Jeff Mackwood from Ottawa, Canada

[jeffmackwood]

I've strolled by these Forums numerous times over the years, greatly appreciating what folks have been posting. Thought it was time to join, although I can't predict how much I'll end up posting.

Personal policy: I only ever post anywhere online using my real name. If you Google my name you'll see some posts of mine on other audio Forums.

I'm a big fan of surround sound - of all types. "Native" whenever I can get it; sometimes stereo "processed" to surround (a la Dolby PLIIx Music) if I'm desperate for a fix. I've currently got a modest 5.1 set-up in what I call my family room home theatre, and a much more extensive 7.1 system in what I refer to as my main home theatre. In 2022 I'll be converting part of my basement into a workout area, and it will have a dedicated modest 7.1 system as well. Big enough fan of surround sound that with two of my stereo systems I'm using Carver C-9 Sonic Holography devices to give me the option to greatly expand the soundstage. (Sidebar: last month I had a musician friend of mine over and sat him down in the main HT (where one of those stereo systems is located) and I played a few tracks for him off his own CD and he was greatly impressed with what the Carver did. I did not tell him that he was listening to only the stereo sub-system in the room, and not the full blown 7.1 system - which he thought he was hearing the sound coming from.)

My surround roots go way back - to the '70s - my first system having been a Sears Quad 8-track with four speakers and probably 6wpc driving each of them.

I've got a pretty extensive collection of surround sound music on SACD, DVD-Audio and Blu-ray. Many of my SACD and DVD-Audio discs were purchased at that time when the bargain bins were full of them, and major chains were selling off what they had and dropping the formats completely. For a few years I found a lot of them in thrift stores and pawn shops, priced the same as all the CD castoffs.

Jeff

 

[4-earredwonder]

I've strolled by these Forums numerous times over the years, greatly appreciating what folks have been posting. Thought it was time to join, although I can't predict how much I'll end up posting.

Personal policy: I only ever post anywhere online using my real name. If you Google my name you'll see some posts of mine on other audio Forums.

I'm a big fan of surround sound - of all types. "Native" whenever I can get it; sometimes stereo "processed" to surround (a la Dolby PLIIx Music) if I'm desperate for a fix. I've currently got a modest 5.1 set-up in what I call my family room home theatre, and a much more extensive 7.1 system in what I refer to as my main home theatre. In 2022 I'll be converting part of my basement into a workout area, and it will have a dedicated modest 7.1 system as well. Big enough fan of surround sound that with two of my stereo systems I'm using Carver C-9 Sonic Holography devices to give me the option to greatly expand the soundstage. (Sidebar: last month I had a musician friend of mine over and sat him down in the main HT (where one of those stereo systems is located) and I played a few tracks for him off his own CD and he was greatly impressed with what the Carver did. I did not tell him that he was listening to only the stereo sub-system in the room, and not the full blown 7.1 system - which he thought he was hearing the sound coming from.)

My surround roots go way back - to the '70s - my first system having been a Sears Quad 8-track with four speakers and probably 6wpc driving each of them.

I've got a pretty extensive collection of surround sound music on SACD, DVD-Audio and Blu-ray. Many of my SACD and DVD-Audio discs were purchased at that time when the bargain bins were full of them, and major chains were selling off what they had and dropping the formats completely. For a few years I found a lot of them in thrift stores and pawn shops, priced the same as all the CD castoffs.

Jeff

Welcome to the forum, Jeff. We look forward to future posts. You know you've come to the right place ...... what could be more enticing than Quadraphonic QUAD FORUM?

 

[fizzywiggs41]

I've strolled by these Forums numerous times over the years, greatly appreciating what folks have been posting. Thought it was time to join, although I can't predict how much I'll end up posting.

Personal policy: I only ever post anywhere online using my real name. If you Google my name you'll see some posts of mine on other audio Forums.

I'm a big fan of surround sound - of all types. "Native" whenever I can get it; sometimes stereo "processed" to surround (a la Dolby PLIIx Music) if I'm desperate for a fix. I've currently got a modest 5.1 set-up in what I call my family room home theatre, and a much more extensive 7.1 system in what I refer to as my main home theatre. In 2022 I'll be converting part of my basement into a workout area, and it will have a dedicated modest 7.1 system as well. Big enough fan of surround sound that with two of my stereo systems I'm using Carver C-9 Sonic Holography devices to give me the option to greatly expand the soundstage. (Sidebar: last month I had a musician friend of mine over and sat him down in the main HT (where one of those stereo systems is located) and I played a few tracks for him off his own CD and he was greatly impressed with what the Carver did. I did not tell him that he was listening to only the stereo sub-system in the room, and not the full blown 7.1 system - which he thought he was hearing the sound coming from.)

My surround roots go way back - to the '70s - my first system having been a Sears Quad 8-track with four speakers and probably 6wpc driving each of them.

