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Aural Heaven -- iPod And Analog

Posted by timothy on from the fixation-is-more-like-it dept.

Ant writes This Wired News article says there is aural magic in the combination of the very old with the very new: iPod through an old radio or tube-driven amplifier gives it a special warmth and atmosphere. '50-year-old Takeyuki Ishii insists the antique equipment creates an atmosphere that has been forgotten. The softer tones ease listeners and make them feel warm and relaxed.'"

3 of 425 comments (clear)

  1. 2+2= by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Recent, intentional-distortion device's output piped through ancient, high-distortion amplifier. The result? Some wanker somewhere thinks it sounds good.

  2. RTFA you wannabe audiophile twits. by venomkid · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Ishii insists the antique equipment creates an atmosphere that has been forgotten. The softer tones ease listeners and make them feel warm and relaxed.

    "Listening to their sounds, I can recall scenes from my childhood," he said.

    He's not saying it "sounds better" he's saying it reminds him of happier times. It's a novelty.

    For pete's sake you people will take any excuse to start throwing your dicks at each other.

    --
    vk.
  3. In Soviet Russia... by clawDATA · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    If someone mods me down AGAIN for using an "In Soviet Russia" subject I'm going to go Tarantino on your asses. I'm from freakin' Soviet Russia, morons!

    Anyway, my sound system consists of Winamp playing mp3's through a Yamaha DS2416 (great converters!) on a massive 70's-era Russian "audiophile" tube amp (sorry, no model number evident). I average about a pair of 3R6S tubes every two years.

    The sound from a tube-amp (and this is from years and years of listening under all sorts of illicit drugs -- I know what I'm talking about) is noticably different, even at low volume levels. Pleasantly so. It takes the edge off of digital music, and smooths out any aliasing and mpeg "warbles" so that they sound "musical". I can speak for hours on this topic, but I won't. Not here.

    I have friends in Canada who collect tube amps, and pay from 10's to hundreds of dollars for a single tube. Over here tubes are worthless, and can be picked up (NOS -- "New Old Stock") for pennies from a repair shop. Suckers.

    I heartily recommend the combination of mp3's with tubes.

    --
    "This is totally insecure, but very convenient."