What's new Pussycat too?

Well, you certainly hit the nail on the head there @Andy Barr , though the reduced carbon footprint bit is a lucky side-effect and not something I was pursuing in and of itself with my lifestyle. And the intent of the lifestyle wasn't just necessarily about living a decent standard with less money either, more about preparing myself mentally and physically for the day civilization comes falling down and making due with what I have then, or if I did just get sick of it all and moved to some remote part of the globe and be a hermit. So my lifestyle won't have to change much except to add hunter-gatherer to my repertoire. I was never going to go all the way off the rails and be one of those survival preppers with the bunker and tons of goods stored away, I still have hope, it doesn't come to that, just knowing how to scrounge and repair things, etc. is enough for me. Costa Rica will be the first destination for us, and no worries, I'll make sure the crop duster I buy is one from the WWII era or just after that have Rolls-Royce engines, so yeah, it will make it with 1050 drop tanks!

 

So, @Paul "Mclaneinc" Irvine and @Andy Barr , have you had a chance to have a good listen to some or all of the Rush songs I posted yet?

I received my latest Rush Album today. All the way from Venezuela, because it was priced for a fraction of the cost of U.S. and Canadian sellers and included free shipping. I payed less than $50 for this album, other sellers were wanting $100-$150 or more for! It was a bit of a chance as I know music piracy is big in South America, and there was a chance I was not getting an original recording from a master recording DMM (direct to metal master) like the other audiophile quality albums I'd bought.

So is it original? I can't say for sure, as it is definitely not identical to the North American releases, but it may but it does seem to be an officially authorized edition. The Atlantic records label is a different style that North American releases, and the included bonus booklet with photos of the band and a bit of history, as far as I can make out, it has photos of the band from the 70's through to '89 when this album was originally released, but is in a Latin language (I'm not entirely sure if Venezuela has a unique version of Latin or not). I haven't looked closely at the lyric sheet yet as I need reading glasses and a magnifying glass for my old eyes to read it, so I don't know yet if the Lyrics are the in English or if they are translated.

But the important part is that the album cover looks good, and original and the vinyl itself is indeed an audiophile quality heavy-weight platter and it sounds good. It's not an inferior quality of recording, so I think I got the real deal, but just stamped by a manufacturer in Venezuela to the official high-quality standards. There is a Venezuelan company listed as well as Atlantic Records and of course the official Rush label of 'Anthem' is also printed next to the other company names.

It's my first ever album that has a sticker price of $3000 though! (see bottom left corner of the album cover in the bottom photo)

 

Another treasure - at a great price - to add to your collection, Matt. Wonderful stuff - I can feel the lurve from here. I was out and about last night, on the thrift Marketplace hunt, bagging a cheap Sony DVD/CD player with remote and a Panasonic home theatre speaker system (boxed) ... all for £30 so like you, I don't half lurve a bargain. Pics to follow later, chaps, and keep up the good work with the bargain hunts.

 

I would call it a comparatively great price, but paying over $30 for even an audiophile quality record is a bit ridiculous, prices are high to start and if you don't get them when the remasters are first released, then $50 is a bargain considering the scalping prices they go for these days.

But then, they are short runs and so rare, compared to the heyday of LP's...or any physical media. It's probably only one percent of music listeners that buy records anymore. LP's are seeing a resurgence among audio fans like me, i.e. old farts and a very few of the younger generation discovering them.

So the fact that new vinyl can be had at all is amazing. And with old used prints of the media selling for as much as these bargains for limited edition remasters, it really is a great deal for $50. The better deal here was the Permanent Waves Rush box set, with 3 records I got for $50 too. Also a deal amongst sellers wanting double or triple that price, for even used versions, since most of these "new" remasters have been out for 5-10, or more, years now themselves.

Rush did release a new collector's version of the 2112 album just this past year though. I have the original from 1976 myself and so I bought the much cheaper CD/DVD combo remaster that was released in 2012. No vinyl for the 2012 release though. But it was released by Rush's original publisher Mercury Records, not Rush and Atlantic which they have partnered with starting in 1989 with the Presto Album above.

