OT - Anyone Into Vinyl?

CTMike

No, not that kind you perverts. 

I am test driving a Pro-Ject Perspective turntable through my Anthem MRX720 and driving my Paradigm Studio 100 front speakers. Man I love the sound from vinyl. Started out with Tull’s 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition. Absolutely crystal clear sound even at reference levels, well, until Val came in and yelled at me to turn it down. 

https://youtu.be/txH9fFuspjc

https://youtu.be/HU1Ovl65xJM

SemolinaPilchard

Yes. I remember when CD's came out and we loved the clear sound, no popping or hissing. Then, after a year or so, listening to an album again and realizing how much richer the sound is, even with the imperfections.  

lkapigian

I've got closets full, my dad was a Disc Jockey back when radio was radio and AM was it....loved going to the station as a kid

lousubcap

@CTMike - I was on this til I opened your post.  I also was grabbing the Mazzola oil.  Maybe next time-  

HeavyG

I've got over 2K vinyl albums but I haven't used my B&O turntable in about 20 years.

Might be time to go thru the stacks and give some a listen.

lkapigian

FWIW I even have a wire recorder , if anyone has seen those 

theyolksonyou

bgebrent

theyolksonyou said:

This is what you need.  Jason for the steel.

Theophan

I'm an old guy, and when I was young, most people had stereos with big speakers and a turntable, and lots of vinyl LPs.  I hardly ever play them, anymore, but I still have a few:



I really don't understand why people these days tend to listen to music only on headphones or tiny little devices.  I used to have huge floor standing speakers and a wonderful stereo, and I'd crank it up and sit back on the couch and just sail with the music.  Hard to do with today's devices.

gmac

I truly don’t know what to listen too anymore. Vinyl, CD, wax cylinder...I need to find something new and something I can actually enjoy. 

thetrim

Harvey Specter for the win!

gmac

Harvey?  Or Phil?

bgebrent

gmac said:

I truly don’t know what to listen too anymore. Vinyl, CD, wax cylinder...I need to find something new and something I can actually enjoy. 

Never forget tape tracks.  Reel to reel.

Ozzie_Isaac

I love vinyl.

bgebrent

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I love vinyl.

You make a point.

Jupiter Jim

theyolksonyou said:

Jason where is the picture of you in your Vinyl? You know you have that picture!!!!!

northGAcock

I have a crapload of albums. The wif has been on me for years to get rid of them. No turntable here....I can’t let them go however!

GrillSgt

I had probably 200 that I gave to SIL when we downsized. Nothing new but some that had decent value. Several in the $80 range for their condition. They listen to vinyl exclusively.

SoCalTim

Too bad you not close to CA, Atomic Records in Burbank CA is the only place to buy any and all vinyl. I practically live there, Google them

jdkeithbge

We have just gotten into it in the past couple years.  Got a decent Audio-Technica Technics direct drive turntable and upgraded the cartridge, along with some good Polk Audio speakers, we are now getting our album collection going.  After years of listening to digital and now streaming Spotify most of the time, it really is enjoyable to put on a vinyl album and truly listen.  There are a lot of details in the mix that clearly stand out better on vinyl.

If you want to jump down the rabbit hole of analog vs. digital recording (and are interested in such things), I suggest listening to this interview with Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine.  I recently got the full analog version of Loveless and it sounds fantastic.

Dobie

Does Divinyls count? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-34w8kGPM

northGAcock

jdkeithbge said:

We have just gotten into it in the past couple years.  Got a decent Technics direct drive turntable and upgraded the cartridge, along with some good Polk Audio speakers, we are now getting our album collection going.  After years of listening to digital and now streaming Spotify most of the time, it really is enjoyable to put on a vinyl album and truly listen.  There are a lot of details in the mix that clearly stand out better on vinyl.

If you want to jump down the rabbit hole of analog vs. digital recording (and are interested in such things), I suggest listening to this interview with Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine.  I recently got the full analog version of Loveless and it sounds fantastic.

Where did you shop / purchase your turn table (if you don't mind sharing)?

jdkeithbge

Hey @northGAcock I got it from this fancy boutique shop, trusty old Amazon.  And I misspoke above, it is an Audio-Technica not a Technics.  I was able to pick it up for $229, but apparently it is $299 right now.  Based on the research I did, it was a pretty good mid/entry-level turntable.

