[SteveFord]

I've received a few PMs from Kevin360 who owned the first commercially available CD players from both Sony and Phillips when he was stationed overseas.
We both read the same articles in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics or whatever it was and the notion of reproducing sound from a laser beam was just so revolutionary and wild and then there's no snap, crackle and pops, what could be better than that? 
No tapes jamming or wearing out, no warps, the whole thing was just too cool!

Today I got up early, warmed up the tubes, cleaned a stack of albums and am listening to them right now.
The CDs get used for background music when I'm with my wife or are otherwise preoccupied.
I wonder, when Audio Circle was first conceived was the idea to simply have a grouping of loosely collected web sites under one umbrella or was the circle from old technology to new technology to old technology a part of the thought process?

[kevin360]

I still find it funny that I read that article the day after picking up a Thorens TD126mkIII, with a second cartridge wand in which I had my first moving coil cartridge (Otrofon MC10) and a Thorens Restek phono preamp. I showed the article to my wife and the look she gave me was priceless. I just shook my head in affirmation and she palmed her face – game over (done deal). BTW, I didn't just 'owned' them - I still do.

I need to have another go at a phono preamp for the big rig – something fairly reasonable with tubes (that works – sorry, inside joke (Steve gets it ('cause he got it (sorry, Steve )))). Obviously, I replaced my old cartridges, but that turntable still works flawlessly. It's in the bedroom right now – the Marantz PM11 has a pretty darn good phono preamp. I still enjoy the vinyl. I could be enjoying it more...

I don't much listen to CDs either. Since Dawnrazor nudged me into computer audio, I've gone deeper and deeper into that playback method. I'm using a Bryston BDP-1 (with a directly connected USB disk drive) with an ARC DAC7 – sounds super and is fantastically convenient. I can circle my RBCD  collection as the whim leads me – some hirez stuff too. It's addictive.

I think the best metaphor for the hobby is the spiral. Yeah, we do go in circles of a sort, but that circle is typically ever-widening – as is that of the music. It's been loads of fun over the years – the gear side of the equation. The music has, as well. My first real love, musically speaking, was progressive rock – hearing the Beatles' 'White Album' opened the flood gates. Right now is a great time for prog rock fans and the technology has never been better.

Long may the spiral turn! (pun intended)

[medium jim]

I guess I'm stuck in neutral as my first CDP was a Denon DCD-1500 and it sounded damn good.  I stopped buying vinyl and recorded most of my albums to tape. In a foolish move, I sold my album collection as well as my Pioneer PL-12 TT.  I upgraded the CDP to a AH! Tjoeb 98 that went back for even more upgrading, which included better DAC's, power supply, and a tube output stage that is voiced for 6DJ8's which includes E188CC's and CCa's.  Had to cut a square hole in the top of it to accommodate the taller E188CC's, but it made it easier to access them.

It is as good as about any tube CDP in the 10k and under class that I've heard.  Haven't missed vinyl since getting it! 

Jim

[carusoracer]

I too have been stuck in the CDP mode. Bought a Shanling T200 years ago. Had it modded the right way, found some rare Nos Bendix tubes and man that thing still smokes em!!

I have been trying to listen to the Hi Rez stuff and the streamers etc, it is really convenient but I find myself playing it like a Jukebox. I'm not listening to the entire CD when I listen in that format.  I do the same thing when I have the computer hard drive and my collection. I'm too caught up with the varying levels of sound quality and it just does not settle in with me.  Strange...

[yeldarb]

My first CD was also a Denon DCD 1500.  Still got it and it still works (except the remote), but it is stored in closet, now.  The Denon always sounded more like LPs than other brands.  Then I bought an Ack DAC and then another Ack Ver. 2, and now an Onkyo 7030 mainly for use as a transport, but it sure sounds good, like my old Denon, on it's own.

And then I hooked up an old Technics that I inherited from my sister and got back into vinyl, too.  But both CD's and vinyl sound good to me.