What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[DavidRoss]

Hum from the turntable motor? 

I imagine so.  Grados are unshielded and the issue is common with certain turntables.  Mine is a modest VPI HW19 Jr.  The hum is not noticeable except during nearly silent passages when the volume is cranked up (though not necessarily to 11 ) and the cartridge is tracking near the spindle.  I really didn't need to change, since otherwise I was reasonably satisfied with the sound of the cartridge: more musical than clinical and with a rich, effortless midrange, though perhaps a bit soft on top--but since my hearing stops at 16KHz, that's not much of an issue for me.   

Some of the would-be rocket scientists around here whose apprehension of reality is so severely handicapped by intellectualism that they deny the existence of phenomena unexplained by their pet theories will probably jump in to claim that all phono cartridges sound alike since they're just electromagnetic transducers with no meaningful differences other than the output voltage of their electrical signals blah blah blah....  I really like the one who used to claim that Beethoven is an overrated mediocrity but Elgar is supreme due to the complexity of his music's vibrational fields, and who claimed to know everything about audio since he's an engineer, but also claimed that he can't hear significant differences among different recordings of the same piece since they're all playing the same music. 

When guys like that trot out the "Expert badge" I'm usually reminded of Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre's "Dr. Science".  Good old Dr. Science:  He knows more than we do.  He has a master's degree...in Science!.  If only those poor souls weren't so deluded by arrogance that they believe their limited understanding and experience are definitive and constitute the sum of all possible knowledge.  It makes it so hard for them to learn anything.  Sigh.  At least we can learn from them, however, since their handicap--though extreme--is a common human failing that we are all subject to.  When they flaunt it we're reminded of the virtue of humility, of practicing awareness that we know very little and that the moment we think we know it all our minds spring shut, preventing us from learning anything and condemning us to everlasting ignorance.  Who was it said that an educated person is one who knows how little he knows?

[Coopmv]

I imagine so.  Grados are unshielded and the issue is common with certain turntables.  Mine is a modest VPI HW19 Jr.  The hum is not noticeable except during nearly silent passages when the volume is cranked up (though not necessarily to 11 ) and the cartridge is tracking near the spindle.  I really didn't need to change, since otherwise I was reasonably satisfied with the sound of the cartridge: more musical than clinical and with a rich, effortless midrange, though perhaps a bit soft on top--but since my hearing stops at 16KHz, that's not much of an issue for me.   

I have that slight hum from my Grado Prestige Gold that is installed on my DUAL CS-750 - no fancy TT here since I really do not listen to LP's much.

[Daverz]

Some of the would-be rocket scientists around here whose apprehension of reality is so severely handicapped by intellectualism that they deny the existence of phenomena unexplained by their pet theories

But I understand what these guys are reacting to.  Audiophilia has been overrun with Mpingo disk style insanity.  It's now accepted conventional wisdom in this community that a serious system must include expensive boutique interconnects and cables, and that these all have very different sonic characteristics (always described with audiophile poetics that would make a Vogon green with envy).

[DavidRoss]

But I understand what these guys are reacting to.  Audiophilia has been overrun with Mpingo disk style insanity.  It's now accepted conventional wisdom in this community that a serious system must include expensive boutique interconnects and cables, and that these all have very different sonic characteristics (always described with audiophile poetics that would make a Vogon green with envy).

You bet.  But just because some hucksters sell $5000 carburetors with promises of 50mpg doesn't mean that there aren't real differences among carburetors.

[Valentino]

Who claimed there are no audible differences between cartridges?

[Jay F]

Who claimed there are no audible differences between cartridges?

Nobody, I would hope.

[Coopmv]

Nobody, I would hope.

I used to work with someone who claimed he was tone-deaf ...

[Häuschen]

My main system:

Marantz 2265B
Marantz Model 1070
Marantz 5030B
Wharfedale W70C
Rega P3 w/ Grado Platinum

Too many secondary system components to list and making my apartment tighter than Dr. Caligari's Cabinet.

[Bogey]

Hitting this on the 29th.  Anyone looking for something out of the way?

http://vintagevoltageexpo.eventbrite.com/

[Shrunk]

Hitting this on the 29th.  Anyone looking for something out of the way?

http://vintagevoltageexpo.eventbrite.com/

I'd be so there if I lived in the area!  Hope you can take pictures and post them for us.

[Valentino]

I used to work with someone who claimed he was tone-deaf ...

Well I'm cable-deaf.

[Bogey]

I'd be so there if I lived in the area!  Hope you can take pictures and post them for us.

Great idea!  I will try to remember a camera.

[Daverz]

iPod Classic 120G.  No, I couldn't wait for the latest and greatest iWhatever, I got this at Costco in preparation for a work trip to cold and wet Scotland.  What I really need for the flight over is heavy sedation.  With my Etymotics, it does sound a bit mettalic, so I hope it doesn't just induce a headache.

[Bogey]

No, I couldn't wait for the latest and greatest iWhatever, I got this at Costco in preparation for a work trip to cold and wet Scotland. 

Line of the day.

[Wanderer]

If you waited less, you could've gotten the (previous generation) 160 GB model. Holds a ton of lossless stuff and then some more. Built like a tank, too. Never regretted it for a minute. 

(The 120 GB newer model is more elegant/less bulky and can still hold music to last one for weeks. Good choice!:-)

[Coopmv]

If you waited less, you could've gotten the (previous generation) 160 GB model. Holds a ton of lossless stuff and then some more. Built like a tank, too. Never regretted it for a minute. 

(The 120 GB newer model is more elegant/less bulky and can still hold music to last one for weeks. Good choice!:-)

Is the 160 GB model still available?

[Daverz]

Line of the day.

The last time I went to Scotland (in October), I came back with a cough that lasted a month.   The damn Scots have done nothing since to improve their weather.

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/03140.html

[Coopmv]

The last time I went to Scotland (in October), I came back with a cough that lasted a month.   The damn Scots have done nothing since to improve their weather.

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/03140.html

So it is Seattle kind of weather ... mostly cloudy and rainy.   

[Bogey]

The last time I went to Scotland (in October), I came back with a cough that lasted a month.   The damn Scots have done nothing since to improve their weather.

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/03140.html

I was actually referring to your latest and greatest iWhatever.  Cold and rainy sounds wonderful to me.  Rainy spring and fall days are my favorites.

[Wanderer]

Is the 160 GB model still available?

I don't think so, unless used (which I don't recommend). I remember when the new models came out (early last fall?) Apple stores and assorted dealers were pushing their previous generation stock at quite low(er) prices, but I doubt whether there's anything left now to be purchased from a legitimate source.