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"Who cares if they're not pretty or sexy? They're smart, and they like [popular] music." An Inmate, who still has the Totem Model 1 Signature, checked in with me. "I've known you since the early 2000s. I think I originally asked about cables: XLO and Kimber. But I regret not asking you about the girls."
I started meeting local Bay Area audiophiles in 1994. But most of my friends then were still in college. They did accompany me, when I'd see audiophiles outside of San Francisco itself. For the most part, the audiophiles ignored my friends. One time, my girlfriend KJ explained how digital separates had to be done right, in order to outperform a similarly-priced one-box CD player. KJ was a panda-shaped UC Berkeley student. The audiophiles felt threatened, did not like her, and responded to her with.......dead silence. Yet, when I said the same things KJ had said, the audiophiles engaged in lively conversations.
"Oh okay," the Inmate above allowed, "In the mid-90s, your female friends were not just smart, they were too young. And they didn't listen to audiophile-approved music." He then pivoted, "C'mon, John, anyone with a dinky speaker like the Sky is NOT going to have vinyl. If he had physical media, he's going to have CD, not space-hogging vinyl." So he asked me for pointers and advice, about CD sources for a system back-ended by the Totem Sky.
Obviously at the mercy of the room and upstream audio products, the Totem Sky nevertheless does have the potential to replicate our mid-90s road trips up and down California. It's not just about the destinations; it's about the journey, the company, the accompanying music, the stops and hikes in between. The Sky may not be pretty or sexy, but that just ups the "I'm not pretentious or snobby" factor. The Sky is the equivalent of those modest subcompact cars. If you say, "Pack lightly," the audio equivalent is using, for example, the Kimber 4TC. If you want to get pricey and sophisticated, fine, go for the excellent Kimber Bi-Focal XL, which costs more than the Sky itself. But with the 4TC, the Sky will still take you places.
I can't emphasize this enough. If you were in the backseat with one of my nerdy female friends, you had to be very careful. You could end up with her, even though, outside of the trip, you weren't the best match. She may talk about academic subjects, especially in the natural sciences, you have no clue about or background in. When she talks about team sports, she's not rah-rah; she does so in the way a coach breaks down film. In music, you may not know enough about her tastes in pop, from dance to hard rock. So in terms of speakers, if you are the SA, who values warmth and tonality, the Sky will take you out of that comfort zone. Yet, you might find yourself, well, in the backseat with one of these nerd girls. The Inmate above laughs, "I don't think many of us [audiophiles] relate, when you talk about being in the car with three girls."
If you go on enough of these road trips, someone will get a headache. Someone will bleed. Someone will cramp up. Someone will twist an ankle. Someone will have an upset stomach, and maybe even throw up. And of course, everyone is going to jump to, "Are you pregnant?" But all these years later, Omani's "NO!!! I haven't gotten laid in a year!" still rings in your ears. But hey, if you were the one who sat in the backseat with her...
"I can't see!" If you go on enough of these road trips, someone will lose or break her contacts or glasses. In the mid-90s, if you were out of town, you had to go to a ready-in-an-hour optometrist, and have your hometown optometrist fax your prescription.
At the end of 1994, we went on a Carmel/Monterey getaway. The Inmate above said, "Um, no, I stayed home, and did the solo audiophile thing." Omani took this photo. The other two girls buried you under the blankets. In those days, MTV and VH1 had stopped playing music videos, in favor of reality shows. But in the car, everything seemed to melt away, and you and the three girls sang Natalie Cole's "Miss You Like Crazy," OMD's "Dreaming," and the Wilson Phillips version of "Daniel." To which the Inmate smirks, "Eh, um, no."
At the Monterey El Torito, we looked out, and saw a few boats and kayaks. Perhaps one of our albums which audiophiles also liked was Basia's Sweetest Illusion. Since our girls were (a) still in college, and (b) just 21 years-old, motherhood creeped them out. Thus, Basia's "Perfect Mother" served as both a warning about being a young mother, and also encouragement, should that happen.
The photo above is from Fresh Off The Boat. A different audiophile asked, "Were any of your girlfriends like Jessica, the mom on Fresh Off The Boat?"
