Digital vs Vinyl?

[Mayhem13]

Sadly i abandonded vinyl over 20yrs ago and now after listening to 180gram pressings at a vinyl expo, i think i made a BIG mistake. Anyone starting/returning or still listening/collecting vinyl. Any help for someone returning to it with entry level/vintage turntable recommendations? I haven't felt this compulsive since high school!

[djg]

Me. I am amazed at how badly I cared for my old vinyl from the seventies. As far as equipment, I went full retard with a Dynakit tube amp, VTA tube preamp, Technics SL-1300 TT and Curt's Singularities full range speakers. At least CDs sound good through the system, and the rare undamaged LP. I have not purchased any new vinyl yet.

[johngalt47]

Although I have several LPs, I haven't listened to them in some time. I did purchase a new cartridge for my Well Tempered Record Player and one of these days I will get that set up again.

Take a look at Acoustic Sounds for vinyl.

[jeff_free69]

Never dumped my vinyl - Growing up we had a Dual and then a Garrard zero-100, then my own technics p-mount. So nothing earth shaking but decent enough so that most of my LPs are in very good condition.

Last year I bought a Pro-ject turntable and cambridge preamp. It was fun to go through the past. I've also bought some recent new releases and old resissues.

But I'm still not sold that vinyl is automatically better. A different vibe for sure. Vinyl requires limited volume and tricks to fit the medium. Low bass on most classic rock albums just doesn't exist compared to what we are used to on Cds now. And I sure didn't miss the inevitible cracks and pops (even when de-dusting on every play) .

I think its more about the source that goes on.
One BIG disappointment is a reissue of Hendrix / Experienced on heavy vinyl. it sounds harsh and tinny compared to my CDs and an original 60's copy of the LP (unfortunately scratched pretty bad). So don't assume that can't be butchered too!

But ironically digital, which should be exploiting its low noise and extended dynamic range, goes out of its way to kill it. So anything "remastered" in the last 10 years is usually butchered. Lately I've been hitting the discount bins at J and R here in NYC. They've got tons of old CDs for $2/4/6. Even if its an album with 2-3 good songs it can be enjoyable.

[evilskillit]

I'm no expert but I always gussed vinyl either sounds better because

a: You can't dynamically compress them nearly as much, its a physical limitation of the medium, the needle will not stay in the groove past a certain point.

b: people who are familiar with the sound of vinyl (rolled off highs and lack of very deep bass as well as possibly the hiss and pop) have a nostalgia based preference for it.

That having been said if vinyl does sound better for either of those reasons I'd rather have rips of vinyl to lossless digital files because it'd be a lot more convenient and there is a lot less work in the care and upkeep of files over large acetate pressings of vinyl plastic discs.

[djg]

+1. The only good thing about LPs is the cover art. Giant PITA to care for.

[Mayhem13]

I'm no expert but I always gussed vinyl either sounds better because

a: You can't dynamically compress them nearly as much, its a physical limitation of the medium, the needle will not stay in the groove past a certain point.

Exactly what i heard......1st issue pressings long before today's engineers STOMP all over the remaster. You can't get this kinda playback back with newer digital media. Japanese pressing of Dark Side of the Moon was unreal when compared to even the deluxe re-released DSOM Cd box.

I think the playback gear has something to do with it too as there's a kinda 'warmth'? missing from the CD version. Might be the missing 'sparkle' of 16-20khz or might be the way the FR is presented to the speakers for a more favorable power response. All speculation at this point except for the samples of vinyl i heard where simply amazing.

[Face]

b: people who are familiar with the sound of vinyl (rolled off highs and lack of very deep bass as well as possibly the hiss and pop) have a nostalgia based preference for it.

Other than the first couple of grooves, hiss and pop is easy to avoid if you keep your records clean and static free.

Here's my DIY table. It started out as a Rega P2, I then laminated 3" of baltic birch to the bottom, upgraded the motor, belt, cart, and applied veneer to it. Between the sand box it sits in and the added mass, it's no longer audibly susceptible to vibrations.

[jcpahman77]

Other than the first couple of grooves, hiss and pop is easy to avoid if you keep your records clean and static free.

Here's my DIY table. It started out as a Rega P2, I then laminated 3" of baltic birch to the bottom, upgraded the motor, belt, cart, and applied veneer to it. Between the sand box it sits in and the added mass, it's no longer audibly susceptible to vibrations.

DO WANT!

I have my Father's circa de 1970's Yamaha Natural Sound turntable. It has all the bells a whistles like a "play" button and auto-return feature when it hits the end of the record. The arm also offers an adjustable counterweight so it can be set to pick up the best sound without pressing too firmly into the record. It's even got a cool window to look in so that you can visually verify that it is playing at the set speed. It presently needs a belt and needle, and a pre-amp, to play records again. Sadly I never really had a collection of my own. My Father, on the other hand, could start his own museum with the recordings he's amassed over the years. IMHO you won't get a more full/rich sound than you will from a proper vinyl record. Go find U2's "Joshua Tree" on vinyl and report back to me if you've ever heard it played like that before. I seriously doubt it.

[jcpahman77]

Forgot to mention the Yami uses an Audio Technica head. When I last priced it (late 90's) the head was going for approx $150. That alone was enough to slow me down. Some day I'd like to get it out of my closet and use it again. I'm also missing a hinge or two for the lid but I figure eBay will save me for those parts.

[DjDisturbed]

Rega's new RP3 & RP1 are very nice record players for the money.
There are a couple others in that same price range that are very well built (like Music Hall) but I have never listened to them.
IMO the Rega entry level stuff is the best you can buy for the money.
Only thing with record players is isolating them from any vibrations. But they have that nostalgic static sound that just can't be duplicated.
To my ears they sound better than any digital format.

[Johnnycat]

You could always make your own turntable... this is DIY after all

[greywarden]

on eBay Timaudio sells DIY turntable parts albeit for a price. Then there's the $300 Pro-ject Essence(??) NeedleDoctor has them and I talked to the owner back and forth for a while and he actually sent me an email when he had finished loading them off the truck, haha becuase I was interested in buying one.

[Bone31]

You could always make your own turntable... this is DIY after all

This is my second turntable build. I have never gotten around to posting it. Parts mostly sourced from other TT manufacturers. Music Hall motor. Rega Arm shown, now has an Origin Live Silver arm. Platter is from a Chinese Supplier called 8Audio.

[Face]

This is my second turntable build. I have never gotten around to posting it. Parts mostly sourced from other TT manufacturers. Music Hall motor. Rega Arm shown, now has an Origin Live Silver arm. Platter is from a Chinese Supplier called 8Audio.

Nice!

Btw, I was the person who purchased the sub platter from you.

[Sydney]

I used an AR for a long time, unfortunately now they sell for "nostalgic" prices.
There are vendors of belts and turntable parts for older tables.
I still have over 1300 albums ( I have friends with multiple rooms full ).

IHMO: The 16-bit/ 44.1khz CD standard ( Red Book ) was insufficient from the inception.
Record an instrument at higher density/rate and compare the difference.

[djg]

Yeah, I had an old AR without cueing, perhaps one reason my old LPs are so bad.

[iLovPieNCake]

IHMO: The 16-bit/ 44.1khz CD standard ( Red Book ) was insufficient from the inception.
Record an instrument at higher density/rate and compare the difference.

Only by a little bit...

Face, do you have any thread about your DIY turntable ?

[Sydney]

See what I posted above.

I did .
I definitely prefer a 24/96 coding - even if Nyquist says it's overkill.

[greywarden]

I love 24/96+ recordings. And I have documented hearing to 22k at least.