"Andy Evans" wrote in message
ups.com...

Thanks for that Andy, it was most interesting, but I'm sure you are
mistaken about the percentage of valve amps and the vinyl stuff -
anybody here will tell you they are both in a tiny majority and only
of
interest to a few *deranged* anacrophiles....

:-)

The HEathrow Show never represented the majority of "playback
systems" (let's not call them HiFi) as flogged by Richer Sound down to
Woolworths. It's a showcase for the small producers in particular, and
believe me, small manufacturers do still see a future in vinyl and
valves. I'm not kidding - arms and turntables were everywhere, and
valva amps were at least half of what was there. I quite understand
valves, but I don't get vinyl


?

- apart from the rather pleasant sound


Seems you do...??

:-)


(though I'm probably happier with digital sources and a stonkingly
good DAC myself) the disadvantages of jumping up and down to change
sides,


:-)


replacing a ?500 needle the cat broke,


Lose the cat, pay less than 100 for carts on eBay....


keeping a cleaning
machine in the garage,


Mine's on the floor in a built-in cupboard - the garage is too far away!


building 20 sq ft of one foot deep
shelving......


Yes, but make that at least 40-50 sq ft in terms of wall area.....



I could go on. but there is admittedly something very
retro-chic about operating one of those esoteric arms and seeing a
thin strand of silk bring Mozart to life.


Or a thundering wall of Mahler or even 'techno' sound from the likes of
Yello or turn up the volume a tad and bring the Girl From Ipanema a bit
closer - she *is* in the room with you....

(Andy, you'll have a turntable on the go before Christmas and will
probably be into valve phono stages by then as well! :-)