In the middle of a pandemic, Stereophile reviews ~ $30K equipment

This was a nice conversation. "Too much TV" being the best line.

"C’est la vie! as they say in Brooklyn."

You mean "se la vie"? Or "sa la vie"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_diaspora#Brooklyn

"...the number of Maximilien Robespierre wannabes pretending to be Captain America..."

Captain America is French? That is called globalization. For better or worse.

"Apparently the US is not the only country with an over abundance of dumbasses."

It is called a pendulum.

Otherwise, almost prefect sentence for an English minor. Overabundance.

geoffkait,

You might have seen this before, but in case you have not, check this webpage. On the left side there is a little house with a column of dots. Check each dot for different Fairfax county statistics. Not perfect, but somewhat optimistic.

https://fairfaxcountygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=4f843236bc914cbdaa3307bb23...

geoffkait,

"Can you include hospital capacity?

The Health Department does not track this information.

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association has a COVID-19 dashboard which reports out on hospital capacity data."

Change the county, and state. These guys must be joking. Health department is not interested in healthcare facility capacity in the middle of an epidemics? What the heck?

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/case-information

geoffkait,

"...huge spike in cases and deaths in Va. most of which are in Fairfax country"

Are those numbers by where test/death occured or by person’s residence? Not that it makes it tremendously different, but it would be interesting.

Keep the mask on, wash your hands, stay in closed public spaces as short as possible regardless of number of people there at the time. Keep the mask on even if there is nobody there.

asvjerry,

USA...Unabashed Sociopathic Activities...., Inc.

That amplifier in question is Danish.

"I just spent a bunch on cassettes, a couple grand, which everyone tells me is old technology. Was that wrong? 😳"

No, people collect even older and odder things. Ming vases (not allowed on that other thread, though), Rembrandt paintings, even LPs, believe it or not.

Which city?

"A lot of the times we're just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best."

That sums it up.

geoffkait,

"Say 99 in Swedish three times fast."

I misplaced my Swedish-Swedish dictionary. I will do it as soon as I find it.

I am not defending Sweden. I am just a little more cautious with assumptions. You may need to follow some of the other European countries closely to see how it develops. Those that had very strict and successful measures which are normalizing now. They are starting from virtually zero and have no herd immunity for sure. Those are the places to follow. Some of them are tourist spots and are vying for visitors. That will be a good thing to watch. See the bigger picture.

"I would love to see a price breakdown of that $53,000 tonearm."

Assuming it is made in a garage, for two tonearms: $700 for parts, $400-600 for machine use, $10000 for marketing, Roughly $100000 left for living a year until you can find another two customers. For which you may need to raise the price to stay competitive.

geoffkait,

"Sweden’s idea of herd immunity didn’t work. End of story.

I agree that it is a little suspicious, but it is not end of the story yet. Not in Sweden, not in Brazil, not in the U.S.A. Sweden merely chose not to "flatten the curve", but to, sort of, take a hit at once. It is a different approach with its own shortcomings, but it is hard to assume that long-term outcome will be much different.

Again, remember that social distancing was to "flatten the curve". It was not automatically assuming better final statistics. It was to decrease the strain on the healthcare system at one time. Hoping that, eventually, it would improve outcomes for individual patients. Which is likely, but not guaranteed yet.

"Sweden. Come on, guys. Don’t be a knucklehead. It’s too late now, anyway."

As someone in that link mentioned, it is a marathon, not a sprint. Interesting however you look at it.

I like Charleston.

>>>>>>Huh? Who cares?

Those who are curious about why Stereophile reviewing something may be a big deal.

Over time, I got an impression that not many pay attention to what Stereophile writes anyway.

I used to be a subscriber for a long time. I realized I would read a few issues a year at most. After subscription lapsed, I did not feel I was missing anything.

How many visitors to this thread actually subscribe to Stereophile? Most? A few?

"So please dont say odds are anyone can end up hospitalized as that is not what is happening for close to 99 percent of those in ICU...."

Odds actually are that anyone can end up hospitalized and that is what is happening to 100% of those in ICU.

"And I want out of all this madness. Any suggestions ?"

Look at the bright side, it has not been you. (yet, for all we know)

mijostyn,

While talking about hearts and Coronavirus that you have so far been lucky to survive, an echocardiogram may not be a bad idea.

Disagree.

geoffkait,

I told you I give you headlines. Months ahead. Headlines, not headaches.

geoffkait,

I am giving yiu the headlines. Literally. If you were not so stubborn, you could have been the first out there.

geoffkait,

I am serious. It is about kids these days.

You are following the wrong🐄🐄🐄🐄.

geoffkait,

How are the kids? The hottest news these days is the kids, not Georgia.

"...nor does any Danish audio company really except Gryphon."

No love for Ortofon? Still bringing something to those who can afford almost nothing.

On a non-audio note about Denmark. Cafeteria at Copenhagen Business School, managed by students of business school, went bankrupt.

https://cbswire.dk/spisestuerne-files-for-bankruptcy-70-staff-members-lose-their-jobs/

">>>>Is there anything Valin didn’t give a drool-worthy review to?"

Magic Pebbles?

chorus,

Thanks,

I looked it up myself but google did not bring me to any "$32000 standmount speaker" so I thought I’d ask. I have never heard of BØRRESEN. Somehow, design of their floorstanders reminds me of Sonus Faber.

In case anyone is interested...

https://borresen-acoustics.com/index.php/the-speakers/borresen-01-2-way-monitor

EDIT: Hey, I am not that bad..."The Børresen 01 has a cabinet inspired by Sonus faber and utilizes the concept of minimum mass."

"...we can say for sure at least is that the subject is hotly contested."

Browsing through it again, I got an impression it is not that hotly contested. It is hotly commented on, for sure. Not many comments being against these reviews.

chorus,

"...or $32k standmounts either."

Which ones are those? I would like to see their picture and, maybe, read about them. Not buying them, though.

"...such theories about the fall of our own country?"

What fall? Producing fine amplifiers, as far as I can read.

"I hate to be judgmental but you’re not very good with jokes, either."

I thought he implied he was not good with flying. Where was the joke? I am not good at getting them.

mijostyn,

Not to beat the same horse for too long, but you can check under "Donor eligibility" a little lower on the page to see if you qualify. Many people with much less luck than you have had are hoping you do.

https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/investigational-new-drug-ind-or-device-exemption-ide-pr...

mijostyn,

"I’m 66. I got myself exposed, had a minor cough and now I am totally immune and can not give the disease to anyone else."

A few assumptions too many in one sentence.

Be careful, "totally immune" at your age wanes in some cases.

Have you considered helping in the hospital taking care of infected people now? Rolling them over, deep cleaning the rooms, etc. Well, it is the topic on that other thread ("What can we do to help" or something like that), but just a suggestion.

Of course, that is all if you were referring to Covid-19.

"I seriously doubt any dealer is going to commit that kind of money to put one on display."

Aavik has two dealers in the U.S.A. and one in Canada. It would be interesting to find out if they have one to listen to.

'Not a mask in sight': thousands flock to Yellowstone as park reopens

There are masks on first and second picture.

"Bad link alert."

Fixed it. Thank you.

"No-one I know or even heard of in NYC area is going to support this opening-up criminal madness."

These people seem ready...

https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/photos-new-yorkers-crowded-christopher-street-pier-weekend-...

Aavik piece is an integrated amplifier with a DAC and phono stage. You can save some money on those.

The other one is also a DAC and FM tuner.