Finally David!! I asked you if you could do this 2 years ago 😂😊 Seriously, thanks, genuinely fascinating and your thoughts and reasonings behind everything. In relation to your canal walk video, and based on your journals, I think it would interesting to hear more about your past, youth, upbringing, working life, etc. Next time you go back ‘home’ it would be fascinating for example to see you doing a walking tour of your old stomping ground. This is where I saw ‘x’ play live, this is where I used to drink, this is where I used to work, this is where…..etc. And how it compares to then and now. As you may know, I am one of your earliest subscribers and I watch with interest all your content, except, to be honest, the cycling stuff, but that is just for feedback purposes, not to be critical or anything. For my opinion, your channel should feature only stuff you have a genuine interest in, or a passion for. It is YOUR channel and it will always find a good audience. Take care Dave and all the best!
David that was one of the most enjoyable videos that I have watched on TH-cam. Your music room is my idea of heaven. My home and set up is more modest and space is at a premium. I am a very similar age to you and hifi and music have been a constant hobby for me but I also had a massive passion for photography at the same time. Because of that my disposable income mainly went the photography side of things but now I have retired it’s swung back to the music. I tend not to replace things until they are broken so have ended up with 4 good turntables one for pristine records, another with a budget cartridge for older records and a Rega P3 with a dedicated mono cartridge but when I do I do lots of research and I think that I bought wisely. I have plans to either have a loft conversion or maybe a cabin in the garden to have a dedicated music room like yours. Thank you for the inspiration.
Four good turntables, and one with a dedicated mono cartridge? Tony, you make me look like an amateur! Us blokes like spending our money on tech, don't we?
This is a fascinating and educational video. It's so cool to see in the inner sanctum in some detail. The most impressive thing is that I can't see any dust anywhere! I have some dusting to do 🙂
get your eyes tested, Brian. That vacuum record cleaner is covered in dust (how ironic, eh? A dusty record cleaner). 'The Inner Sanctum'? I'm going to have to meditate more regularly for that label to stick!
Really enjoyed this kind of intimacy that you kindly share with us. After all, this is your personal space and I thank you for being generous. I love your music room as I don’t have room for that in my house. Such a nice collection well organized!
Thanks very much. I think I'm reaching the point in my life where 'recording' personal stuff is becoming more important than showing-off my new albums. Nevertheless, I'm doing my best to keep things hopefully interesting enough for others to sample.
Nice tour. It was great seeing all the noons and crannies and being from California, meditation can be a great thing at times. I don’t do it often, but there are times when it really feels good. Cheers 🎶
Thanks Mazzy. Despite what tripped-off my tongue in the video, I do still meditate from time to time, but like I said, it's about as frequent and sustained as my journal-writing. Hey ho, we do what we can.
Really excellent David, thank you for sharing. I can't say I've heard any of your Hi-Fi components, but it looks incredible. I actually wish more in the VC would show their set-up and listening space. Something I'm very interested in. We may get some response vids from this, you never know 🙂
Cheers George. I think quite a few people do share their listening space, but I imagine all too many feel intimidated by the £100k systems and massive rooms they see showcased! In the end it's about doing what''s best to enjoy the music. Dance along with dance music, leap about to punk (can't do that anymore!), concentrate for complex orchestral, prog, ambient, etc. The kit is only half the story.
First time viewing your channel David, enjoyed the rundown of your system. Didn't hear what cartridge you have on the SME V though. EAR makes great gear. I've owned quite a bit of EAR gear myself over the years. The only piece of EAR gear I currently have is the 834P. I had one many years ago and sold it when I bought the EAR 864 preamp, also had the 834L with the 834P, also had the EAR 534 amplifier, really enjoyed all of the EAR gear I owned. Your room is unique in that the walls are angled, which helps acoustically. A couple of bass traps would help if placed in the right locations, maybe more, can't really tell where there is room to put them, but they help with standing waves iff they're thick enough, 4 inches minimum thickness. Anyway, enjoy what you have. It's certainly a nice system and as you said there's no need to spend more money on gear.😀
Hi Pepper! Thanks for the comment, and well-spotted. I bought a new cartridge early this year after my Dynavector 10x5 finally let me down after many years of service. I replaced it with a Hana SL MC cartridge, which I'm very happy with. Another thing I didn't mention was that between my cheap Chinese amp and the V20 was, for a brief time, another EAR amp, the 859. I loved that so much, it was only a few months before I was the lookout for something with a bit more 'beef'. Hence, the V20. If I recall, I moved on from the 859 also because it wasn't self-biasing, and I'm scared of mains electricity and didn't want to open it up and start fiddling. I kind of regretted getting rid of it, but after a while, those little regrets dissipate. Re bass traps, I've thought about that, but the space is limited (obviously), and like everything hifi, it's all a compromise. I'm happy enough, I guess, and try to no longer look at other kit with envious eyes!
