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I am aware that bluetooth streaming from spotify (for example), is not going to provide a true hi-fi experience. Nevertheless, the difference I've noted between the various low to medium budget bluetooth speakers I've tried versus a high-end speaker/sound system is still vast. Streaming at the highest possible quality setting also makes a difference.
Right now I don't have enough vinyl to justify buying a turntable (much as I love listening to music at its analogue best), nor CDs to justify buying a player, so I will be streaming from my phone/laptop, or, with the right speakers, directly from the internet. However, I would like whatever I get to have the option of a wired input so that should I get those in the future, it can handle it.
Rest assured, I shall go to Richer Sounds and road test everything first... and if there is little to no difference between a £120 quid speaker and a £700 quid one I'm not going to spend the extra. But if there is, I'm prepared to get the best quality I can.
Thanks FDC - what I mean is that I like the idea of having two speakers (which I will put on stands) on either side of the room. I know that systems like the Sonos Five (and many others) create a kind of soundscape that means you only need the one speaker, but not having any idea how good that is, I'm thinking the two active speaker idea might be a touch better. But maybe not. Either way, I need the system to have bluetooth connectivity and a built in amp. I don't want to go down the separates route. Hope that clarifies it!
Ahhh, The Dispossessed, now you're talking Euro! You didn't mention that this incredible book is by the late, great Ursula Le Guin. For years this was my favourite novel. Possibly categorised as 'soft sci-fi', but what makes ULG stand out from her peers is a kind of spare, yet deep emotionality that really immerses you in her worlds.
She was very into Daoism, and this philosophy underlies much of her writing. Her 'Earthsea' series, although probably considered YA (young adult), is utterly brilliant. Trivia fact: James Cameron basically ripped off her novella 'The Word for World is Forest' when he made Avatar. Dive deep into ULG, you won't regret it!
Thanks for an interesting discussion gents, but I really am looking for bluetooth connectivity... not for the purists, I know, but that's what I want. So any other recommendations in this category - active speakers, or versus something like the Sonos Five - much appreciated :)
Thanks a lot for that. I listen to a lot of classical, so I'm looking for accuracy, clarity, range and depth, but I also listen to plenty of rock, jazz and all sorts really. I don't need mega bass, but I would like proper bass definition.
Okay good people this is one of those threads where I ask for your advice/opinions.
I want to get a decent/v. decent bluetooth soundsystem and I've been scrolling through the Richer Sounds website. The choice is bewildering. The reason I'm thinking active speakers over a soundsystem is that I want the full stero effect. So far, I really like the look of the ELAC Debut Connex DCB61s (not 41s), although they are fairly pricey at £700. I also like the look of the Triangle LN01As, which are significantly cheaper at £400.
Do you think that's a better choice than something like the Sonos Five (which isn't bluetooth, I note, but wifi - not sure how it works with a phone), which also sounds incredible from the reviews?
I guess the best idea would be to actually go to Richer Sounds and have a listen, but I'd appreciate your thoughts!
Ha, I think we're on some kind of synchroncity tip; I read 'Beware of Pity' following a visit to Vienna last year! In many ways it reminded me of another classic, W. Somerset Maugham's 'Of Human Bondage'.
And I read '1000 Autumns' last year too, an absolutely gorgeous book. I'm a massive David Mitchell fan (the writer, not the comedian for those who don't know him). In fact I think Mr Sheen had recommended it after I was waxing lyrical about 'Utopia Avenue' in a book thread just like this one.
Mitchell is probably my favourite 21st century author and I'd happily recommend any of: Cloud Atlas, Number 9 Dream, Black Swan Green and Slade House - alongside 1000 Autumns and Utopia Avenue.
Another shameless plug, but if any of you book lovers fancy a nice day out, the Queen's Park Book festival takes place this weekend. Obviously you will all be occupied on Saturday until at least 2.30pm, then you can come and drown your sorrows (or celebrate in style) in the large beer tent, and see some great authors...
All the events in the Community Tent are free. Festival highlights include Alan Hollinghurst (mentioned by Bernard above), West London local Geoff Dyer, and Prof. Matt Beaumont (a Palace fan, forgive him) talking about his book Nightwalking on Sunday should be fascinating. Plus Rangers' fan Hugh Pym will be there....
Oh, and there's a comedy night on Saturday with Paul Thorne (MC), Eleanor Tiernan, Mike Gunn and Paul Tonkinson.
Zweig is almost unknown today, yet he is surely one of the greatest writers of the 20th century and Beware of Pity is absolutely superb. I read The Unbearable etc. years ago, I recall really enjoying it. Have yet to read any Roth. I'm sure I probably should, but you can't read everything, can you?
Recently I have been trying to work my way through some of the classics that I haven't read yet and I thought Gustave Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary' was genius. Incredibly modern in its open-minded and frank treatment of female desire and aspiration for a book that was written in 1856. Not surprised the bourgeoisie were scandalised at the time! So that's a recommendation if such things appeal to you. However I admit I am struggling with Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time', it requires dedication to stick with it.
Anyway, enough of the highbrow hoo-ha, if you like unputdownable, immersive fiction, Lian Hearn's 'Tales of the Otari' series is utterly brilliant. So good in fact that when I got to the end of the five book series, I started again. The series is set in a fictionalised 16th century Japan, a time when the Japanese were starting to be impacted by European culture and technology.
If anyone wants any other recommendations, just say what genre... happy to oblige. As you can tell, I like literary threads! ;-)
I think it's probably more likely that this deal, and the Saito deal, were already lined up, but awaiting Eze's deal to go through before they have them the green light.
Autumn is possibly the most poetic of the seasons, it lends itself to melancholy and wistfulness. There are some very well known autumn poems, with Keats' Ode to Autumn at the forefront.. I quite like this one by T. E. HULME.
Autumn
A touch of cold in the Autumn night— I walked abroad, And saw the ruddy moon lean over a hedge Like a red-faced farmer. I did not stop to speak, but nodded, And round about were the wistful stars With white faces like town children.
When I saw the thread title I was thinking about the first pint I ever bought. It was in the Blue Anchor, 1976 (I was 15, those were days!) and it cost 25 pence.
In 1976 the average wage was £76 quid a week. If you multiply it by the increase in a pint of beer since then (basing it on the price in the B&W), you'd be looking at an average weekly wage of £2,280. Whereas in fact the average weekly wage today in the UK is, quoting from the ONS, "£724 for total earnings and £679 for regular earnings."
In other words, ladies and gents, we have been robbed blind by successive governments and taxation for the last 50 years. Moaning old git I may be, but fck me, it's a chilling statistic.
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