The Totem Sky has quickness, and does not overinflate images. In fact, said images lose density and body. Therefore, you will want to avoid CD players, which have, as my former girlfriend ACS called it, "credit card sound." To her ears, too many CD players made textures "plasticky." And while the sound had width and height, both the soundstage and the images lacked depth. But no, none of my friends was like Fresh Off The Boat's Jessica.
After that Carmel/Monterey trip, I once again visited Bay Area audiophiles. I then went to a picnic with KJ, at the San Leandro marina. Putting everything together, I made up my mind, and knew I had to get a California Audio Labs Delta CD transport. In size, aesthetics, and sound, the half-width CAL Delta is a natural match for the Sky. And yes, with its textures, 3D imaging, and breath, the CAL Alpha 24/96 DAC makes a wonderful front end for systems ending with the Sky. Because of the Sky's speed, detailing, and imaging, you might get all giddy, rolling the 12AX7s in the CAL Alpha. And if you are scrounging around, Theta Digital's mid-90s DACs, with lowered analog output, sound good with the Sky.
Many of my audiophile friends have been in this hobby for decades. So it makes sense, that some of them have audio products, which, not injusted for inflation, cost the same as an economy car from the mid-90s. Two had this pair of Sky, before I did. One guy did not think the dCS Puccini was a good match for the Sky. He wrote, "The sound becomes too austere, diaphanous, and misty marsh."
Another guy still has access to the big, bold, thick, and powerful Wadia 781i. He wrote, "You know what? I hate to say that two wrongs make a right. But in this case, the thick 781i and lean and quick Sky are quite yummy! The 781i makes the Sky more fulsome. Yeah, the midbass is thicker and richer. But it's the rest of the spectrum, which now doesn't sound as small and lean. Voices just sound more stable, powerful, and present."
As an aside, he also added, "Regardless of which amp I use, you can put your ears up to the Sky. The Sky itself does not make any noise." My experience agrees with that. The Sky itself is, like the audiophiles reacting to KJ, dead silent. The Sky does not generate any hum, buzz, or hiss. Any POP, DC offset, or noise comes from the amp, not the Sky.
In the mid-2000s, I had the Simaudio Andromeda. Regardless of medium, the Andromeda is that rare product, which preserves the music's liveliness, that anticipation you get, before a vocalist starts to sing the next line; that rise to attention you get, as a band enters the stage. So when we received the relatively placid Simaudio 750D, I was disappointed. Moreover, the 750D did not have the Andromeda's air and breath. But my wife noticed the 750D's better resolution of low-level detailing. And she would hum along. Which isn't the same as you and the three girls gleefully singing in the car.
If you read my review of the Simaudio 820S outboard power supply, you will find that it does not directly address the 750D's weaknesses. Instead, it makes refinements here and there, so that it "tells more of the (musical) story." Interestingly, ever since we took in the Sky, my wife actually sang along to the music. And at times, like being in the car, she poured some emotion and energy into it. And that has not occurred before, even with other and more expensive Totems.
But as my audiophile friends showed, the Totem Sky does not waste or throw away what some of these $$$$$ CD players provide. You would not know that the Sky costs less than 15% of one of these CD players. So if you have such a player, desire and like Totems, but do not have the space for, say, the Element Ember and up, the Sky may not be pretty or sexy, but it will work in that small space, and sound upbeat, engaging, communicative, and sometimes vital.
Hardly any of my friends became young mothers. In the early-2000s, audiophiles were so laser-focused on audio products, they did not ask about my friends. As the friends approached 30, that's when they started to get married and have kids. Omani's husband likes audio/video, and is not averse to high-end audio. As the Inmate above said, "Man, I knew you back then, but I never asked you about work, life, girls, and even music."
But there are no restrictions, in checking out the Totem Sky. In this price range and size, the Sky expands the pool. It is not the SAs' cup of tea, but if going on road trips with your three female friends, and gleefully singing in the small car appeal to you, the Totem Sky may send you on your way...
-Lummy The Loch Monster
Follow Ups:
Lummy-
I added a Marantz SA-11S2 to my collection this week.
