My audio system, so near completion

[AgentCooper]

I surreptitiously don't notice my lockdown weight, I haven't actually got dressed for a long time now, been in my dressing gown for a while which kinda hides the bump

I’ve systematically smashed all the mirrors in the house so I don’t have to see my own horrendous carcass skulking around the place 👍

 

[Stephen M]

Well if talking pipe organ, there's only one real master of it, and that's Rick Wakeman

One of my favourite gigs was Yes, saw them on the Going for the One tour, when Wakeman has rejoined the group.

 

[Martinr36]

One of my favourite gigs was Yes, saw them on the Going for the One tour, when Wakeman has rejoined the group.

Just down loaded Going for the one stories album off of Amazon

 

[AgentCooper]

In other news, my dad has had a massive clear out of his house. He’s one of those lads who just acquires stuff and then hangs onto it for years and years. He’s found a box of his old LPs (hasn’t owned a record player since 1980) and has decided to send them to me! Should be with me by the end of the week, looking forward to seeing what’s in there.

So… the box of records has arrived. We have the majority of the Beatles discography in good condition, including a numbered copy of the White Album (number 6533), the box set edition of the Let It Be that I think was worth around £500 last time I checked… the last time I checked was over ten years ago. We also have a mint original copy of Sgt Pepper… but the cutouts have gone. Not that the value of these records actually matter, my dad listened to this music at the time it came out and I’m mega excited to give the vinyl a chance to sing for the first time in at least forty years. I’ll be passing them down to my own kids, assuming I don’t get a respawn.

There’s a few other treats in there, the one that I’m looking forward to is Jeff Wayne’s musical version of War of the Worlds, I haven’t heard it in years and it’s going to be my weekend treat 🙂👍

 

[SpyderTracks]

OMG!!! I completely missed that part, my sincere apologies!!! I've been a little obsessed with my system.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but in case you're unsure:

If you want to find out the exact editions you have, there's a superb resource online called Discogs which is uber useful for tracking stuff down and valuating it.

Discogs - Music Database and Marketplace

Discover music on Discogs, the largest online music database. Buy and sell music with collectors in the Marketplace.

www.discogs.com

On older records, they won't have barcodes so you have to check the runout codes which are the codes on the actual record around the label that's pressed or etched into the wax on the inner ring

In Discogs, you should be able to search by the catalogue number on the back of the cover or spine to narrow down your search.

Do check through any for the same locale of the same year as quite often, they may have misprints or some individual marking on the cover that separates it from other releases, and those are often far more collectible and rare.

But wholeheartedly agree with you, they're not for selling, but it's worthwhile knowing the value of them before throwing them on a table.

I'd recommend investing in some good covers and inner sleeves to protect them, nothing worse than a crumbling cover due to poor storage.

If you need a hand with anything, do give me a shout .

I'm so envious! Some real gems there! I've got a few original Beatles pressings and some Abba and various other 70's records, but unfortunately they weren't well cared for at the time or during storage for 40 years. I haven't had the heart to play them as I need to put some serious TLC into them before it's worth doing. And even then I think they'll be scratched to hell.

 

[AgentCooper]

OMG!!! I completely missed that part, my sincere apologies!!! I've been a little obsessed with my system.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but in case you're unsure:

If you want to find out the exact editions you have, there's a superb resource online called Discogs

Luckily for me, my bestest cousin’s partner Simon is a bit of a northern legend when it comes to music and the appreciation of vinyl, his knowledge is bewildering. He’s had his own record label, he’s DJ’d far and wide and the biggest room in their house is wall to wall records. Check out the incredible job he had a little while ago:

Lancaster man’s vinyl collection - including rarities and John Peel favourites - set to fetch thousands at auction

A Lancaster man’s vinyl collection could make thousands when it goes to auction next month.

www.google.co.uk

He is also a bit of a maniac, I have a couple of good stories about him to share 😉👍

 

[SpyderTracks]

Luckily for me, my bestest cousin’s partner Simon is a bit of a northern legend when it comes to music and the appreciation of vinyl, his knowledge is bewildering. He’s had his own record label, he’s DJ’d far and wide and the biggest room in their house is wall to wall records. Check out the incredible job he had a little while ago:

Lancaster man’s vinyl collection - including rarities and John Peel favourites - set to fetch thousands at auction

A Lancaster man’s vinyl collection could make thousands when it goes to auction next month.

www.google.co.uk

He is also a bit of a maniac, I have a couple of good stories about him to share 😉👍

Oh, in that case no worries! He literally sounds like a bit of a legend!

 

[AgentCooper]

Oh, in that case no worries! He literally sounds like a bit of a legend!

He really is. He just knows EVERYTHING about music. I happened upon a fairly obscure late seventies Zambian rock scene a few years ago and thought I’d discovered something entirely new. I mentioned it to him and he instantly listed off a list of the most important bands in that genre and ones that weren’t really worth my time. Encyclopaedic.

