the problem with good hi-fi

Mi fadder started with:

A Rotel integrated amp (can't remember the model, but was a 1970's silver front and wood surround that used to pop the speakers when you switched it on if the volume wasn't fully down).

An Akai top loading cassette deck, again with wood surround and brushed aluminium top plate. Pioneer PL-12D turntable and some huge 'comets own brand' speakers with 10" drivers. These had to go when the foam driver surrounds rotted.

This was slowly replaced with a Sugden A48mkII amp and matching tuner (orange front), Rotel RP855 deck, Denon DCD700A tape deck and Mission 780 Cyrus speakers. He has recently acquired some Rega ELA floorstanders (which haven't been connected yet), a Grado Black cartridge and has added a Funk Acromat to the Rotel's steel platter which (to my ears) has done wonders.

 

th real problem with quality hifi, is that I haven't got one

 

my mum had a really good garrard deck that she binned, after the over exaggurated demise of vinyl, when CD was the future (Ha!) - sob. HEY! Come to think of it..., where is my Star Wars Soundtrack?! I always found "Auberge" a good antidote to a bout of Chris Rea-ism, I only have to hear that sucker once and thats enough to put me off for weeks! Its the essence of the dude in one tune!

 

i know the feeling - i've recently bought the eagles box set.

they sound great and i like the "cruising 70s LA on coke" attitude, although it looks a bit wierd to play them after african headcharge i must say.

i assume the carpenters are generally considered a good taste so i will not mention them here.

 

How about The Shadows...? Do they count as uncool?

 

do you have to ask?

 

guilty pleasure: Will Young, All time love. I know, but i think it's just exquisite.

i'm sure we all have 3 music collections, the hifi wank you play your mates to impress them, the stuff you grew up with and the guilty little secrets.

 

I just have music I like. I've bought some expensive new pressings of stuff because it will sound better than the worn smooth stuff you usually find, or the original early presses are very expensive. I have nothing in my collection I'd be ashamed to be seen in a photograph with apart from perhaps one Eagles album....

 

Level 42 greatest hits. It's either complete 80's cheese or a timeless classic with a sound dictated by the rather distinctive technology of the time. I think it's a bit of both. Is the twangy bass style cool or O.T.T? Is falsetto ever a good idea? Really? Yamaha DX7 synth pads? Still ..... gets played at least once a month though.

 

...I challenge even a grown man not to get all misty listening to "it's over"

...how about that bears game?

 

Timeless classics like Stevie Nicks, Chris de Bleugh (one of the wifes - Honest) Dire Straits, Richard Thompson, Adam Ant the list goes on....
And yes, sadly, I do find myself actually enjoying some of them :SLEEP:
The thing is my children will grow up thinking it's normal

 

Stevie Nicks, Dire Straits etc for sure....

...Adam ant?? .....

 

I slipped it on the lpt and haven't had it off since!

At least your partner's got taste!

 

The first Album I bought was "Out Of The Shadows" (in Stereo) to play on my parents PYE gramaphone thing! - They sounded better then than they do now, unfortunately.

 

You did have, where's it gone?

The problem with Chris Rea records is that they're rubbish, no matter what you play them on.

-- Ian

 

Hi Ian! long time no see. Hows things?

Dean bought the speakers, another chap bought the amp, and some bloke on ebay bought my sub! ... so I have 1/2 a hifi...

but a whole bathroom and kitchen, which will probably help sell my house a lot easier..

 

I loved the Shadows, then the Rolling Stones, "Lady Jane" still makes me shiver...

But the best was Bob Dylan, "just like a woman", 20 minutes slow dance, you shoud see the race to get the prettiest girl to dance with, every time it came up...

The winner was always the disc jockey, of course...

 

There is only one remedy for this Chris Rea madness; play all three Stooges albums back to back to drive the AOR crap right out of your head.

 

You are Joe Hutch and I claim my five pounds.

Have you heard the new Stooges record? It's bloody terrible, such a disappointment.

Chris, if you want to borrow a power amp, I have a couple of spares.

-- Ian

 

Ah, but that's great music with some (possibly inverted) cred.
New Romance is the New Romance.
I'm off to get a floppy haircut and a frilly, floppy, crimson shirt. Now where did I put junior's eyeliner...