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From: ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Re: Spring cleaning Preamps (actually CD vs LP)
Message-ID: <11174@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 30-May-85 20:05:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.11174
Posted: Thu May 30 20:05:18 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Jun-85 10:56:35 EDT
References: <141@utflis.UUCP> <301@moncol.UUCP> <494@edison.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 45

> a) Those who have plunked thousands of dollars into "high end" analog
> playback systems. (ihuxl!messina beat me to this one). People are naturally
> reluctant to admit such mistakes to themselves, and persist in face-saving
> attempts to rationalize and justify their decisions.
> 
> b) Those who simly delude themselves through ppseudo-scientific arguments
> based on a misunderstanding of well-established theory.
> 

You were the one who brought up MEASUARABLE.  Yes, you can MEASURE both
the advantages and disadvanges of CD's.

You can measure the increased S/N on CD's
You can measure the increased S/N of digital mastering.
You can measure the longevity of the medium.
You can measure the speed stability.
You can measure the frequency response compared to magnetic media.
You can measure the significant distortion that you get when operating
  near the top of the frequency range
You can measure the EQ differences due to cruddy analog parts on cheap
  decks
You can count the number of titles available in both medium and find that
  CD's only scratch the surface of the musical library.

I have no need for $3000 worth of anything, but I do have over $200 in
a turntable cartridge and I will spend $75 for a new stylus when it wears
out.  I will keep buying D4 and discwashers.  I will keep buying records
because CD's are not available in reasonable selection yet.  I've spent
$400 on a CD player (albeit a poor one) because I wanted one early so
I could start assmebling the library.  I'm likely to go out and get a D5
for my desk and CAR.  I'm likely to buy one of the newer decks to get
better output filtering so I won't have to wretch during the crescendoes
of Also Sprach Zarathustra.

The scientific arguments are valid.  It's whether in your taste it's
worth the money to conquer any one of these measurable points.  I consider
myself a mid-range audiophile.  My whole stereo system cost lest than $3000,
compared to that of my high range but not overly exotic friends who have spent
that much just on speakers.  Yes, I can hear the difference in the systems,
but not enough to make it worth doubling the amount of money I have in them.

The problem with making sweeping generalizations is putting up with the shit
when your wrong.

-Ron