My quest for the perfect sound

Been reading up of late on a lot of jargon, equipment, reviews, specifications for stereo and A/V sound. Have also joined some forums to help me in my quest for good sound.

It all started years back in school when I used to buy the AV-MAX magazine religiously month after month to drool at A/V equipment. The prices quoted in those days was quite high - high enough to give me the good sense not to start the topic with mom or dad. Nakamichi is one name me, Manu and Gerald will remember quite well cause of the astronomical prices. Due to high prices, I kept my dream aside till now.

But I would often check up on speaker prices and keep an eye on happenings to see if they ever did come within reach. Suddenly, some weeks back, I came across the Mordaunt Short Carnival 6 floorstanders quoted for 13,000 on some online site. Quite not believing them, I assumed that it must be for a single speaker. But their website clearly stated that the price was for a pair. Woohoo - I could finally think of even starting off my A/V dream. I didn't think twice - the name Mordaunt Short was enough to push me forward and I placed an order for the same online.

I received it a few days later and I unpacked it - to again let it gather dust for some time since I did not have an amp to connect it to.

My main requirement was an amplifier for music. I'd actually started off thinking that I can go for a good stereo amplifier for a good price but getting some good ones was a headache. Since my search began for a stereo amp, I also noticed that the starting range for A/V receivers was the same. Did some research on the internet and also got some help from forum members and I decided that for my usage of 80% for music, I would need to go for a stereo amp only.

Well, honestly, I was about to plonk down some money on a Yamaha integrated amp but a friend from the forum said that I would not like a Yamaha and asked me to do some testing. Did the same and man, am I really glad that I did not end up blindly purchasing that amp. It was pathetic. I'm talking of the Yamaha A-S500.

Some directions from friends asked me to check out amps from Marantz, Arcam, Cambridge Audio and NAD. These are some of the higher brands especially when it comes to stereo. But to get a demo of these products was a real job and pain in the rear end. Simply because not many dealers have these products and even if they have, I believed that they would be selling at the premium. Also, the A/V products in demand these days are only anything connected to a Home Theater. Speakers, receivers or anything that will allow you to watching movies at home. With all the snazzy sound effects of a bomb blasting behind you or a mosquito farting in front of you.

Stereo sound seemed like a lost art.

But hope was available online and in some knowledgeable dealers. They did indeed show me the right direction, though not necessarily in the right price bracket. Well, as luck would have had it, a person who owned a Cambridge Audio stereo amp was selling it online and for a very decent price. I quickly lapped it up and Anoop was able to get it for me from Chennai.

And now comes to the part of hooking it up. Speaker cable manufacturers will tell you that only their specific high priced speaker cables are the best. That these can "increase soundspace", "generate depth" and all other kinds of mumbo jumbo. And our people happily lap it up - as in the case of the Emperor with no clothes. Cause it is firstly, a case of placebo. Secondly, you do not want to be left out - your friends all say that costly speaker cables give amazing sound - and you believe it. You do want to say that the Emperor's new clothes are simply amazing! God knows what you were looking at!! So I decided to buy Finolex cables - the ones that are used to do house wiring. And they do increase soundspace and all that - they sound simply amazing.

Well, some say this is just the beginning. That I will be needing higher components soon and that I will also be upgrading, spending more money and time. For me, this has taken so much time and I can wait for a long time till my next upgrade.

Oh and most important of all - the combo sounds just GREAT. The Mordaunt-Short speakers go really well with the Cambridge Audio amp and I am floored. Love it!

