Vinyl playback is still a secret

I have talked at length, i.e. more than TEN minutes, to no less than sixty people still with vinyl with no tt. Mostly on airplanes and as dinner guests, they axpress near rapture wrapped in sentiment about either the old days or about how astoundingly good my system is (and believe me brother, it ain't). They all wander off with visions of restoration but I have never heard back again of any one doing so.

Well, a month ago I posted that I was going to play my old lp's again after not doing so for about 20 years. If I didn't really get off on it, I was going to sell them.

I'm not going to sell them. You'll have to pry them from my cold dead fingers (or buy them for a pittance at the estate sale since my relatives won't remember that I told them they are wonderful).

Does this mean I think lp's are better than cd's? I'm still evaluating, and will go back to cd's for a stretch after this. But I think it doesn't really matter.

It is a good feeling to know that I am not a total idiot. Back in the 70's and early 80's I bought a shitload of all my favorite lp's and decided to record them on tape. Then I put them away, as I started to buy these new things called cd's. Didn't touch them again until now. I didn't quite realize what exactly I had until I went through them (Boy, was that fun). Virtually a who's who of the great 60's and 70's music with a few jazz gems like "Saxophone Colussus", and "Duke and All-Star Road Band."

Some of the more beat up lp's that i thought were toast, I cleaned up. Just Ivory soap and water, but I had never known about this type of fairly thorough cleaning before (I use to just put a drop or two of cleaning fluid on the brush and spin the record).

I must say that the old toasted lp's regained a lot of their former glory. The thing I forgot, and now really notice is the lack of listening fatigue. My ears don't ever hurt at all when listening to lp's. I also found that the snap, crackle, and pops don't bother me much. It is true that there is something about listening to vinyl. It has been a treat. I've found myself singing along with the album, totally into it.

Nothing wrong with listening to both cd's and lp's from now on. I'm glad i have the choice without having to buy anything. Instead of passing by those used record stores, I'll be popping in, but only to buy a FEW. I think i might investigate a record cleaning machine too.

I missed my favorite sale last Sunday at the local Synagogue. it was reported to me they had 15 boxes of LPs at 10 cents per album. I did however manage to score six crates of LPs (~350 Lps,60s rock and jazz) from a neighbor this past Saturday. She wanted $20.00 but I gave her $75. I do have to live with myself and she has neighbors. Now all I need is the time to listen to them all!

I had about 1200 albums sitting in my store room for about 15 years.  CDs, Squeezebox streaming, and my NAS iTunes library kept me going for a very long time - occasionally, I spin an album or two.

I resurrected my vinyl collection and bought a whole new rig to play them on (in my new retirement listening room).  I ripped my CDs to an Innuos Zenith; stream Tidal; and play vinyl.  All of them sound wonderful.

Living in the DC area, there are numerous places to buy new and used vinyl. Used prices and quality vary, so you have to be careful.  Right now, I’m listening to Diana Krall’s The Look Of Love Album.  I purchased it new at the DC Audio show last week.  I had no idea some “audiophile vinyl” grade albums came in 45RPM.  I played my last “real” 45 about 30 years ago :-).

the way vinyl will be great again is if they get rid of the digital mastering processes.   just like a CD on vinyl.