Very interesting, David, you have a great collection and really well loved, plus strong floor boards, vinyl is heavy! I like your Buddha statue, I think you take calming Zen vibes from it.
Cheers Nick. That floorboard question is something I've been worried about for years. We had a tradesman around earlier in the year, and he assured me I'd be okay!!
“Sometimes I wear ear defenders”…”That is a meditation stool”…”It’s a reminder of what Robert Fripp said”…I agree with you with it being a ritual with no distraction. Nice to get a detailed breakdown of Atkinson HQ! Very enjoyable! I have a set of B&W indoor/outdoor speakers. They are in storage.
Really enjoyed this video -- great room, records, and equipment. Good narrative as well. I've watched many of your videos but this may be the first time I've commented. Anyway, your videos are always good and welcome.
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 I lived in London 1975-76 and Saturday afternoon would listen to a BBC radio program that began with "Get on the right track, baby" - Do you remember that? I was never sure who sang it, closest I could find was Georgie Fame's version of this Ray Charles song. The DJ would play good rock music
@@cranberrysauce9275 I remember that too. I've just checked a few versions out to see if I can recall the right version. I've long thought it sounded like a Mose Allison track, but I can't find a version anywhere. So, Georgie Fame dos see the closest.
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 Incidentally, I saw Mose Allison Trio perform at Sir Morgan's Cove in Worcester, Mass in '72 or '73. Your discussion of finding your old journals is an incentive for me to dig out my journal from those 9 months in London and perhaps reflect on the concerts I saw at the time starting next year when it will be the 50th anniversary for my musical experiences there. It's nice to know that you also listened to that BBC Saturday show.
Nice Vid. The meditation part was quite interesting. I rarely listen to vinyl when doing anything else. I call it serious listening. For casual listening it is usually from streaming. The problem we all have is that there are so many people doing so many videos and there is so little time.
You're definitely in the same ballpark as me Richard. 'Serious Listening' for this room only (it's why the iPod isn't wired-up and there's no flash drive in the CD player). You're right about too many videos. It's no one's fault, but it's damn hard to keep up, and it frustrates me that I miss so many that I would otherwise definitely view.
Morning David, really great video today. I am absolutely hooked on room tours IF both the channels host is interesting and their audio gear is even more interesting 😊. I've always admired your setup from what we can see in the background and you have been nice enough to answer questions I've sent in the past. I too appreciate finer audio equipment and participate in the on going tweeks needed to satisfy the itch. I never understand most VC video makers that seem to spend thousands on their vinyl but nothing on their gear. My interconnects and spkr cables are worth more than most entire audio setups I've viewed. I'm thinking about replacing the old capacitors in my 20 yr old floor standing spkrs.....any thoughts about this that you have? I think it may be necessary and would provide that new spkr sound again. Anyhow, fun tour and thanks it was cool.
Thank you. Good observation there about some VC members and their gear and vinyl choices. Sometimes I see people buying really expensive editions and see them removing them from the sleeves with their greasy fingers. Makes me wince! I suppose it's one of the reasons (via a reminder) that handling records carefully, matching quality vinyl with quality (but affordable) playback kit, and focused listening is where the sweet spot is for the best listening experience. But I don't want to judge - I'm quite blown away by the enthusiasm on show in most of the VC videos. The more the merrier. As for dabbling in capacitor replacement, or even tube-rolling, I don't have the expertise or the even simple skills required to open-up casings, remove components, or using a soldering iron with any precision whatsoever. I leave that stuff to the experts, despite me getting frustrated by those experts not being available when I need them. Ouch!
I’ve often thought about what you mentioned, that it’s easy to get caught up in the listening to the system rather than the music. Mine is a very modest set up but I’m happy with it (cartridge upgrade made significant improvement). Obviously I’d like to hear what a better system sounded like but I wouldn’t want to get drawn into the seemingly endless striving for perfection, to the detriment of enjoying the music. On another topic, what was the Dark Side of the Moon item we briefly saw behind the Dylan book?
