Vinyl playback is still a secret

:-( I wish I had the source of used vinyl that you have Elizabeth. You are truly lucky. Locally, I think the Cleveland area prices have been going up.

They are going up in the Bay Area, California, too. Goodwills and other thrifts have gone from their LONG standard 99 cents to $1.99. The dollar bin at one music store is getting increasingly less populated. Once the mostly $2.49 LP's are now 3.99 - $4.99's are $6.99, and so on. Plus, you don't find those mint first pressings as often for a dollar. The staff is getting more careful to weed out based on condition, pressing, etc.

You can still find real values at the thrifts (I found a mint first pressing Buckingham-Nicks two weeks ago for a buck), even they are getting wise. Where I live you NEVER see 50's/60's jazz at the thrifts unless they are TRASHED. Someone is sifting through and selling them elsewhere. I have no real problem because the money goes to those that need it much more than do I need a cheap record.

Still, even at $7.99 for a NM LP, it is cheaper and better than CD's, and FAR cheaper then buying some of the new re-releases. Here is one reason for us to HOPE that vinyl comes back strong. More sales will mean cheaper unit prices, eventually.

AROC, when cd came out I abandoned vinyl and really haven't looked back until now (20+ years). When I first heard the Beatles on cd I liked the cd version better. I don't discount what those who prefer vinyl say, however, my experience when doing comparisions of the same recording on vinyl and cd, is I usually like cd better. I have preferred vinyl over poorly recorded cd, but prefer cd when it is recorded well. To me, cd is closer to live music.

Nevertheless, why not give vinyl a try. I've got about 300 lps, it will be nostalgic fun to give them a spin. If I still choose cd I doubt that anyone who prefers vinyl will care. More for them, right.

I used to argue that it is much easier to design a bad turntable than a bad CD player. Certainly at the low end of the price spectrum. A crap turntable with a crap arm and a crap cartridge will sound.... crappy. Today, I'm not so sure there are any crap turntables on the market (just so long as you steer clear of the stuff made for DJs). Not that I go around looking for crap turntables.

It is true, though, that there is a price threshold that has to be broached before you can assemble a vinyl source (table, arm, cartridge & preamp) that will do the busines for you, and at that price you can purchase any one of a number of competent CD players. But only the vinyl player will let the soul of the music out. At least that is my experience.

P.S. my early and limited exposure to SACD is very encouraging.

I carried a couple hundred albums around for about 25 years, finally bought a cheap dj tt for 130$and 60$ cart,liked what Iheard enough to spend 3000$About 3 months later to get a nice TT and phono preamp,money very well spent,Im hooked nice 3D sound,,