All re-releases from Atlantic have vinyl versions unlike the Mercury re-releases. Apparently Rush still retains rights to release re-release old Mercury recordings of their music to release under the Atlantic label, but Mercury obviously still has rights to re-release any of their albums pre-'89.

Well anyway, comparative bargains or not, my busy business season is coming to a close, with lawns and plants going dormant for the winter these last few items I've purchased are going to be it for non-essential purchases this year. No more expendable income until next spring.


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Of course, though I haven't been doing a show-and-tell with you guys over them, I haven't just been purchasing frivolous personal items, but I have been doing investments in business equipment too, so next year the business will expand and I should make more money. I started the year with 2 riding mowers and now have 4.

I also started with one trailer and now have two with the purchase of a larger one, I also purchased a small tractor (which is why I needed the larger trailer for hauling) that can use attachments like buckets and bulldozer blade and more to expand the business into land clearing jobs. I also purchased a second vehicle so I have the equipment now to higher on a second crew of workers, assuming I grow the business with the new equipment.

Of course the mowers and vehicle I bought weren't purchased with expansion in mind, but because my Blazer and mowers broke down and I didn't have time for repairs with work I to accomplish, so I bought the larger truck and two mowers until I get them all working again to keep the business going. Having it to expand the business is a bonus side-effect. The Blazer (transmission issue) I will repair during the off season so it is ready come next spring. I also still have my old pick-up truck I intend to repair this winter as well, so I will have two back-up vehicles, or at least one back-up should I hire on a second crew.

But it was actually a very bad year for me for business. At first it was one thing breaking down after another at the same time as a much wetter spring than usual, and combined delays between rainy days and break-downs cost business (delays push everything back so you aren't mowing a job as many times as normal a month or season) and money and a few unreasonable customers. So the business actually shrank this year. And we went from over-saturation to drought the last 4 months (first rain in 4 months came this past weekend) so there was nothing to mow. But luckily we were able to take on other maintenance work to keep us busy. Anywho, I lost money this year and all the equipment was purchased with $5000 I had saved, but I only recouped about half of it so far since. So it's a net loss for me this year. But my life style I outlined in the last long reply was still less expensive than what I made, so I still had some expendable cash. Some of the $2500 I did recover from my spent savings never found it's way back into the saving's account.

Other machines were also purchased so I can do things I was paying others to do; a new tire changer and air compressor to do my own tire repair and replacements, a portable generator for using power tools in remote areas without power, battery jump booster in case a battery goes dead on a mower so it can still be started "in the field." I almost forgot, I also purchased a tig welder so I can do my own welding repairs on broken metal equipment. And new hand tools and drill bit sets, etc. and even more.

The mowers, tractor and vehicle were all used of course, and all but one mower were in need of repair before they worked (I had to buy one working mower to be able to work), which is why I got great deals and was able to buy it all with $5000. All the tools and machines were purchased new. The vehicle of course ran, but it had been in an accident and I had to run to a vehicle salvage yard and buy some replacement body parts and install them before it was street legal. That all wasted two days of work. All are working now, as I write this, except for the Blazer and the tractor that I'll work on this off season.

And like the Craftsman riding mower and attachment trailer I showed you guys that I had fully restored, these mowers I bought and the tractor will get the same full treatment, fully restored and looking new. I have to keep up the company image of being professional and successful, and people have been more impressed with old equipment that has been restored and/or well maintained. Mainly most of my male customers, because it shows my work ethic and ability and attention to detail in running of the business. I've been offered more than one light construction job after they've seen my unique wooden mower trailer I built from a boat trailer, and find out I built it myself, with scrap wood left over from rebuilding my house or salvaged! I have to get the Suburban's replacement body parts painted to match the rest of the truck still too. That is best left to a body shop though, since I don't have a professional paint sprayer. Though I have a compressor to use with one now if I did buy one. But I don't think it's something I'd use enough to justify the investment.

The nice thing about all those purchases of course is they are tax deductible. Though since taxes owed to the state are less than the amount I could deduct, due to the lost business this year, I'll have to wait and claim some purchases on next year's taxes. But if the business grows next year due to the investments in expansion, taxes will also grow.

