2. analog
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Vinyl, should I take the plunge?

I've assembled my dream system over the last 10 years, a nice mark levinson system with b&w n802 speakers. I've been contemplating the next step, vinyl, sacd, dvd audio. I've heard good vinyl and know how good it is, but have lingering questions...

1) What are some web sites that sell vinyl. I'd really like to see what I can buy. New releases? My old classics? I need to really see what's available and what peoples opinions are for the future. I tend to classic rock, jazz, blues, classical, and some new age music.

2) I have a 15 month old and am planning at least one more. Am I nuts for even considering vinyl (wife speaking)? I haven't had many problems so far, but my little guy just started walking a month ago. Have others successfully raised kids w/o major repairs to their vinyl or dream audio system? Or do I just need to accept that some bad things are bound to happen and start saving :( ?

I'm not convinced sacd/dvd audio are all that they are cracked up to be. Both from software that is available (limited) and the fact that so much of the software available is a crap shoot depending on how it was mixed/sampled. Comments for those w/ sacd?

Thanks in advance...

JJ
jjurich

Showing 2 responses by eldartford

eldartford
4,262 posts
 
For people who are already in, it makes sense to tread water. In your situation, I wouldn't "take the plunge". The money and effort needed is better expended elsewhere.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Fatparrot...You may like vinyl for whatever reason, but the notion that signal-to-noise and separation is better than digital is flat out wrong. Very wrong.

There is no straightforward way to calculate signal to noise of vinyl, but a few minutes of listening makes it clear that the analog signal, whatever its virtues, is accompanied by noise. Some LPs more than others, but it is always there. Some people (like you) can "listen through" the noise. That is a talent I never perfected.

The standard LP mastering process blends stereo signals below about 150 Hz, to avoid inherent tracking problems with vertically modulated grooves. Also, many people find a rumble filter to be necessary, and the best of these blend (rather than attenuate) LF signals. Above this LF range, I suggest that you review the separation specs of phono pickups. 25-35 dB is about as good as it gets. Actually, this is not a big problem. After all, the sound from two loudspeakers is not well separated. For that you need headphones.

It's interesting that people who reject DVD-A and SACD say that there are no discs that are any good. How would you know? You were correct once, but good discs are coming fast now.
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