Happy New Year 2009

The World We Live In
The Killers

This is world that we live in
I feel myself get tired
This is the world that we live in

Well maybe I was mistaken
I heard a rumor that you quit this day and age
Well maybe I was mistaken

Bless your body, bless your soul
Pray for peace and self control

I gotta believe it's worth it
Without a victory,
I'm so sanctified and free
Well maybe I'm just mistaken

Lesson learned and the wheels keep turning

This is the world that we live in
I can't take blame for two
This is the world that we live in
And maybe we'll make it through

Bless your body, bless your soul
Reel me in and cut my throat

Underneath the waterfall
Baby we're still in this

This is the world that we live in
Feel myself get tired
This is the world that we live in

I had a dream that I was falling, down
There's no next time, alone
A storm wastes its water on me
But my life was free

I guess it's the world that we live in
It's not too late for that
This is the world that we live in
And no, we can't go back

This is the world that we live in
We still want something real
This is the world that we live in
I know that we can yield over time

This is the world that we live in

Iron Maiden back in India

Who is up for another Iron Maiden concert in India - thankfully in Bangalore this time? From Iron Maiden's official tour dates page....

Time To Pretend

Beautiful and very cynical lyrics by the band MGMT....off the pretty good movie 21.....

I'm feelin' rough, I'm feelin' raw, I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives.
I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin and fuck with the stars.
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars.

This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.

Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do. Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute?

Forget about, our mothers and our friends
We're fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

I'll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms
I'll miss the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world
I'll miss my sister, miss my father, miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I'll miss the boredom and the freedom and the time spent alone.

But there is really nothing, nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten, life can always start up anew.

The models will have children, we'll get a divorce We'll find some more models, everything must run its course.

We'll choke on our vomit and that will be the end
We were fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

I said yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Such cynicism and satire - in fact, dripping with it - "The models will have children, we'll get a divorce...We'll find some more models, everything must run its course."

MTV Music

I miss those days when I used to watch MTV nearly all day! I know, unbelievable! Headbangers Ball was awesome and there used to be so much of Rock on MTV. Believe me, it was not the sloppy shit it is now! So what have MTV gone and done? Put up most of their old videos on the net on www.mtvmusic.com.....its awesome and you will have a great time going through some old videos that you loved so much....

Now I just wish they would bring in a mtv2 website.....

I'm Afraid Of Britney Spears

Hilarious song by this Canadian all-girl pop punk/rock band from Vancouver called LiveonRelease with lyrics that go thus....

I only just turned 15
I'm filled with hopes and dreams
I turn my radio on and
I hear the strangest song

Chorus:
I'm afraid of Britney Spears
And Christina Aguilera
Backstreet Boys and *NSync
I don't know what to think
Ahooo, ahooo, ahooo, ahooo

It's slick the way they dress
I heard they all have fake breasts
One thing I'll do if I can is
Go on Britney's bus and get a tan
They dance like they need a cure lets
Get the number of a choreographer
They're so worried about what we'll think
They took the time to learn to lip sync
Milli Vanilli, Milli Vanilli, Milli Vanilli, Milli Vanilli

I'm afraid of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera
I'm afraid of Britney
I'm afraid of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera
I'm afraid of Britney
I'm afraid of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera

Haha and to think that they go to the pain of including another famous lip syncher of our times...

Def Leppard cancels tour

Def Leppard have cancelled the tour that was planned to India...

Heavy Metal Monk

Came across this piece of news from somewhere on the net - a Franciscan monk belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is the lead singer for his own heavy metal band! The band called Fratello Metallo has even been the opening act at a heavy metal concert. Though I could not understand the lingo in the following YouTube video, drag to 3:20 and you can see his own interpretation of why he shows the "horns" at concerts. :)



Kinda hilarious, but you gotta give it to the bugger. And he has told that his fellow Capuchin friars were supportive of his passion, ''except for a little reprimand'' six years ago following an appearance on a television show - the last time he agreed to do TV.

An Old Monk.