 

You get through some incredible deals, bits of kit and your restorations and renovations are legendary, Matt. Here you go then - just a brief update and a quick look at the Sony DVD/CD player that is now sounding great on my little separates tower in the Barr Retro Bar:



I must have approx 200-300 CDs and about the same number of music tapes so at long last I have the space and freedom to give them some hammer and appreciation.

I will also be giving Rush some attention too, Matt, so will let you know what floats my boat from your recommendations the other week...

 

That was a canny bargain Andy, well done!

I picked up a cheap Philips mini system a while back and love listening to my CD collection on it. Mainly 80's stuff and more recent Country music. Only got a handful of tapes though (no big loss as I don't have a tape player anyway).

Happy listening lads

 

Cheers, Al.

Like you and Matt, you can't beat getting your hands on the odd music/micro/hi fi bargain and although this kit is not of premier quality, this little Panasonic cinema surround sound set-up (boxed) wasn't bad for £20 either:

 

And you can't even see the wires Andy....

 

Absolutely, Al - not a trace!!

 

I'm lovin' your set-up Andy, you do retro geeks proud. Though I wish I could zoom in on your pics! Is that a Denon cassette deck I see? And what brand/type of Amplifier is under it? They both look like quality to me, I know the Denon brand well. A deck about as good as mine I think, though a bit more modern! Love it!

It would go well with my neighbor's Denon tuner/amplifier I am currently repairing and restoring for him! It's in better cosmetic condition than the photo reflects, which is crusty, smudgy crud left behind by the sticky little fingers of his grandkids. I just don't bother to clean until I make sure I can fix. The one on the bottom is the Onkyo stereo-only amp I mentioned I had as a back-up that needs one of the channels repaired on. It will most likely be used in my office/shop trailer were it now sits, once I get around to repair it...one at a time though...

 

It's a better surround system than the cheap-o one I have hooked up to my 8-bit equipment that I payed about the same price for new (reflecting how low quality mine is, not suggesting you over payed)! Kudos.

 

Here we go, Matt. A closer look at the Denon tape deck and thanks for the positive feedback:



It is a nice tape deck. I bought it together with some bi-pole speakers, a turntable and a different amp back in 93 with some redundancy money I got from a computer firm (Radius - a Texas Instruments reseller in UK) which went tits up. I always thought I'd like to have something to remember em by and by god, this kit, in the main, has lasted great the past 30 years (I sold the other amp and speakers to a mate when I quit my batchelor flat and still managed to recoup £250 for em). Like you, I could do with giving these beauts a wipe down but for now, it's just great listening to the rich sounds they produce and remembering those bloody great 70s/80s/early 90s memories. The amp, btw, is a Cambridge A4 which is very much mid-range (or was, probably discontinued as it's 20 years old). It does OK, Matt - nothing fancy but it's a reliable workhorse.

Specs here, if you're interested:
Cambridge Audio A4 - Stereo Integrated Amplifier

• 50 watts RMS per channel.
• 5 line level inputs.
• Tape/MD output.
• Pre-amp output.
• Bi-wire terminals.
• Bass/Treble/Balance/Direct functions.
• Dimensions: 430mm wide, 280mm deep, 90mm high.

What I aim to do next is... yeah, some of you will probably have already guessed the nerdiness of my lines of "progression", is to produce a few "MIX TAPES" for a couple of pals.

Let me know if you still own a tape deck and want one of Baz's "XMAS SPECIALS!" (or you might just wanna go and put yer head through a mangle for a similar effect)

Have a great weekend, fellas, enjoying your retro memories and having some quality R&R time with your nearest n dearest.

 

What with the "ambient" lighting it aint easy to check out all the features on that image. This stock image might be clearer:



Nice You Tube clip here:

 

Thanks @Andy Barr for the better pics! Yeah, that's a great cassette deck for mix tapes! I hope I'm not being patronizing, as you probably already know how to get the best out of cassettes with good decks, but many people don't know how to use the high quality tapes and high quality features of tape decks properly. Obviously high-bias or metal tapes will give much higher quality audio than normal bias tapes, but also the correct settings for recording and playback must also be used. Many people misunderstand how advanced recording features are used properly to get the best sound.

