I recently got my hands on original pressings of Led Zep IV and Sgt Pepper, but I do not own a record player. Fortunately, having spent 3 months unemployed, I started a new job this month and Friday is payday. This makes Saturday record player shopping day.

quote:

Originally posted by Mick_DH:
I recently got my hands on original pressings of Led Zep IV and Sgt Pepper, but I do not own a record player. Fortunately, having spent 3 months unemployed, I started a new job this month and Friday is payday. This makes Saturday record player shopping day.

Congratulations and may you enjoy your shopping!

quote:

Originally posted by hlebowitsh:
People on this forum and other music forums talk about getting cds on "vinyl." What does that mean? I searched the internet but didn't get a good idea of what it was. And what's the advantage with vinyl?

I only just found this thread.

hlebowitsh has probably found his answer by now, but what a fantastic question!

WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE WITH VINYL?

There isn't one. Not unless you count listening to scratchy old recordings and pretending they sound 'more authentic'.

There are people who prefer to listen to their music on technologically inferior formats. Sometimes for nostalgia, sometimes it's fashionable, VERY occasionally because it's not available on any other format.

Admittedly, there is a nostalgic element to all this and I love getting old vinyl albums out and dusting them off, but in all seriousness - the younger music fans must think we're mad!

That's one of the best posts I've read on here.

I have plenty vinyl albums that sound better than cds.

Nostalgia? Most the albums I buy these days are new or recent releases (last few years). Most people I see buying vinyl are in their early 20s.

If you're a major audiophile and have decent equipment, vinyl's the way to go. You can also usually pick up a shitload of older albums for nothing if you go to garage sales in the summer.

I love vinyl because, for me, it's the most aesthetically pleasing musical format of them all (well, except for pianola rolls). It can't be nostalgia because vinyl still enjoys a healthy niche market, and as crazed said, it's more likely to be young 'uns buying vinyl nowadays, not dessicated Old Farts like me.

There are some LPs that sound superior to their CD equivalents, but I'd argue that these days the difference is not that great to be of real concern.

I just like the "feel" of the vinyl sound. It's undoubtedly better for more acoustic instruments because there is a more noticeable warmth to my vinyl copy of, say, Michelle Shocked's Short Sharp Shocked than any CDs I have.

This could be nostalgia, but the CD of the Beatles remastered Love was about as impressive as any CD I've heard. If you're really into noise or more electronic textures, you may not notice the difference, but my vinyl copy of Happy the Man's Crafty Hands mixes acoustic and electronic instruments and sounds heavenly, so I'm not really so sure.

Also, the vocals, at least those not overly-processed, certainly sound warmer on vinyl.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

'You can pick up plenty of vinyl albums a lot cheaper'

Agreed.

'Vinyl is aesthetically pleasing'

Agreed.

'I like the feel of vinyl'

Agreed.

'I have plenty of vinyl albums that sound better than CDs'

Now I have to draw the line here. It's hard because I really don't want to answer this. It's difficult to sound constructive on the issue, but...

The basic truth is CDs HAVE A BROADER RANGE OF SOUND - not to mention MP3s, minidiscs and all kinds of other formats.

Vinyl has sound restrictions in terms of EQ. There is hiss and crackle - a whole range of problems. The only post-vinyl format that was lower quality was tape cassettes (I unfortunately own hundreds of them). Consider this - you can sample the exact same authentic sound configuration from vinyl and burn it onto CD - try doing that in reverse. It's near impossible to tell the difference between a CD recording of vinyl and vinyl itself, unless you turn your stereo down so low you can hear the stylus in the grooves.

You can create EXACTLY THE SAME SOUND on digital formats as is heard on vinyl - and a lot more besides. I fail to see how vinyl is superior in terms of what we are hearing.

I think it's admirable that people try and push vinyl into new and interesting directions, but as a format, vinyl is just not versatile enough. It's not even an issue - just a basic truth.

I'll admit it's nice to hold a recording that is virtually an antique. I love finding those old albums and you get a sense of where it came from - the sleeves are more impressive and the sound is like it was when the record first came out - it is indeed a warm sound.

But in terms of actual sound quality, I can't ignore my ears - it's nothing that can't be done in digital sound.

Question is - does anyone prefer wax cylinders? I'm sure there must have been a few when vinyl was first invented.

quote:

Originally posted by Duncan Black:
You can create EXACTLY THE SAME SOUND on digital formats as is heard on vinyl - and a lot more besides.

Actually, Vinyl can reproduce a wider range of frequencies than a CD, which is limited to 22,000 Hz. It's sort of a moot point, since most humans can't hear sounds in that frequency range, but if you want to get really technical, you can't produce the exact same sounds on CD that you can on Vinyl. That's the basic truth.

I don't know, I think that a lot of the vinyl stuff just sounds better than CDs. I mean, I have some pretty good, classically-trained ears and some of the vinyl that I have just sounds clearer (if the record is in good shape), and the instruments just jump out at me.