Remind me to tell you about the time we took on France 👍

 

[SpyderTracks]

He really is. He just knows EVERYTHING about music. I happened upon a fairly obscure late seventies Zambian rock scene a few years ago and thought I’d discovered something entirely new. I mentioned it to him and he instantly listed off a list of the most important bands in that genre and ones that weren’t really worth my time. Encyclopaedic.

Remind me to tell you about the time we took on France 👍

Awesome! I’ve got some record I could do with his expertise on! I’ve got this one incredibly random hippy collection that wasn’t listed on Discogs, still haven’t played it, no idea what the hell it is. I listed it on Discogs and looks like someone else has a copy up there now.

Various - Flower Power (Hit Parade Internacional)

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1968 Vinyl release of "Flower Power (Hit Parade Internacional)" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

 

[AgentCooper]

Awesome! I’ve got some record I could do with his expertise on! I’ve got this one incredibly random hippy collection that wasn’t listed on Discogs, still haven’t played it, no idea what the hell it is. I listed it on Discogs and looks like someone else has a copy up there now.

Various - Flower Power (Hit Parade Internacional)

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1968 Vinyl release of "Flower Power (Hit Parade Internacional)" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

The songs themselves aren’t rare, but I’ll ask if the actual LP itself has value. Hang onto it and I’ll let you know what he says 👍

 

[Scott]

Big thanks to @slimbob for suggesting this album, it sounds INSANELY good, “No Time For Caution” and "Tick Tock" are the tracks that always gets me:

View attachment 27711

Amazing sound track, sends shivers every time I watch it (and that's from a soundbar).

Notice the pattern of (whatever that is) the stool/other shelf thing in front. It's very similar to the strands of time in the movie

 

[AgentCooper]

The songs themselves aren’t rare, but I’ll ask if the actual LP itself has value. Hang onto it and I’ll let you know what he says 👍

He’s had a look and says probably about £10-£15, has never sold on Discogs so there’s not much call for it.

 

[Stephen M]

I used to use GEMM for some stuff, although had to be careful as some right rip-off merchants on there among the good ones. Sadly they folded a while back.

Picked up a few rare Residents cds and vinyl via them, plus a real treasure, the Temple City Kazoo Orchestra, a four-track 12" 45rpm with Richard Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra, Rolling Stones Miss You, Whole Lotta Love by Led Zepplin and the Bee Gees Stayin Alive - all played on Kazoos.

Just checked and is available on Discogs, give yourselves a treat.

 

[SpyderTracks]

He’s had a look and says probably about £10-£15, has never sold on Discogs so there’s not much call for it.

I thought as much, it’s just rare you find something not listed on Discogs.

 

[Stephen M]

I thought as much, it’s just rare you find something not listed on Discogs.

Discogs is really good these days, 10 or so years back when GEMM was fine I did not find Discogs as good but they have stuck at it and really got their act together, they deserve a lot of credit.

Just spotted they have a John the Postman I have been after, not too expensive which is good.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Discogs is really good these days, 10 or so years back when GEMM was fine I did not find Discogs as good but they have stuck at it and really got their act together, they deserve a lot of credit.

Just spotted they have a John the Postman I have been after, not too expensive which is good.

I adore Discogs. Scalpers have unfortunately cottoned onto the vinyl market. It’s almost impossible to get independent sales of record store day items for instance as they’re instantly marked up to rediculous prices.

A few of my favourite dance labels are targets as well, so I have to make sure I get a pre order unless I want to pay £100 for a 3 month old record.

I really hope governments put into place some sort of actual deterrent against scalpers.

Aside from that though, Discogs is a wonderful resource.

 

[slimbob]

Disclaimer - you would be right to assume I went over most things with a duster before taking photographs!

Well, they arrived, or at least I collected them. To be fair to UPS, they were extremely nice at the depot although it did take them 45 minutes to find my parcel!

I left home at 7 for the 1 hour drive either way, got back just before 10, but had to work at 10:30 so no time to play.

LONGEST DAY EVER!!!

There was this beautiful box sitting on the landing floor just beckoning me:

View attachment 27662


Then to rub salt in the wound, I had to work until 7pm tonight.

BUT THEN - the clouds broke, I wolfed down some dinner and made a cup of tea ready for setup.

Had a little cabling issue, then had an absolute panic attack before powering it on that it wasn't going to work so had to have a quick break and just calm myself.

Then settled in to listen to some OK Computer.

It already sounded really good. Like realms ahead of my old setup which was the best I'd ever had. At quiet volumes it's still just so easy. I was loving it, the range it goes down to is just rediculous considering these are bookshelf speakers. A few reviewers had stated it wasn't the most immediate bass and was more soft, but for me, it was really nice, great punch and LOW.

And then it really hit home.