You definitely want to use the highest quality tapes you can (if the tape deck supports them) but also need to take advantage of features like Dolby noise reduction. But these features need to be used with both recording AND playback. If you record with noise reduction but don't use it in playback then the recording will sound more muffled than not using noise reduction at all. This is due to how the noise reduction technology works. The same is true with using high-bias chromium or metal tapes, the settings for these tapes must be used in both recording and playback as well or it all sounds muffled instead of clearer with less background hiss.

If the tapes are going to be played back on a deck that isn't made for high-bias or metal tapes and don't have Dolby or other noise reduction features built-in then it is better not to use them at all and just record and play on normal tapes without noise reduction.

If recorded and played back with these features on the high-end tapes then you will get rid of unwanted noise but won't lose the high-frequency high fidelity sounds too, just the high frequency background noise. Otherwise the recordings will just sound more muffled instead of cleaner and clearer.

It's a bit much to explain how the tech works here though, so if you don't already know, I recommend looking up how the high end tape technology and noise reduction technology accomplish what they do for better sound quality if you want to know. Otherwise just remember the correct settings for the tape used and the noise reduction used is just as important in playback as it is in recording.

Obviously the person demoing the Denon deck in the video you posted does not know how to properly use the noise reduction technology otherwise he would not be pushing those buttons on and off while playing the tape back and they would be properly set before he starts to play the tape, except if he was specifically demoing the sound difference using a tape recorded properly with sound reduction. It is obvious to me that the tape was not recorded using those functions in the first place, which is why you don't hear any significant differences when he is pressing them on/off in the video besides it sounding like the volume is slightly higher or lower when he does it. If the noise reduction was used when recording the tape he is playing a definite difference in sound quality would be heard while he is pressing the buttons on and off.

I just felt the need to explain everything above after watching the demo video you posted. Again, sorry if you already know, I don't mean to be patronizing to you, just the guy who made the video.

These videos will explain it all.

Noise Reduction



Tape Bias



Metal tapes-the best and closest to CD, IF used properly (along with noise reduction) on a tape deck that is made for them with a proper source; they are better for modern digital than older analog sources. For recording analog, like audiophile quality LP's, you want the best high-bias non-metal tapes. If your tape deck is NOT made for them (metal), they will actually sound worse than high-bias chrome tapes or even normal bias tapes. High-bias non-metal tapes can sound very close to CD quality too, if properly recorded (on quality decks with all the bells and whistles) and played back using high-quality analog source like high-end LP or reel-to-reel, on the high quality tape deck with the proper bias and noise reduction features.



One of the reasons my JVC tape deck is legendary for a mid-range tape deck is due to JVC's own noise reduction technology, called ANRS (audio noise reduction system) that surpasses, but is still compatible with Dolby B noise reduction technology. In fact, it has their second generation Super ANRS that equaled the even later Dolby C noise reduction and was also compatible with metal tapes, something usually only found on very high-end tape decks (metal compatibility) on top of a superior noise reduction system.

Not to mention a superior build quality and better quality heads than most other mid-range decks in the same price range. Of course Super ANRS recorded metal tapes need a tape deck that can also play back S-ANRS. Then if you use the highest quality, high bias or metal tapes, most people can't tell the difference at all between high-bias tapes or metal tapes recorded with Super ANRS, compared to compact disc.



Your newer Denon tape deck, @Andy Barr , I see has Dolby B and C and is HX Pro compatible, which puts it on a par with my JVC when it comes to high-bias, non-metal tapes with Super ANRS. I can't tell if your deck is also metal tape compatible or not, but without SUPER ANRS and metal tapes, mine would still sound better with metal tapes.

Dolby actually came up with the later type C noise reduction and HX Pro in response to JVC's, superior-to-Dolby B, ANRS and Super ANRS

Anyway, my JVC tape deck will be playing a very important role in my stereo system, once I get some high quality tapes (I bought a couple dozen tapes a year or two ago, but they are normal bias which is good enough for my 8-bit computer system tape decks) as I'll be using them to record all my high-end LP's to cassettes for indistinguishable audio copies of my expensive LP's to protect them and my turn-table needle from getting worn out, and only used again to re-record once the cassettes wear out instead from use.