A great example is Radiohead's "Airbag." I bought the OK Computer record and played it on my turntable, my girlfriend and I just looked at each other like, "WOW, that sounds good!" I then played the CD, same volume and everything and it just didn't sound the same. A bit more flat and dull in areas. Colin Greenwood's awesome bass playing on that song just stood out. It was loud, clear, and boomy and had more of an emphasis than it did on the CD.

I also have a great collection of classical records (which are a lot cheaper than popular music) that sound amazing. I love listening to some of the classics like Brahms’ Symphony #1, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Schubert’s The Trout Quintet—just to name a few—that sound amazing on vinyl.

I know that I don't buy records to re-live the old days or to feel "cool." I buy them because it is something unique to collect, which is also great to listen to and when cleaned and maintained well, sounds amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by Duncan Black:


'I have plenty of vinyl albums that sound better than CDs'

Now I have to draw the line here. It's hard because I really don't want to answer this. It's difficult to sound constructive on the issue, but...

The basic truth is CDs HAVE A BROADER RANGE OF SOUND - not to mention MP3s, minidiscs and all kinds of other formats.

Vinyl has sound restrictions in terms of EQ. There is hiss and crackle - a whole range of problems. The only post-vinyl format that was lower quality was tape cassettes (I unfortunately own hundreds of them). Consider this - you can sample the exact same authentic sound configuration from vinyl and burn it onto CD - try doing that in reverse. It's near impossible to tell the difference between a CD recording of vinyl and vinyl itself, unless you turn your stereo down so low you can hear the stylus in the grooves.

You can create EXACTLY THE SAME SOUND on digital formats as is heard on vinyl - and a lot more besides. I fail to see how vinyl is superior in terms of what we are hearing.

I think it's admirable that people try and push vinyl into new and interesting directions, but as a format, vinyl is just not versatile enough. It's not even an issue - just a basic truth.

I'll admit it's nice to hold a recording that is virtually an antique. I love finding those old albums and you get a sense of where it came from - the sleeves are more impressive and the sound is like it was when the record first came out - it is indeed a warm sound.

But in terms of actual sound quality, I can't ignore my ears - it's nothing that can't be done in digital sound.

My ears still hear plenty of vinyl sounding better than CDs. That includes 45 rpms, which if kept in great condition, can blow the socks off CDs.

Latter year (1980s) vinyl was becoming pretty poor sounding. But these days, newly reissued records as well as the 180 gram vinyl new releases can sound just as good as and often better than their CD counterparts. All in the ears and the audio system you have, I suppose. Still, pick up any platter on Akarma records and be prepared to be dazzled. That Italian record company has reissued some stunning classics, especially the Blue Cheer catalogue.

quote:

Originally posted by Duncan Black:
The basic truth is CDs HAVE A BROADER RANGE OF SOUND - not to mention MP3s, minidiscs and all kinds of other formats.

Vinyl has sound restrictions in terms of EQ. There is hiss and crackle - a whole range of problems. The only post-vinyl format that was lower quality was tape cassettes (I unfortunately own hundreds of them). Consider this - you can sample the exact same authentic sound configuration from vinyl and burn it onto CD - try doing that in reverse. It's near impossible to tell the difference between a CD recording of vinyl and vinyl itself, unless you turn your stereo down so low you can hear the stylus in the grooves.

You can create EXACTLY THE SAME SOUND on digital formats as is heard on vinyl - and a lot more besides. I fail to see how vinyl is superior in terms of what we are hearing.

I realize a couple others have already made similar response. I just wanted to get my 2 cents in cos DB's post got me thinking, which is good.

When you play a vinyl the sound is reproduced more or less mechanically (analogically?!), so there are no round-off type translation errors like you get with digital formats. So, assuming that the vinyl was made with care it can have a much greater "bit resolution" than digital. Because it's not based on "off and on, 1 and 0" at the bottom of things.

Digital is definitely the more versatile/portable format, but when you talk about "overall sound quality" you've got to be careful to make it clear what your criteria for "quality of sound" are. Because, like you, I've got to trust my ears. And no matter how many numbers the digital people throw at me to impress me, all in all I still like the sound of vinyl better.

Have you ever tried to put your LPs on "shuffle" when you're riding on public transport? Not easy.

I knew you'd be funny.

I haven't heard a modern vinyl album before. I would like to someday.

Hey, maybe someone could rip me an mp3 of one so I could hear what it sounds like!

My latest vinyl purchase is a v/a comp, God in the Garage. Released on tiny Gabriel's Trumpet records with help (not sure how) from the amazing fundamental Christian (supposedly) garage rock band, the Knights of the New Crusade. The album compiles two garage rock artists from the 60's, the Clicks (US) and Coro Coleigo Javier (Panama). The Clicks were a family act (4 brothers and a sister) and the music was the Count 5/Swinging Medallions-like garage sound. CCJ performs a "go-go mass", I kid you not. If the Electric Prunes can do it, so can these cats. Regardless how one feels about the lyrical content, this is a fun album.