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How do you avoid buying new LPs that sound just like CDs?
Most new albums and reissue albums I bought at around $20 sound pretty much like CDs, or even worse.
Some notable exceptions are Norah Jones' Come away with me. It sounds real nice, much better than CD; LP's Lost on You sound pretty good too; Eminem's LP sound good too.
Most LPs that I bought at $40 or over always sound very good. I have two Patricia Barber's LPs and they sound much better than her CDs, but her LPs usually cost $40 or more. Why can't record company make LPs that sound like Patricia Barber's and price at around $20? For me, $20~30 per LP sounds right and I can easily buy them. But for more than $40, I hesitate. Overall, I've bought about 100 new/reissue LPs at around $20 and about 20 at $40 or more over the last 10 years (in addition to about 5K used records that I've collected over 40 some years).
So, when you buy new or reissue LPs at around $20, how do you avoid those with sub par sound quality? Or, if you like certain musicians and songs, you just buy them without concerning the sound quality?
Some notable exceptions are Norah Jones' Come away with me. It sounds real nice, much better than CD; LP's Lost on You sound pretty good too; Eminem's LP sound good too.
Most LPs that I bought at $40 or over always sound very good. I have two Patricia Barber's LPs and they sound much better than her CDs, but her LPs usually cost $40 or more. Why can't record company make LPs that sound like Patricia Barber's and price at around $20? For me, $20~30 per LP sounds right and I can easily buy them. But for more than $40, I hesitate. Overall, I've bought about 100 new/reissue LPs at around $20 and about 20 at $40 or more over the last 10 years (in addition to about 5K used records that I've collected over 40 some years).
So, when you buy new or reissue LPs at around $20, how do you avoid those with sub par sound quality? Or, if you like certain musicians and songs, you just buy them without concerning the sound quality?
22 responses Add your response
FWIW the New West label is very good and sell for around $20.00 and have some great artist to pursue, take a look at their 20 Anniversary 6 album box set, best $99.00 I have spent in a long time. Enjoy the music@tooblue I got it out of curiosity. Yes, indeed the sound quality is very good. Can recognize only a few artists. Only listened to 1 LP so far, but I like the mix of music. thx |
I have not thought about Japanese pressing. I will look into it. Spoiler alert: not cheap!Ouch! Right, it is a bit over my price range. But I will give a try for at least one album to find out how good they are. Close to Sheffield Lab records? Or Direct to Disc recording? Reading the OPs initial post here, sounds to me like his issues lie elsewhere in his system. My cds sound vg to great and I have 500+ of themIf it is, I am willing to find out. Actually my Esoteric SACD player plays CDs pretty good too. But not as good as well recorded/mastered/pressed Vinyl. System dependent for sure. What record player, arm, cartridge, phono preamp, cables, speakers...I have three turntables: Clearaudio Bluemotion(Satisfy Arm+AT150mlx), Garrard 301 with two arms (Ortofon RS212+DL103r, RMG309+SPU), and Denon DP80 (DA401+DL303). All set up by myself. I will check overhang, azimuth, vtf again, but I'm sure I did them right. Phono pre is MAGI Phonomenal. Speaker is Gershman Grand Avant Garde. Cable is ELF's Solid Core Super Helix Gold cable. Anyway, audiophile LPs sound just as good as always have been. The problem is that they don't have access to the original analog tapes of the music so, they source from cd's and maybe digital downloads. Gee, I should have known better. That answers the whole problem. As far as I recall, I did not experience SQ issues that much with those new and reissue LPs I bought up until 5 years ago. But since then, I was very disappointed with some albums. I was looking at their labels, and they were WaxTime and Jazz Images. I've been spending $ like crazy for new turntable (DP80), new plinth (DK2300), new arm (DA309), new cartridge (Ortofon MC20 super), and for LPs over the past month. I guess I need to slow down a bit and enjoy music from my own collection rather than adding new ones. Thanks for all. |