My 1st Marantz! The previous owner upgraded the stock fuses to Hi Fi Tuning.
Enough!!!!!!!!!!
... photos of good-looking, young, Asian women.
NT
The more inmates complain, at least over on over on Cables, the more he posts.
And the mods are unconcerned as he breaks no rules and his posts contain just enough on-topic content that complaints from others on theses boards are largely ignored by the ownership.
And mocking his posts, as happened here, causes the moderators to cut those treads altogether.
Go figure.
Unfortunate that they deleted the wrong post.
Who is the mod here?
on how many parts until conclusion?
He rarely, if ever, posts on anyone else's threads. Only his own.And was I deleted because I co-opted his thread title?
Edits: 05/07/21
Guess it was judged too entertaining.
KP
(re-posted for typo)
Don't worry, you'll see Lumi's posts on next seasons reruns. Oh, BTW I'm these posts will be deleted soon as well - so go for it.
The mod. for the Rock Asylum... Preferential treatment is always afforded @ AA for those that fit that role....
He's the only one posting there. It's good to be the king
Not enough "rock and roll" on Rocky Road
KP
Wow - you horde of cackling Karens are the most disgusting display I've seen on AA in decades.
Karens are characterized by [1] inserting themselves into situations that have absolutely no impact on them [2] ...due to a greatly exaggerated sense of self-importance [3] and a sense of entitlement that's akin to a screaming 4 year old throwing a temper tantrum in a supermarket combined with [4] a total and utter lack of self awareness - I mean wow, it's almost frightening
You think enthusiastic posters are the problem on audio boards? No, assholes are - but you can't simply skip by posts you don't like - you absolutely have to be Karens - you just can't help yourselves. Complete lack of self awareness.
Y'all should stop masturbating to your stereo gear and get together and relieve each other's tension - then you won't be driven to Karen-ism. Hopefully there's an equal mix of pre and post-ops amongst you so it'll all work out equipment wise. But I'm here to tell you - no matter how many surgeries you have, you'll never be a real woman.
nt
Unfortunately I am taken as of last night.I met a girl by chance in a local go-go, we drank champagne but it tasted just like cherry cola.
Today she called me up an asked me to a dance! I asked her name and in a dark brown voice she said "Lola". Then for some weird reason she spelled it out for me "L-O-L-A", Lola.
She said she knew a club we could go to tonight, with better champagne and electric candle light. I said "Oh Lola" - then jokingly echoed back, "L-O-L-A" Lola.
Really looking forward to tonight - this girl seems special.
Edits: 05/08/21
Dear LTQO,
you are right we should skip these posts but I liken it to blowing your nose. Sometimes you can't help looking in the handkerchief afterwards even when you know you shouldn't. It's not pleasant, but you have to look.
I think the ratio of Luminator criticism compared to the volume of his writings is miniscule. I find the girlfriend pictures and stories rather cynical. It makes me think of the story that the NPR Car Talk guys often refer to of the unpopular boy who needed a pork chop tied around his neck to make the dog play with him. Those girlfriend stories and pictures are the pork-chop around his writings - without them who would read the posts?
13DoW
Hey now there's a reasonable response. But look at those who are following - perhaps to the point of stalking - Luminator's posts - and just can't stop. Many now deleted. It's the same people "criticizing" every time - and that's the nicest characterization of their responses. They simply cannot stop - they add nothing but negativity - and often personal. That's different.
The most recent example - now deleted - one such stalker (whoops, I mean follower) claimed "he wanted to post on rock forum a couple of years ago but was overwhelmed by Luminator posts so had to leave" - what a made up crock of shit. He was doing what stalkers do - researching the stalk-ee and coming up with whatever they could to bolster their case and keep the hate going. In a content rich environment like AA - why in God's name do that? Just move on to another post, there are hundreds of them right in Speaker Asylum alone! Hell you could argue that maybe - just maybe - the content is richer because of Luminator.
