Dave's not here..... 1957 parents has a portable all in one mono Zenith record player. 4 speeds 16 2/3 up to 78, tubes and awesome (at the time) bass. Pop played 2 45s a lot The Beat and The Tennessee Stud. Needles were ceramic and about 1.50 to replace. 1965 while in hi school, got a Sears electronic stereo all in one with a detachable speaker. Used to listen to Steppenwolf or the Seeds at night in bed, turned the volume down all the way. The ceramic needle was loud enough just by itself. 1970, US navy and a Pioneer flea watt receiver. 1974 an Acoustic Research integrated with 50 whole watts. And it just goes on and on. Time changes everything, listening to music, live or recorded stays the same.
Who remembers audio from the time when ...
... I recall hurrying home with the newest vinyl, placing it on the rek-o-kut belt turntable (arm and cartridge beyond recall) then turning on the HeathKit preamp (with all sorts of equalizing circuits) and amp, then watching the tubes warm up. The anticipation of hearing the new music through a decent system built up with the warming rube glow from orange to red and dimming into the infra red. Gently grasping the arm and rotating it to place the needle’s crystal perfectly into the first cut. The Heathkit 2way speaker was placed forward from center wall to mimic a mono transducer at center stage. Switching the turntable motor on while gradually increasing gain at the preamp required a soft touch. Then stereo, Reel to Reel. The Dolby cassette deck, tubeless amps and preamps. Digital ...
i continue to be amazed at the continuing tidal wave of efforts directed to achieve more accurate sound reproduction and more pleasing perception utilizing our incredible ability to hear sound in the spectrum of musical experience. The sounds of nature: A drip of water on the wet surface of a broadleaf in the rainforest. The startling gasping wheeze of the change in air flow through the mountain pass. The sizzle of receding waves through the pebbles on shore. And the sounds made by humans.
Old timer’s reminiscences of early audiophile recollections are welcome.
i continue to be amazed at the continuing tidal wave of efforts directed to achieve more accurate sound reproduction and more pleasing perception utilizing our incredible ability to hear sound in the spectrum of musical experience. The sounds of nature: A drip of water on the wet surface of a broadleaf in the rainforest. The startling gasping wheeze of the change in air flow through the mountain pass. The sizzle of receding waves through the pebbles on shore. And the sounds made by humans.
Old timer’s reminiscences of early audiophile recollections are welcome.