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    marye
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    New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!

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  • JimInMD
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    Noise Reduction and...

    I used Dolby for a brief blink of an eye when I first started copying tapes. Being young and naive, I thought who wants tape noise to come through on the recording, duh.. no brainer, I flipped the Dolby switch on my Nak and hit record. I just want to hear the music, no hiss.

    Very quickly reality set in. Was it Dolby A or Dolby B? Was the source tape recording using Dolby, if so, if you hit Dolby wouldn't it further compress the recording and further alter the sound, you can't play back using Dolby Squared, right? And what do you do in the car, in the boom box (yes.. we were just a few years out of 8 tracks when I started getting tapes). And who really flips or unflips the Dolby switch anyway based on how you think the recording was made. After all, were all these tapes properly notated every step of the way.

    So I quickly gave up on noise reduction, I had a good enough tape deck that I shouldn't be so worried about tape noise. I quit Dolby and never looked back (and never worried about pressing the Dolby button again).

    Just spit balling here, but my prejudices sometimes come to the surface when I hear a Dicks or Daves or Road Trips that sounds a bit muffled and I wonder if the particular Reel or Cassette or Betamax or whatever might have had a Dolby snafu baked in. To be clear, I have no proof this has ever occurred, I just wonder sometimes.

    I should emphasize Jeffrey Norman / David Glasser, etc. have gotten better at their jobs. So if there is any compression or noise reduction used anywhere along the way, they better at making this music sound as good as it possibly can, regardless of the sordid history of the source tapes. Thank you GD, Mockingbird Studios, the good folks and Plangent Processing and all the others that get this music to my front porch. Oh, and thank you tapers too!

  • Oroborous
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    Ooops, forgot

    I can’t say for sure off hand about everyone who recorded Dead and NR, but Betty was known for not using it, and if things are done right, no need.
    Nothing comes for free, so every time you do something, it will effect other things, sometimes negatively…a cost benefit trade off…perhaps just like BITD with high gen cassettes? To Dolby or not to Dolby, that is the question lol
    I always have tried not to do any permanent adjustments/fixes, preferring to try and fix some other way, eq etc, but nothing permanent that you can’t fix yer fix!

    Imho NR etc becomes more of a band aid for when things weren’t able to be right, or to help mask issues beyond repair, i.e., the ravages of time.
    Don’t think I’ve ever used any on a master recording?

    Onto rest of GDM soundtrack this afternoon…

  • 1stshow70878
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    Thx Oro

    So 15 ips or 30 ips would have been impractical for shows I imagine. Expense, changing reels too often, and as these were for listening by the band not studio use, etc. But what about them using noise reduction? I'm guessing no Dolby.
    As an aside, I seldom have my Dolby on when listening to cassettes even though most were recorded with it. Even factory tapes with Dolby seem less muffled without it and I'm not listening at thunderous levels (most of the time) where hiss is an issue.
    Skylabs, a top notch mid-western audio repairer, no longer works on certain categories of equipment: Consoles, quad receivers, linear tracking turntables, automatic turntables, and reel to reels. Just not worth it from a cost perspective for what those machines sell for vs. repair costs. There are still plenty of specialists who will and R-to-Rs are available restored at very reasonable prices but good luck finding pre-recorded tapes (old or new). Nobody makes them anymore. I was never tempted but my cassette guy sells tons of R-to-Rs for like $200-$300 fully restored, but they are more run of the mill Sony and not high end. And they sell fast!
    Thanks again and cheers bro

  • Oroborous
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    First half of GDM soundtrack

    Ist show. The more surface area (wider the tape), and/or the faster the recording speed, the higher the resolution. And yes R2R can most certainly sound best. (Like anything though, if done well)
    The problem is a good one is very expensive, they’re as hard to keep maintained etc as a TT, and good linage quality tapes are rare and expensive, oh, and more a pain to “flip” than even a record…but they can sound amazing!

