Vinyl playback is still a secret
What an interesting thread to visit. Back when vinyl was essentially dead, yet just when the very beginnings of the vinyl revival is being hinted at. I'm very happy it came back. I hadn't had so much fun from my system in years, since I got a good turntable up and working and started buying music I love on vinyl. |
I had about 1200 albums sitting in my store room for about 15 years. CDs, Squeezebox streaming, and my NAS iTunes library kept me going for a very long time - occasionally, I spin an album or two. I resurrected my vinyl collection and bought a whole new rig to play them on (in my new retirement listening room). I ripped my CDs to an Innuos Zenith; stream Tidal; and play vinyl. All of them sound wonderful. Living in the DC area, there are numerous places to buy new and used vinyl. Used prices and quality vary, so you have to be careful. Right now, I’m listening to Diana Krall’s The Look Of Love Album. I purchased it new at the DC Audio show last week. I had no idea some “audiophile vinyl” grade albums came in 45RPM. I played my last “real” 45 about 30 years ago :-). |
I missed my favorite sale last Sunday at the local Synagogue. it was reported to me they had 15 boxes of LPs at 10 cents per album. I did however manage to score six crates of LPs (~350 Lps,60s rock and jazz) from a neighbor this past Saturday. She wanted $20.00 but I gave her $75. I do have to live with myself and she has neighbors. Now all I need is the time to listen to them all! |
Well, a month ago I posted that I was going to play my old lp's again after not doing so for about 20 years. If I didn't really get off on it, I was going to sell them. I'm not going to sell them. You'll have to pry them from my cold dead fingers (or buy them for a pittance at the estate sale since my relatives won't remember that I told them they are wonderful). Does this mean I think lp's are better than cd's? I'm still evaluating, and will go back to cd's for a stretch after this. But I think it doesn't really matter. It is a good feeling to know that I am not a total idiot. Back in the 70's and early 80's I bought a shitload of all my favorite lp's and decided to record them on tape. Then I put them away, as I started to buy these new things called cd's. Didn't touch them again until now. I didn't quite realize what exactly I had until I went through them (Boy, was that fun). Virtually a who's who of the great 60's and 70's music with a few jazz gems like "Saxophone Colussus", and "Duke and All-Star Road Band." Some of the more beat up lp's that i thought were toast, I cleaned up. Just Ivory soap and water, but I had never known about this type of fairly thorough cleaning before (I use to just put a drop or two of cleaning fluid on the brush and spin the record). I must say that the old toasted lp's regained a lot of their former glory. The thing I forgot, and now really notice is the lack of listening fatigue. My ears don't ever hurt at all when listening to lp's. I also found that the snap, crackle, and pops don't bother me much. It is true that there is something about listening to vinyl. It has been a treat. I've found myself singing along with the album, totally into it. Nothing wrong with listening to both cd's and lp's from now on. I'm glad i have the choice without having to buy anything. Instead of passing by those used record stores, I'll be popping in, but only to buy a FEW. I think i might investigate a record cleaning machine too. |
I have talked at length, i.e. more than TEN minutes, to no less than sixty people still with vinyl with no tt. Mostly on airplanes and as dinner guests, they axpress near rapture wrapped in sentiment about either the old days or about how astoundingly good my system is (and believe me brother, it ain't). They all wander off with visions of restoration but I have never heard back again of any one doing so. |
Hi There Here is another reason for vinyl,many of the cds available are remastered from 20- 30 year old master tapes ie: reissue from 2000 onwards and due to ageing tapes the high resolution shows up the faults quite badly, having copies of lps that are rarly played sound supierior, dont get me wrong i have 100s of cds but as an example my zepplin 1 lp of 18 years still sounds better than the cd version. hey i even recorded the lp onto minidisc and its better than the cd ,how strange. |
Problem I have with most of my older vinyl is I am really not much interested in listening to rock and roll anymore. The Crazy Horse stuff, CSNY; yawn..been there and all that. Floyd every now and then is OK. I've been out acquiring quite a few jazz albums; amazing how many can be found brand new these days for around ten bucks an album. As for albums for ten cents; I wish. The used records here are between a buck and 10 depending on condition/desirability. Some records are quite a bit more as you all know. Try to lay your hands on a copy of "Atom Heart Mothers".... carl |
Elizabeth,I got lucky ,found a thrift shop that has albums,and the women that works there says she has more being droped off almost every day,I bought 3 Heifetz LPs there for 50 cents each in near mint condition,it might be due to the fact that I live in Fla which has a large population of Retirees,lots of albums from 50s to 70s every now and then some 78s show up, |
