The Vinyl Resurgence

[Paul Heroy]

In another thread:

I don't want to make this a vinyl thread, so I will stop here. 

I never stopped listening to records but I did stop buying back when CDs came out.

Now that we have "The Vinyl Resurgence", I have been buying mainly music that I don't already own in another format, mostly Blues and Jazz. I am really into Blue Note, Impulse, Riverside, and Verve pressings.

So Tracy started this, lol... I would love to see a music/vinyl discussion here. I'm big into jazz too, have picked up several Blue Notes, a few Tone Poets (when on sale) and the BN Classic series too. The modern pressings can be so damn good but QA seems hit & miss. The Coltrane set I posted in the other thread is a good example. Historic set, but they pressed it in Mexico and not on heavyweight vinyl. I've had 3 copies (ordered 1 black & 1 orange copy as a collectable) and all 3 had at least some warping. The good stuff though - wow, quiet and gorgeous discs.

I have been using Discogs to catalog my old collection, with about 60-70 new titles. I don't want to go crazy adding new stuff as I've already had to buy some new storage, so I'm trying to focus on A) Stuff that is a quality release; B) Even better if it was never issued on digital formats - I have a few old releases like that and have my eye on a couple of new reissues.

[bmoney]

I had a TT about 10 years ago. But the kids jumping around made it tough to find time to listen. I will be buying another soon

[TRainH2O]

I had a TT about 10 years ago. But the kids jumping around made it tough to find time to listen. I will be buying another soon

There are a few ways to isolate your TT from vibration.

A heavyweight isolation platform is one way (pretty easy to DIY), upgraded TT feet, sorbethane discs, or even a wall-mounted TT shelf.

[bmoney]

There are a few ways to isolate your TT from vibration.

A heavyweight isolation platform is one way (pretty easy to DIY), upgraded TT feet, sorbethane discs, or even a wall-mounted TT shelf.

I know. It was more of them jumping throwing balls etc. and just not having the  time to just sit and listen

[TRainH2O]

Paul, I feel your pain about QC issues. Early on, there seemed to be a lot of issues with no fill, warps, and bad label placement.

However, I think the Industry had to go through a bit of a relearning curve. Vinyl records have not been widely pressed in quite some time and the last generation of people working in the press plants are likely pretty old or have passed. I would imagine that you tend to lose a lot of the "secrets" that make the process work. Plus, many of the presses were either in disrepair or were dismantled. 

Those issues still pop up from time to time with the smaller "boutique" pressers. The major players seem to have gotten most of the QC issues sorted out. 

[TRainH2O]

I know. It was more of them jumping throwing balls etc. and just not having the  time to just sit and listen

Well, if that was 10 years ago, your kids are now so engrossed in their phones that they likely don't jump, throw balls, or even leave their rooms. 

Might be a good time to revisit. For me, it's therapy. 

[bmoney]

Well, if that was 10 years ago, your kids are now so engrossed in their phones that they likely don't jump, throw balls, or even leave their rooms.

Might be a good time to revisit. For me, it's therapy.

Haha. Nope not my kids. 

but it is getting closer to my revisiting getting a TT 

[Paul Heroy]

Went to Audio Advice Live for most of the afternoon yesterday and spent some time in the vinyl session with Michael Fremer. First time seeing him in person, after reading many reviews and watching a few YT videos of his. I'm not quite all in on everything he says, but there's no question he's one of if not the foremost vinyl gurus around. I'll give him a ton of credit for one thing in particular - he brought some very cool pressings to play, that are rare and could be kept back as collectibles to preserve. But he wants them heard. He had a 45 rpm "Stairway To Heaven" that was not commercially released, and a couple of The Who records, Who's Next and Tommy, that were fantastic. Also played Dire Straits initial release.

Also heard some really cool 78 rpm (not old shellac, new vinyl) stuff in the Technics room. I didn't catch his name but the Technics guy made a comment about having to be sure he didn't let the needle stay in the groove at the end b/c at 78 rpm it would be too rough on the needle!

[TRainH2O]

New music cut and pressed to 78 RPM? I guess I shouldn't be totally surprised. 

Love him or hate him, Fremmer has been the loudest and most consistent proponent of the format. I'd love to attend one of the live listening events where he was speaking and demoing. I have read that he also has led very informative turntable setup events. 

[Paul Heroy]

New music cut and pressed to 78 RPM? I guess I shouldn't be totally surprised.

Love him or hate him, Fremmer has been the loudest and most consistent proponent of the format. I'd love to attend one of the live listening events where he was speaking and demoing. I have read that he also has led very informative turntable setup events.

Agreed. I'm not averse to digital as he seems to be - vinyl requires a more expensive playback system to do really well vs digital and has more weak links. He was doing setup demos for a Michel Gyro SE 'table on 2 days, which I didn't attend. But he made some comments in the vinyl spinning session I was in about how much work that TT requires to set up and it's a bit daunting. Glad I have my Technics which requires very little. (And has an easy swap headshell if you're into using different cartridges.)

[TRainH2O]

I'm not an anti-digital guy either. I have records that sound great and some that are terrible and I'm not talking about noise from scratches.

On the flipside, I have CDs, and high-res files that also run the spectrum from spectacular to downright below average. My first big purchase of high-res download music was one of the Rush "boxed sets". Honestly, I thought something was wrong with my system. My original CDs sounded better.