    Remember, many CDs AND most vinyl are sourced from (hopefully) master R2R tapes! A purist with the gear and ears might argue that direct to (vinyl) disc recording is the ultimate…but good luck lol
    One of the main reasons digital still gets such a bad rap is twofold
    1- the conversion used originally, and lack of attention to disparity’s between different DACs in the chain. Conversion has come a loonnggg way baby! AND…
    2- a significant number of the CDs first produced to meet the huge demand were not sourced from the master tapes, and lineage and source quality were often a joke! Caveat emptor: not all CDs are created alike!…or Blu-ray’s, or DVDs, or Vinyl etc Like drugs boys and girls, know your sources!

  • 1stshow70878
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    4-11-78

    5th show in the box.
    OK, now were getting there.
    Great 1st set.
    2nd set list looks good too.
    Moving right along...
    Cheers

    Random ?s for the tapers and the knowledgeable. Were these original tapes running at 7.5 ips on reel to reels and were they done with any Dolby or whatever? And do you audience tapers use any noise reduction? Been talking to an analog guy who says with reel to reel running fast you get superior saturation and the best analog sound of all, which to his ear beats CDs and even vinyl, and Dolby is unnecessary for good reel to reel recordings.

  • uncle_tripel
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    "Don't...

    climb on the fence, you idiot"

    august 6th 1974

    now that's much better, the sound is less polished or over-dubbed...or whatever...

    support your local library,
    my better half's employer also

    Peace for All!
    uncle_tripel

    PS - Hey Bobby, party like it's 1984, Happy B-day!

  • Colin Gould
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    Right now

    This is a little niche for this forum since I’m streaming it on BBC iplayer so it’s probably only accessible in the UK,
    John Martyn - Live at Reading University 1978
    This is an episode of ‘Rock Goes to College’. We saw him several times 78 -79 and his solo concerts were always excellent. It’s available for the next 27 days and is highly recommended. For those who can’t access it I recommend his album ‘One World’ which was his current album when this concert was recorded.
    Edit: To be honest I’d recommend any of his albums really

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Slumming it ; )

    With Dave’s 17, since the rude abrupt halt to my research via the archive being down : (
    Ah well, I’ll just have to suffer lol

    Hope their highly trained crack equipment crew gets it just exactly perfect sooner than later 🤞Was gonna do the big five O anniversary treatment of Rocktober 74, complete in order as I don’t think I’ve done so? Sigh…bastards!

    Kudos to Uncle T supporting the local Library! (TOO is a librarian ; )
    If you don’t use em, ya lose em!
    And remember, they killed Marion ; )

  • uncle_tripel
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    yeah, so ...

    ...this weekend I visited our local library, been awhile...
    took home the 5 CD GOGD Movie Soundtrack box...
    today's listening party:

    oct 20 1974 set 2

    maybe, I'll need to listen to this box abit more, or maybe not...?
    finding the mix is almost like, well, you know, too studioish...

    ... DL announcement later this week, hey now, how about it?

    make LOVE, not WAR!!!

    uncle_tripel

  • proudfoot
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    Soon

    10 9 89

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New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!
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In reply to by Oroborous

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np Seastones

don't think Ive listened to whole show despite loving partial in DiP 12

2/23/93 near future

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Morning rockers! And happy Friday!!

Right now I'm listening to the Dark Star from September 21 1972. I was completely unaware of this show until its releases as Dicks 36.

Very solid, even gargantuan show. New and old, rock and roll, jams, cowboy songs, Dark Star, Not Fade Away..........

Absolutely worth a listen!!!!

If you pour some music on whatever's wrong, it'll sure help out.....

Rock on, enjoy your weekend!!!

Doc
My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence......

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today is JUNE 28th and it will be HERSHEY 1985...
..."with our highly trained equipment crew, equipment crew, equipment crew"

I remember the rain leaking through the blue tarp that covered the top of the stage onto Kreutzmann's cymbals, and each time he hit it he closed his eyes to avoid the rainwater from splashing into his face.

I remember Garcia dressed in his blue sportcoat/blazer and he too watch as the rainwater was dripping down onto his left shoulder during the 1st set with a look of WTH is this, (hence he sings "I feel the rain, and I taste the rain")

Rockin' the headphones after this next cup of coffee and will be smilin' while cutting the yard for the next 2 hours (Birdsong > Comes A Time > Deal anyone?).

everyone enjoy your weekend!