I know I know - this is all the moderator's job right? Fair enough, but he won't call them assholes - someone needs to. Want to argue the posts don't belong based on content? Fair enough, but that doesn't characterize the relentless criticisms and personal attacks. Fun natured ribbing - ok, but that's not what's been going on.
To me, these are the differences between true music lovers and (some) audiophiles - yes, you can be both - I'm sure most are - but I have a hard time seeing highly negative people as music lovers - it just doesn't fit.
You're wrong. I did post on Rock Asylum as I stated. And I've never gone on a venomous rant against him like you have against us. Look in the mirror Karen.
If that was indeed you - can't remember which one of "us" (well put) it was - I couldn't quote you exactly because the thread - a thread which someone specifically started "as a new page thread" just to bitch about Luminator - was by then nuked. I didn't say you didn't manage to get in a post on Rock, but you (or whoever it was) claimed you left because Luminator posted too much there. Boo Hoo. Odd reaction as that board is on life support - if you were truly inclined to be into Rock, you should have stayed, and posted positively. You might have even found some common ground with Luminator over music - what a concept.At first I thought the post was by Luminator - thought it was self-effacing and funny. Then noticed no - it was one of his stalkers. Well - let's give it a chance, maybe write it off as a "roast" - but it didn't seem as funny then given the history. The thread degraded quickly - I have no idea how bad it got because it was eventually gone, don't know how many of "us" posted there or how bad it got. But I guess I'm not the only one who thought it was inappropriate - it got nuked.
I'm never posting on one of Luminator's threads again - the question is - are you? Not "us" - I'm sure many "us" won't be able to help themselves - just "you".
Edits: 05/08/21
I started a thread titled "Totem Sky, Part 16" and the content was "I got nothing". It was deleted, I guess, because I mimicked his titles.Trolling, vicious, asshole behavior?
A jab about going on too long?
Edits: 05/09/21
wow! shouldn't 'cackling' be spelled with a 'K' just for symmetry?
I am sure there was more after the first sentence, but meh.
KP
NT
what was so offensive about jimbill's roast.
KP
and complained hence the deletion. It happens ALL the time over in IC and I fear usually by the MOST vocal fools on that Asylum. As I said before, I believe Luminator is the mod. @ Rock hence his prolific posts I believe are trying to "drum up" comments which is fine. They are tedious and to some degree braggadocious... I just think it's funny when people call it out. IF he's NOT the mod. on Rock, who has THAT much time and inclination to post on multiple Asylums...LOL! Lord love him IF that is the case!
Each day, audiophiles email me privately. The most common theme is...well, let me quote one I received yesterday: "Because of the same old AA assholes, I haven't posted in years."
So then he opens up about music, and gives me some suggestions.
Any time I compose a new post, it's been done in consultation with someone else. Most of the time, my writing partner is simply another audiophile. But once in a while, one of my non-audiophile friends (hardly any is male) will be my writing partner. Readers who email me are getting really good, at guessing when my writing partner is a woman.
I don't know how we can measure enthusiasm, but when audiophiles email me about music, enthusiasm is highest for dance music and heavy metal. But again, no one wants to make the post. So he'll have me do it. So I have a little notebook, with those suggestions from other audiophiles. There's just so much popular music, I tend to narrow it down, to 5-year increments.
In all the years I've been on AA, not once have I complained to the moderators. And I have no idea, who is Rocky Road's moderator, if it even has one.
Because I have an audiodharma Cable Cooker, audiophiles like to ship me their wares, to be Cooked. Only about 10% gives me permission, to blog about his cable(s). These are the ones you'll see written up, on Cable Asylum. So if those cables seem to come from the same brands, you know they belong to the same few audiophiles, who have given me permission.
In general, the posts about cables garner the most email feedback/response, especially when they are about a common/popular brand, such as AudioQuest or Kimber.
I don't always read your posts, but I've read through some. You're enthusiastic about this hobby and want to write about it.
I see lots of posts about music or equipment I don't like. I simply don't read it and certainly don't turn critical about someone's choices.
I don't know why people are attacking you. Maybe the frequency of your posts. Whatever...
Your response to the attacks is well written and on target. Good for you. Happy listening.
