I’m actually expanding my cd collection. I never had money in the 90s to buy whatever cds I wanted, so i recently bought 70 random heavy metal discs on ebay for about 100 bucks in good condition. I look forward to listening to them while I work out at home.
What’s the attraction to vinyl? Has the sound quality improved since I was a kid? Because back then it sucked.
I assume that it has.
Or are you just trying to be a hipster?
On paper, the sound of CD wins. On ears (mine), the sound of vinyl wins. Yes, CD digital audio is cleaner, but something about the distortion/noise that analog introduces just makes for a different sound.
For vinyl, I buy 6 to 20 new albums a year. One of my favorites is Charles Bradley’s (RIP) Changes. Also, nothing like hearing female jazz/standards vocalists from the 40s and 50s on vinyl. Ella Fitzgerald sounds damn fine on period vinyl.
What’s the attraction to vinyl? Has the sound quality improved since I was a kid? Because back then it sucked.
I assume that it has.
Or are you just trying to be a hipster?
On paper, the sound of CD wins. On ears (mine), the sound of vinyl wins. Yes, CD digital audio is cleaner, but something about the distortion/noise that analog introduces just makes for a different sound.
For vinyl, I buy 6 to 20 new albums a year. One of my favorites is Charles Bradley’s (RIP) Changes. Also, nothing like hearing female jazz/standards vocalists from the 40s and 50s on vinyl. Ella Fitzgerald sounds damn fine on period vinyl.
Exactly, that’s the true essence of listening to a vinyl record. Older ones especially, the full sensual experience beyond the listening itself is more special that way.
I would work on the classics myself:
- Led Zepellin - Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin I and IV
- The Who - Tommy, Who’s Next Live at Leeds
- Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Wish You Were Here, Animals
- The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street, Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed
- Beatles - Sgt Peppers, Revolver, White Album, Abbey Road
To name just a few of my preferred albums, but you can’t go wrong with anything from any of the above artists.
I second those on your list - my most often played album was ‘Super Session’ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Session
followed by Jethro Tull’s first album and early Frank Zapa
I have a friend who’s Dad has 5000 jazz albums - you could just pick one at random - maybe that’s the real advantage of vinyl, stuff only on vinyl.
For a real treat I listened to original long-haired (classical) - sounds great on vinyl - even some opera as my parents are opera freaks.
But then I’d need that tube amp, and I had multiple stylus, and now at 60+ my hearing couldn’t justify top audiophile equipment.
Sphere, did you check out Colemine records yet? If you like Leon and Nathaniel…then you must check out their web site. I have about 3 of their records and they not only put out the style you like, but they are quality pressings and recordings.
I did, thanks for the recommendation. I’m actually listening to one of their playlists on Google music right now. What A Shame by Jr. Thomas & The Volcanoes. So smooth, reminds me a little of early Bob Marley soul-ska.
Thanks!
I’ve been living in Colemine Records since you introduced me, thanks again! And you’re right about Lucas; he’s got a great thing going on. Kelly, monophonics, Ikebe Shakedown, Flying Stars of Brooklyn, really great stuff.
I’ve since added:
Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
Beach Boys, Pet Sounds
Michael Jackson,* Thriller*
I did some retail therapy and bought a sound system. I debated going with a sound bar-centric system versus component stack, and went with Sonos for the expandability and multi-room expansion capacity. So I’ve got a turntable, an amp/Connect device that incorporates it to the wireless system, a sound bar, subwoofer, and two surround sound speakers. It’s more of a home theater setup that plays records, but man, what an improvement over what I was running. I played Amy and Leon today for an hour and just got lost in the sound. Watching stereo surround sound videos on YouTube or Vemo is a totally different experience now.
Nice!!! Glad you like! Pick one on vinyl and buy it. Soul slabs is a good complication.
Also sphere. Don’t hesitate to buy used equipment. That’s how I have built my system. The audiophile community is like cars and dare I say high end bicycles. You have people with deep pockets who buy equipment and sell a year later. Audiogon and Hifi shark are what I use.
A life long metalhead here. Nowadays it’s mostly either 100% digital or vinyl, although a lot of stuff gets released on tapes. Get ready to pay fairly crazy $$$ for some collectible stuff, and deal with crazy shipping rates if buying from EU/Asia. Consider the longer term strategy for storing your LPs in a stable temp, air controlled environment - otherwise they will warp and deteriorate over time. All of my 80s vinyl sounds like shit these days, so it is mostly for re-sale. Thankfully, practically everything I want to listen to has been re-released in a properly done full dynamic range, so that I can hear every nuance of James Hetfield downpicking his way through pretty much the entirety of the first 4 Metallica’s albums 
What’s the attraction to vinyl? Has the sound quality improved since I was a kid? Because back then it sucked.
I assume that it has.
Or are you just trying to be a hipster?
Vinyl is analog. Digital is analog music converted to digital. The conversion process alters the sound. Digital music like mp3’s Are even worse than a cd as thy are compressed data. Essentially stripping the music of all the subtle nuances. It leaves you with a lifeless audio track that you can download, stream, Bluetooth, and all of that modern stuff that drives you crazy unless you spend hours organizing your music on your computer.
