aflycon

It's that time again, guys. My current setup is a Philips 212 with a Pickering XV-15 cart, running through a Denon DRA-425R A/V receiver into some big, floorstanding Infinity speakers. Can't seem to find the model number on them anywhere, which is a shame because I'd like more info. I'm really happy with the turntable. There are a few things I'd like to do to it - replace the shitty wood veneer with real wood, polish it up, improve the response of the touch controls - but overall it's just fine. Runs laps around my old TT. My concern is the receiver. From what I've read over at AudioKarma, it's a pretty stellar receiver. However, this is contrary to everything I know about A/V receivers, and I feel like I could do better. Moreover, some part of me wants my entire setup to be vintage. So again, I'm looking at a Pioneer SX-440 receiver. If I buy it, I'll probably end up doing an A/B comparison, but I'd appreciate anything you guys could tell me beforehand. The Pioneer is described as "warm," which the Denon certainly isn't - it's fairly precise, but overall underwhelming to my ears. I listen to a lot of folk and classic rock, so I think "warm" would be nice. Anyway, do any of you guys have experience with this receiver or something similar? I've also found a set of Sansui 2700A speakers for free, assuming that they're still available. I'll try to find a model number on my current speakers once The Times They Are a-Changin' is finished and do a comparison there.

I will pick up that rat boat one next time I'm up in Seattle so I can spare you a mailer! Super cool.

Do you know the pressing info on your PMRC? The third, fourth and fifth are all pretty similar if I remember correctly, and I'm looking for an earlier one.

That tonearm is wild! Very cool.

Going vintage can also be a good bet (but definitely a bet, since anything pre-owned and old enough is liable to shit the bed). I was able to pick up a Philips 212 for less than the cost of its cartridge, and it sounds miles better than my old LP60. Definitely take a look on craigslist for vintage tables, and keep your eyes peeled for those that've been serviced.

For those on the fence about True Detective, if you're Bob Dylan fans you'll be pleased to know it should include the studio version of "Rocks and Gravel," which was originally slated for The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan but never released. That's a deal-maker for me, anyway.

Picked up Op Ivy today. Despite the haze color, it is one of the quietest records I own. No surface noise. Sounds fantastic. I am so glad this is back in print! Thanks Travis.

This may be the funniest post I've ever seen from you, and that's really saying something. 10/10

I get what you're saying. My last post didn't do a very good job of conveying how I really feel about this. My point is, like I mentioned in my other posts in this thread, that this "scene" is seriously oversaturated with this kind of shit (New Found Glory, Front Porch Step, this other fucking guy, surely many others). These people are shitty people, and in my opinion the music is pretty godawful too. As we've seen in this thread, it's not just the artists who are scumbags but also the promoters and other members of the "scene." I feel that it shouldn't have ever come to the point of boycotting Pure Noise. It never should have been a successful label to begin with because all these people so closely involved are degenerates. You get me? But it did become successful, and now it should be boycotted. My last post was just some classic Captain Hindsight shit.

Crazy how all this could be avoided if people simply didn't listen to shitty music made by shitty people.

Definitely in for True Detective. Fucking RSD.

Oh, fuck, I love cats.

I have no info for you, but nice score! Ten Foot Pole were terribly underrated, such a great band.

Yeah, I can't stand Brand New but it's awesome to see some more DIY and less bitching to labels and bands around here. Nice!

Prices lowered again.

+1 on Soundstage Direct. I got what looks to be a relatively expensive German import copy of the Big Lebowski soundtrack for $15 shipped, and it was packed like a tank. They don't ship outside the sleeve by default, but they will if you ask and they actually encourage you to in order to avoid seam splits. Very nice.

Fat Wreck's web post was worded a bit vaguely: "To go along with our original soviet red pressing, G7's blue pressing, we present you with a very 'dirty' white vinyl pressing!" It's just the repress that's available now.

Just beat me to it. Here's a picture:

I'll be voting for Bernie as long as his foreign policy is fairly in line with mine (read: anti-Israel). And after some reading up, it appears that way. On guns: I want to Berlieve!

It's not Brand New. Who fucking cares? - VC 2015

If you liked Skyrim, I'd recommend playing Oblivion and - if you can get past its counterintuitive mechanics - Morrowind before you try ESO. In my opinion Oblivion still blows Skyrim out of the water, and while Morrowind is a vastly different experience, it's really in a league of its own when it comes to RPGs. Truly stellar.

This and the rape of men are double standards that will never disappear. Good thing it's not reported very often so we don't have to think about it, huh?

I know that real punk has never been a perfectly equitable scene and things like this happen there too, but man, it sure seems like it happens a fuckton more often in the Defend Pop Punk scene, ey? I wonder why that is. I'd wager that contemporary pop punk has a higher "per capita" rate of sexual assault than any genre other than maybe hip-hop, but I believe that's largely due to sexism inherent in that culture. What's the reason here? Man, wasn't there just some big fuckin' deal a few months ago about this same shit happening with the guy from some other big band? Set Your Goals? New Found Glory? Somebody big was outed as a sex offender. And before that, the Front Porch guy? And before that... their names are all on the tip of my tongue, but the bands all sound the fucking same. Fuck this shit. I hate to coopt the word used by so many lazy "social activists" online, but this "scene" is fucking "problematic." Edit: It was New Found Glory. Fuck it. They all have the same three or four word names, all sound like they could have been pulled at random from an angsty teenager's diary. Maybe that's it, that these guys are all mentally still 14 and don't fully understand the concept of consent.

Easy pass? Man, fuck... this is a solid zinger. "Wusspunk." Classic.

Man, I was really afraid of opening this link to see the LP on a Crosley.