2. analog
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Vinyl playback is still a secret

Over the last two years I have encountered many baby boomers with vinyl collections who did not know that vinyl was alive and well. Most could not believe that one could buy a new cartridge or replace a TT. What has struck me most is how none of these people would sell me their collection of LPs. Their records represent too many precious memories(even when records have not been played for 20 years).

My point is that mainstream consumers need to become more aware of the revitalization of analog. Articles and advertisements for analog products and accessories must be more apparent through the popular press. Sterophile, Absolute Sound, HiFi News et al. as well as websites such as Audiogon essentially reach the true believers and not the population at large.

Somehow, the popular press barrier must be breached if analog is to become truly vibrant and "cool" again.
cardiackid
wildoats
339 posts
 
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.
talos
4 posts
 
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.
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,232 posts
 
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,,
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
My easy collecting days will end eventually, as all the stashes get dumped. The folks whose TT's died ten years ago, are finally throwing out those LPs in my part of the country. Other areas went sooner... Soon, all the LPs will be tossed out. Then all that will be left are rummage sales of the deceased audiophiles.
Just as other superceeded technologies got discarded, ie typewriters... (for awhile you could find IBM Selectrics in perfect working order at thrifts for $10) Now they are gone. Turntables are a rarity also. For awhile they also were very common at the thrifts.
LPs will dry up where I live too, soon enough.
I'm getting all I can, while they last! My wild guess is that I will have another two years of good hunting here, then the great LP dumping will be a part of folklore here too.
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,232 posts
 
Elizabeth,I got lucky ,found a thrift shop that has albums,and the women that works there says she has more being droped off almost every day,I bought 3 Heifetz LPs there for 50 cents each in near mint condition,it might be due to the fact that I live in Fla which has a large population of Retirees,lots of albums from 50s to 70s every now and then some 78s show up,
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