merlinus

Responses from merlinus

flac to wav
Thanks! Will give K3b a try. I have already d/led it from the repos, and it definitely offers much greater choices and customization than brasero.Will it automatically convert flacs to wavs during the burning process?I always use slow speeds for b... 
Alvin Lee- 1 year later
Yes, indeed! One of the greatest guitarists ever!! 
Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD
Hi Goofyfoot. For Mahler, the DG remastering of Bernstein's cycle is superb. I have Boxes I and II, and not III, because the eighth is my least favorite and it is an older recording, and this version of the ninth is awful.I purchased Lenny's ninth... 
Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD
It certainly seems that the Japanese remasters, especially sacds (e.g. HvK LvB 3), are superior to most others. After all, they have the largest per capita classical music audience of any country, and the technology as well. 
Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD
Hi Goofyfoot. Your point of familiarity is certain well-taken. But in the end, it is my response to any given performance that holds sway.As an example, I recently acquired Enoch zu Guttenberg's Mozart Requiem. He uses much smaller forces than oth... 
Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD
Hi Lloydelee. My understanding is HIP is historically informed performance, which more often than not uses instruments that the composer had access to rather than modern ones. It can also refer to score modifications based on recent scholarship.An... 
Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD
I greatly prefer most of LvB to be on a grand scale, spacious, exciting, raw, turbulent, full of sound and fury, yet signifying greatness. This takes large forces, and is why I eschew HIP. SQ is also very important, so no matter how impassioned Fu... 
Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD
I recently acquired the Japanese SACD of HvK 1962 LvB No. 3, and was blown away by the recording, both SQ and performance. Easily the best Eroica I have ever heard. 
HDMI video signal but no audio
Check the menus in your DVD player. This happened to me, and it was a simple matter of changing some audio settings. 
Why do dealers do this?
I gave up doling business with the only local high-end audio store for the reasons you so clearly stated. Also, I found that many of the staff were far less knowledgeable than me, and tended to push particular products rather than offer choices.So... 
No CD with works by Alexander N. Skrjabin
Vladimir Ashkenazy has recorded a goodly number of Scriabin's works. They were originally issued on London CDs. 
B&W 683 floor standers
I use a B&W ASW-610 subwoofer in addition to my 683s. My room is open on the right and rear, 12-foot wood ceiling, saltillo tile floors. My listening position is about 12 feet from the speakers. THe room is around 15'W x 20'L. 
Jackets for Japanese mini lps
Try Far West Record Supply -- 1-626-335-5544. Wonderful people. 
Just the musings of an audiophile
Having played acoustic piano since about 5-1/2 years of age (classical and now improvisational as well), I have realized that no audio system -- none!!! -- will ever sound as good as my Steinway.So I accept the limitations, although I always am aw... 
Beethoven Ninth Symphony
The entire Barenboim set of 9 symphonies and four overtures is available from Amazon UK for a tad under $29 including airmail delivery.