Records and CDs


I’ve just spent a couple of weeks exclusively going through my extensive record collection playing hardly any digital media and have come to some conclusions.
Records are fun and enjoyable to work with, but ultimately for a music lover they’re a dead end. Since very few new titles are being released on records these days I find myself going through mainly old familiar performances. Then there’s the age old problem of comparing the SQ of both media which is maddening. I just today went back to streaming (and CDs.). I clearly see, for me this is the way to continue my listening habits. Records can be used as a diversion but not the main event.

128x128rvpiano

Don’t know how to compare a random LP recording with a random silver disc.

Mike placement, hall acoustics, conductor preferences with instrumental seating and balances….

Lets just agree that it has been possible to make excellent recordings since the fifties that can compare with the finest made today, and that one can obtain excellent play back from vinyl, streaming, silver disc, and analog tape

Since getting a top loading transport the ritual of choosing,cleaning, and playing the disc is very much like having a turntable. Easier but satisfying. Reading the liner notes on the tiny covers not so much:-)

Someone listens to new music? Gulp! I’m stuck in the 60’s, 70’s. And for jazz the 50’s was a hot time with everlasting hits. In fact the biggest selling jazz album of all time is from 1958. So it’s records always for me!

I finally got delivery on the Clearaudio Maestro cartridge.  So far, without having broken in, it sounds very much like the Virtuoso.  Hopefully it will improve in time.

Well, it’s been a couple of days of continual playing, and the cartridge is beginning to blossom.