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I used to argue that it is much easier to design a bad turntable than a bad CD player. Certainly at the low end of the price spectrum. A crap turntable with a crap arm and a crap cartridge will sound.... crappy. Today, I'm not so sure there are any crap turntables on the market (just so long as you steer clear of the stuff made for DJs). Not that I go around looking for crap turntables. It is true, though, that there is a price threshold that has to be broached before you can assemble a vinyl source (table, arm, cartridge & preamp) that will do the busines for you, and at that price you can purchase any one of a number of competent CD players. But only the vinyl player will let the soul of the music out. At least that is my experience. P.S. my early and limited exposure to SACD is very encouraging. |
AROC, when cd came out I abandoned vinyl and really haven't looked back until now (20+ years). When I first heard the Beatles on cd I liked the cd version better. I don't discount what those who prefer vinyl say, however, my experience when doing comparisions of the same recording on vinyl and cd, is I usually like cd better. I have preferred vinyl over poorly recorded cd, but prefer cd when it is recorded well. To me, cd is closer to live music. Nevertheless, why not give vinyl a try. I've got about 300 lps, it will be nostalgic fun to give them a spin. If I still choose cd I doubt that anyone who prefers vinyl will care. More for them, right. |
They are going up in the Bay Area, California, too. Goodwills and other thrifts have gone from their LONG standard 99 cents to $1.99. The dollar bin at one music store is getting increasingly less populated. Once the mostly $2.49 LP's are now 3.99 - $4.99's are $6.99, and so on. Plus, you don't find those mint first pressings as often for a dollar. The staff is getting more careful to weed out based on condition, pressing, etc. You can still find real values at the thrifts (I found a mint first pressing Buckingham-Nicks two weeks ago for a buck), even they are getting wise. Where I live you NEVER see 50's/60's jazz at the thrifts unless they are TRASHED. Someone is sifting through and selling them elsewhere. I have no real problem because the money goes to those that need it much more than do I need a cheap record. Still, even at $7.99 for a NM LP, it is cheaper and better than CD's, and FAR cheaper then buying some of the new re-releases. Here is one reason for us to HOPE that vinyl comes back strong. More sales will mean cheaper unit prices, eventually. |
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Well Zy1234, I don't see many new classical pressings anywhere. Much to my dismay since I am a huge classical lover. Not at the brick and mortar stores and not at the online stores. There are the occasional reissues, but usually I can find an original for less money if I wait long enough. I never see anyone going through the used classical bins. Were you referring to new pressings of classical and jazz? Or were you referrings to new pressings, period? If you mean the latter I find them all of the time. link to a post where I shop |
Wildoats - Why did you ever leave the black circle? :-) I grew up on digital and still can't believe how much more organic LP playback is versus redbook CD. The only complaint I have it why did it take so long for me to finally jump in? Evidently word IS spreading since I'm starting to see more 20-somethings (and younger?) at the used record stores and thrift shops. Amazing! |
Not a complaint. Not about the relative quality of the media at any rate. But such rivalry serves no real purpose. Another example of it is the rivalry that exists between proponents of various weapons in fencing. I favour the foil, by the way. But each style has its benefits that appeal to people of different tastes and strengths. None us uniformly superior. |
vinyl as mainstream source is dead...the current trend is toward ipods and home theatre. sorry about the truth, it hurts...however..vinyl as a audiophile source looks great !!!! there are alot of new turntables and phono stages. this is a good trend... a positive move with the audiophile community will spill over into the consumer..though i think it will be small in the consumer. i own a marantz sacd player and a sota star...the software that is available for the turntable outstrips the the sacd player. just leave some records left for me when you find a stash !!!! |
Shhhhhh, keep it a secret! Last thing I need is to have all the great vinyl gems out there being snatched from under my nose by fairweather fad jumpers! No, we have to keep to ourselves here, heehee ;) Now all you digiphiles, just go ahead and keep playing your gold and silver discs--you were right, digital IS better, so kindly drop me an email and I'll let you know to what address you can send me your old, dusty LPs =) BTW I bought my Gyro from a very kind gentleman who was clearing space and raising funds for up-and-coming digital revelations. A few days after I received the turntable, he sent me an email to see how I was getting along. If I recall correctly, his exact words were "I want it back!!" with a sobbing emoticon ;) |