Hi Robert, I guess I learned that the room acoustics, and the level of personal concentration have as much to do (maybe more) with the listening experience as the hardware. Once that idea beds in, the crazy search for perfection kind of fades away. That DSOTM thing is a double CD of Pink Floyd cover versions. I was going to do a video review or Waters' 'Redux' and was going to illustrate the many and varied versions that are available. I didn't get around to reviewing the album in the end.
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 thanks for replying, David. I’ve found in my case that rearranging the furniture paid dividends. I have a sofa in my music room and turned that to face the stereo. Stupid how it took me so long to come up with that idea 🤣, prior to that I’d been listening to music sat in front of the pc… too distracting . Now it’s like I’m hearing some of my later acquisitions for the first time. Thanks re DSOTM and that video would be interesting should you decide to make it. My 7 vinyl copies of DSOTM. is bordering on madness 😀
@@robertmorgan9205 Only seven? You’re not trying hard enough 😂 I think I have four, plus the Immersion box set. Oh, and the live edition released recently. That’s a good one, although I strongly suspect you know that already! 👍🏻
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 🤣 it’s an illness. The one I’ve found to best bangs for the bucks have been Harry Moss pressings from 1977 which sound amazing, easily matching my MOFI one. Last one I got of his was from Discogs complete with both posters and stickers for just £15 + £5 p&p. If you don’t have one already check them out if you find a good copy.
Ha ha! Those are indeed famous last words. I'm pretty sure there comes a point where too many changes lead to sensory overload and confusion, and you begin to forget why you added/removed something, and can't tell what's what.
Finally David!! I asked you if you could do this 2 years ago 😂😊
Seriously, thanks, genuinely fascinating and your thoughts and reasonings behind everything.
In relation to your canal walk video, and based on your journals, I think it would interesting to hear more about your past, youth, upbringing, working life, etc. Next time you go back ‘home’ it would be fascinating for example to see you doing a walking tour of your old stomping ground. This is where I saw ‘x’ play live, this is where I used to drink, this is where I used to work, this is where…..etc. And how it compares to then and now.
As you may know, I am one of your earliest subscribers and I watch with interest all your content, except, to be honest, the cycling stuff, but that is just for feedback purposes, not to be critical or anything. For my opinion, your channel should feature only stuff you have a genuine interest in, or a passion for. It is YOUR channel and it will always find a good audience.
Take care Dave and all the best!
beautiful system my friend! Congrats!
Thanks for the overview of your listening room. Enjoyed the presentation and your thoughts on the hobby. Enjoy!
You've got a real ability to inspire. I'm going to 'listen' to some music later and imagine that the artist is in the room with me. Great stuff!!
Too kind David. Much appreciated though!
David, definitely an interesting tour and description of your listening space. You seem to have made good use of the area. Thanks, Chris
I Love your channel Mr Atkinson.Thank you for showing your absolute beautiful listening room.Much appreciated!
David that was one of the most enjoyable videos that I have watched on TH-cam. Your music room is my idea of heaven. My home and set up is more modest and space is at a premium. I am a very similar age to you and hifi and music have been a constant hobby for me but I also had a massive passion for photography at the same time. Because of that my disposable income mainly went the photography side of things but now I have retired it’s swung back to the music. I tend not to replace things until they are broken so have ended up with 4 good turntables one for pristine records, another with a budget cartridge for older records and a Rega P3 with a dedicated mono cartridge but when I do I do lots of research and I think that I bought wisely. I have plans to either have a loft conversion or maybe a cabin in the garden to have a dedicated music room like yours. Thank you for the inspiration.
Four good turntables, and one with a dedicated mono cartridge? Tony, you make me look like an amateur! Us blokes like spending our money on tech, don't we?
This is a fascinating and educational video. It's so cool to see in the inner sanctum in some detail. The most impressive thing is that I can't see any dust anywhere! I have some dusting to do 🙂
get your eyes tested, Brian. That vacuum record cleaner is covered in dust (how ironic, eh? A dusty record cleaner).
'The Inner Sanctum'? I'm going to have to meditate more regularly for that label to stick!
Really enjoyed this kind of intimacy that you kindly share with us. After all, this is your personal space and I thank you for being generous. I love your music room as I don’t have room for that in my house. Such a nice collection well organized!
Thanks very much. I think I'm reaching the point in my life where 'recording' personal stuff is becoming more important than showing-off my new albums. Nevertheless, I'm doing my best to keep things hopefully interesting enough for others to sample.
Nice tour. It was great seeing all the noons and crannies and being from California, meditation can be a great thing at times. I don’t do it often, but there are times when it really feels good. Cheers 🎶
Thanks Mazzy. Despite what tripped-off my tongue in the video, I do still meditate from time to time, but like I said, it's about as frequent and sustained as my journal-writing. Hey ho, we do what we can.
