Why get into vinyl?

Hantra · « **on:** 9 Feb 2003, 03:28 am »

All:

I thought about putting this in the Vinyl Circle, but then I would rather have non-vinyl people responding as well.

Ever since hearing a fantastic vinyl setup at my friend Brad's, I have been really thinking about vinyl. I got into a trade deal with Brad for his old TT, and although it is a beater, it's really cool. I have been spinning a few things I picked up.

Today, I heard a Project 9, and I liked it a lot. But I also heard a CD-12, and OMG! So. . . I have every reason in the world NOT to get into vinyl. What are the reasons FOR going to vinyl?

People tell me that if you run tubes, you ought to have vinyl. Hah! I guess that's just some generalization.

Trying to make a decision.

B

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 03:49 am »

Quote from: Hantra

All:

What are the reasons FOR going to vinyl?

B

Goodwill and garage sale LP's are cheap (but often in rough shape).

You can always look for that allusive Best of Jim Nabors LP at the goodwill

There are infinite ways to tweak a TT, cartridge, isolation etc.. so your audio nervosa will always have an outlet.....

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 05:00 am »

That's a good question, Hantra: why get into vinyl? Different guys will give you different answers, but to be honest, I was damned glad to get outof vinyl. Not that I have completely, I still have records. But long ago I made one good pass thru 'em to transfer the best of them to CD-R.

Growing up for me, recorded music meant records. But I'm glad to be rid of my TT. CDs sound better, at least to me. And SACD/DVD-A sound better than both. Now I've heard some really superb 'tables over the years, and I could live with the best of them. But I'm glad I don't have to. I prefer digital sound as well as the convenience.

I could see getting a 'table again someday, I've flirted with the idea. But in the end, I just don't have enough records anymore to justify the purchase. And I have less than no interest in buying more records just to have a reason to have the TT!

No knock on anyone that lives for vinyl: it's a free country, knock yourself out. It's just that I'm not interested in going back. Been there and done it already.

hairofthedawg · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 05:05 am »

This isn't really a reason to get into vinyl, but it's why I got back into it, sentimental...it's what I grew up listening to, aside from 8-tracks. I really can't quantify the differences I hear between digital and vinyl, but I like vinyl better, even with the occasional pop and click.

Everything Marbles said is true as well, with the addition of digitizing your vinyl for ease of play creating another outlet for this hobby. It's fun and some turntables are truly works of art, both visually and sonically. Enjoy!

cheers,

Dick

doug s. · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 05:29 am »

"...People tell me that if you run tubes, you ought to have vinyl. Hah! I guess that's just some generalization. ..."
=========

i am conwinced that the only reason there has been such a renaissance in toob gear, is cuz of the advent of the cd. if things stayed analog, sure, there'd be toobs, but nowhere near the quantity & quality that ya now see, at all price-ranges.

s/s or toobs, vinyl still sounds killer, imo; tho "youngsters", not used to the surface noise, may have a hard time dealing w/it. it's a non-issue for me. in fact, it was only w/in the past couple years that i could even tolerate the sound of cd's, and only w/in the past year that i could actually enjoy it, for a price i could afford...

ymmv,

doug s.

JohnR · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 05:35 am »

Quote from: Hantra

I got into a trade deal with Brad for his old TT, and although it is a beater, it's really cool. I have been spinning a few things I picked up.

Sounds like you already are into vinyl

Beezer · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 05:46 am »

I think it's a classic battle of convenience versus quality, because sonically, vinyl whoops ass over comparitively priced digital in my admittedly limitied experience. I've had friends over multiple times and gone through the motions with CDs, SACDs, and LPs. We now know to listen to the digital stuff first, because once you go black, you don't go back!

Beez

The CD rig was a Cal Delta and smaRT DIO with bybee PS, SACD was through a modded (ps, caps and clock) entry level Sony SACD player, and vinyl was a Rega Planar 3/RB300/Dynavector 10X4 combo.

pjchappy · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 06:45 am »

Well, I would consider vinyl; however, most of the stuff I listen to simply is not on vinyl (as far as I know)

I know my favorite, Pink Floyd, is on vinyl (even the Division Bell, which came out in 1994 and is my favorite). But, as far as I know, Radiohead, Son Volt, Travis, Coldplay, and many others aren't on vinyl. I think some Beck is on vinyl. . .but, I just don't know. . .