Creative Zen Xtra hacked

Well, well, looks like I finally got down to physically hacking my old Creative Zen Xtra. The last time I tried something, I really screwed it up and had to load all my music back in again. I have written about this before also. I did read up on the net some months back (in fact, it has been more than a year back) about how you can physically install a larger capacity laptop hard drive on the Creative Zen Xtra mp3 player. I got some information off PimpSalad and ZenUpgrade (which no longer exists) about how you can change the hard drive on the player. Sure, this voids your warranty but who is going to give warranty for a player thats even off Creative's web-site? :)

I had bought the hard drive more than a year back but never could lay my hands on a 0 size screw-driver. Just a few weeks back got one off a chinese place and wonder of wonders, it worked great. Ripped open the player, installed the new hard drive and plugged it into the USB on the computer. Started off with the firmware screen and I had to download the new firmware and re-install it again (I already had the latest firmware). Then formatted the player and there you have it - an 80 GB hard drive in a Creative Zen Xtra.



Done!

Pink Floyd reunion?

For all of us hoping for a Pink Floyd reunion, David Gilmour has closed the doors on the idea - again! In his interview to Yahoo! News, he has succinctly said that he has "been there, done that". Some beautiful lines from his interview -

"There have been all sorts of farewell moments in people's lives and careers which they have then rescinded, but I think I can fairly categorically say that there won't be a tour or an album again that I take part in. It isn't to do with animosity or anything like that. It's just that I've done that. I've been there, I've done it."

On the other hand, I am looking forward to his new DVD release - Live in Gdańsk. Sure that that will turn out to be an awesome concert.

We Wish You A Metal Christmas

Hahahaha, damn. I don't know whats gonna come out next. But seriously, I would love to get this album - just to see what it sounds like! The lineup is great and there could be some great renditions of the old Christmas songs we grew up with! Came across this bit of information from Idolator. Even Alice Cooper is going to be singing "Santa Claus is coming to town"!!!

Planet Rock even gives us the whole song list.

Grooveshark - alternative to Pandora

I loved Pandora and have blogged about it before. We also know that we no longer can access it outside the USA. Well, came across Grooveshark from Download Squad. This seems to be like Pandora and works great! Whats better, you can even listen to the exact song that you want to listen to - this was not possible in Pandora. There is even an option where you can add the song that you are listening to to your favourites. This you can access directly later - again not possible in Pandora. Check it out - Grooveshark.

----------------
Now playing: Pink Floyd - Coming Back To Life
via FoxyTunes

Lazy Sunday

Beautiful song by Small Faces - Lazy Sunday...

Wouldn't it be nice
To get on with me neighbours
But they make it very clear
They've got no room for ravers
They stop me from groovin',
They bang on me wall
They doing me crust in
It's no good at all

Lazy Sunday afternoon
I got no mind to worry
I close my eyes and drift away

Here we all are sittin' in a rainbow
Gore blimey hello Mrs Jones
How's old Bert's lumbago (mustn't grumble)
I'll sing you a song,
With no words and no tune
To sing in your party
While you suss-out the moon

Lazy Sunday afternoon,
I got no mind to worry
Close my eyes and drift away

Root-de-doo-de-doo
Root-de-doot-de die day
Root-de doot de dum
Root-de-doo-de-doo dee

There's no one to hear me,
There's nothing to say
And no one can stop me
From feelin' this way

Lazy Sunday afternoon
I've got no mind to worry
Close my eyes and drift away

----------------
Now playing: Small Faces - Lazy Sunday
via FoxyTunes

I've been delivered

Man, I used to listen to this song without giving too much thought to the lyrics. Damn, amazing lyrics. This guy is Bob Dylan's son for sure!!

I could break free from the
wood of a coffin
if I need
But nothin's hard as
Gettin' free from places
I've already been

I've been waist-deep
in the burnin' meadows
of my mind
In the engine
In cold December
shootin' fire from the hose

Now turn off your lights
'cause I'm not comin' home
'til I'm delivered for the first time

I was first-born to a parade
that follows in rows
down a narrow cold black river
faceless shadows
movin' slow

I would move swift when
the sounds of a trumpet would blow
I've been the puppet
I've been the strings
I know the vacant face it brings

Now the bells of curfew
They may ring before I'm through
But soon
I'll be delivered for the first time