Go visit Rocky Road. The mods won't do anything about it. That's why I'm attacking. I can't speak for the others.Edit: And to clarify, I really don't have any problem with the Totem Sky, Part N and similar blog posts. I don't read them, and they don't clog up the forum. It's really the Rocky Road thing that pisses me off. Everytime I get the urge to start a topic over there, I take a peek and, yup, it's still lost in the Lummy zone.
Edits: 05/08/21
It just doesn't bother me. I personally think Lummy has terrible taste in music and takes us on detailed autobiographical equipment reviews that are painful...but, there are plenty of paid reviewers who I could throw in that group as well. IMHO, if the brother wants to sing, let him sing. Geo frequently posts in the Jazz forum and many times those posts turn me on to new music.
The attacks on Lummy have a peculiarly mean nature ...
as most here don't know him and those that do say he's a right nice guy.
What I see is folks merely attacking his posts which have come to dominate a few of the boards here, especially Rock and to a lesser extent Cables; boards I visit infrequently.
That said, if Lummy takes a turn and suddenly has stories to share related to Classical or Tube DIY I might be feel differently.
...but...but...but - those rock forum posts are over a period 5 months - the oldest post there right now is 01/17/21 - barely past new year's day. Many could still feel their hangover by then. Yeah, he posts a lot there - I wouldn't post every day - but the real problem is nobody else is posting there (ironic, isn't it). You could argue he's doggedly keeping it on life support.
Luminator has only 244 posts total (all forums) since 2021-01-01 - many complaining about his "post frequency" have WAY more than that in 2021 so far. Hell the loudest complainers have double! The only difference is Luminator is super concentrated in a dead forum, and therefore his posts are super visible.
If you break it down by rock/cable, he has 214 on rock and 41 on cables in 2021 unless I'm reading it wrong - 24 are in cables right now, but overall it's barely visible because so many others post there - relative to Rock anyway. He has 3 right on top of cables right now (comically unfortunate) but do a browser search and scroll through the highlights, he's barely visible overall - and "Cables" isn't exactly a top forum here I'm sure, I always figured those dudes were (probably) nuts. On a quick scan though, it doesn't appear anyone there is throwing a temper tantrum about it.
In the spirit of "in fairness" those numbers matter here - rock forum is the complaint I understand the least given perspective - take out Rock and Cables isn't that bad at all - frequency wise anyway.
But yeah - if those who complain of frequency are not engaging in personal attacks, that matters too - that IS in fact is the real issue. But the two became co-opted on the deleted mockery thread, where everyone seemed to join in - it was disgusting, and as the Rock forum posts were pointed out in that now-deleted mockery thread, newcomers seemed to be anxious to join in the hatefest. And complaining about frequency aka enthusiasm is a tough case to make at best.
How many are merely 'posts' and how many are new threads?
"he has 214 on rock and 41 on cables in 2021"
Again, how many are merely posts to various threads and how many are new threads?
Heck, over the last 20 years I've posted over 40,000 times. If I had started 40,000 threads over that length of time, someone would have shot me by now!
But Rock is such an anomaly that what you say cannot help but be true - how can he post there without it being a new post? Take Rock out of it, and I doubt anyone would be complaining about "frequency" / enthusiasm. I doubt you would based on "Cables" or even "Speaker" asylum.
If you still want to argue that he "always talks and never listens" and you can do it by the numbers - which you appear to be - then be my guest. That is I suppose a valid argument for an internet board whose community you care about. But really, is that a big issue in your life - some dude on an internet board that always talks and never listens? Hell many of us are married to such people. If that's the biggest complaint I think we all have to live with it. Many of us do! I'm guessing there are a few "personalities" on AA.
If you met Luminator in a bar, far from "shooting him" you'd buy him a beer. You might not get in a word edgewise - but you'd enjoy the interaction. On an internet forum, you can just avoid the interaction entirely my moving on to the next post (well except in Rock cuz there's nobody else there) without the hate some throw his way.
Well, I wouldn't.
And to be fair to Lummy, he's not the first virus to infect Rocky Road. LWR was equally insufferable.
Your posts on this thread have been intelligent, well-written, thought out, and composed.
