. . . 'all else is gaslight' . . . your thoughts?
Personally, in hifi terms, coming from the eighties, back then CD was either brash or bland even edgy compared with quality analogue of the time, akin to electric light may be?
In todays context, gas light is a pleasing thing, it has a warmth and nostalgia, a softness that draws. The hardware is pleasing to the eye, one imagines tree lined streets interspersed with swan necked gas stands and an evening mist rolling of the Thames, thats if you are on the Embankment . . .
The early 50’s, I remember the old lady next door, Mrs Lee . . . I used to go and see here on a Tuesday day early evening to read the comics she had for her grandson Frank, he used to get really hacked off that I got to read them before he did. In the winter Mrs Lee would light the two round gas lamps on the chimney breast over the mantelpiece for me, the light was a lovely soft white/green glow with shadows on the walls, the lamps would hiss quietly as I read Frank’s Topper and Beazer.
Happy memories . . . compared with the harshness of modern electric light, give me 'gas light' and vinyl any time . . . 
Although, I happily embrace the ‘flick of an electric light switch’ these days . . . yes, its quiet too.
I wonder what Mr Von Karajan would say of todays digital streaming technology . . . What are your thoughts?
CJSF
Today's cutting edge......is tomorrow's gaslight.
It's called "Progress" & off course, it's always better. As Philips said "Perfect sound for ever"
And the increased incidence of house fires & explosions. Oh, and the radioactivity given out by Thorium in the incandescent gas 'mantles'. (Decades of production of countless millions of these mantles left an enormous and dangerous legacy around the sites where they were made. Thorium has a half-life of about the same as the age of the Universe so far!)
It's called "Progress" & off course, it's always better. As Philips said "Perfect sound for ever"
. . . Mmm, strikes me 'Philips' might have been indunging in keeping the money rolling in as well, 'keeping the bread butterd' . . . ? I remember those early CD's and players, mine was the 'Meridian top loader' deliberatly rolled off (took a dive!) at 18kh if my memory serves? . . . The only good thing was/is??? . . . there is no 'snap, crackle and pop' . . . keep that for the breakfast bowl . . . 
CJSF
And the increased incidence of house fires & explosions. Oh, and the radioactivity given out by Thorium in the incandescent gas 'mantles'. (Decades of production of countless millions of these mantles left an enormous and dangerous legacy around the sites where they were made. Thorium has a half-life of about the same as the age of the Universe so far!)
. . . 
you know what Chebby . . . despit what they say, the Earth is flat, just like a vinyl record. I wonder if it has and warps in it? . . . 
CJSF
you know what Chebby . . . despit what they say, the Earth is flat...From anyone else, I'd know they were joking.
you know what Chebby . . . despit what they say, the Earth is flat...From anyone else, I'd know they were joking.
Its why I dont have any stamps in my Passport Chebby . . . I dont want to drop off the edge . . .
CJSF 
Although, I happily embrace the ‘flick of an electric light switch’ these days . . . yes, its quiet too. I wonder what Mr Von Karajan would say of todays digital streaming technology . . . What are your thoughts? CJSFAh CJ... can't beat a bit of nostalja... Topper! forgot all about that comic!
Remind me, who was the main character on the front page?
Cheers
Mac
[OT]Ah the Topper...I got that every week from about 1980-1985. Then I started to buy Popular Computing Weekly and What HiFi (the first issue of WHF I bought was March 1985, I was 15)[/OT]
Love your nostalgia, but I think back then the digital studio technology wasn't that great. Digital these days is potentially very analogue sounding.
If you want to be purist and get the gas light effect from digital, you need:
- a good digital source recording (most are these days, unlike the early days of CD when studio digital technology wasn't perfect)
- a good method of getting the data to the DAC with very accurate clock (e.g. good transport, USB converter or aSync DAC or streamer with digital out)
- a fluid sounding DAC (mostly R2R/ladder type DACs e.g. the old TDA1541 or TDA1543 or PCM1704) possibly non-oversampling with tube output stage (this is why I excluded streamers above as they almost all have upsampling DACs that are fine for most people but not die hards like CJSF!)
- amps and speakers as per vinyl... probably small valve amps with big wife-unfriendly speakers 
Topper! forgot all about that comic!
Remind me, who was the main character on the front page?
Cheers
Mac
Sorry Mac, that was the best part of 60 years ago . . . my reading skills were almost non exitant then, remember, I was and am dyslexic. I'm still very much a visual person even these days . . . although given time I get by . . .
CJSF
Love your nostalgia, but I think back then the digital studio technology wasn't that great. Digital these days is potentially very analogue sounding.
If you want to be purist and get the gas light effect from digital, you need:
- a good digital source recording (most are these days, unlike the early days of CD when studio digital technology wasn't perfect)
- a good method of getting the data to the DAC with very accurate clock (e.g. good transport, USB converter or aSync DAC or streamer with digital out)
- a fluid sounding DAC (mostly R2R/ladder type DACs e.g. the old TDA1541 or TDA1543 or PCM1704) possibly non-oversampling with tube output stage (this is why I excluded streamers above as they almost all have upsampling DACs that are fine for most people but not die hards like CJSF!)
- amps and speakers as per vinyl... probably small valve amps with big wife-unfriendly speakers
Paradiziac,
Believe it or not, I can appreciate good well produced CD's and things like Spotify, I have the Apollo CDp, which I dont use much. I listen to Spotify about half to one hour a day compared with vinyl at 2-3 hours a day. The computer has a 'professional' program through which it down loads/streams??? Spotify via a wire link and an HRT DAC to my Croft integrated valve amp. The PMC speakers are not massive 53hx25dx18w(cm) about the size of a couple of LS35a's. In the 80's it was a pair of Rogers LS35a's driven by EAR 509 mono blocks sitting at the base of the stands, the same stands I use today . . . and no, they are not too high.
I have no idea what the pro program on my computer is, my friendly computer geek put it on when he installed my new computer a few months ago, he used to be a 'roady' knows the right people? It, along with the HRT DAC produces a great sound . . . he said he can delete the program if I want? . . . Over my dead body! I'm not too proud to admit I like Spotify and appreciate the better than average quality I get, especially from the old 40's, 50's, 60's Rock, Jazz and Country music I enjoy.
Nostalgia is good, I dont see much today to get excited about in any walk of life? I love my music as it was, I do appreciate some of the modern stuff like Jeff Beck, Robert Plant . . . who, when you thing ant that new . . . ? they learned their trade, coming through the ranks. It seems they come over better in the old way on vinyl . . . maybe I'm dreaming, at my age thats all there is left.
So its gas and steam operated for CJSF 
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Whilst being a very great conductor (in some repertoire), Mr Karajan also knew very well where his revenue stream was coming from. He was extraordinarily good at ensuring his image was centre stage and I'm quite sure he saw the then new Compact Disc as a great way of selling more recordings and making more money. Of course, he may well have also liked the format, but I doubt that was his only motivation.
This is not, by the way, intended as a criticism of Karajan. He was a wonderful musician at his best and who can blame him for wanting to make the best living he could out of his immense talent.
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