Botch

I maintain a nice Yamaha turntable with a Shure V15 Type V cartridge (obsolete by now I'm sure) as I have about 1,500 albums that I sitll listen to.  

However, there is no way vinyl, or even reel-to-reel tape, can match the performance and sound of a well-recorded CD, not to mention DVD-A, SACD, and Bluray Audio.  (flame suit, check!  )  I have a growing collection of NEW recordings on the digital formats, and most sound fantastic (give AIX Records a try).  

Too many "audiophile" releases on digital disks are simply near-perfect copies of 50-year-old master tapes, and there's no way they can "improve" on the sound, it just a more-accurate picture of an old recording.  So, sadly, we will never hear state-of-the-art for those old classic albums, although some were pretty darn good.  

The last two Tom Petty albums were available on Bluray Audio, 5.1 Surround and they sounded fantastic!  I've also got a copy of Pink Floyd's DSOTM on DVD-A; even though the original was recorded on tape, hearing it swirl through 5 different speakers is an experience!  

My big worry, and this just happened: Oppo Digital has ceased developing new players, and Sony is the only other company I'm aware of that sells a player that can play DVD-A, Bluray Audio, and SACD formats.  I'm tempted to purchase an extra Oppo and store it away, but at $550 that's kinda extravagant.  

northGAcock

jdkeithbge said:

Hey @northGAcock I got it from this fancy boutique shop, trusty old Amazon.  And I misspoke above, it is an Audio-Technica not a Technics.  I was able to pick it up for $229, but apparently it is $299 right now.  Based on the research I did, it was a pretty good mid/entry-level turntable.

Thanks for the info....are the stylist still readily available for these turntables? I would assume so....but one rely s on the other.....do you use the same boutique shop?

YEMTrey

@Botch well said.

I’ve been tempted to get into vinyl listening, but haven’t yet. Agree with what you said about SACD, etc.  I have two Sony SACD players.  DSOTM in 5.1 is pretty outstanding.  Also have the Allman Brothers SACD releases.  Eat a Peach is something else.

Lately, all I have been buying are blues albums in SACD.  B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Lockwood Jr., Muddy Waters, Keb Mo, Junior Wells, Albert King, SRV, etc.  There’s just something about the Robert Lockwood disc with an acoustic guitar and his shoe tapping the floor in rhythm that I can’t get past.  Wonderful to listen to.

Unfortunately it appears that SACD is dead, so I’m grabbing what I can off ebay from some trusted sellers and grabbing what I can. 

Cheers!

Botch

YEMTrey said:

Unfortunately it appears that SACD is dead, so I’m grabbing what I can off ebay from some trusted sellers and grabbing what I can. 

Cheers!

Yeah, me too; it appears Chesky and some of the classical labels are the only ones still recording in 5.1; can't understand why it isn't more popular.  

jdkeithbge

@northGAcock Yep, same boutique.  I got the AT120Eb combo kit.

gdenby

My kids told me "Vinyl is coming back, don't get rid of all your albums." I explained that most had been played to death. I had a turntable at one point whose arm was so messed that I had 2 quarters taped on top to keep the point down. Needless to say, rooms full of happy people were not quite capable of clean track changes on the fly.

For nostalgia's sake, still have my Highway 66 Revisited, Butterfield's East/West, Sgt. Peppers, Truth,  Anthem of the Sun, Live/Dead, Cheap Thrills. If ever on a turntable again, the pops and hisses alone might re-write history.

At one point, the house had a 600W amplifier, feeding Fender amps. Symphonie Fantastique was cataclysmic at points. Then there was the guy who doubled that. Older, and less care free now, I have to think that living within 2 blocks of him was kind of "ITS JUST A KISS AWAY KISS AWAY KISS AWAAAAAY"

Also kept the Deutche Grammaphon for the Liszt, Chopin, Beet-man, etc.

The_Stache

AT-LP120 USB, Technics Linear tracking, B&O and a Garrard With McIntosh AMP and Klipsch La Scalas. A few vinyl albums hanging around!

Botch

The_Stache said:

... McIntosh AMP and Klipsch La Scalas. 

Impressive!