One of readers' legitimate complaints is that I do not talk about smoking and drinking. I don't do either, and since I have no experience with them, I'm not at liberty to comment.
OTOH, readers like stories, such as (a) being too young at rock concerts, to use the 2-drink minimum tickets on alcohol; (b) my friend/classmate Jane getting grounded, after coming home (she got home after 1:30a, and reeked of second-hand smoke) from the 1988 Testament concert at The Stone; (c) my college roommate not telling or inviting me that he was going to see the Grateful Dead.
Again, would-be posters on Rocky Road were long ago turned off, by the meanness, character assasinations, and personal attacks. So they email me with suggestions (I love these conversations about music, places, and life), and I am the one who writes them. They like to know when you first heard the song, what you were doing, and how/if the song impacted you.
The problem is, since I was the one who wrote the post, that just perpetuates the perception that "Lummy's the only one posting."
The argument that "Lummy dominates" does not hold water. That's a reflection of others self-sabotaging, by not making posts of their own. Everyone is free to post, and contribute. No one's forcing readers to like or dislike the music. Not to single him out, but if jimbill were to make a post, he just has to kick back, and wait for responses, including from the same "silent army," which is in touch, behind the scenes, with me.
The good news is, if anyone buys me a beer, since I do not drink, she will get to drink it!
I know a LOT of people that age still like classic rock - I know some of them - and it gives me hope. I still love metal also - I'm sure it's many "Black Sabbath" fans' least favourite album as it's perhaps too polished for them - but I still love "Technical Ecstasy" - when I listen too long at night I always turn to that to wrap it up.I rarely drink myself - maybe a glass of wine with a good "Film Noir" movie on youtube - but I'm often happier with tea + caffeine. I mention movies because I kind of understand all the posts about music - it's a daily thing, unlike getting a new component (for most of us). When I watch a good Film Noir (Broderick Crawford, Gloria Grahame, Robert Ryan, Ida Lupino, etc) on youtube one of the BEST parts is the comments - often times from people who where there when the film originally played in the movie theatre. That absolutely blows my mind, it's a time travel trip. They often give great insights into the film and it's impact at the time, the actors and their lives at the time, and the era, and how society has changed for better or worse. Some of those comments are well over a decade old of course. They always say something like "hey that was young Johnny Crawford of the Rifleman and also an original Mouseketeer" which always sends me searching for more. I spend half my life on IMDB - never watch an old movie without it. And don't even get me started on 1950's B-movies and drive-inn flics on youtube, the comments are hilarious - again, often from people who were there.
I mention that because that's what the music forums should be - it's kind of a daily thing. I guess I never went to them because I never think I'll enjoy anyone else's music recommendations - music is too personally tied to each our lives - but I should try and get over that perception. But when I search for my overlooked favs, they're never there.
If you did drink, I doubt we'd stop at a beer - because I totally understand your (and other's) love for modern music as well - the sheer amount of new music out there is shocking, I wouldn't live in any other era - and the music is so much better than those who shun it think. The sheer number of even modern music "categories" blows me away - and how honed they are, if you want some Psychedelic Trance one evening (the heavy metal of electro for those unaware), any number of radio stations has you covered - and you know exactly what you'll get, but often all new music. And talk about 3D sound, hate to admit it but I love that - it's actually a big part of the music - very mesmerizing - when speakers don't do what my 11L's do it's easy to lose interest, so I understand your love for your Totems - and why others may find it repetitive and boring. Most days I listen to music 2-3 hours and never hear anything I've heard before. By the 4th hour if there is one, then yeah - back to classic rock, Soma FM "Illinois Street Lounge" or "Secret Agent" - aka Film Noir music. But hell I'll listen to "Funky Hotmix" too - when they do a modern era tribute to a classic it induces powerful time-travel flashbacks, no drugs or alcohol required - like so many remakes of "San Francisco" for example. Listened to a 2-Live crew CD the other day even - now who put that in my collection dammit!
