‘Muddy’ sound using cassette tapes/deck/through quality hi fi components

[good_enough]

The tribalism in all walks of life is always entertaining. I was into cycling for a while and people used to get bulging eyes on forums shouting virtually over their keyboards about which group-sets were the best - all utterly pointless.

I'm new to this forum but see the same aimless frothing about DACs, media formats and other topics, when it all ultimately comes down to preference, the same as with which gear manufacturer you choose for your bike.

One thing that I think isn't black and white is the statement "many still want to make their listening a chore and unrewarding". I think that misses a critical point - one person's chore is another person's passion.

I used the convenience and speed of streaming yesterday to hear Taj Mahal's "Live At The Church In Tulsa" for the first time. I instantly ordered it on vinyl and have been enjoying it this afternoon. Does it sound "better"? Maybe, maybe not. But is the whole package of putting it on and turning the two LPs over after just two or three songs worth it? Yep - for me it's a fuller and more rewarding experience than just streaming the same album.

Some albums I'll never intend to own on vinyl and I'll get plenty of satisfaction streaming them instead, but for my preference and how I choose to consume music, some albums are just made to be heard through that medium, and I'm sure that nostalgia and other factors make tape sometimes the preferred format for other listeners. It's all up to the individual and pointless trying to corral people into a single pigeon-hole.

With you on this. My albums represent the circumstances in which I acquired them and often memories about that time.

Additionally as you say some things just sound right as they were originally released. 'What's Going On' or the flip side of 'Abbey Road' come to mine.

 

[Gray]

I wasn't that posh kid at school with the new trainers and best bikes whenever they came out

Tell me about it Stuart.
Other kids had Action Man.
Me and my brother shared 'Combat Johnny' - that my Mum got for about a 10th of the price down the market.

We always knew it was inferior....(and that our Mum was superior).

 

[Jasonovich]

Tell me about it Stuart.
Other kids had Action Man.
Me and my brother shared 'Combat Johnny' - that my Mum got for about a 10th of the price down the market.

We always knew it was inferior....(and that our Mum was superior).

Nah that's nothing, I had to transgender my sister's Barbie Sindy doll 🤣