SO. . . for me. . .no vinyl because of the limited choice in artists. Most likely, I will be changing over to a Hi-Rez format. Regardless of what people say, I bet w/in 5-years, the major releases will all be in a Hi-Rez format (either one. . .who know which will catch on) because that's the way technology goes. Also, by then, after I have get my JD (currently in my last semester

) and MBA I will be able to afford to basically replace my CD collection, upgrade my system, and be in my own place. SO. . . I'm sure I'll be in audio nirvana before I know it!

p

p

nathanm · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 07:14 am »

It's quite simple: you can play records backwards to hear the commands issued to you by the artist. How else would I have killed 5 school children in 1989?

Oh, also you get the sentimentality, the larger cover art, the additional tweaky rituals involved, the smell, the cheap used vinyl (but not THAT cheap), and last but not least, and a whole new world of obsessive tweaks await you in vinyl land! And you thought isolating your CD player from vibration was fun! You ain't seen nuthin' yet!

eric the red · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 08:49 am »

not to mention most TTs being sold these days are manual which means if you fall asleep with a record playing and wake up 8 hours later your stylus is cooked (I seem to remember my roomates doing that to mine many moons ago

)

Brandon B · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 09:32 am »

Because if you get into vinyl, you look like this:

And it doesn't shrink like cotton.

BB

Mathew_M · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 09:58 am »

Vinyl is just tres' cool but a pain in the ass. I go through phases where all I listen to is vinyl and then get frustrated because of crappy surface noise, distortion whatever and go back to digital. The thing is; I keep coming back to it. My digital rig is just as transparent, detailed etc. but after awhile becomes fatiguing. There is a warmth and musicality to vinyl that isn't achievable with the cd format. Just find an inexpensive turntable with a good cartridge (you don't want to damage the vinyl) and get a GOOD phono section (very important) and have some fun. If you like classical there is tons of it out there in excellent condition that just blows away the cd counterpart. Wait until you hear a good mono recording; better yet reproduced monoaurally with the right preamp; audible illusions has a good phono and mono section and be blown away. I have a Benny Goodman mono record that literally sounds like you're peering into the recording itself. Again, don't worry about trying to replace your digital rig; that WILL drive you nuts; just have fun.

Jack Keck · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 11:50 am »

I'm a cd man. No turning back. I perfer the convienience and the CDs soud fine to me.

That said, I still have my Rega 2, and it ain't goin' anywhere. I still have vnyl to transfer to CD-R whenever I finally get around to it.

The only reason I can see for anyone to get into vnyl, and I think it's a god one, is that one can use the old, cheap, and mayb bnged up vinyl to gain the muscial education that one SHJOULD desire before spending tons of money on CDs or whatever other media he wishes to collect. Wouldn't it be better to spend $10 on four or five records by an artist or composer to find out if you like that artist/composer tan to buy that many CDs, asuming they're new CDs, to co to that same conclusion?

If you do decide to buy a TT, get the best one you can. A good turntble makes a difference. I heard it in my own sytem when I upgaded to my present TT. The amp, speakers, and the cartridge was the same model, but the difference that TT made made the whole system sound totally different.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 01:42 pm »

Quote from: pjchappy

Well, I would consider vinyl; however, most of the stuff I listen to simply is not on vinyl (as far as I know)

I know my favorite, Pink Floyd, is on vinyl (even the Division Bell, which came out in 1994 and is my favorite). But, as far as I know, Radiohead, Son Volt, Travis, Coldplay, and many others aren't on vinyl. I think some Beck is on vinyl. . .but, I just don't know. . .

p

Pink Floyd's DSOTM will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a vinyl re-release. It WAS $18.99 pre-ordered through Acoustic Sounds, but price went up to $25. Both Radiohead and Coldplay are released on vinyl.

You ARE right that those guys who LIMIT themselves just to vinyl, limit their musical choices

doug s. · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 02:50 pm »

eric, this one's for you!

http://www.expressimoaudio.com/lift/index.html

beezer, yust wait 'til ya upgrade, to see how good winyl *really* sounds!

my modded cj walker rig was a li'l better than the rig yure using, but nothing huge. when i got a used oracle rig for $1250, the improvement was *not* subtle. even the wife noticed.

regards,

doug s.

booda · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 03:45 pm »

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would consider it. . . but. . .

