Racer X

Also intrigued by Michael Fremer's original reaction to all this. Evidence of the feedback loop in advertiser supported magazine reviews ?

Thanks, thebes, for the helpful post of link and excerpt and your thoughts. Also to billybob for quickly posting the link a few days ago. This is beyond odd and deceitful, especially considering their target audience. Also very interesting how this finally broke out into the light of day, and the company's late admission and the CEO's attempt to keep this underwraps even as his employees were finally dishing the dirt. billybob, owner's retort ? I probably have some idea what it is ( Still sounds great, what's the big deal ? ) but curious to follow up on it.

Fabric drop cloth ? Sorry if not too helpful....

Is there really such a thing ?

Would definitely need a coat of paint or three, WTH is that stuff ?

Tube rolling: Believe this done with the smaller input tubes, not the output tubes. It can be an interesting place for your next $100 upgrade and will affect the sound. Also good to leave well enough alone, those input tubes not as likely to degrade as fast as the output tubes. I once demoed a vintage class A amp, a Pioneer M22: It had virtually no sound and I luckily flipped it right away.

One of my favorite "rappers" is a Japanese lady, can't understand much of what she is saying ( but there is always some English ), but she has the gift of the flow.

All excellent points above. My take is better tube amps sound more like solid state and vice versa. Also, always amazed amps all sound differently, although some may be similar to others. Finally, tube amp, solid state preamp, or vice versa, either approach works well. In closing, know your preferences and trust your ears.

I'd also like to relate that when I'm at the library studying the internet on my PC while listening to the YouTube on earbuds, I have to remember to click on my plug in equalizer app, it greatly improves the sound. At home on the room stereo, don't use the digital equalizer, greatly prefer the analog knobs bass and treble. Don't move them often, but sometimes a source change demands adjustment.

Could not agree more, thanks for all the valuable points.

Yes, exactly. Once I tried to equalize my room system for flat response with a 1/3 octave equalizer and a sine wave generator and db meter ( very early days, long time ago ). To me the result sounded TERRIBLE. Big fan of Fletcher Munson and his curve.

Kind of an odd story: Shortly after I had received LaScala during the family Christmas gathering at my house, I was demoing them in my room for my cousins. Of course this required "medium loud" volume, but every time I would crank the volume past a certain point, one of my younger cousins about 8 or 9 years old would start screaming like he was possessed and refused to leave the room, thwarting my demo. Tragically about 10 years later, it turned out he was possessed by demons....

Also, one of the wisest quotes I've found: Do not hate. Hatred binds one to the hated object. Perhaps a more enlightened approach may be just indifference.

Man, you haters of the rap need to.... I like to think that no matter the genre, there should be an example that represents the best of that genre that is at least palatable enough to understand what they are trying to relate. Not trying to convince anyone, but know that whatever your preferred genre is, there are lots of people who likewise despise it and wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near it. Whose loss is that ?

Or maybe they just don't appreciate your taste in music?

So, if I'm reading this right, if you have a flat response system and no tone controls, then one has to listen at 90 to 100 db for flat response ?

Also, if it's too loud, you're too old....

Fletcher Munson, who is he and why does he own a curve ?

Well, at least they knew what was going on eventually, can not imagine how freaky it would be to not have a clue at all.

Thanks for the insight, often wondered why they were singing about a young Roman emperor....

I've often wondered the difference myself, but thought Cranky's explanation was enlightening.

Very interesting, always wondered why those pickups had the magnets at different heights, but since I just listen to guitars.... Liked the technical drawing too.

Well, it looks super cool, isn't that enough ? And I assume it sounded pretty nice, but you know....

Just opened my computer today to be greeted by this: Freshest of the fresh, as usual a great tune along with spectacular video, but only to be expected as business as usual with this band. Very thankful and I am not worthy.... Was also greeted today by a teaser snippet of new tune from the Jazz idol group I follow, did not expect to hear from that group again....

Thanks, billybob. Um, did you read this article ? 😀 My twin uncles both suffered Oldtimer's. One, one of the happiest, smartest most comedic people you would ever hope to meet ( he was a well respected Pediatrician in the area ) rapidly declined and then became downright unpleasant, mad, and bitter. His twin succumbed years later, and while he has virtually no memory whatsoever, he remains the most pleasant, sweetest person he always was. Grateful he still recognizes me and always seems happy to see me, yet it is impossible to carry any conversation of any depth, he always replies with his canned responses. I once played for him some music he favored, The Inkspots, and he did not respond at all. Unrelated side note: One's sense of smell is most likely to stimulate long forgotten memories of the past, your olfactory sense is closest to your brain. Close with it made me realize we are really just a bunch of memories, without those one could easily lose oneself.