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higher end jazz vinyl: where to turn?

I'm a lifelong jazz listener but only new to entry-level hifi, as presently marketed--by which I mean Rega p3-24 turntable, Linn Classik amp, Vienna Acoutics Mozart Grand Speakers, and a lot of heart.

Anyway I have a choice set of old ECM records, Miles Davis records, and so forth, that I bought in the early 1980s. Most of them have some noise and crackle now and again--which I largely discount as the distinguished marks of age and memory. Nonetheless a clean sweet classic jazz LP played at substantial volume, even through a low midfi system like mine, is a beautiful thing. Beauty is a rare thing, I read somewhere. And it makes me wonder about upgrading the vinyl.

So here are questions:
1. Are these $50 classic content and such rereleases of Blue Notes really so good? Including worth the effort of getting up and turning the 45 over in middle of a strong Coltrane solo-a double indignity, to a genius and to the lazy.

2. What to say of all these 180g and 200g re-releases at higher prices versus the $10-20 unopened recent copy meant for mass market (or as massy as the jazz list allowed/allows)?

3. I'm using Disc Doctor record cleaners on my old and newer vinyl, but wonder how great the different is to move to a machine, say vpi 165?

4. I'm just a poor righteous teacher so I'm a bargain hunter: an Inexpensive Audiophile down with the feel of the Expensive Winos aestheticist mentality.

5. Thanks!
paanders

Showing 2 responses by hevac1

hevac1
812 posts
 
Music Matters is putting out some great stuff as well as Analog Productions. I would also look at the Japanese market. Some of the older Blue Notes are more affordable, as well as some newer releases. They sound pretty nice also.

I think all records should be cleaned. Just because it is new does not mean it will be clean of all debris from being pressed. I just opened a couple of Friday Music and some other albums that looked like thay were handled by someone with gloves that had traces of talc powered on them or dusty hands. You could see the hand outline across the album. They looked like crap. Once cleaned all was well.

Get a VPI 16.5 to clean your records it is a nice machine for the money. I have no problems with mine. IMHO.
hevac1
812 posts
 
Paanders

Most used record stores will only visually rate records. I usually only purchase records that are Play Rated or sealed over the internet, there are exceptions but very few. I buy from local stores if they offer a 100% money back guarantee, again with some exceptions. Some rare items in not so good condition can be marked asis if they are not asking lots of cash for them. Mono records can look bad and sound bad with a stereo cartridge but sound great with a mono cartridge. They to me are worth the risk.
It is better if I have to bring a record back to the store in my travels than to pay return shipping. Plus I may find more records to buy while I'm there.
What a vicious circle!

BTW play rated only means that they put the needle down in some areas and listen for a few seconds or they listen to the hit songs on the record to rate it by that. Not too many if any stores would do a full listen to every record they sell. This does not guaranty that their opinion is the same as yours for a VG++ record even if they did a full listen anyway. This also holds true for persons selling their private collection.

Used records are a crap shoot.
ThatÂ’s also why most stores Give little money for used records and have lots of dollar bins.
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