I was in the same boat about year and a half ago. Do I continue to buy classical reissues on SACD or go for the vinyl? I think both SACD and vinyl are an "itch" that needs to be scratched. Every audiophile seems to need to try them at least once in his or her life, then draw their own conclusion as to the viability of the format for that person. Each person is unique in that regard.
I tried SACD. But then realized I could not only buy classical reissues on vinyl (if I so wanted them at $30+ a pop), but also tap a vast potential of half a century of existing releases (ncluding original pressings) and new recordings. And with the exception of new classical recordings, you can find lots of new music on vinyl. I'm currently enjoying lots of heavy metal, death metal, black metal, symphonic metal, prog metal, industrial, hardcore, metalcore, trash, speed. And some of this stuff isn't available on CD. None of it is available on SACD. Plus I have access to lots of $1 used classical LPs in VG and NM condition. I still plan to expand my SACD collection with new classical recordings at some point. But lately I'm too entralled with vinyl to care.
Yeah, you can get great sonics with LP. But have of the fun is rediscovering your love of music, music collections, and just plain having barrels of fun exploring new (to you) stuff. I just get more mileage out of my vinyl front end than I ever could with my SACD one.
FWIW, I imagine vinyl will outlast SACD as a niche audiophile format. So you should be OK. But for a quick "acid test" you can try browsing the vinyl catalogs at the unsual audiophile mailorder haunts, e.g., acoustic sounds, music direct, red trumpet, elusive disc, etc. Only you can see if what is available is enough for you.
Plus you'll have to see how you and the drawbacks get along. Cleaning, adjustments, dealing with surface noise, flipping the record over every 20 minutes. You get the idea. IF you're only in vinyl for maximum sound quality for a handful of recordings, you may end up with a very high-end rig. Sure the records run $30 each (often $50+ for 45rpm versions). But you may end up with $6000 in hardware to play 60 records. And that's $100 per record just in equipment costs. I might consider a Meitner CDSD/DCC2 in that case and enjoy redbook and SACD in "close to analog" fashion. That might be a better return on your money. That way you wouldn't have to split your focus and budget between two front ends.
But then you'd still have the little-guy-with-a-pitchfork on you right shoulder tells you fanciful tales of "how much better this would be if you were listening to vinyl rather than digital." As Howard Stern would put it, (paraphrased) "that's an equation from hell." Especially since you have no LPs right now.
To me vinyl needs to be about the music as much or even more than the sonics. YMMV. It's a tough call. Everyone's answer is going to be different on this one. And yes, the sonics are better. Oops did I just say that? My bad, LOL! I'm not helping. Bad Aroc. Bad! ;-)
Good luck!
Aaron
I tried SACD. But then realized I could not only buy classical reissues on vinyl (if I so wanted them at $30+ a pop), but also tap a vast potential of half a century of existing releases (ncluding original pressings) and new recordings. And with the exception of new classical recordings, you can find lots of new music on vinyl. I'm currently enjoying lots of heavy metal, death metal, black metal, symphonic metal, prog metal, industrial, hardcore, metalcore, trash, speed. And some of this stuff isn't available on CD. None of it is available on SACD. Plus I have access to lots of $1 used classical LPs in VG and NM condition. I still plan to expand my SACD collection with new classical recordings at some point. But lately I'm too entralled with vinyl to care.
Yeah, you can get great sonics with LP. But have of the fun is rediscovering your love of music, music collections, and just plain having barrels of fun exploring new (to you) stuff. I just get more mileage out of my vinyl front end than I ever could with my SACD one.
and the majority of my purchases will be reissues, will there be enough new vinyl available?
FWIW, I imagine vinyl will outlast SACD as a niche audiophile format. So you should be OK. But for a quick "acid test" you can try browsing the vinyl catalogs at the unsual audiophile mailorder haunts, e.g., acoustic sounds, music direct, red trumpet, elusive disc, etc. Only you can see if what is available is enough for you.
Plus you'll have to see how you and the drawbacks get along. Cleaning, adjustments, dealing with surface noise, flipping the record over every 20 minutes. You get the idea. IF you're only in vinyl for maximum sound quality for a handful of recordings, you may end up with a very high-end rig. Sure the records run $30 each (often $50+ for 45rpm versions). But you may end up with $6000 in hardware to play 60 records. And that's $100 per record just in equipment costs. I might consider a Meitner CDSD/DCC2 in that case and enjoy redbook and SACD in "close to analog" fashion. That might be a better return on your money. That way you wouldn't have to split your focus and budget between two front ends.
But then you'd still have the little-guy-with-a-pitchfork on you right shoulder tells you fanciful tales of "how much better this would be if you were listening to vinyl rather than digital." As Howard Stern would put it, (paraphrased) "that's an equation from hell." Especially since you have no LPs right now.
To me vinyl needs to be about the music as much or even more than the sonics. YMMV. It's a tough call. Everyone's answer is going to be different on this one. And yes, the sonics are better. Oops did I just say that? My bad, LOL! I'm not helping. Bad Aroc. Bad! ;-)
Good luck!
Aaron