Synphonic progressive mail order/Greg Walker

I purchased some CDs from him back in late November on Discogs. He's still active on there. Maybe you can try sending a message through Discogs?: https://www.discogs.com/user/progwalker

Edited by progaardvark - January 27 2022 at 04:03

Thanks for the responses. Looks like Greg has gravitated to Amazon unfortunately. Goes by the name of Prog Heaven. Prices are much more there. I have a large list of hard to find cds from his synphonic online vending site of cds that were stolen I’m replacing. Much better selection and prices at synphonic yet as both of you pointed out, I do not believe he is still selling this route. He makes more money at Amazon yet loses loyal customers. Looks like the good old days of internet savings are weaning. I still have the tried and true lasersedge I buy from. Ken told me he will continue this route until his last breath, thank God and the Prog heavens.    He does not have the releases I’m referring to unfortunately. Any other vendors such as Ken? Thanks again.

Edited by PaulG - January 27 2022 at 10:12

I hear you. I too do not buy from Amazon, at least not music. I grew up with vinyl and miss that analog warmth. I buy all releases from Ken @ Lasers Edge or directly from the band/record company. I’m finding some releases I had from the 2000-2010 time period very difficult to find. Some are easier to find on vinyl. I remember when they were saying cds would take vinyl out. Glad that never happened as I want to get back into vinyl and record to cd for convenience and the hobby of recreating a recording to another medium. As a teenager cassettes came out and I got into recording my vinyl collection to chrome and metal cassettes. This was extremely satisfying. I want to do the same with transfer to cd. Although you don’t buy cd I find the medium has very good sound quality with the correct equipment. I agree nothing beats vinyl for packaging satisfaction and that wonderful analog warmth, again with proper equipment. Really I’m comparing apples to oranges as both have their advantages especially with how far technology has advanced. I remember them saying cds would be taken out by streaming. Glad that hasn’t happened. Do not prefer streaming and will always want the medium in my hand. Cds and vinyl sound so much better too. The artwork that comes with a cd or album can not be replaced either. I also want to support musicians in the best possible way. Progressive rock musicians do not make a lot of money in general as they are doing this for the art unlike most of the current popular bands pumping out crap. Just got a new set of Focal Stellia headphones. First set of quality headphones since a teenager. Enjoying then and will be buying a seperate headphone amp and DAC next. Live in a condo where speakers are voodoo unfortunately. I guess I’ll wait and see if Mr. Golden can get these releases. He told me many of them are not being issued currently so I will have to wait for reissue. To bad it looks as if Greg went to the dark side with Amazon.

Well I never stopped buying LPs, just slowed down that's all. I grew up with LPs/records and cassettes, which the latter are making a nice comeback. I think next year there will be a couple new higher end decks on the market so I might have to jump back in. I probably have 500 cassettes both albums and mix tapes I made all on high end chrome II and metal IV tapes, all Sony, Maxell, TDK and Denon.

Good news folks. Greg Walker is doing fine and Synphonic is still in business. I just got an email from Greg to send my selections. Good to know he did not go to the dark side with synphonic. Same excellent prices and selection. I’ll let you know what he ends up having in stock as many of these releases are either difficult, super expensive elsewhere or impossible to buy new currently. Long live progressive rock.

What kind of turntable did you buy catcher. I’m spent a ton on the headphones and though they sound great I need a dedicated headphone amp all the more. When I was a kid my pioneer had a headphone system that shared the preamp and main amp of the receiver. I had wonderful power and bass and treble control. Although electronics have come a long way some things like integrated receivers are not comparable to the good old days. I never dreamed a good set of headphones, closed back would cost so much. The tube headphone amp I’m considering will have me penny less for audio equipment for the rest of the year.

PaulG wrote: What kind of turntable did you buy catcher. I’m spent a ton on the headphones and though they sound great I need a dedicated headphone amp all the more. When I was a kid my pioneer had a headphone system that shared the preamp and main amp of the receiver. I had wonderful power and bass and treble control. Although electronics have come a long way some things like integrated receivers are not comparable to the good old days. I never dreamed a good set of headphones, closed back would cost so much. The tube headphone amp I’m considering will have me penny less for audio equipment for the rest of the year.

Edited by Catcher10 - January 27 2022 at 18:49

A couple of months ago, I ordered some music from scope ( UK) , global amount round 100 euros. In Belgium, since july 21, one has to pay VAT for any purchase out of CE area. ( VAT 21% in Belgium ), . (Before 1 July 2021, one had to pay VAT only for value greater than 22 euro). Most of music sellers declared the goodies values < 22.
A few days after ,I i got the bill from FEDEX with an extra fee of about 25 euros
Thanx to the brexit , purchasing music from UK has become unpayable... same for ordering from Greg

^ I hear ya, shipping costs for me to buy from the UK (Kscope, Burning Shed, band sites...) has become unsustainable. Has nothing to do with a political being.......Logistics costs have gone thru the roof this past year.

Nice vinyl collection catcher. I miss cranking the volume up as I’m condo’d. Don’t even have my main system active. The Focals are nice. As I said very expensive. Definitely bit the dollar with purchase. Im looking at a couple different headphone amps. Miss the old receivers from the late 70’s that shared the main amp with the headphones. The preamp was fully functional as to be able to use bass and treble. A different era. I’m looking at tube amps now. The Woo Audio’s are nice. Maybe the WA22. Sorry to hear of the astronomical taxes. Sean, I’ll ask Greg to look in his spam box for you and anyone else having problems when I send him my order.

Edited by PaulG - January 29 2022 at 09:01