Thread: Nearly bought a turntable on weekend, but then...

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Post by Iain April 23, 2014 (31 of 38)
fausto K said:

in general, you're right, but then again, there is much more now in terms of audiophile pressings (anything on Speaker's Corner, Rhino USA, Mobile Fidelity, ORG, Classic Records) and also some niche labels in current electronic music produce pretty good vinyl pressings (the vinyl mastering by Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin is second to none, generally anything cut by them is good, cf. LPs released on the German experimental label PAN). Or take the recent EMI remasters of Talk Talk, cut from analogue tapes, on vinyl: definitely better than the originals!!

That's encouraging, thanks.

FWIW, I had a repressing of one of Miles Davis' titles issued by a boutique label on 180g virgin vinyl in the early 1990's. Stunning quality reissue of 'Kind of Blue' and one of my reference recordings at the time. : )

EDIT: ... and here it is:
http://www.classicrecords.com/item.cfm?item=CS%208163-200G

... also had a pristine pressing of the original release of 'Belafonte, Live at Carnegie Hall'. : )

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 April 23, 2014 (32 of 38)
AmonRa said:

I am talking about the technical possibilities of the media, not what the producers decide to do with it.

I do have a mono Callas Tosca from the fifties on CD. Singing is phenomenal and it is a joy to listen to, if one just pushes the tape hiss, distortions, lack of bass etc. and "mononess" out of one's mind. Following the printed score helps...

I think there is one sensible reason for a turntable and LP playback, and it is definitely not sound quality. There is much great music on LP in superb performances that likely will never see a high quality digital remastering.

I cannot remember the last time I was actually tempted to play vinyl, though I remain sentimentally attached to my LP collection of thousands amassed over the better part of 50 years. In my last change of residences, I meticulously packed and moved the collection, and it now continues to gather dust lining the walls of my listening room. My playback apparatus still remains unpacked after the move.

Ticks and pops never were a big issue for me due to the meticulous habits I developed to keep the disks pristine, including use of a VPI cleaning machine and anti-static treatment with Last preservative, a carbon fiber brush, etc. Inner groove distortion was also not a problem with my air bearing, radial tracking tone arm.

Good as I thought my LP reproduction was, it still pales by comparison to what we have today with hi Rez digital, including Mch. Yes, the dynamic range limitations, the bass compression, the tape hiss and groove noise were all part of the experience. But, mainly I found that the very euphonic, but artificial warmth added by the relatively high levels of 2nd order harmonic distortion was a barrier to getting closer to live sound. Many others, of course, go ga ga over this on LP and proclaim it the best sound there is. Not me, however.

Within the past few years, I heard a reviewer's vinyl setup including the extreme Onedof turntable and a tippy top high end system. The sound was good, but far from great. I could not live with it.

More recently, I played the BD-A Decca remastering of the great Solti Ring, which is also one of my prized LP sets. Through a $500 Oppo, the sound was still somewhat dated, but compared to the LP it was better by leaps and bounds.

Post by Iain April 23, 2014 (33 of 38)
Fitzcaraldo215 said:

I think there is one sensible reason for a turntable and LP playback, and it is definitely not sound quality. There is much great music on LP in superb performances that likely will never see a high quality digital remastering.

...

I can understand why you would think that, but it's all down to your music genre preference.

Generally, classical orchestral recordings are significantly more complex to record than say, string quartets or one or two acoustic instruments. When I had my TT, I was not impressed of classical orchestral recording and avoided them entirely.

SA-CD is much better suited to that musical genre, but there was no other choice than LP at that time.

Post by fausto K April 23, 2014 (34 of 38)
Iain said:



EDIT: ... and here it is:
http://www.classicrecords.com/item.cfm?item=CS%208163-200G

I wonder how the forthcoming Mobile Fidelity remaster of Kind of Blue would compare to the one you have. But of course, it will simultaneously be issued on SACD, which is preferable at any rate.

Post by The Seventh Taylor August 10, 2014 (35 of 38)
I just learned some things that surprised me:
- vinyl's resurgence hasn't quite peaked yet -- it's still rising steadily.
- lead times for vinyl pressing are apparently horrendous.

So, interesting piece here:

http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9467-wax-and-wane-the-tough-realities-behind-vinyls-comeback/

Post by Links August 10, 2014 (36 of 38)
DId you know?

August 12 is Vinyl Record Day
http://www.vinylrecordday.com/

Post by The Seventh Taylor August 11, 2014 (37 of 38)
Links said:

Did you know? August 12 is Vinyl Record Day

It's sad but frankly I have no idea where I should go in the city where I live to find a record shop any longer.

Post by Links August 11, 2014 (38 of 38)
In Canada, London Drugs has 79 stores in more than 35 major markets
throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
including its online store.
It isn't primarily a record store as the name conveys.
The audio stuff is merely one department.

"London Drugs Gets Loud on Vinyl Record Day"
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/london-drugs-gets-loud-on-vinyl-record-day-1936504.htm

Deals August 12 only
Buy any Dual Turntable and get a free LP
Buy either version of the Klipsch Deal of the Month and get two free LPs
10% off any Vinyl LP

Hardly a huge collection:
Jazz/Big Band (24)
Pop/Rock (226)
Reggae (4)
Not all stores have stock on hand for pickup, but can be ordered.

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