Great video. Thanks David. Love the way you talk about your set up - still about the music rather than the equipment.
It certainly is, Jeff. Cheers for watching.
Love you setup. It would be an excellent place to relax and listen to great music.
Especially at night time. Although, I do occasionally feel guilty disappearing into my hideaway and leaving the family alone!
Looks like such a great space to get away and concentrate on the music. Love your rig. Cheers.
Cheers Jack.
I really enjoyed your tour of your listening room.
Really excellent David, thank you for sharing. I can't say I've heard any of your Hi-Fi components, but it looks incredible.
I actually wish more in the VC would show their set-up and listening space. Something I'm very interested in. We may get some response vids from this, you never know 🙂
Cheers George. I think quite a few people do share their listening space, but I imagine all too many feel intimidated by the £100k systems and massive rooms they see showcased! In the end it's about doing what''s best to enjoy the music. Dance along with dance music, leap about to punk (can't do that anymore!), concentrate for complex orchestral, prog, ambient, etc. The kit is only half the story.
First time viewing your channel David, enjoyed the rundown of your system. Didn't hear what cartridge you have on the SME V though. EAR makes great gear. I've owned quite a bit of EAR gear myself over the years. The only piece of EAR gear I currently have is the 834P. I had one many years ago and sold it when I bought the EAR 864 preamp, also had the 834L with the 834P, also had the EAR 534 amplifier, really enjoyed all of the EAR gear I owned.
Your room is unique in that the walls are angled, which helps acoustically. A couple of bass traps would help if placed in the right locations, maybe more, can't really tell where there is room to put them, but they help with standing waves iff they're thick enough, 4 inches minimum thickness.
Anyway, enjoy what you have. It's certainly a nice system and as you said there's no need to spend more money on gear.😀
Hi Pepper! Thanks for the comment, and well-spotted. I bought a new cartridge early this year after my Dynavector 10x5 finally let me down after many years of service. I replaced it with a Hana SL MC cartridge, which I'm very happy with. Another thing I didn't mention was that between my cheap Chinese amp and the V20 was, for a brief time, another EAR amp, the 859. I loved that so much, it was only a few months before I was the lookout for something with a bit more 'beef'. Hence, the V20. If I recall, I moved on from the 859 also because it wasn't self-biasing, and I'm scared of mains electricity and didn't want to open it up and start fiddling. I kind of regretted getting rid of it, but after a while, those little regrets dissipate.
Re bass traps, I've thought about that, but the space is limited (obviously), and like everything hifi, it's all a compromise. I'm happy enough, I guess, and try to no longer look at other kit with envious eyes!
Hey David. Great video. Thanks for the killer tour and info! Cheers
Cheers Bobby. This one was overdue. There's even the possibility that there could be more of this come....if people can stomach it!
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 I think people really love it. Cheers
Very interesting, David, you have a great collection and really well loved, plus strong floor boards, vinyl is heavy! I like your Buddha statue, I think you take calming Zen vibes from it.
Cheers Nick. That floorboard question is something I've been worried about for years. We had a tradesman around earlier in the year, and he assured me I'd be okay!!
“Sometimes I wear ear defenders”…”That is a meditation stool”…”It’s a reminder of what Robert Fripp said”…I agree with you with it being a ritual with no distraction. Nice to get a detailed breakdown of Atkinson HQ! Very enjoyable! I have a set of B&W indoor/outdoor speakers. They are in storage.
Almost everything is in storage! Cheers Mike.
Really enjoyed this video -- great room, records, and equipment. Good narrative as well. I've watched many of your videos but this may be the first time I've commented. Anyway, your videos are always good and welcome.
Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers for commenting!
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 I lived in London 1975-76 and Saturday afternoon would listen to a BBC radio program that began with "Get on the right track, baby" - Do you remember that? I was never sure who sang it, closest I could find was Georgie Fame's version of this Ray Charles song. The DJ would play good rock music
@@cranberrysauce9275 I remember that too. I've just checked a few versions out to see if I can recall the right version. I've long thought it sounded like a Mose Allison track, but I can't find a version anywhere. So, Georgie Fame dos see the closest.
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 Incidentally, I saw Mose Allison Trio perform at Sir Morgan's Cove in Worcester, Mass in '72 or '73. Your discussion of finding your old journals is an incentive for me to dig out my journal from those 9 months in London and perhaps reflect on the concerts I saw at the time starting next year when it will be the 50th anniversary for my musical experiences there. It's nice to know that you also listened to that BBC Saturday show.