Track 3 - Subterranean Homesick Alien came on and OH MY GOD! I've heard people talking about holographic imaging and soundstage, and I've definitely experienced them but usually when under the influence. But the sounds were swinging left to right, back to front, I had my eyes shut the whole way through and was literally in a trance by the end of the track. Just staggeringly good.

Now bear in mind these have only just been unboxed, they recommend 20 hours listening before they start to loosen up, the adhesives give way, the coils loosen and open the sound, so it's only going to get better.

View attachment 27661

As you can see, the room is less that ideal, it's tiny, currently behind the chair is just records everywhere.

So these haven't even been setup with regards to speaker placement, so there's a lot of room for improvement there as well.

Plus when I get them in a bigger room when I move in a couple of years, that will help enormously also.

But off the first night's listen, they're already miles ahead of anything I've had before.

Ignore those cables everywhere, it's a figment of your imagination.

So this is the final (ish) setup, just gotta get some speaker cables (currently using really cheap stuff), replace my cartridge and another interconnect for the computer to the amp:

View attachment 27666

Just a quick post to see how your speakers are after the recommended 20 hours running in / loosening up period. I imagine you have probably reached that by now.

Unless you have already seen this I think you would really appreciate what this guy has done, absolutely insane, there are only 3 uploads on his You Tube channel and I have watched all 3 including the big 1 hour documentary. As a fellow audiophile I think you would appreciate his 30 year project! He recons his system is the best in the world, God knows how much it cost.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Just a quick post to see how your speakers are after the recommended 20 hours running in / loosening up period. I imagine you have probably reached that by now.

Unless you have already seen this I think you would really appreciate what this guy has done, absolutely insane, there are only 3 uploads on his You Tube channel and I have watched all 3 including the big 1 hour documentary. As a fellow audiophile I think you would appreciate his 30 year project! He recons his system is the best in the world, God knows how much it cost.

This guy is a legend in the audio world, there are a few threads on his room on all 3 of the audio forums I visit.

The speakers are obviously just a league of their own, custom designed based off the infamous Infinity IRSV (the V being a 5) of which they only made 58 pairs costing around $50,000 new. Because of their exclusivity and the fact that they almost never come up for sale, I'm sure their second hand price would far exceed the original cost.

PSAudio have a set in their reference listening room that they use as the reference for all their products. (Paul McGowan in the video is one of the founders of PSAudio, and that's his channel, he does daily videos and they're very good)

More remarkable though is the guys turntable, now that is literally one of a kind and completely custom built, he really knows his stuff!

And obviously that the room has been built around the system is simply placing it all in a tier that no one else has ever tried to do.

Id hate to think how much it all cost though! That turntable on its own I reckon would be close to half a mil, and the speakers are quite frankly priceless.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Just a quick post to see how your speakers are after the recommended 20 hours running in / loosening up period. I imagine you have probably reached that by now.

Totally forgot to answer your question. I’m probably only at around 10 - 15 hours by now, had them just over a week and only really listen in the evenings and last week I was working til 7pm and I always turn off by 10pm at the very latest if not 9pm for the neighbours.

This morning though, first thing I did was put on Eric Clapton - Unplugged, and it really does sound extremely good.

Can I notice a change in the sound yet? I’m not sure I can as of yet. To me it sounded incredibly good out of the box, if it does do some significant change over 20 hours, I’m going to be quite flabbergasted because it’s already top notch!

Just played through Max Richters Voices box set which contains parts 1 and 2, played it LOUD and it was quite breathtakingly beautiful.

 

[slimbob]

Totally forgot to answer your question. I’m probably only at around 10 - 15 hours by now, had them just over a week and only really listen in the evenings and last week I was working til 7pm and I always turn off by 10pm at the very latest if not 9pm for the neighbours.

This morning though, first thing I did was put on Eric Clapton - Unplugged, and it really does sound extremely good.

Can I notice a change in the sound yet? I’m not sure I can as of yet. To me it sounded incredibly good out of the box, if it does do some significant change over 20 hours, I’m going to be quite flabbergasted because it’s already top notch!

Just played through Max Richters Voices box set which contains parts 1 and 2, played it LOUD and it was quite breathtakingly beautiful.

View attachment 27974

Glad you are so happy with your speakers, it must be a very apprehensive time listening for the first time as I appreciate the room, speaker placement, relationship with your other equipment and lots of other things can really change how they sound. Even if you have really done your homework like you did it still must be a nerve wrecking time as it is a big investment (time and money).

It must be exciting every time you play a record for the first time through these new speakers to see how it sounds like for example when you listened to Eric Clapton unplugged and Max Richters Voices box set.

Thanks for the video and the Paul McGowan link, I can see how Ken Fritz based them off the Infinity IRSV’s but bigger. Very sad about his health (ALS). I think your turntable valuation mustn’t be far off it is unbelievable isn’t it. He says if any fellow audiophiles are ever in the vicinity to get in touch so they can pay him a visit and listen to his system. That must be a once in a lifetime opportunity. The hardest part must be deciding which record to take with you to listen to.