You might keep clean
in the back of an angel motorcade
It doesn't matter who walks in
you know, the joke is still the same
You'll just wake up
like a disposable lover
decomposed
I've been gone
I've been remembered
I've been alive
I've been a ghost

So now, if downtown explodes
I'll still be on this road
'til I'm delivered for the first time

I have drawn blood
from the neckline
when vampires were in fashion
You know I'd even learn
to cut my throat
If I thought I could fit in

'Cause I, I once heard
that you gotta learn
how to blend in to this mess
Where nothin's hard
nothin's precious
and nothin's smooth or flawless

Now, no more amused
just screaming to be delivered
for the first time

Now I'm ten miles in the deep
and mighty blue sea
Looking back, towards a long white beach
burnin' up into yellow flames

And I just wave back
like a little boy up on a pony
in a show
'cause I can't fix
something this complex
any more than I can build a rose

So just keep on letting go
'cause I must be close
to being delivered for the first time

Now I'd rather bleed out
a long stream from being lonely
and feel blessed
Well than drown, laying face down
in a puddle of respect
I was once lost
in the corridors of the arena
in blindfolds
I've been the bull
I've been the whip
I just pulled down the matador

So now, turn on your lights
'cause I'm comin' home
I've been delivered for the first time

What the hell are Metallica thinking?

I started hating this band from the time they lashed out against Napster. Since then, their music has really started sucking really bad too. My other favourite Metal feed for the day - MetalSucks couldn't have said it better - "If I want to download a Metallica show, I’ll download an old one from when Cliff Burton was alive and Lars could still kinda sorta play drums; and, oh yeah, I’m not afraid of Lars’ lawyers, so if I want to download the album, I’ll just do so for free and keep my twenty-five bucks, thank you (and after the hat trick of suckiness that was the band’s last three albums, I vowed I’d never pay for Metallica music again until I’d heard it front to back and could be 110% positive that the juice was worth the squeeze)."

Damn interesting read - read the whole article here.

Maiden Heaven

I came across this bit of news from my daily staple diet of Metal news - Headbanger's Blog. Brit metal mag Kerrang! is giving out a copy of the album - Maiden Heaven - A tribute to Iron Maiden with its next issue. Some cool metal bands have covered Iron Maiden songs and you can listen to some of them on the Kerrang! site. Check it out.

Working Class Hero

I just love this song and think its the best song that John Lennon had written. Bleeding irony and filled with angst!! Beautiful...Parts I love are in bold.

As soon as you're born they make you feel small

By giving you no time instead of it all

Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school

They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool

Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years

Then they expect you to pick a career

When you can't really function you're so full of fear

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV

And you think you're so clever and class less and free

But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are telling you still

But first you must learn how to smile as you kill

If you want to be like the folks on the hill

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me

If you want to be a hero well just follow me

Metal Fan

Haha, found this pic quite funny!! Off 10 Daily Things.

Iron Maiden announce Tour schedule for 2008

Well, well. Looks like we all have to travel to Mumbai for the next Iron Maiden concert. The tour dates are out on their official web-site.

Full Schedule for the first leg
SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME World Tour 08
February
Fri 1st - Mumbai, India - Bandra Kurla Complex
Mon 4th - Perth, Australia - Burswood Dome
Wed 6th - Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
Thu 7th - Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
Sat 9th - Sydney, Australia - Acer Arena
Sun 10th - Sydney, Australia - Acer Arena
Tue 12th - Brisbane, Australia - Entertainment Centre
Fri 15th - Yokohama, Japan - Pacifico Yokohama
Sat 16th - Tokyo, Japan - Messe
Tue 19th - Los Angeles, USA -The Forum
Thu 21st - Guadalajara, Mexico - Auditoria Telmex
Fri 22nd - Monterrey, Mexico - Arena M......

Black Sabbath poster up!

The poster is finally up where it belongs. This poster was given me on my b'day some time back by the guys!. Thanks a lot dudes!!