 

Hi, Matt.
Thanks a lot for all that info on cassette decks and noise reducing features as most of it was completely new to me so none of it is teaching granny to suck eggs as it were.
There is so much to go at there and we've been so busy again with family members poorly of late (up and down to Sunderland to see Bev's dad and out to the coast to see my folks) so I've had precious little time to do anything with any micro or HI-FI gear but tonight I did get 30mins to faff about playing and recording from the Denon and I'm noticing the left hand stereo channel is definitely weaker/poorer/noisier than the right (this doesn't manifest itself when I play a CD for instance) so I'm thinking that Denon deck either needs some contact spray somewhere in the internals OR the heads need cleaning (tried that already) or maybe demagnitizing? Anyhow, I'll take a little look when I get a bit more time and then definitely give your Your Tube recommendations a good going over soon too.
Cheers, Matt - everyday's a learning day (as has been mentioned on this forum more than once ;-)

 

ANRS....Sorry, I just see ANUS...(and dead people)

Mind you, I just broke wind and actually enjoyed the smell...I fear senility is on the way..

Love the old kit you guys have, will take pics of my gear (for what it's worth) Good old Bob, always purchased top gear..

 

Just picked up a slightly yellowed, loose VIC 20 with no psu or accessories. It is the cost reduced version that takes the same Power Supply as my C64 so I took a punt and it works fine. I converted it to output SVideo instead of Composite as the standard composite output wasn’t great. I built a DIY 32K RAM pack and my Tapuino an Pi1541 work already so it’s been worth the gamble.

 

I’m trying to get hold of a Rotel RA-931 Amp as Sonia bought me a turntable for my birthday which has Bluetooth but I would like to have a proper setup again.

 

Bloody brilliant, Rich, with that Vic set-up and your homebrew RAM pack and loading system - spot on.
I will keep my eyes open for such a Rotel as I'm really getting back into my HI-FI at the mo and am BOUND to get my retro computer kit up and running in that there retro bar before long too as the long winter nights are calling me down the bottom of the garden with the sounds and the grog on tap. Matt - I will review my response to the remarkable RUSH soon!

Couple of decent Rotel examples here on FaceAche Marketplace, Rich - any good?

 

I had never used a VIC 20 except under emulation with VICE and I always wanted to have a play with the 64’s little brother. C16 is next on my shopping list.

 

Always had a soft spot for the C16 and Plus 4. I hear some of the chips in them can be quite fragile nowadays though.

 

Yeah, the TED chip is very fragile and if that fails you are scuppered - replacements are expensive.

 

Just started listening to this old classic from 1977, guys:



Wonderful start.

Will feedback laters.

Have a relaxing sunny Sunday, guys.

 

I'm a big Pole Position fan so after trading some unused stuff into CEX I bought Namco 50th Anniversary and a Mad Catz steering wheel for the Playstation 2. The Namco collection has both Pole Position 1 and 2 arcade versions on it.
Neither game disappoints but the steering wheel was in a bit of a mess....





But then as luck would have it I went for a wee wander round the (in)famous Barra's Market in Glasgow yesterday and came across another colour of the steering wheel and pedals, fully boxed and never used! Trader wanted £20 but after some negotiation I got it down to £12



There is a yearly Gaming Market event on just a couple of miles down the road from me next Saturday so going to go along and see if I can spot any bargains or grab a copy of the Secret History of Mac Gaming if Bitmap Books have a stall.

 

Excellent bartering, trading and results there, Al.

Very well done indeed.

I'm enjoying listening to Rush (Cygnus X1) in the background whilst I list some Oric tapes on the Samaritan's "DON'T DO IT, YOU DESPERADO" website... ;-)

It's like some wondrous space opera, Matt, that maybe only Queen could have got anywhere near.

Hey, I picked up another fruit machine bandit today from Lincolnshire:



Won't say what I paid for it but let's just say it's an ex-Japanese casino machine, runs off tokens and it makes one helluva racket.

This bitch clearly takes no prisoners.

More (noise) to follow!