Dusty Chalk

I might just have to do that... congreve ball clock - Google Product Search ...as soon as the economy recovers.

I don't remember the O2's being dark.

They're both gorgeous clocks...if I was into clocks. But the interminable ticking drives me bonkers. I don't mind one in the house, as long as it's not loud. Or are those the kind that have the fancy pendulum/gear mechanism, so they essentially don't tick? I think I'd like one of those. But what I really want is a tube clock.

Meh -- I'm going to want to hear this before I get it. I've been underwhelmed with Metric's and Emily's last couple of entries.

Pfff -- I'm 46 dude. Actually, if you discuss metal on a metal forum, your biological clock actually starts working reverse, if it doesn't kill you.

K1000 -- about to put the check in the mail. Well, at least he made it a link, so I don't have to load the friggin' thing every time I come to this page.

Hmm...ladder DAC chips...no digital filters...fully discrete... Alright, I'll change my stance, maybe this isn't such a bad idea. Back in the day, the Sonic Frontiers DAC (I don't know which one) was considered one of the best deals in digital hi-fi. Still, I'm not sure I'd be able to bring myself to do it. I like upsampling. Just for the record -- there is still a contingent of people who prefer a complete lack of digital filter, because of what it does to the phase of the signal. I've heard both (my ex still uses her ancient first CD player to this day), and it really doesn't sound that bad. There's artifacts, but you're so used to hearing the artifacts that most recent players have, that it's still kind of refreshing. Alright, here's my final advice: go with Dark Angel's way of doing things -- buy it for a price that, if you end up not liking it, you can sell it for with little to no financial loss on your part (ignoring where the market is going -- I.E. if you had to turn around and sell it today, you would only lose, say, US$100). You have to realize that when other people look at your listing, they'll probably be given similar advice, "...$900? I don't know, seems like a lot for out-dated technology..."

Hey, all right, another Crematory fan -- completely under-rated band, IMHO. I love them. Oh, and I should mention I've been revisiting the "too much caffeine" band, Unexpect, and completely enjoying them. There's something about having that much variety on a per-second basis that makes them absolutely optimal for car listening. I never find myself reaching for the skip. So I played some God Forbid, Naglfar, and The Crown for a friend of mine, and he said, oh, they're alright, but you really ought to check out Gojira. OMG, these guys are like all of that blaster-beat double-bass-pedal stuff except really good. I could understand most everything the guy was singing, despite it being towards the cookie monster end of the spectrum. Other times, he reminded me of Jaz Coleman (Killing Joke) -- one of the best metal vocalists. Evar.

Yeah, I'd either spend $900 on something more recent and better, or a lot less on that much older technology.

I loved the Heart of Everything, even more than the Silent Force. I had actually forgotten what I put in the player, and was just plain digging it. Yeah, it's a departure from Mother Earth, but that's fine by me. I'll definitely have to check out Doom:VS. I would have to say that Swallow the Sun is my favorite most recent discovery. And tossers who don't like the title (I.E. Jacob and Jack), shut your faces. What was the point of that besides to threadcrap? Grab a shovel, stand in front of a mirror, and do your best to hit yourselves in the back of the head with it. Fungi -- Coil is actually an excellent example of why I included "experimental", rather than just leaving it at metal, industrial, and gothic.

Yes. Keeps the DAC electronics further away from the polluting environments of the computer.

Nope. I agree that it's an acquired taste. It's still country, though, so even though I may get Middle Cyclone, I don't think I'll be listening to it often. Like I keep telling everyone else -- I'm not going to force myself to try to like something I essentially don't. That Frightmare looks interesting, though. Me: Aural Float, Beautiful Someday

Depends what she looks like, how into it she is, etc.

No, I've got no problem with vintage technology...other than the digital variety. The technology has moved forward on digital technology, that's my main beef with a 15-year-old DAC.

So I was talking with Colin on Sunday, and I decided we need to have a darkest desires thread, so feel free to pop in with whatever metal, black metal, goth, industrial, or experimental music you've been listening to lately, have questions about, or need recommendations on. This came about because Colin and I realized we had similar tastes in music, but I couldn't remember the names of all the bands that I liked, so I'd start by going over those again, mostly just as an exercise in memory more than anything else. The Gathering -- not really metal, although they used to be before Anneke joined them. Personally, I'm really happy with where they went, and sad that the journey is over. Mandylion and Nighttime Birds are the two hardest albums; How to Measure a Planet? is my personal favorite; if_then_else returns to some of the harder stuff while keeping the hooks of HtMaP; and Home just ends the whole affair on a very sombre note. I just looked (while verifying the discography) that they have a new album The West Pole coming out with multiple lead vocalists sitting in? and a 13 minute epic title track (!). I'm excited. Theatre of Tragedy was the one I couldn't remember. I actually like their later stuff better, it's kind of got an industrial thing going on with the keyboards and the heavy male vocals: Musique, Assembly, and Storm. I also mentioned Tristania to Colin -- I really liked Illumination, but I must've not replaced World of Glass and Ashes when I reloaded my iPod, as I really like those two, too. And yes, that's not what Dark Angel likes but I don't care -- I like what I like. Other things within the same vein: Leaves' Eyes; Sirenia; Within Temptation; Lacuna Coil; Epica; Nightwish. I'm also into Birthday Massacre. Alright, now we're getting into more Curve/Garbage-y territory, but do you know what? That's alright by me. And yes, I have to still get into Elis and After Forever and everything else that Amazon keeps recommending me. So that's what I've got for now, what've you got?

It'll work, but it'll be more cost-effective if someone (perhaps one of the people who volunteered to help manage this project?) sits down and figures out exactly how much everyone is putting in and getting out, because some of them will cancel each other out, and that way the PayPal fees can get reduced.

Yeah, I disagree that it sounds "pretty bad", but...whatever, it was just an example. In response to the OP, I'd pick something more contemporary for that kind of money.

Yeah, considering this guy makes umbilicals for AA, Monolithic, MSB Tech, and Musical Fidelity (that last one is a new one on me), I'm thinking you can interchange most of them. But you're right, you should check the specs. It the power supply is capable of delivering more amperage, that part is okay, but I would keep the voltage the same. I think (second opinions?).

Ha Pee Bir Day

It being 15 years old would be my main reason for not getting it. Also, the US$900. If it was only US$100-200, I'd say yes, go for it, but me personally, I'd rather spend money on something more modern. Heck, can't you get a used Bel Canto 2 for that kind of money? I think I'd spend it on that instead. Also, I don't think it'll do anything other than 16/44.1 -- if you end up doing computer audio, you may end up regretting it.

You know, it's been so long since I've heard them, it was almost like hearing them for the first time all over again. I had completely forgot how jammy/psychedelic they are (within context, of course).

Yeah, let's just hope they don't "pull", period.

(ding ding ding)

I disagree with all of you, I think the balance between introducing all the characters and how they fit in, and having a story of its own that is interesting enough to pull you in right off the bat was perfect. Yes, I just finished watching it on hulu -- hooray for hulu.

I doubt converting one format of digital to another will introduce, amplify, or attenuate jitter. I suspect it will be exactly the same.