I did a quick search on Rock due to recent events and was surprised nobody ever mentioned my overlooked favs - which kind of reinforces my thought that it might not work for me - BUT if you're ever stuck for something unfound - try [1] "Wireless - No Static" never really liked or disliked Rush or Geddy Lee, but Lee is on this Wireless album (their others suck) and if you've ever wondered if there was a classic rock-like album undiscovered you might like, try that - you can probably preview it on youtube somewhere. Highly intelligent - but still rock. Your Totem's will love it - not a "big" sound but it works [2] "M - The Official Secrets Act" yes the "Pop Muzic" group - totally different experience - shouldn't all music be? Esp for the time period. [3] "Donnie Iris - Back on the Streets" - yes the "Ah Leah" song is on there, but every other song is better - so overlooked as a complete album [4] "The Pixies - C'mon Pilgrim" - the EP - that's a riskier recommendation somewhat akin to [5] "Romeo Void" - EP. See? By now we'd be on our 2nd beer or tea already and you wouldn't have gotten a word in edgewise yet - trust me on that one. You probably also won't think much of these albums - as I say, I really think they're all so tied out our own lives.
You were wise to largely stay out of the fray on this thread - but next time you post, remember the only people truly bothered by it will be the haters - it will drive them insane, and the rest of us will just read it - or not - and move on with our day! I won't even be here to see it probably - haven't been for years, just happened along at the wrong time I guess. Once you're happy with your stereo, what's to post about? Oh yeah - music of course...
Edits: 05/09/21 05/09/21
I think he just found a way to publish and preserve his memoirs for free
pretty clever actually
regards,
Yeah, and then you woke up.
(yes, it's a lame joke, but it's on the same maturity level as your posts)
Please find a blog site.
'because of the same old AA assholes'
ah! the triple A club!
well that leaves me out
mostly
LOL you seem to have a great fondness for alliteration. In reality, the AAA's are the exception to the rule overall these days - think of the computer audio asylum 15 years ago, damn that place was crazy. I just hooked up my Windows 7 (yeah you read that right) pc with my circa 1990's(?) Blue Circle Thingee and Foobar circa 2001(?) a couple days ago to rip CD's with vlevel to get top quality audio while simultaneously destroying dynamics - I should post there now just to get shredded for old time's sake. God the stuff you find in your closet.I took one look in Cable Asylum once and saw the "DBT Free" zone warning and thought yup - where's the damn exit, I can just see the DBT "discussions" now. I feel free to call BS because I almost never post here any more - so can't be tagged for abuse. I've been totally happy with my system for at least 5 years now - will probably never change a thing. Pull the ESL-57's out of the closet now and then for old time's sake. One day will buy complete set of Quad II mono's with matching pre - just cuz.
Hmmm, I wonder - perhaps I should start a series of Quad posts - yeah - look for "Quad ESL/11L2 - Part 1 of 100" starting soon! I'm so in love with my 11L2's I could easily do so, only wish it happened decades ago. I'll cross post on Speakers and Planar just to really, really piss people off.
Edits: 05/07/21
'just to really, really piss people off'
that's the spirit! this place was down to only two trolls!
didja hear that 51 and GK?
you might be getting company!
Lord love you!
It's just that they're spread out, not really concentrated in one area. Plenty claim to be in Europe. I have no way of verifying or disproving that, but they do mention their local popularity of heavy metal music. And another cool thing is that, when some open up, they'll tell you a little about their stereo gear, many of which brands are new to me.
I say this frequently, but the spirit of a music forum is for more music, not less. No one's forcing the reader to like or not like an act or its material.
It's just a sad reflection, that the few bad apples have "poisoned the well," and scared off would-be posters. One of my audiophile friends, who occasionally sends a cable or two, wrote, "I long ago got sick and tired of the same old assholes, who don't contribute anything positive, and then engage in personal attacks, and mock or denigrate my tastes." Thus, this friend hasn't made any posts on AA, in years.
The thing is, he'll have me write about a song or artist or product. Then he sees those bad apples completely ignore the information, insights, and details, and go into character defamation. That only further solidifies my friend's belief that not posting was the right thing to do. But because my friend did not post, our community loses out.
