Catcher10
Prog-tastic!
The basis of my post on the previous page......How can you listen to it on another media, if it is not available on that other media?
Vinyl will be around for awhile....
Exactly Why Vinyl Isn't The Future of Audiophilia
- Thread starter moggi1964
- Start date
The basis of my post on the previous page......How can you listen to it on another media, if it is not available on that other media?
Vinyl will be around for awhile....
poppachubby
Boo Yaka! Boo Yaka!
Indeed, which is why I think the two go hand in hand. If I need files for modern convenience, I can rip them and put them on a portable, in the car or send them to a Squeezebox. It's the best of both worlds.
I strongly disagree with what the reviewer is saying as far as what type of people are purchasing vinyl. I don't believe it's right to just generalize like that.
I'm young and I enjoy vinyl. I've also seen other young people at various record stores who enjoy it as well. I'm not what society likes to label a "hipster." I don't listen to it because it's cool, or "retro." Although there is some nostalgic value for people who had used it as a primary listening format years ago. For me it's not nostalgic, as I only recently (as much as maybe 2-3 years or so) have gotten into vinyl.
I enjoy it purely for the sound. I enjoy CDs too, but whether it's the signal-to-noise ratio or whatever, I've personally found vinyl to sound a lot better in most cases. One of the reasons for this (as somebody mentioned) is probably because most new remasters on CD are overly compressed and brickwalled. Even though the dynamic range may be higher, you're not getting the same dynamics in certain cases. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I imagine it was harder, if not impossible to limit the dynamics that much when vinyl was more popular.
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It's on ITunes, $6.99.
While there is a lot of *potential* in the digital realm, with res Rez files, and DRC for speakers, it doesn't look like there is enough interest out there for it to become mainstream as yet. The limited number of hi-Rez titles, and high prices for the ones that do exist, are going to hold a lot of folks back from embracing the technology.
To me, High quality DRC, turnkey music servers, hi-Rez files, and music recordings on 5.1 format should have all become part of today's hi-fi. Seems it isn't happening unless you are willing to do a lot of cobbling stuff together yourself.
I agree with the premise that vinyl is a dead end, though. I'm sure that by the time I die my collection will be essentially worthless, and I'm cool with that; I had fun collecting and listening to it.
To me, High quality DRC, turnkey music servers, hi-Rez files, and music recordings on 5.1 format should have all become part of today's hi-fi. Seems it isn't happening unless you are willing to do a lot of cobbling stuff together yourself.
I agree with the premise that vinyl is a dead end, though. I'm sure that by the time I die my collection will be essentially worthless, and I'm cool with that; I had fun collecting and listening to it.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
I feel that way too sometimes, but articles like this catch my attention because, IMO, some people are prematurely announcing the deaths of physical media in the audiophile world.
The author seems to assume, as do many others in the hi-fi press, that digital file playback is the way of the future for audio, period. While this is true for the majority of people, I think he's jumping the gun in assuming that the niche audiophile community will unquestionably follow suit en masse just because there are some challenges involved in proper vinyl playback. His list of problems with vinyl makes me wonder if the guy has appreciable experience with a decent turntable setup at all. Vinyl is a medium that can yield absolutely outstanding sound despite the inherent "critical issues" he describes, and he doesn't seem to really get that, even considering his brief enumeration of things that are enjoyable about records.
Ok, but that definitely goes both ways. As one example, if you're at all interested in classical music/composers outside the standards of Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, etc., CD is the best option. There is so much incredible material in that genre by both new and old composers that is not, and in all likelihood never will be, released on vinyl.
In any case, I think the author of this article is wrong about vinyl. Perhaps in another two or three decades the audiophile with a turntable setup and vinyl collection will be a rare thing (I doubt it), but for now there at just far too many records and concomitant playback equipment out there for people to drop it all and embrace digital file playback as the one and only way to go.
Catcher10
Prog-tastic!
And there in lies the root of the problem for the digital continent to take over and conquer the analog world
Umm...have you ever seen the vast and diverse array of classical music that was released on LP between the end of WWII and 1990 or so?
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
Yes, but have you seen the vast and diverse array of lesser-known classical music released on CD in the last thirty years? For an example, go to Amazon and search "cpo" in the music department (it's a label if you haven't heard of it). Tell me how much material by many of those composers you can find on vinyl - and I'm not talking about the few major composers whose work they do also record, like Telemann, Spohr, and even a lot of J.S. Bach. What you won't find are 500 different versions of Beethoven's 9th.
hobbit
Active Member
My 18 year old son loves vinyl and buys it second hand.