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

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Yasss. How I dearly love the 6/28/85 show. And I appreciate and value the reports from folks like Uncle Tripel who were there! *edit* -- I meant to mention you as well Oro :) and of course Doc mentioned it recently too. Y'all are the best, ty for taking the time to share your memories with those of us who couldn't be there

And that 9/21/72 show is incredible. I was also unaware... I've said elsewhere that it was just a random idiosyncrasy of my tape collection back in the day, but the latter half of '72 was simply unrepresented. I had some Europe material of course, and I had 8/21 and 8/24 from BCT and of course Veneta, but then nothing at all until Maples Pavilion to kick off '73. So all of that amazing Fall and Winter Tour was unknown to me until fairly recently. When I first heard the PITB from Houston in Nov '72 I thought my headphones were going to catch fire.

The silver lining: I am still working my way through this INCREDIBLY fruitful and musical period in GD history, most shows being heard for the 1st time. What a treat. Someone - was it you as well, Doc? - mentioned Dave's 46 recently, and I'm about to give that one only the second full listen since I got it. Wonders await...

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Longer Playing in the Bands than in spring for one.

Doc, bummer you missed the 28th.

When people are brought to their first show by someone with more experience they should be informed that the next night will be a different set list, so come again.
Different situation if each show is in a different city though.

My second show was 7-17-89, I didn’t know that I should go to all 3 nights. Of course, I didn’t have the funds for a 3-night run, and I had a job that I was expected to show up at.
Then made it to 7-21,22-90 but didn’t buy tix for the 3rd night due to the job, but then I had to call in sick anyway on 7-23 from a pay phone at a rest area on I-55. We left the campground late and I forgot to factor in that I was in a different time zone and was going to lose an hour getting back to my time zone.

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Live at Robert Wyatt's Meltdown - Royal Festival Hall 2001 and 2002 (DVD)

"David Gilmour In Concert"

Love this

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Thanks to Dave Rock for the recommendation. I’ve streamed several albums over the past few days and none have been less than excellent. I thought that since I’d played so much where the band wouldn’t see a lot of cash I should buy some. I’m playing ‘Travelling the great circle’ at the moment. The DVD that’s included has some fantastic music on it., although the visuals are, almost, unwatchable given the level of flickering in the image. My wife certainly couldn’t watch as she can have migraines triggered by flashing lights. She loves the music as well.
I ordered another box set ‘Trees of Eternity’ and expect that to be delivered later today. Highly recommended.

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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Colin - excellent, thanks for letting me know. I was watching that dvd last night, and I feel the same way. Mind melting music, but terrible picture. The extras are a bit better - the ones from Glastonbury ( shame they aren't on tonight) and Reading have the best picture, and the guitar playing at Reading is stratospheric.

These two box sets you have are considered to feature the most effective Ozric Tentacles music. There is an earlier one called "Vitamin Enhanced" - I missed out on the remastered version in the same style as the two you have - but the earlier one, on the Madfish label is okay - and has a great booklet. It's more formative, though. Quite a few tracks featuring Ed Wynne on his own. If you were just to get one, I'd go for "There Is Nothing". "Live Ethereal Cereal" features some thunderous live tracks from the mid 80's, but the sound quality is a bit poorer than the others.

I discovered them through the Dead fanzine "Spiral Light" - must have been about 1990. They were amazing live, as you can probably imagine!

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Anyone heard of/heard/a fan of Sunn O)))?

Intriguing concept
A bit redundant after a while

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...pop your mirrored sunglasses on...buckeye lake 1992-07-01...ending summer tour with special guests and listen on the archive #140128...
...they are bigger than a drive-in movie...,
but you already knew that

Peace All!

gonna wait wait wait wait, until the midnight hour; oh yeah those guests are steve miller and norton buffalo on harp

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Hey rockers & happy Monday!!!

Even as we speak, as I continue my deep dive into late 1972, I am listening to 10/17/72. Very fine indeed, I shall enjoy it!!!