I've got a pretty extensive collection of surround sound music on SACD, DVD-Audio and Blu-ray. Many of my SACD and DVD-Audio discs were purchased at that time when the bargain bins were full of them, and major chains were selling off what they had and dropping the formats completely. For a few years I found a lot of them in thrift stores and pawn shops, priced the same as all the CD castoffs.

Jeff

Welcome Jeff , and lucky you as not once did I ever find any cutout or discounted DVDA, SACD , or DTS discs , leastways not in Winnipeg .
My guess is some Politician dumped their discs after an Election loss in the House (Canada's Parliament) , because they had to move back home.


Anyway , good luck setting up your new system for 2022 . Sounds like a lot of fun .




[ FWIW Ottawa is the equivalent of Washington DC , and London's Parliament]

 

[jeffmackwood]

Locally my best lucky find was when Future Shop (chain store that got bought out by Best Buy) was getting out of selling SACD AND it was Boxing Day (day after Xmas to those who don't know, and a traditional day of deep discount selling.) Anyhow I picked up a shopping basket full of new SACDs for probably $2CDN each - including all the Elton John, DSOTM, etc. We also had a place called CD Warehouse (two locations) through whom I'd order Blu-ray Audio titles and when they went belly up I bought a number of titles out of the bins. I also used to travel the world on business and once picked up all of the Rolling Stones SACDs (unfortunately all stereo) for probably the equivalent of $5CDN each. Another place in Copenhagen had, quite literally, and bargain basement and there I probably bought ~50 classical multichannel SACDs. Singapore was another that I recall. A lot of the others came used from online sales - again when the popularity of DVD-A and SACD was waning (at least with the crowd that does not likely hang around here much ).

During Covid, I even discovered that the Ottawa Public Library has a nice little collection of SACDs - all of which but one I've managed to borrow for a listen.

Jeff

 

[fizzywiggs41]

My public library had or has* maybe 3 or 4 SACD's to borrow. Perhaps even more.

Mostly from the Songlines label. Kinda difficult to confirm the number of SACD'S ,

Because However :


* and still continuing , as of the past 3 months browsing in the library is not permitted , re : CO VID

 

[musicmemorabiliashoppellc]

I've strolled by these Forums numerous times over the years, greatly appreciating what folks have been posting. Thought it was time to join, although I can't predict how much I'll end up posting.

Personal policy: I only ever post anywhere online using my real name. If you Google my name you'll see some posts of mine on other audio Forums.

I'm a big fan of surround sound - of all types. "Native" whenever I can get it; sometimes stereo "processed" to surround (a la Dolby PLIIx Music) if I'm desperate for a fix. I've currently got a modest 5.1 set-up in what I call my family room home theatre, and a much more extensive 7.1 system in what I refer to as my main home theatre. In 2022 I'll be converting part of my basement into a workout area, and it will have a dedicated modest 7.1 system as well. Big enough fan of surround sound that with two of my stereo systems I'm using Carver C-9 Sonic Holography devices to give me the option to greatly expand the soundstage. (Sidebar: last month I had a musician friend of mine over and sat him down in the main HT (where one of those stereo systems is located) and I played a few tracks for him off his own CD and he was greatly impressed with what the Carver did. I did not tell him that he was listening to only the stereo sub-system in the room, and not the full blown 7.1 system - which he thought he was hearing the sound coming from.)

My surround roots go way back - to the '70s - my first system having been a Sears Quad 8-track with four speakers and probably 6wpc driving each of them.

I've got a pretty extensive collection of surround sound music on SACD, DVD-Audio and Blu-ray. Many of my SACD and DVD-Audio discs were purchased at that time when the bargain bins were full of them, and major chains were selling off what they had and dropping the formats completely. For a few years I found a lot of them in thrift stores and pawn shops, priced the same as all the CD castoffs.

Jeff

Welcome Jeff….hmmm that first name rings a bell…not really sure why though….

I’m from Toronto. now in in Florida…welcome

 

[Tornado Red]

Welcome from Winnipeg Jeff

 

[jeffmackwood]

My public library had or has* maybe 3 or 4 SACD's to borrow. Perhaps even more.

Mostly from the Songlines label. Kinda difficult to confirm the number of SACD'S ,

Because However :


* and still continuing , as of the past 3 months browsing in the library is not permitted , re : CO VID

The Ottawa Public Library has a great online presence that allows users access to their collection, and tons of other services (including reserving passes to local national museums etc.!), and because it has 40+ branches spread across the city - all with CD, and potentially SACD, collections - an online search of the collection, followed by placing holds and having titles delivered to your local branch for Covid-friendly pickup, is the way to go. However it was only after contacting library staff that I learned how to do a much more detailed search that yielded many more SACDs than I first thought they had. Today's librarians are search masters / information specialists that really know how to use the available systems and tools.

Jeff

 

[par4ken]

I remember when the local library carried a collection of LP's. As I recall they weren't always in the best of shape. Just wonder if they check the condition of the disc's before and after and replace the damaged ones?

 

[newslane]

Hi again Jeff, welcome to this forum, which has saved me quite a lot as I upgraded my 5.1 system. Very helpful bunch around here, and smart.