Regarding the European labels mentioned (there are others also), they are what are called "public domain" record companies. Due to the nature of Europe's copyright laws, a lot of music, such as 1960's jazz, is now in the public domain so, anybody can make and sell records of that music. The problem is that they don't have access to the original analog tapes of the music so, they source from cd's and maybe digital downloads. The pressings themselves are very good to excellent and the price is cheap but, it is digital sound on vinyl. Buyer beware! |
When nothing less than the best sound quality will do https://better-records.com/collections/new-arrivals Spoiler alert: not cheap! |
Original 70’s Japanese pressings of American released are simply amazing and made from the mastertape, but using virgin vinyl formula. It’s probably a cultural difference, but i must admit that most of the old 7o’s Japanese LPs are still like new (vinyl and sleeve) while American LPs are scratched and dirty (much rarder to find even an NM) |
For $20-30 you can buy ORIGINALS instead of reissues.Right. I would much better go for used originals which is in VG+ or Mint- as long as I can get them at under $30 shipped. Occasionally I buy new albums. Diana Krall, Taylor Swift, Kasandra Wilson, Gregory Porter, Cecile Salvant, LP, and Robert Glasper are some of the artists that I bought over a couple of years. Most of them are OK. Cecile Salvant's For One To Love is real nice. |
Yes, I’ve bought a few from Discogs. Most of the vinyl’s rating seem to be accurate. If not, I could get an easy return. Sometimes I feel like going to a record store and buy either new or reissues. Most I bought Blue Note reissues were pretty good. But Kamasi Washington’s THE EPIC was an epic failure. All three LPs in his album sound just dull and I can’t stand listening to. I’ll give a try on the New West label. I did not know the label. Some bad experiences recently I had with: WaxTime, Jazz Images. There seem to be tones of recording labels that I’ve never heard of before coming from EU. I’ll avoid those labels whole heartedly. I guess I will do some more homework rather than piking things like cherry picks. I would not avoid all LPs from digital mastering tapes. It means avoiding all LPs made since early 80s. Many of them are still pretty good. Anyway, I was naive to think all new or reissues would be better than CDs, but it is not. Thanks for all. |
Just DYDD as there are some very good new releases out there and follow the advice already given. I have found myself in the same situation as I was just buying to buy based on the onvees (cajun for wants) and have been culling my collection as of late. FWIW the New West label is very good and sell for around $20.00 and have some great artist to pursue, take a look at their 20 Anniversary 6 album box set, best $99.00 I have spent in a long time. Enjoy the music |
@ihcho just keep researching reviews for the vinyl that you want. So are never going to sound good because they were never recorded well or crappy pressing. I shop a lot a Acoustic Sounds because of their in house pressing plant and a huge pre owned vinyl vault. Their great with returns if theirs an issue with the pressing or quality. Discogs is great too. Start looking at reviews is my advice. Enjoy! |
I'm not sure if digital recording has anything to do with it. My friend works for very large recording studio, known for many highly praised recordings, that dumped analog recording (Studer) decades ago. The more important issue is compression, necessary to be able to play music with smaller speakers (boomboxes). It sounds like we need two different medias - one for audiophiles and another for the rest. At this point I would assume that most of people buying LPs are audiophiles, taking into consideration how impractical they are. So, I would expect much less compression on LP than on CD. Do I make sense? |
In my case I only buy vinyl from analog sources.Where? Do you have a link? The sound quality of many releases, vinyl and digital, is often discussed at the Steve Hoffman Music Forums.Great. Good know know. Stop buying newly released music on LP or reissues of music made after the 80's.Probably that's where I am heading into. Music is way ahead of SQ.I agree. Sometimes I'm getting into too much of HiFi SQ and neglect the music itself. However, in classical music, you have hundreds to choose from for the music you like, and most times the best SQ matters. |
The sound quality of many releases, vinyl and digital, is often discussed at the Steve Hoffman Music Forums. (1) Music Corner | Steve Hoffman Music Forums |