@@cranberrysauce9275 Nice memory there. 👍
Nice Vid. The meditation part was quite interesting. I rarely listen to vinyl when doing anything else. I call it serious listening. For casual listening it is usually from streaming. The problem we all have is that there are so many people doing so many videos and there is so little time.
You're definitely in the same ballpark as me Richard. 'Serious Listening' for this room only (it's why the iPod isn't wired-up and there's no flash drive in the CD player). You're right about too many videos. It's no one's fault, but it's damn hard to keep up, and it frustrates me that I miss so many that I would otherwise definitely view.
Morning David, really great video today. I am absolutely hooked on room tours IF both the channels host is interesting and their audio gear is even more interesting 😊. I've always admired your setup from what we can see in the background and you have been nice enough to answer questions I've sent in the past. I too appreciate finer audio equipment and participate in the on going tweeks needed to satisfy the itch. I never understand most VC video makers that seem to spend thousands on their vinyl but nothing on their gear. My interconnects and spkr cables are worth more than most entire audio setups I've viewed. I'm thinking about replacing the old capacitors in my 20 yr old floor standing spkrs.....any thoughts about this that you have? I think it may be necessary and would provide that new spkr sound again. Anyhow, fun tour and thanks it was cool.
Thank you. Good observation there about some VC members and their gear and vinyl choices. Sometimes I see people buying really expensive editions and see them removing them from the sleeves with their greasy fingers. Makes me wince! I suppose it's one of the reasons (via a reminder) that handling records carefully, matching quality vinyl with quality (but affordable) playback kit, and focused listening is where the sweet spot is for the best listening experience. But I don't want to judge - I'm quite blown away by the enthusiasm on show in most of the VC videos. The more the merrier.
As for dabbling in capacitor replacement, or even tube-rolling, I don't have the expertise or the even simple skills required to open-up casings, remove components, or using a soldering iron with any precision whatsoever. I leave that stuff to the experts, despite me getting frustrated by those experts not being available when I need them. Ouch!
Big Up for Tangerine Dream - Le Park is my fav album.
Nice one. It's 'Ricochet' and 'Phaedra' for me.
🙏👍
I’ve often thought about what you mentioned, that it’s easy to get caught up in the listening to the system rather than the music. Mine is a very modest set up but I’m happy with it (cartridge upgrade made significant improvement). Obviously I’d like to hear what a better system sounded like but I wouldn’t want to get drawn into the seemingly endless striving for perfection, to the detriment of enjoying the music. On another topic, what was the Dark Side of the Moon item we briefly saw behind the Dylan book?
Hi Robert, I guess I learned that the room acoustics, and the level of personal concentration have as much to do (maybe more) with the listening experience as the hardware. Once that idea beds in, the crazy search for perfection kind of fades away.
That DSOTM thing is a double CD of Pink Floyd cover versions. I was going to do a video review or Waters' 'Redux' and was going to illustrate the many and varied versions that are available. I didn't get around to reviewing the album in the end.
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 thanks for replying, David. I’ve found in my case that rearranging the furniture paid dividends. I have a sofa in my music room and turned that to face the stereo. Stupid how it took me so long to come up with that idea 🤣, prior to that I’d been listening to music sat in front of the pc… too distracting . Now it’s like I’m hearing some of my later acquisitions for the first time.
Thanks re DSOTM and that video would be interesting should you decide to make it. My 7 vinyl copies of DSOTM. is bordering on madness 😀
@@robertmorgan9205 Only seven? You’re not trying hard enough 😂
I think I have four, plus the Immersion box set. Oh, and the live edition released recently. That’s a good one, although I strongly suspect you know that already! 👍🏻
@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 🤣 it’s an illness. The one I’ve found to best bangs for the bucks have been Harry Moss pressings from 1977 which sound amazing, easily matching my MOFI one. Last one I got of his was from Discogs complete with both posters and stickers for just £15 + £5 p&p. If you don’t have one already check them out if you find a good copy.
Hi from Wales.i am not going to spend anymore money on hifi. Famous last words😰
Ha ha! Those are indeed famous last words. I'm pretty sure there comes a point where too many changes lead to sensory overload and confusion, and you begin to forget why you added/removed something, and can't tell what's what.
Nice room mate but don't be kidding everyone on... Yorkshire is actually God's country, not Newcastle. Nice try though 😂
Aye up lad! I lived in Yorkshire for three years, so I know all about God's Country!