I buy more vinyl than CD these days , but I like it not just because I have been listening to it on the same turntable for decades so like the way that sounds, but also as a piece of art.
There is nothing like a gatefold sleeve and a nice heavyweight coloured vinyl.
As to arguments over 44.1, 48, 96hz
I dont buy that the majority of people can really tell the difference.
I also dont see the point in paying for something I dont actually physically own.
Yes, most vinyl comes with a download code so you can stick it on your computer or mp3 player, but you "own" the record.
music files be they compressed or uncompressed dont have the same emotional appeal, at least for me.
Some of the younger generation of muzo`s are discovering the beauty of the vinyl album.
I buy more vinyl than CD these days , but I like it not just because I have been listening to it on the same turntable for decades so like the way that sounds, but also as a piece of art.
There is nothing like a gatefold sleeve and a nice heavyweight coloured vinyl.
As to arguments over 44.1, 48, 96hz
I dont buy that the majority of people can really tell the difference.
I also dont see the point in paying for something I dont actually physically own.
Yes, most vinyl comes with a download code so you can stick it on your computer or mp3 player, but you "own" the record.
music files be they compressed or uncompressed dont have the same emotional appeal, at least for me.
Some of the younger generation of muzo`s are discovering the beauty of the vinyl album.
VinylRob
Vinylphile
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I didn't find Jerry Del Colliano to be much of an audiophile by what he says, much less a qualified sociologist but, worse yet, I unfortunately kind of agree with his entertainment industry business case logic. I'm not saying he's a genius or anything but, the point that we (audiophiles) are in the dreaded position of being the electronic entertainment 1%ers seems obvious to me. For all the right reasons IMHO we pursue but nevertheless, the other ninety-nine percent (if not more) of the buying consumer public, while merrily headed in numerous other directions with their buying power, haven't a clue about what would be gained by having music of high resolution in their lives and could not care less. Too bad.
As a side bar: just out of curiosity, I would love to see what this guy calls a Hifi and turntable.
Happy Listening my stone age brethren!
I didn't find Jerry Del Colliano to be much of an audiophile by what he says, much less a qualified sociologist but, worse yet, I unfortunately kind of agree with his entertainment industry business case logic. I'm not saying he's a genius or anything but, the point that we (audiophiles) are in the dreaded position of being the electronic entertainment 1%ers seems obvious to me. For all the right reasons IMHO we pursue but nevertheless, the other ninety-nine percent (if not more) of the buying consumer public, while merrily headed in numerous other directions with their buying power, haven't a clue about what would be gained by having music of high resolution in their lives and could not care less. Too bad.
As a side bar: just out of curiosity, I would love to see what this guy calls a Hifi and turntable.
Happy Listening my stone age brethren!
Yeah, that seems to be the best solution.
Flac downloads and a vinyl option; Win-Win for everyone.
There was plenty of lesser-known but still meritorious classical music released in the LP era that has never made it to CD. When I wanted a recording of Paul Creston's Two Choric Dances, I searched the Web and bought a used LP from a rare-book dealer in New York. At this late date there is no CD recording available of that work. I could give other examples, but I'd rather use this fact as a justification for owning both LP and CD playback equipment.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
Come on man, it's in the clouds!
I had a similar thought.
It's one of many as far as I'm concerned.
hobbit
Active Member
Listening to Signify by Porcupine Tree over the last two days, an album that I am very familiar with on CD shows up the differences in mastering.
SW is a superb producer who doesnt tend to master CD`s for loudness, but even with that, the remaster for vinyl is simply stunning.
I`m hearing stuff that I never heard before on the CD.
If companies are going to release vinyl and expect us to shell out for it they need to understand that those of us who love it, expect original recordings intended for the digital world to be remastered properly for vinyl.
My eldest son bought me Tangerine Dream Alpha Centuari on vinyl for xmas.
It is also a faithfull mastering job.
SW is a superb producer who doesnt tend to master CD`s for loudness, but even with that, the remaster for vinyl is simply stunning.
I`m hearing stuff that I never heard before on the CD.
If companies are going to release vinyl and expect us to shell out for it they need to understand that those of us who love it, expect original recordings intended for the digital world to be remastered properly for vinyl.
My eldest son bought me Tangerine Dream Alpha Centuari on vinyl for xmas.
It is also a faithfull mastering job.
7.5ips open reel tape?
Probably more logical then records. Or vinyl, for Mr. Brennan.
reggaenaut
Addicted Member
Why write with such venom against those getting old?