So, today is the day TPTB announce the 1970 Fillmore West box, right????

Every once in a while, it seems like the cosmos part, and something great plops into your lap.....

Doc
I don't think I know better than what the cosmos has in store for me......

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Jerry and Merl Live at Keystone My funny Valentine is just so good, it's wonderful
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush Child of the Novelty and Strange Universe
Spirit Kahuna Dreams
Root Boy Slim Left for Dead

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In reply to by PT Barnum

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Ha!
I worked production at that show!
Grueling, but the experience of a lifetime…

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I’ve been listening to Ozric Tentacles quite a lot. I think I missed them because they appeared in 1983 just as we bought a house and so didn’t have any cash because the mortgage was around 50% of our income.
Currently I’m streaming some acts from Glastonbury. The Kim Gordon set is fantastic and I also enjoyed Confidence Man. Still got more to watch.
I have a backlog of CDs to play like Mars Hotel, Garcialive 21 the latest Joni Mitchell reissue box and at least 10 others. Hope to catch up one day.

The only acts I recorded were Orbital and Seasick Steve. I saw the first 5 minutes of Orbital's set and it reminded me of a guided meditation session.
The whole event looks very different from my sole visit to a Glastonbury festival back in 1978. An event so small it's virtually off record. Just about 500 people, I think, huddled in tents wondering if Hawkwind were going to appear. If they did, no one can remember. Including them.

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Not sure I’ve heard the complete whole before?
Had p/o on a tape BITD, and think there’s some released scraps somewhere (code for too lazy to look up ; )
Much of 74 is such, so going through this year and going complete lol
Onward!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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It's been a while

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7/29/74….

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7/31/74
Not sure I’ve actually sat down with this one?
Received in a big batch of goodness from kind person here, and is sometimes the case with big scores, some shows fall through the cracks lol
Horrible problem to have: Too much Dead ; )
I’m sure it’s been on in the background etc, but finally sitting down with this one. ONWARD!
(and thanks again you know who)

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...will you welcome please The Grateful Dead !
1975 AUG 13
@ G.A.M.H
...did you grow-up with this version of Franklin's Tower on a cassette from the fm broadcast and it was your go to;
it forever puts a smile on my face, how about you?

Peace All!
uncle_tripel

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...little schoolgirl, Can I go home, home with you?
3rd times a charm since Pig (played in '87 & '88),
1992 June 25 set 2 in CHICAGO and with special guests James Cotton & Steve Miller
who doesn't love this GOGD?

Peace All, stay cool and enjoy your weekend!
uncle_tripel

edit: as the '92 summer tour draws closer to its conclusion, the hot weather does impact several of the shows energy and generally it does plateau early on; the special guests also help to provide some added intensity

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I was lucky to be in RFK that night. DC was on fire!

I'm a really big fan of this show, set 2 really smokes, IMHO

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Just stumbled across Guilty Pleasure on the archive. They only have 3 shows up, but 2005-05-06 is nice.

David Gans in band, taped the show and Charlie Miller worked and posted it. The Kid Charlemange and Wheel are very nice.

Enjoy

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Hey rockers!!

At work, but case done, nobody's around, so cranking Scranton from 1971. Couldn't help myself.............

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.....

Rock on!

Doc
Loss and possession, death and life are one, there falls no shadow where there shines no sun......

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I was there for that Shoreline run. Saturday 5/23 remains my fav by far. This owes both to the impeccable song selection (well otoh OMSN... but it *was* Saturday) and the excellent blotter. We were up on the lawn but right on the rail, too. Afterwards we went into the Safeway down the street from the venue and it was just awash in happy heads. The post-show energy was incredible that night. But then... well, 5/24 had that Shakedown opener, one of the best I can remember from the Vince era, but after that it felt like a peaks n valleys kinda show. I remember getting in a headspace during 2nd set where I was thinking, basically, "where has energy from 1991 gone?" but then Mickey and Billy brought me back up. And the Morning Dew closer was glorious. However 5/25 was mostly forgettable, although I'm a sucker for Phil singing Tom Thumb's. I do remember that while Garcia seemed listless at this show, he came alive during NSB. And tbf the crowd loved Baba O'Riley->TNK. We'd all heard that it had debuted at Expo the week prior (I guess there's a one-off performance from early 1970 but few if any of us knew that, so we genuinely believed it was brand new) and hearing it on Memorial Day infused things with energy for while.

