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The BLISS of returning to ANALOG: my experience

I was an early adapter: I jumped into CD with the very first $1,000 players came out.
I bought all the CDs, replacing my LPs.
I lived this way for almost 20 years. No LPs.
Recently I was given the oppertunity to buya collection of LPs (over 900). They were cheap and I decided to take the leap into vinyl, even though I didn't have a TT, nor even a pre-pre to run to my line level preamp.
I found a Audio Research PH-1 and borrowed a TT.
I have been scouring the second hand stores and after about 4 months have nearly 3,000 LPs. (most not yet listened to)
I clean them, then play them.
Tonight I listened to Simon and Garfunkel Bookends and side two was a revelation. (a clean two eye copy 1E 1F markings)
CDs NEVER sound like this!!!
My Sony SACD SCD-777ES sits unused!
elizabeth
cylinderking_1
130 posts
 
Elizabeth Its really good to hear when a person experiments into the analog format and finds this format can sound better than digital. I not looking to bash digital, but I am looking for the best sound. The bad news is its just not as easy as putting in a CD. It takes allot of time and effort to do it right cleaning LPs, cartridge setup , gain setting , ohm setting ext ext ext , but thats not bad news, right. Thats the fun of this format. The thing that stuck out at me is the pace your buying used LPs RIGHT ON. Thats the fun part spending hours looking for that special find in used record stores, garage sales, thrift stores, E-BAY, Audiogon, new on Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc. By the way I have a SCD-1 and it probably seen 6 hrs use in the last 2 months so I know what you mean. Gotta go albums to clean for tonight`s listening session. David
elizabeth OP
6,726 posts
 
Sean, I mean the VERY first ones.
The one I bought was a Sanyo ??toaster style load. The drawer tilted out and you dropped the disc in vertically.
The very first models were all $1,000 or so. back in 1983.
Then I had a Sony 101 (crap!!!)
Then I had a new Philipps 880 the famous one talked up in Audio magazine. (used this for a looong time)
Another CDplayer in my Pioneer Ld player
Then I added a Sony ES87 5 disc.(this baby played day after day all day for 10 years for my pets when I am at work)
Then I got a Rotel transport and an Adcom DAC 600 when a cap blew in the Phil)
Then I got a used Sony ES70 5 disc to replace the dead ES87
Then I got the SACD 777 and sold the Rotel
I added a Adcom DAC700
I added a Sony ES9 5 disc.
And now
bld63
109 posts
 
Elizabeth, I have recently gone back to vinyl also. Bought a new table last winter and have already upgraded cart. & phono stage. Almost never listen to digital at home anymore. The vinyl sounds off the charts better (but it should as I just have an inexpensive universal machine for digital playback). While I am sharing your current vinyl bliss it is a guarded enthusiasm. Sometimes I feel that getting back into vinyl has only renewed my real audio hobby of shopping for and collecting music. I lost interest in going CD shopping years ago and now after buying vinyl like crazy for the last year I find myself looking for better copies of stuff I already have more than the new and different. It will be interesting to see if vinyl is still 'king' for me in a year or two or if some new format gets the music search started all over again. I really like the sound of vinyl though(even if it is a pain in the ass at times) and it does have one attribute that digital will never have, 12" album jackets are cool.
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