CDs Vs LPs

I like both. As a Teenager I argued with my Mom over the CD vs Vinyl debate and over time let go of most of my record collection. Now, I’m thoroughly enjoying searching for records  had as a kid, records I always wanted but never had, finding old ‘50’s and early ‘60’s Elvis albums, Original Grateful Dead Albums, 80’s Metal and so on. However I guess I differ in one aspect, I actually love the pop, hiss, and crackle of a well played or older album. Obviously not to the point where it overwhelms the music or skips etc. Over the weekend, I cleaned a bunch of recent purchases and a few records of my Mom’s that my Dad had given me. I cleaned and played her original copies of The Rolling Stones Out of Their Heads, and Between the Buttons. They are both well played, in what would be callled Good or maybe barely Very Good condition. To me, they sounded great! Every pop, tick, crackle on there having been earned in spades over the decades yet they still sounded strong and clear. I imagined my Mom as a Teenager in High School in 1965-67 spinning these herself and felt that connection to her through these old, beat up albums. To me, that’s part of the beauty of the Vinyl resurgence and preserving our musical history even if it’s not on a pristine record. CD’s obviously have their place as well, there’s some great music that was and still is only available on CD. Many of the Grateful Dead’s archival releases are only on CD, one of my all time favorite releases from one of my favorite bands, Widespread Panic’s ‘Til The Medicine Takes only available on CD so I like a balance of both. 

My system is: Parasound Halo A21 Amp,  Parasound Halo P5 Pre-Amp, Pro-Ject Debut Carbon TT, Integra 6 Disc CD player, Goldenear Triton 5 Speakers, Two JL Audio Dominion D108 Subs, Cabling made by Schmitt Custom Audio Cables with Interconnects constructed with Vintage Western Electric wire from the 40’s and 50’s

I have equivalent systems Spectral cdp (and a BelCanto PL1) vs VPI HRX rim drive with Lyra Atlas as my main cartridge. Vinyl almost always sounds more natural and real than digital. But cds, sacds and dacs have improved greatly over the last 15 years and on rare occasions, if it's digitally recorded (and what's not these days), the digital version will sound slightly better. As most of my favorite music is on vinyl, I will be a vinyl fan until the end.



 

I love them both, I dont have a decent turntable right now, but I kept my records and I have many that are still in the shrink wrap.   I just dont have the time or space right now.  I sold my Rega P3 a few years ago and will most likely get another someday but digital is so good now.  I use my NAD M51 DAC for everything but FM and with good material the sound is amazing ...... I would have to spend $$$ on a turntable and cartridge to outperform my digital playback.

We like what we like! The paradox of thinking vs. feeling!

It's my understanding ALL vinyl is manufactured from a digital imprint.  Essentially a CD.  I didn't buy my first CD player and discs until Dec 92.  Over 10 years from when they came out.  4 years later I put my turntable in the garage.  Got rid of my LP's that had been replaced w/CD's.  I own 2 LP's.  The Beatles White Album because I found one with 2(!!) sets of photos and posters and a copy of Jon Anderson's Animation because he lost the master tapes and I want to make sure I at least have a copy someway.  I have 2 systems I listen to.  One is a 77 Marantz and the other is a 79 Soundcraftsman.  With those two vintage units I get all the analog sound I love.  The Marantz drives a large pair of Yamaha NS200ma.  German made with titanium tweeters and mids and carbon fiber woofers and the Soundcraftsman push a pair of Paradigm Studio 60's.