'92 was just like that for me: peaks and valleys. It was hard to get a handle on it at the time. In retrospect it's more obvious but in the first half of '92 I simply didn't realize how spoiled we'd been by the past 3 years. Sure, the loss of Brent was massive and it really hurt, but it felt like they came back as strong as they could, and '91 with Hornsby (even without him at times) was a really fun time. Come '92, I saw JGB at the Kaiser in February and again at that one-off show in San Jose in late April, and those were fun shows so it kind of made me think everything was fine, but then when I'd go see GD shows there was this lingering vibe that something was off. Anyway, I hope y'all will forgive me if I'm getting too negative. There are still a lot of great moments in 1992. Fast-forward to the Halloween return at Oakland... that moment that Garcia said, "how y'all doin?" and flashed that grin and then looked over at his bandmates made it feel like everything was alright in the world once again. We sure could use more moments like that today!

Listening to 5/31/92 II now. One of those great Vegas Spaces...

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Mornin', rockers!!

On morning commute-2/11/69 early show. Now sitting at desk, another paperwork day, 2/11/69 late show. These short sharp sets surely satisfy. Try saying that five times fast.......

Or, conversely, you could merely listen, and enjoy some good old Grateful Dead!

Time and memory are true artists; they remould reality nearer to the heart's desire.....

Rock on!

Doc
Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy.....

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Morning rockers!!!

Right now: March 14, 1971. Because why not...........

Based on my limited knowledge of 1971 Dead shows, it seems that there's something rare & unusual about this show. What could it be?????

PM me your answers, first correct reply gets ten shows of their choice. No charge, no muss, no fuss, no customer service issues................

I cannot help but think a curious event is this life of mine.....

Rock on!

Doc
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.......

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the best I got.

"We're a regular shoot 'em up saloon band"
- Jerry Garcia

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."

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I don't know the answer but a copy of the very cool poster for this show is available from the WI Historical Society for only $15.50 (and up depending on size).
Cheers

Prize is still open for those intrepid and observant.

"It ain't what I don't know that gets me into trouble, it's what I know for sure, that ain't so." - Mark Twain

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In reply to by JoeyMC

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that Good Lovin is freakin' killer.

just finished a week-o-work in the Tusas Mtns

gonna put the thinkin' cap on - feelin' intrepid and observant

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...the weather command?...1974-08-06 SET 2 jersey city @ ROOSEVELT stadium with a wonderful beginning to a NEW day.

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

...the people might know but the people don't care...now let's go run and see,
run and see, RUN and SEE, run, run and see and see

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Forgive me friends, I'm on a March (rock and) roll..............

Iowa City, March 20, 1971. Poor March, betwixt and between Port Chester and April, oh such a fate!!!

Maybe that's why it rarely gets the love and respect. Yet, it's worthy. Very generous dose of grease, mix in some Bakersfield/country/western, stir with rock & roll, and there you go---good old Grateful Dead!

OK, so maybe not a "Desert Island Show", but if I was stranded it would help me survive until the rescue party arrives................

Sorry, rockers, no quiz this time---unless somebody wants to venture a guess as to how many chairs were stacked on the sides of the floor at this show. Good luck! Oh and by the way, congratulations to Proudfoot, he had the first correct answer for the 3/14/71 quiz---stand alone Wharf Rat................

Little islands are all large prisons: one cannot look at the sea without wishing for the wings of a swallow.......

Rock on,

Doc
The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder......

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The 9-25-76 show.
Just exactly perfect.
Was using it to A/B test two CD players and the music never stopped.
Oddly the mid 90s CD changer sounds better in the bigger better newer system, and the newer (4 years old) cheaper player sounds better in the 70s college era system now in the bedroom. Didn't expect that.
Cheers