I buy Lp's mainly because they are available cheeply, and my intrusts in music are mainly in jazz and classical. As for increasing its popularity- I prefer to keep it cheep. Though I would be intrusted to know where you find new pressings- well aware of their existence, I have never acutally seen them for sale. |
Elizabeth, I believe you just might inspire me to spin the black circle again. At least my old favorites. It does seem kind of crazy to let them just sit in the closet. I think I'm going to give it a whirl for a few weeks just to experience it again. Then, if it seems like too much trouble I might sell some of what I got. I don't think there is any chance ,though, of vinyl making any big comeback in the marketplace. |
If the trend continues, we might be in for a letdown. Vinyl seems to be making a comeback. There are more new pressings available and the new products available speak for themselves. Prices are likely to be effected. I am a fan of old Denon turntables and the 103 series of cartridges. I have written to Denon marketing about the increasingly active analog market, only to be ignored. Interestingly enough in this months Stereophile analog corner a Denon rep commented about how the initial alotment of Denon's DP500M turntable has been sold out. Apparently way ahead of their projections. If Denon woke up I'd be very pleased. I'm not sure if the smaller specialized manufacturers would agree, but the audiophile consumer would benefit regardless of whether they buy Denon or not. IMHO, if you're into analog, the 70's and 80's were a much better period than now, but its starting to get interesting again. See Ya, Ed |
Today on Sunday Morning (CBS) the resurrection of the turntable was as an instrument and not for playback!! Beyond the argument of sound quality or convenience, the major problem with SACD/DVD for me has been the need ti start a new disc library of software that often already own on CD or LP. When I returned to vinyl a few years ago, I immediately had about 700 records to explore and rediscover without spending an additional penny. What a marvelous adventure it has been - simply addictive. Of course I have since spent many more pennies on new records, but I am still trying to clean and catalogue all the records I own. If and when I follow the SACD route, I doubt that I will purchase software I already own unless its a must have version of somethng precious to me. When most software is released routinely as new on hybrid discs, I will probably make that decision. I think many new people, if informed and excited, will flock to vinyl because they already have the software. Reentering the hobby will inspire more purchases of new LP's as well as used records, which will provide more market incentive for record companies to release current music on vinyl as well as CD. That is good for everyone. |
A woman who I used to work with and who knew of my vinyl habit told me two weeks ago she was having a huge yard sale of items that were her 80+ year old father's. I reminded her that I had a vinyl interest and she said her father had about 300 albums from Cuba (she was born there and left when we put Castro in power), some Tango from Argentina, and some Salsa from Brasil, all vintage. Well last week she contacted me to tell me that her sister had left the albums in the house for the junk man to trash. Lucky junk man! |
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Tons of Vinyl ??....Never play it or sell it?? Then why keep it at all?? or do you just want to deprive the rest of us who do think it's worth the effort to realize excellent 2 channel playback of LP's. Sure, SACD does sound good, but Properly done Analog is just too good to even concider starting a SACD collection _IMO:) |
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I've got tons (well, lots) of audiophile vinyl that I never use. I spent heavy money on this stuff and can't see giving it away (yeah, you LOVE vinyl but only at bargain basement prices). I'll hold on to it until prices start going up or until hi-def recording arrives (e.g. SACD). I should catalog the collection someday (total about 500 LPs). Most in like new condition (except those from my "yoot" -wouldn't sell those anyway) 30% audiophile quality. Miles, Who, Black Sabath, Hendrix, Classic "Living Presence", Chesky, the whole nine yards. NOW I know why I poor! |
who cares if it ever becomes "cool" again to the mainstream. if people are too caught up in what's cool, they don't deserve the pleasure of vinyl. let them believe that the latest and greatest from the mall's ht store is what it's all about. maybe the more they think like that, eventually they'll be ready to sell their records to folks who actually get it. of course, probably the majority of records owned by these people are not something id want to own anyway... |
The New York Times has had a number of articles regarding the resurgence of vinyl and the premature announcement of vinyl's death. I don't think they care at this point. CDs are so compact and convenient. I really get frustrated when they tell me their collection is in storage or in the dank dark basement and say "you can really still buy turntables?" as if it's such a quaint idea. |
