Are 45rpms worth the price?

Mattmiller,

I am curious which 45 RPMs you have heard.

I have found that the 45 RPM LPs that I have bought are sonically well worth the cost and inconvenience of flipping them more frequently.

Some standout 45 RPM LPs I have bought: new MoFi Bob Dylans, Mingus Black Saint & Sinner Lady and Ah Um, Coltrane A Love Supreme, Dolphy Out to Lunch.

Now, will 45 RPM sound much better if the original recording or mastering isn't very high quality? Likely not.

But for music I love and cherish (and know to be recorded well), I find 45 RPMs well worth while.

I have found that it is very dependant on the individual recording. Some 45 rpm albums sound much different than there 33rpm albums. Most, I have found, are not worth the extra money and inconvenience. You would be better off inquiring about a specific album.
There is going to be more information fed into your system and your cartridge is going to perform extra duty, does that translate to "better"? Very system dependent and very subjective.

Sonically, yes. Ergonomically, no.

I have never been one to be interested in the 45rpm reissues. Though I did buy the Bob Dylan one issued recently. I DO like the Bob Dylan ones. Partly just to get that little 'extra' sense Bob is actually in the room.

I got the Doors Morrison Hotel and was disappointed.. my original Doors sounds better.
So i am not going to chance other titles..
For Jazz I am satisfied with the 33's

So I would say for music you really love totally, and cannot get enough of, yeah, the 45's may float your boat.
For the average music you enjoy but are not totally crazy about.. no the 45's do not have enough to be worth the added cost and hassle of flipping more.

Agree with Viridian, particularly with respect to classical recordings. I particularly am bothered with recordings that split a movement across two sides; sort of reminds me of my old 8-track player. But with recordings of shorter, distinct pieces, the sonics make it worth buying, IMHO.