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Why do YOU love Vinyl/or hate vinyl

I just responded to the thread on how many sources do you have ( shotgunning tonight) and got me wondering why I love vinyl so much? Have a very good digital side on both my main system and my headphone system as well that was set up for Redbook playback (headphone system) only utilising my vast 1,000 CD collection, enjoyed it for about a year, added a turntable and haven't used it since. My love of vinyl has been with me for 55 years, buying and playing, setting up my tables , matching preamps and enjoying the fruit of my labor. I believe my love of vinyl is a simple one, it stemmed from the hands on, need to tinker and adjust that I was born with, it's a very physical attraction that I just can not resist, it satisfies a lot of needs for me and in some way is that mistress that I maintain. My turntable is massive and so easy to look at, I can touch it and get more out of it, I can read about the artist and get info while I listen to an album, I can swap out a cartridge and change the tone and in the day the album covers served as a rolling tray to roll a joint. I love vinyl, but absolutely understand while others don't. I also envy people like uberwaltz that have and use so many sources, wish I could. What say you?
tooblue
brettmcee's avatar
brettmcee
218 posts
 
I love the warmth, spatial quality and ‘syrupy contours’ that come with vinyl. I also love the quiet, clean, predictable, ease-of-playback that digital provides.

Wanting the best of both worlds I decided to give reel-to-reel tape a try. Wow!

Sibilance issues of vinyl and the harshness of digital have abated. Tape is not as romantic sounding as vinyl nor is it as noise free as digital. But it just has this natural contrast and open space to it, like a clear transmission of what was recorded—on tape—without conversion to another medium (cd or vinyl). The tape medium is the perfect size, just about book sized and if you are carful it’s way less fragile and finicky than vinyl and not as cold and detached as playing a digital disc.

Vinyl is fun but too much to worry about in setting up your table, cleaning everything all the time, worrying about static and being super careful handling the records themself, hurts those of us with OCD. Too much to worry about to know you are getting the best experience possible. 

Plus with tape you pretty much have to listen to at least a whole side each time you put one on. It’s just good for the tape and good for your soul!

:-)
gochurchgo
892 posts
 
I love physical media. But with the music I listen to I prefer vinyl. Having had cd’s and cassette in the past, they always seemed to me to be the “convenient” alternative to vinyl though both can sound great.

Plus the music I love Pretty never gets the 24/192 treatment which is fine as a lot of it is fringe music and things that scare the straights.


pygmies
14 posts
 
My love for this pass time is that you are free and afforded many levels of involvement in music reproduction.Pick how you wish to fly! I love yinyl myself and I loce digital as well.I get as involved as I please.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,249 posts
 
Skyscraper is right about streaming although I think there are now a couple of sources that stream high res files the vast majority of it is compressed files which to every audiophile's ears sound crappy. But, if you download high res files to a hard drive it is a much different story. There are times where the computer sounds better than the vinyl particularly with digital recordings. You should hear a high res copy of the Trinity Sessions. 
I hate CDs. They are a crappy collectible with crappy cases that crack when you sneeze. Little paper folders you can't read that tear when you try to get them out. Records are a much different situation. The Record cover is a canvass for great art work. Just ask Neon Park (Weezles Rip My Flesh, Little Feat.) They feel great in your hand and you can read them easily. I think they look great neatly stored. Yes the price is high but in most cases the quality is much better than what we use to get (just stay away from Rhino records, terrible. Even the 180 gm ones.) I tend to buy analog recordings on vinyl, anything recorded before 1980 on standard labels. Then there is the cartridge rolling:)
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Mike
Are you serious on the compressed files streaming?
Sure if you stick to iTunes or Spotify that is what you will find.
But no serious listener stops there
Tidal, Deezer or Qobuz ALL have hirez streaming 24/96 and 24/192 with Qobuz being the best of the bunch so far imho.
You have to pay to play of course $ 20 to $24 a month depending on plan but then unlimited access to millions of albums.
I have already said my piece on analog playback but streaming is NOT to be dismissed so lightly today I am afraid.
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