Because I wrote up the new post, the bad apples jump all over that, and launch their "Lummy posts too much" screed. My friend wrote, "Yet, when I click on the bad apples' monikers, they have way more posts than you."
Again, when audiophiles talk to me about popular music, they seem genuinely enthusiastic about the genres of synthpop and hard rock.
As far as the Totem Sky goes, this has been, as far as the feedback I've received, the most popular non-cable item I've reviewed. Most readers have been thanking me for providing details, comparisons, analogies, contexts, histories, and angles, the "professional" magazines never do. It's the sort of information which determined that the Sky is NOT, at this moment, for these readers. So far, just a handful has been seriously in the market for the Sky, but each had no reservation or hesitation, about reaching out to me, for advice, clarification, caveats, and more examples.
Recently, an Inmate did a search for a powercord, and came across some of my writings. He emailed, "Wow, you pack in a LOT of detail. But it's an easy read. And you make it human and fun."
Years from now, an audiophile will be in the market for the Totem Sky. Hopefully, he looks past the ignorance and one-way hatred, and gets to the core information. I'll still be around, to answer questions. This particular pair of Sky belongs to one of my audiophile friends, who is renovating his house, to accommodate his elderly father, plus his adult son and daughter-in-law. This Sky had been through other audiophiles' hands as well. Those guys didn't really say much about it. They only smiled, and told me to check it out. IMO, the Sky is not about or for large groups or parties. Neither is it for the solo audiophile, who closes his eyes, locks his head in a vice, and concentrates. The Sky is more for 2 or 3 of you, having fun, seeing where the music and conversations lead you...
Who knows? If I were the bad apple, listening to the Sky might make my jealousy, animosity, and even insecurity dissipate. We're going to be sad, to pack up the Sky, and see it go...
NT
Great pics, as always. Nice home on the water. Does that body of water rise? Looks like a low tide day otherwise.
So far, the Totem Sky series has been a rousing success. I'd estimate that around 60 different audiophiles, from all over the world, have emailed me. And they have broached quite a variety of angles and topics. Many just wanted to share their own experiences with Totems, including the Sky. Many divulge information about where they live, how they listen, what types of music they like, what their room is like, what they look for, etc. Unusual for audiophiles, some even talk about sports. As always, the audiophile will let me know that his spouse likes reading my posts. Every now and then, an audiophile will tell me that his wife was or even still is, a teacher, and that she likes my writing.
And then there are those, whose spouse or children are our age. These people identify with "the MTV generation."
I field plenty of requests for "comparison" posts. Readers have told me that they like the ones comparing the Sky to other models, including other Totems. And then there's that small army, which wants me to bring in more of my non-audiophile friends as writing partners. I already get many of the photos from said friends. I've known many since the latter half of the 80s, which, conveniently enough, was when Totem got their start. Thus, I've been incorporating the late-80s, into some of these posts.
Speaking of the 80s, we wish we had taken more photos then. But again, for that, you needed a camera, battery, and film. Then you had to use up the roll, and get it developed. That was, for any student, already costly. Even more costly were Polaroids.
Most of my friends go back to the coast now, and swear that, when we were teens, the beach portions extended further. You go now, and there's very little sand. The photo at the top was taken at Moss Beach, summer of 2017. My wife (she was a schoolmate) and friends frowned, and thought that, regardless of tides, there was more beach, back in 1987-88, when they went there on a field trip.
Same goes for Monterey. We could have sworn that there used to be more than just a spit of sand, in that stretch between Fisherman's Wharf and El Torito.
Many beaches are subjected to natural erosion. Currents and waves take sand, and whisk it away into underwater canyons, and off the continental shelf. But the rest of the "loss" of sand is really just the Pacific Ocean rising, due to climate change. Many of my friends, who lived near the Great Highway, suspect that the waves now crash/break closer to the berm and road.
One Inmate likes to give me a bad time, frequently writing, "You and your damn beach photos!" Hahaha, that's 'cuz he lives in the heartland, and isn't anywhere near a coast. But he says those outdoor scenic photos answer the "where" question, and give him a better understanding and feeling for why the music influenced (or did not influence) me.
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