Sometimes, I don’t think progress is progress.
New releases on Netflix isn’t recent movies. This is the part that drives me crazy the most. I miss just getting new release movies from the wall of blockbuster video.
I’m another mossback that never left vinyl…I bought both LPs and CDs, and thought that there was something missing from the digital experience…but couldn’t quite place my finger on what…except that I put in a CD or iTunes when I just wanted background music, but put on an LP when I wanted to Listen…
For more info on TTs, albums, cartridges, all that cool stuff, go to Audiokarma…I now have 4 turntables, and a dozen different carts, and am having fun with it.
You may also wish to invest in some record cleaning apparatus…Spinclean makes an inexpensive, yet effective record cleaner…
Obviously the best way to maintain analog sound fidelity is to keep things 100% analog, but I wonder how much is lost, respectively, in the various digitizing steps. MP3s and streaming audio is obviously (I assume) the most compressed format and so a lot is lost, but how much do you lose in other conversions, like Bluetooth transmission?
My new setup is Sonos, which, for digital audio, is spectacular. I have a turntable plugged into a Connect device that wirelessly transmits that analog input to the wireless surround sound system. It sounds dramatically better and fuller than when I stream the same music, but I haven’t done a direct comparison to the same music coming from a comparable fully analog system.
Also, nothing like hearing female jazz/standards vocalists from the 40s and 50s on vinyl. Ella Fitzgerald sounds damn fine on period vinyl.
There was no vinyl in the 40s. That was the 78 rpm era with shellac discs.
Vinyl (PVC) LPs (long-play) became commercially available in the early 50s.
Those jazz vocalists recorded in the 40s were transcribed to 33 1/3 mono LPs, later transcribed to CD, and are now being transcribed to high-rez digital files.
The Great 78 Project
Vinyl is analog. Digital is analog music converted to digital. The conversion process alters the sound.
The analog-to-digital conversion process is not the problem. I can record LPs to a digital file, and the digital file sounds exactly like the analog LP.
There’s something else that goes on in the CD creation process that makes it sound “digital” - but I’m not sure what it is… mastering, mixing, compression, down-sampling?
No one has mentioned this… every vinyl collector needs a record cleaning machine. Used records definitely need a thorough cleaning, and even new records need a cleaning. LPs are pressed in a factory (not a clean room) and then put into a dusty paper sleeve.
Ultrasonic cleaning is the latest, most effective method. At the very least, you need a cleaning machine with a vacuum - air-dry or towel-dry doesn’t cut it.
What’s the attraction to vinyl? Has the sound quality improved since I was a kid? Because back then it sucked.
I assume that it has.
Or are you just trying to be a hipster?
Vinyl is analog. Digital is analog music converted to digital. The conversion process alters the sound. Digital music like mp3’s Are even worse than a cd as thy are compressed data. Essentially stripping the music of all the subtle nuances. It leaves you with a lifeless audio track that you can download, stream, Bluetooth, and all of that modern stuff that drives you crazy unless you spend hours organizing your music on your computer.
Sometimes, I don’t think progress is progress.
New releases on Netflix isn’t recent movies. This is the part that drives me crazy the most. I miss just getting new release movies from the wall of blockbuster video.
Aside from records warping when you leave them in a hot car vinyl was pretty convenient once you had the disc. I agree. Decades of just pull it out and play.
Great thread…a very very dangerous habit. I’ve been collecting for more than 35 years and have long since lost count of my records. I only wish there was time to listen to them all.
One piece of advice I’d not seen here, which I believe will be a difference maker is to invest about $200 in a Record Doctor - you can find them at Audio Advisor. It may even be cheaper. It’s the “no brand” in house version of the Nitty Gritty or VpI vacuum record systems - essentially you apply a bit of liquid cleaner (included) with a brush on this this small turntable like device, give it a quick sweep with a basic record brush, then flip it to use the very powerful vacuum which literally pulls all the dirt, grime, smoke particles, etc., out of the grooves. There are felt pads on either side of the vacuum port to protect your records, but the difference is literally night and day. This relatively cheap device will not only make your yard sale record finds sound as close to pristine as possible but also keep your stylus in better shape.
One other thing I would throw out there, is before dropping long green on vinyl reissues, etc, really scour Ebay, the internet, etc yard sales, to build on some of the basics. I see you have a Sonos system - I’ve got a similar set up with Bluesound and Tidal - I find Tidal a great way to find new music - once I really like it, I’ll start the hunt for the elusive vinyl.
Enjoy the addiction.
Someone once described the vinyl resurgence as “Buying back your youth, one flea market at a time”
YMMV
My brother was way ahead of the curve. He still has every LP he ever purchased starting at about age 14 (he’s 62 now) and must have gotten into the flea market/garage sale thing 30 yrs ago. Today he has one of the most extensive private collections you’re likely to find anywhere, not to mention a fortune on the turn table/speakers, etc.