Salutations™!!

I was standing in Underdog Records today and was watching Jonathan and De hook up stereo equipment and test them out receivers and speakers. I realize that I want some. I want these. They sounded awesome. It was a Sansui receiver with Pioneer speakers. They sounded fantastic. De was playing some Snoop Dogg and the bass was thumping. They had to turn down the bass and lift the treble on the Sansui and the speakers were taking everything they threw at them. 

I’m not unhappy with what I have.

I have an Audio Technica LP60USB which is a fine “entry level” turntable. I would actually like to have the next level AT on the market but I don’t know if I will get one anytime soon. The part that I partially have a problem with is that I play it through my Yamaha 5.1 surround receiver and while I do have it set to 2-channel stereo for records and “Alexa,” I want a dedicated receiver designed with a phono stage.

So, my thoughts are if I get a new (or new to me) receiver and speakers, I may consider also getting a classic turntable or upgrade to a newer higher-dollar model. Jonathan always has stuff coming through and the stuff I hear sounds great, but I don’t know where I’d put it, either. We are already out of room for the vinyl we have, much less new equipment to take up even more room.

We have discussed if we look for a new house that two of the very important specs we have to have are a fantastic and roomy kitchen and a dedicated “listening space.” It can be a separate room, a spare bedroom, a rec/rumpus room, etc., but it will be for all the vinyl/record equipment. I will keep this surround system wherever the TV goes, but I want something dedicated to records for that room.

It doesn’t have to be retro/classic/used stuff, but I wouldn’t mind that. Having something that glows when you’re turning the lights down low to just enjoy listening or when you’re listening to the radio (but who does that anymore?), or having a bit of Scotch while listening to Steely Dan?

I know that Ember Audio will be reopening in a new space and it will be in my neighborhood, well the studio’s neighborhood (Industry Hill) and I’ll be tempted to go in there and buy something because it will all be shiny and awesome but they sell high-dollar stuff. However, I’ve heard that Chris and Jamie want to also sell more affordable-yet-good stuff, too. I’ll talk with them to see what they say. I just know that sometime soon or not-so-soon, I want something new. Heck, I still long for the old console record player/AM/FM/8-Track Stereo that I had and just abandoned when I moved to WSNC in 1986. I really wish I still had that.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Vinyl is the real deal. I’ve always felt like until you buy the vinyl record, you don’t really own the album. And it’s not just me or a little pet thing or some kind of retro romantic thing from the past. It is still alive.” – Jack White