normb

Responses from normb

Warped record
@mijostyn  USPS’ manhandling and poor packaging by sellers can make things FAR worse. AMAZON generally does an amazing job of packaging LP’s although I have, just within the past year, gotten several LP’s that weren’t labeled, sealed, or otherwis... 
Thorens TD124 “Mk1”/Mk2 plinth
I’ve read that name - Schopper - in several forums. I’m big on LOMC carts. Have been using an Ortofon Verismo for about 18 months, have a VDH Stradivarius Koa XGW I have yet to put on my TT - I don’t even have it unpacked yet, or my audio room fi... 
Thorens TD124 “Mk1”/Mk2 plinth
Thanks. I got in touch with a guy in latviia who sells these on eBay and he assures me there’s only one pattern.  
Streaming recommendations
Here’s a NO on the Eversolo DMP-A6 model. It works. Sounds GREAT. HAs some really nice bells and whistles. I can even stream my favorite podcasts. Tried importing CD’s into it. It only gets metadata on about - ABOT - three out of five discs. I’v... 
matching your cartridge to your turntable
MANY if not most turntables have aluminum platters, it’s not the material but the density and design that affects resonance. One “matches” a cartridge to the TONEarm, not the TURNtable. There are sites that have calculators for figuring out if a ... 
Are there any recording artists you just can’t listen too?
@gdaddy1  I’m with you on Springsteen. My ex-wife was a YUGE fan of his and dragged me to a show in Munich in ‘82 (?) at the Olympiahalle. About one hour into it I fell asleep. To this day I’m STILL surprised Roger McGuinn hasn’t sued him over s... 
I'm curious. What is your "normal" listening volume?
around 70-75 dB where I’m sitting with peaks into 80+.   
Who has kids that are in a band or have been?
Hi, I’m Norm, I too was a “Band Dad.” Group therapy, huh? (see what I did there?).   My son, a multiinstrumental musician - percussion, drums, bass/guitar, vibes, piano, ukulele now (more portable) put together a band and several sound projects... 
Qobuz vs Tidal
@mswale $5/month? as a disabled veteran myself, on that point alone I’m going with TIDAL for now. Thanks. ********* edit or not. Been all over the site and can’t find a WORD about “veteran” or any discount other than “student.” and the ‘bot /... 
I often notice that people who have open reel decks and/or tube equipment are nicest
Well, I’m rarely a proponent of sweeping generalities, but this one has me thinking of all the times I’ve been smacked down online by some snot-nosed (or low-T even) audiophool, audiofanatic, audiofascist here and there. My usual learned suspicio... 
Nuisance tripping of AFCI circuit breaker by inrush of current when turning on amplifiers
1- ARC-fault Circuit Breakers (and GFCI) age. 2- AFCI CB’s are often garbage out of the box. 3- replace yours with a NORMAL breaker, NON GF/AF if nowhere near water.   we JUST a month ago  passed final electrical inspection. the day before, th... 
Favorite Cover Album
My son gave me this album for Christmas 2023. He found a company that made custom LP's, he had them add several of MY favorite songs he remembered and several of his (he's a multiinstrument musician with a good ear for sound - it’s a pretty good, ... 
MissingCDs and records
I get it. Growing up in the 70’s, I had a friend, Rocky R. Ruckman (RIP), singer, guitarist in a local band who had this AMAZING record collection. Even MORE amazing was Rocky’s eidetic memory. Take ANY LP off the wall and he could tell you every... 
Ladder Schumann DAC Warning
there’s a lesson in world economics here too. It’s very likely that, given the scale of the Chinese vs. US economy, yes, the true value of the unit IS $150. Ladder markets it for America on OUR economic scale.   I know, I know, it sounds bizarr... 
Replace tubes yearly?
@thecarpathian Thanks. That was Hudson Shepherd, a service dog I had for nearly 6 years having rescued him from a local (DC) shelter a 18 months. It’s been a year since I had to put him down due to canine myelodysplasia - like ALS, Lou Gehrig’s di...