Category Archives: Analogue

Beware the expert

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

There are advantages to old-fashioned analog music, according to some audiophiles. “There is a fuller sound to it, and more depth to the sound,” said Ryan Holiday, the New Orleans-based marketing director for American Apparel. He’s a new devotee of … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Testing, Vinyl | 1 Comment

All Hail … Analog?

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

My brother kindly pointed me an article in the Wall Street Journal by Francis Fukuyama, entitled ‘All Hail Analog?’. Fukuyama is best known as a kind of historical analyst, generally of a conservative bent. In the late 80s and early … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Audio, Video | 8 Comments

Everything online all the time

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

The Gadget Guy reports that 200,000 pre-WWII recordings have been donated by Universal Music to the US Library of Congress, which will convert them to a digital format and make them available for free online. I reckon this is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Audio, Music | Leave a comment

Wobbling grooves

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Years ago I wrote a post in which I mentioned my long search for a good recording of Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor. In the end I found a Telarc one with impressive bass. I suggested in that … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Crappy turntable could be cool product

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Got to say, when I first saw this product, my immediate reaction was that it was a pity such a thing existed. The cartridge doesn’t look good, and would probably do some damage to LPs, and to use broadcast FM … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Looking into the black box

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

A young man of my acquaintance was given a very special present for his 21st birthday: a good quality stereo turntable and an amplifier. I wasn’t there, but I heard a lovely story about it. While they were trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Vinyl | 1 Comment

Silly audiophile claims … 2

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

Once I went into a hifi shop, which shall remain nameless. The owner was one of those who believed analogue to be clearly superior to digital. The same shop, at another time, insisted that a high quality composite video cable … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Audio, Mysticism, Rant | 3 Comments

Silly audiophile claims … 1

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve been into HiFi since I was a callow youth, well before digital audio was even being recorded by the major studios, let alone made available as a consumer format. I was thrilled with the introduction of the compact disc. … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Audio, Mysticism | 7 Comments

Old, old music

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

Got a yen to hear some acoustic recordings? That is, music from the early decades of the 20th Century when musicians sat before a horn attached to a cutting stylus. No electricity involved, except possibly to power the motor of … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, Misc | Leave a comment

Resurrecting Polaroid, but don’t knock digital

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating article about how an enthusiast has acquired the last Polaroid factory in Europe and started producing instant film again (monochrome now, colour to follow). Great stuff. But I would note that the piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Analogue, How Things Work | 2 Comments