mobile fidelity, XRCD, etc. - Chicago

Lowell_M
Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
edited October 2008 in The Clubhouse
I will be staying downtown Chicago a little this week for work and should have some freetime... Does anybody know of any shops that I could go to downtown that would specialize in audiophile CD's? (mobile fidelity, XRCD, etc.)? (DKG999,any thoughts?)

I need new tunes. I've got a bunch of work to do tonight and will probably run through my entire list of "good" CD's and end up breaking into the 'loud' recordings of recent times.
HT
RTi70 mains
CSi30 center
RTi28 Rears
Velodyne CHT-12
H/K AVR-247
ADCOM GFA-7000
Samsung PN58B860
Playstation 3
2-Channel
Polk Audio LSi15's
Rotel RCD-1072
Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
ADCOM GFA-555
Signal Cable Analog II IC's
Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
Post edited by Lowell_M on
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    My neighbors aren't home... I'm turning it up to 11!
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited October 2008
    a_mattison wrote: »
    My neighbors aren't home... I'm turning it up to 11!

    Damn,I'm glad you didn't borrow the Marsh!!;) Crank it up and enjoy!!!:D

    What are you listening to?
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    daboyz wrote: »
    Damn,I'm glad you didn't borrow the Marsh!!;) Crank it up and enjoy!!!:D

    What are you listening to?

    I moved to the HT to listen to concert DVD's because the neighbors came home. I figured that since my floor was bouncing that they could probably hear me through the 10" fire wall. Finally generated a little heat in that 555. :D

    Listening to Norah Jones in New Orleans at the moment.
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    I know Doug knows the answer to my question.... where is he?
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,454
    edited October 2008
    Music Direct
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,163
    edited October 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    Music Direct

    Yep, that's where he visits when in Chi town. I'm not sure of the exact location. I used to know a lot of the out of the way record/cd shops but I haven't been down those paths for about 6-7 years.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,454
    edited October 2008
    Addy:
    318 N. Laflin Street
    Chicago, IL 60607
    312-433-0200
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    Thanks F1. I'll check it out if I have time.
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    Addy:
    318 N. Laflin Street
    Chicago, IL 60607
    312-433-0200

    Hey! I don't know where you guys sent me... but that address might be Doug's crack dealer, not an audio store!:eek::eek:

    I didn't go in. It definately wasn't a street that I would expect a store to be on. Is this place a secret, esoteric place or something? I didn't see any signs that said Music Direct. Actually there were'nt any signs, mostly graffiti. :confused::confused:
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,621
    edited October 2008
    The address is correct. You should have called the number then knocked twice and they would have let you in.:D
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited October 2008
    Sorry, been out of town myself! Took a motorcycle tour with a bunch of friends from Dubuque IA to Winona MN and back, going up one side of the Mississippi and back down the other side.

    Music Direct is at that address, and it does look like somewhere you would go for ho's and blow! You just have to open the door marked 318 and walk on it, and you'll be greeted by nice people and a pretty good selection of new music, plus they will go get anything out of the warehouse they have in stock.

    Record Breakers would be another good place, although I haven't been to them since they moved out of Algonquin.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited October 2008
    a_mattison - you should try this neat little Rockford Audio Society social club that we set up ;) I usually check it when out of town, even if I don't check the main forums.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    dkg999 wrote: »
    Sorry, been out of town myself! Took a motorcycle tour with a bunch of friends from Dubuque IA to Winona MN and back, going up one side of the Mississippi and back down the other side.

    Music Direct is at that address, and it does look like somewhere you would go for ho's and blow! You just have to open the door marked 318 and walk on it, and you'll be greeted by nice people and a pretty good selection of new music, plus they will go get anything out of the warehouse they have in stock.

    Record Breakers would be another good place, although I haven't been to them since they moved out of Algonquin.

    Ok. I thought I was in the wrong place. The show I'm at is over tomorrow at 2:00, so I'll check it out on my way out of town. Thanks!
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,454
    edited October 2008
    http://www.musicdirect.com/about/contact.php
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    http://www.musicdirect.com/about/contact.php

    Thanks Jesse. Yep, that map points right to where I was today. I'll check it out tomorrow.

    My current "reference" CD's are Larry Carlton - Saphire Blue, James Taylor - Greatest hits, Dire Straights - Brother in Arms, Eric Darious, Jass at the PS...I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple.

    Based on this selection, anybody have any recommendations on an XRCD, HDCD or Gold CD I should look for tomorrow?
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,163
    edited October 2008
    a_mattison wrote: »
    Ok. I thought I was in the wrong place. The show I'm at is over tomorrow at 2:00, so I'll check it out on my way out of town. Thanks!

    Hope you make it alive and we hear from you again!!! Can I have your gear.....Michelle won't want it :D.:p
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,454
    edited October 2008
    On XRCD, pick up Robert Lucas - Luke and the Locomotives.....excellent. Mofi just issued Little Feat - Sailin' Shoes on gold cd, the sound is better than the standard cd, if you like LF. On standard redbook, George Faber - Blues....excellent.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2008
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Hope you make it alive and we hear from you again!!! Can I have your gear.....Michelle won't want it :D.:p

    I don't know if you would win that fight, H9. I think Michele listens to the 2-channel rig more than I do. She has stopped watching TV when she's home and plays CD's all the time. She has become a quiet, yet full fledged audio junkie.

    I did stop in to Music Direct this morning. The outside seemed just as scary as I remembered from the day before, but after a quick buzz they let me in and it is quite a place. I realize now that they are primarily an internet business and with the location they are in and the hundreds of thousands of dollars of gear that they have, don't necessarily want the neighborhood to know what is behind the steel doors. They had well over $100k worth of gear playing some tunes while 8 or 10 guys constantly answered the phone and took orders. Looks like it would be a cool place if you are into vinyl, but they had lots of CD choices as well.

    I decided to pick up a couple Mofi CD's and was chicken to branch out into something I didn't know. Came home with a Santana CD and the Allman Brothers. I haven't heard them on my LSi's yet, but they sound fantastic in the car.

    I need to go there when I have more time because they have a rack of oddball CD's that they have marked down to just a few dollars that would give me a chance to grab a pile of music and try to branch out a little.

    I talked with Chris (last name?) for a few minutes and it is clear that the guys who work there share the same passion. He was quite interested in talking about my 2-channel system and pointed out that I had a great "sleeper rig", which was pretty cool because I have thought that myself. The gear I've put together seems to have great synergy at a relatively low $ per enjoyment level.

    I only had 15 minutes to stay there before I had to run, so hope to get to stop back and browse a little more. Thanks for pointing me to this little gem, guys!
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited October 2008
    Looks like a Saturday morning roadtrip opportunity for the RAS :D
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited October 2008
    I'm in.................
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