ilikebananafudge_

I would say less upper treble, slightly uplifted mids, snappier transients, better staging, better clarity. Perhaps slightly more euphonic sounding, too? Also, more comfortable!

Does it make the staging a bit more expansive or airy? Those were the only things I'd change about the RAD-0.

@Tchoupitoulas I can't directly A/B the pads because of the attachment mechanism, and I pay almost no attention to staging, so take this with a grain of salt, but I would say it's not as much an increase in airiness or expansiveness, it's more of an increase in image stability and precision. There is perhaps a small increase in expansiveness, but it's minor.

Yep sadly

Listening to Smile in his memory right now

Complete and gradual contentment is the cure for upgrade-itis.

Every time I feel a bout of FOMO coming on I put on a favorite headphone/amp combo and try to remember that just because something out there is getting a lot of buzz, that doesn't make what I have sound worse, it usually works. Usually.

I picked mine up sort of on a whim, expecting a catch and release, but these may be my favorite headphones, even on middling ancillary gear.

She survived quite a long time, I think, until a passing flu bug wiped out both her and her husband.

I didn't know them, I knew their daughter.

Wait, a surgeon stole the organ while performing authorized surgery? That's insane

I heard this over twenty years ago, and it would have happened in Sri Lanka. But, although this is my only *personal* knowledge of such things, I gather it happens.

Perhaps more common is the buying of organs from poor people for a pittance to sell to rich people for a far-from-pittance.

I can’t be bothered to count my CDs, but I estimate 3000–3100; almost all classical. From what I’ve read, that’s nowhere near “a big classical collection.”

ET3 is a very good transport. (I’m using it via AES). Wishing you a lot of enjoyment with it!

You thought it was 652?

Excellent, I'm glad that the Dazzler is living up to its namesake! I've been continuing to enjoy that album a lot, too.

"...when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness..."

Shit. Haven’t thought about that book in years, maybe decades. Thanks for the morning depression…

The 'very few' are counting on our despair. Our ancestors did not suffer for us to surrender.

funny aside: was listening to "Tired Sounds..." and my ex wife walked into the room and opined, "how can you stand this? there's so much NOT there in the music it makes me so anxious!" for me that's the cause for the relaxation; it's reading into what's seemingly missing that makes me appreciate what's there so much more.

@yotacowboy I totally agree. I also love how this type of music seems to make my brain slow down and time slow down, which I need often as an antidote to the modern world.

Thank-you for the suggestions. Adding to my music library now.

I just watched the John Williams + Tokyo performance. He was probably 91 there.
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/john-williams/news/john-williams-in-tokyo-272135

I gave up on this. Let the tech overlords suck up my junk emails and train their AI on Nigerian prince scams, Black Friday ads, and v14gr4 black markets!

I don't believe that it was really really *random*

@ilikebananafudge_ re comfort, get one of these, they're really good: https://midwinterdesignworks.blogspot.com/search/label/Rosson%20Rad-0%20Suspension%20Strap

He's a friend of mine, is a great guy, and makes beautiful things.

@Tchoupitoulas I finally got around to ordering one of those straps and it's great! Thanks for the tip!

That's awesome! You'll have to get one of his lovely stands next! :)

I don't know why people who stream would give that company money willingly. There's other options and if I want it bad enough I'll buy a hard copy or buy the files.

I went halfsies on a RAAL stack last year that pushed 5k. Fun for a bit, but oof that was a big chunk out of the pocketbook.

Brutal. I feel like the last decade has shot up stratospheric in terms of what the market asks for TOTL toys. Only problem is I don't think most of it is worth even half the ask. So much half arsed garbage dolled up for 'only' thousands more.

Congrats!

So when I am getting the invite?

Congratulations!
My dad gave me some wise advice.
You don't own a house, it owns you.

Even the 'open' ZMFs isolate way more than most other cans. Love it.

Verites, though far from the flavor of the month as they once were, are still very relevant upper tier.

@joch I definitely agree, I don't think I'll ever sell my Blackwood VCs

I could see that. SW51+ reminds me of PietusMaxiumus in a few ways (which is also killer with AO).

@RestoredSparda what are the similarities between Pietus Maximus and SW51+?

Probably the really precise imaging for one. Also very resolving. They are both a bit bass-light (compared to other amps) but have really good control and detail in the bass. This was an excellent thing to pair with Atrium Open and the Auteur pads (which can be a bit boomy). That's all I've got top of mind.

Haha... That makes me want to be flipping through a pile of *actual* LPs!

My music is stored by music-type/[composer]/artist/name I use the system directory-tree structure for this, and that is how I navigate it, whether is file browser or media player.

This I have always preferred simple players. I don't use media-management, even if it is there. But it is nice to see the album cover.

@Thad E Ginathom How do you handle music that's cross-genre?
I like simple so it's [artist] / [release by year] as directory structure. Except for soundtracks, which live in their own folder to keep things neat. Album covers are secondary information if you aren't holding it in your hands. So they're optional.

I'd have to ban it, as it doesn't fit the system. Computer says No!

lol.

I guess... I suppose stuff just gets shoe-horned in somewhere. :)