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Tried analog yet again after decades of digital

Ok Im posting this on the digital format because Id be handed my head if on the analog side.I like many over the years decided to try analog again.Ive hauled around records for years from place to place and never really wanted to part with them,more a memory thing I guess.To the point,I purchased a VPI scout recently,mounting a benz micro cartridge to it and various phone preamps I have inside such things as receivers and integrated amps along with a stand alone phono.Bought the record cleaner machine and all the stuff necessary to use the format properly,I think.Set the table up with time and patience and dialed it in as best I could without getting anal about it.What Im finding is a format that is really inferior to digital IMO.I say this forgetting the fact I wasn't expecting much as years ago I tried the same venture with disappointment of the out come.The constant snap ,crackle pop even on unplayed records,the hassle of having to get up every 15 minute to change the side,constant cleaning,setup of the table,all the bobbles needed to make it all go.I think to even come close to digital one must spend tons of money and tons of time.Im sure there are sytems that sound incredible,but at what expense and how much time devoted to it..Dont get me wrong its fun to play music that never made it to disc but anyone thinking alone these same lines as to recapturing what was once the only game in town,think long and hard.
missioncoonery
williewonka
1,826 posts
 
Personally - I listen to vinyl when I really want to "listen" to some really excellent live music and do not mind the exercise of changing albums.

Rest of the time I put on the digital.

My current digital rig is extremely convenient...
- my entire collection is on a "RAID mirrored" NAS drive
- I access/stream the tracks from my iMac
- I control the access via my phone/tablet from anywhere in the house
- the quality is extremely good

However - the quality of my digital rig still pales in comparison to my vinyl rig, which is hardly surprising, since I've spent more on various analogue related component-parts.

But, even today's modestly priced digital gear is extremely good, especially when I think back to the analogue rig I started out with, and from what I am hearing/reading/experiencing it is getting better all the time.

My one gripe about vinyl these days is - I seem to return more defective albums these days...
- warped albums
- defective tracks - I'm talking serious track distortions
- one even had metal shavings embedded in the vinyl

Shouldn't the quality of vinyl have gone up with the advent of more precise cutting/pressing technology - or is it becoming a "Lost Artform"?

Would I trash my vinyl collection in favour of digital?
- NEVER!!!
- I still buy selected vinyl for live concerts and classical
- if a store has both - I gravitate to the vinyl section
- However, I don't avoid buying digital albums.
- but I'm really glad of the vinyl resurgence.

But please - DON'T bring back cassette tapes :-)

Cheers :-)
larkston_zinazpic
36 posts
 
It's a strange thing, but...some of the WORST quality audio I've heard came from analog. And some of these were pretty pricey setups. One was at the house of an audio manufacturer whom I won't mention. Screechy and unmusical was the simplest way to describe it. You'd think he would know better.

Yet paradoxically, it is also true that the BEST quality audio I've heard...also came from analog. While digital is "constantly evolving" supposedly, I've heard audio extracted from 20+ year old turntables that the best digital I've heard still can't touch!

The only thing I get from this is maybe you DO need to be "anal" about your setup...because it seems this is very critical. But analog was never really about convenience, which was why digital came on strong in the first place.

If I were retired, I wouldn't mind devoting a lot of time to analog, to satisfy my audio OCD. Right now I just don't have enough time for it.
tbromgard
787 posts
 
what LPs do you have - maybe I will buy them off you.
ptss
1,649 posts
 
Cleaning and care is 'mandatory' for me to fully appreciate
the intimacy of sound on records. Missioncoonery - take a look at the "LAST Factory" record cleaning and preservative system. As all old timers will know a mold (mould for Brits) release compound has been used to allow the record to release from the metal 'stamper' used to actually press the record. LAST has a special cleaner for new records to remove any mold release residue. That done I play the record(my experience is one cleaning is usually enough) to confirm it plays cleanly. I then treat it with their LAST Preservative for even "enhanced" smoothness and dynamics. "Voila"! I just won't play any record,new or used, w/o cleaning it. Dust and oil is in the air-just ask any cleaning lady!
williewonka
1,826 posts
 
Ptss - do you use a cleaning machine?

If yes - which one?

I'm now going to start looking at these

Thanks for the "LAST" tips

Thanks
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