Finding your groove: getting into vinyl with Audio-Technica
I’d like to think that I could’ve been friends with the late Hideo Matsushita, founder of Japanese Hi-Fi powerhouse Audio-Technica. If I could, I’d travel back in time to 1960’s Tokyo, where a young Matsushita curated “vinyl listening sessions” at the Bridgestone Museum of Arts, exposing visitors to the sounds and possibilities of high end audio and the warmth of vinyl records. I imagine sitting with him in a mod coffee shop, listening to the stories of what he witnessed in those sessions, the conversations he had with visitors, and what ultimately motivated him to head back to his small apartment above a ramen restaurant and start an audio company of his own.
In the histories I’ve read regarding AT’s humble beginnings, Matsushita’s motives seem clear. Produce high end audio at affordable prices, bringing audio excellence into spaces and to customers that simply didn’t have access to it before. His first two products, the AT-1 and AT-3 phono cartridges did exactly that, and...
Image credit @zhugunic https://drop.com/talk/67372/gl-2-k
Do I need an amp? What are these acronyms like DAC, DSP, or DSD? What even are all the components that make up an audio chain? Let’s take a beginner’s look at the core, essential building blocks of a digital audio chain, and lay it plain what each piece does. We can cover the major pieces separately, but I’ll still include a few tips to optimize playback here. Please hit the little bookmark button and feel free to check and share this guide whenever you need a reference!
For people who need a visual and audible explanation, or are worried it would take too long to get a working knowledge of the audio chain, here is my YouTube video on this subject that is just 7 minutes long! I like writing though, so let’s get started with an overview, then break it down into what each piece does and how an upgrade would benefit the final sound quality.
Signal Path
Image credit @SpeleoFool https://drop...
I have some rewards points to burn but there's no obviously good options on Drop right now for headphones
Contenders
Ultrasone - maybe? I don't own any Ultrasones, so curious. Looks like garbage travel headphone which could be useful also.
Beyerdyanmic DT990 Pro. - Maybe? I have the DT 880 Good price point, really uncomfortable headphones but could be interesting to try the upgraded version.
E-MU - strong contender but $400 is a bad price point for what it is.
Which of the above would you choose and why?
Nothing else on Drop is relevant to my interests, because
Already own
6xx
820
800 s
Ether cx
Garbage / Consumer grade
Meze 99 - garbage bass canons, hard pass
No gaming headphones obviously
Sennheiser wireless - no to wireless/bluetooth
Hifiman - I have 2 of drop hifimans and they make really bad cheap shit on Drop, hard pass on HE-R7DX
Aeon - I own the closed, Drop refuses to address #padgate so no reason to buy open
Beyerdynamic 177x - wireless, nope
Too similar
8x / 560s...
Why would I expect things to go my way? Was excited to finally hook up the new turntable, but I guess I will continue to wait. Drop directed me to manufacturer who hasn't responded 😞
This beauty arrived. I am not the greatest fan of the B&O app, but the music is amazing.
I did not listen before the sound correction, however, I am very happy with the clarity of the vocals and...
Qudelix is a must have for IEM lovers. I had mine for a while and it is just incredible. I love the minimalist design and for the sound part it’s just perfect. I prefer to use as Bluetooth and...
The first thing you will notice after opening the box is the design of this earphone. It is simple yet somewhat retro, equipped with large navy blue plastic earbuds and a black textured leather...
The sound quality is very good, comfortable to wear, and the clamping force is too tight. Lifting the microphone can disable it, which is very useful. As an open type earphone, the microphone...
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