Well, I would consider vinyl; however, most of the stuff I listen to simply is not on vinyl (as far as I know)

I know my favorite, Pink Floyd, is on vinyl (even the Division Bell, which came out in 1994 and is my favorite). But, as far as I know, Radiohead, Son Volt, Travis, Coldplay, and many others aren't on vinyl. I think some Beck is on vinyl. . .but, I just don't know. . .

Redtrumpet.com has several new artists such as Coldplay, Radiohead, etc. Also check out ebay or gemm.com.

JoeM · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 03:50 pm »

My first post here, just yesterday in fact, was in reply to another age old question "tubes v solid state". Analog v Digital. Original it ain't, but interesting none the less. Both mediums are quite enjoyable IMO. If I had to live with one or the other exclusively, it would be vinyl. Why? Simply, because I prefer the way it sounds. There is no question that I relax into the music much more easily while listening to vinyl. Also, to this day, I enjoy the package alot more despite its size and bulk. Never have liked those little booklets and jewel cases. Now, as I grow older the convenience of digital may alter my preference. For now however, vinyl is king in this household.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 04:13 pm »

Quote from: JoeM

Never have liked those little booklets and jewel cases. Now, as I grow older the convenience of digital may alter my preference. For now however, vinyl is king in this household.

Joe,
I have a FRIEND who's old (but it's not me, honest). This friend (again, it's not me) has trouble reading that teeny, tiny print on those teeny, tiny pages in those teeny, tiny booklets.

cjr888 · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 04:19 pm »

I'm in the non-vinyl camp, but one that wishes he didn't have enough reasons not to.

Reasons for: I love the sound, I love the fact that I can walk into tons of places and walk out with enough music to keep myself busy for weeks and weeks for close to nothing. Same goes for garage sales, auctions, and what not. I love the fact that on the cheap I can pick up a ton of albums and artists I've never heard before, or for which the album is no longer pressed or available on any medium -- that would honestly be the greatest joy for me. I love to try out music that's new or completely foreign for me. Regardless of the medium, to be able to do that on the cheap keeps you trying new things, because you're its not like you just spent a $200 to get ten albums all of which you may despise. For $200, I could walk into a store and buy enough vinyl to keep me busy for a _long_ time. Breaking down that hesitation that keeps you from trying _anything_ in the music world would keep the pure music aspect going for literally forever.

Reasons against: I don't mind minor inconveniences, say in comparison to the digital world at all for primary listening. Thing is I also listen to music in the car, at work, etc. So for any new vinyl I purchase it means that I have to do a vinyl -> CDR transfer, or also purchase a CD copy. That to me is inconvenience and cost, because I would not be able to live with just one medium. I could and probably would deal with this though if the one factor that's kept me from buying a new analog rig didn't exist. What's that?

I'm a renter. I know for example that the home I'm living in now will be sold soon and I'll be looking for a new place. One of my least favorite things in the world is moving. One of my others is not having enough space for living...or having one aspect of your life completely dominate your living space.

I know myself with music, and I know what I'm like when I walk into a CD shop, and walk out with stacks of CDs. In the vinyl world, with the ability to cart home gigantic stacks of records for close to nothing, with the ability to acquire people's entire collections for close to nothing, I know that realistically within 6 months I'd have 4, 5, 10 thousand records in my house...

The thought of the moving process, the thought of potentially not having the space in a new place, and the thought of needing a dedicated room to store it all is just not something I'd like to deal with now.

When I go through with a home purchase....watch out though.

Beezer · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Feb 2003, 04:27 pm »

Doug, the vinyl rig has been upgraded! I now have a Nottingham Interspace TT with the OL-1 arm and Dynavector cartridge. I also have a Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge on its way. When my friends and I were doing the comparisons, I had a CJ PV10B preamp which has also been upgraded to an AI M3A. Of course, that benefitted CD playback also. You are right that the listening pleasure is even higher. My Phillips SACD1000 has been sent to Supermods, so when it gets back, a new round of fun will begin.

I'm glad to have both. My first inclination when buying music is vinyl, but often it just isn't available. I love going to garage sales and thrift stores and finding mint LPs for $1 or less. If you're a classical fan, these places are absolute gold mines. You do need some patience to sift through the crap - Ray Connif and Jim Nabors, Christmas music galore, and multiple forms of musty spore-ridden funk wafting up from the boxes. In the Bay Area, we have Ameoba Records, which has endless amounts of LPs to look over, new and used, at reasonable prices for the most part. Current music is pretty limited, but some is available as mentioned in earlier posts.

Beez