. I agree with you. They need to catch up with the times.
TAS and internet sites seem to be more leading edge in this regard. Stereophile will sometimes get on board and review those items but usually after the others have already beat them to the punch and it's old news.
we all don't want non-physical media. i have watched you progress through this hobby and i see you have found a comfort zone as we all should. i envy your zone.
i have thought about a decent outboard dac like the bryston but then it might just sound better to me with a likewise high end transport. and tubes in the dac might delight me bit for now i have other players.
i really don't want to be dumping MY money on the currently high priced HR/HD downloads as nice as they sound. i really like to hold the media in my hands and read liner note that aren't bound to a screen, preferably the 12" size.
i wouldn't refuse a true high end universal player, an oppo 105 would do, perhaps with a tube mod but its not likely on my current budget.
thanks for letting us stay current on your itinerary to pleasure.
...regards...tr
BTW, the tubed ModWright/Oppo 105 is worth the money.
Too much $$ on that Oppo as far as I'm concerned for all the AV stuff I wuold not use and what, have to setup on screen too? No way but that's me.Now, Stereophile I get only because it's cheap. Don't read much reviews anymore on line mags included. A bit out of hand on the extravagant spending stuff out of reach for a lot of us.
I will pick up the not so extravagant stuff used though. Thank you !!! to those who flip equipment often.
Edits: 07/13/14
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