Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

Return to Vinyl Asylum


Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Article on vinyl in today's Newspaper

172.56.27.182

Posted on January 8, 2017 at 18:55:30
vinyl survivor
Audiophile

Posts: 1471
Location: Southeastern US
Joined: November 28, 2007
The link is below. The article was written by David Sax. Has anyone here read his book "The revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter?" Curious if it is worth reading.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Article on vinyl in today's Newspaper, posted on January 8, 2017 at 19:21:36
SoundMann
Audiophile

Posts: 581
Joined: October 21, 2015
Just another spectator who doesn't know about proper vinyl reproduction!

 

RE: Article on vinyl in today's Newspaper, posted on January 8, 2017 at 19:37:45
suretyguy
Audiophile

Posts: 3022
Location: western Missouri
Joined: October 9, 2001
Did you actually read the piece? If so, how could that comment possibly be your takeaway?

 

RE: Article on vinyl in today's Newspaper, posted on January 8, 2017 at 19:51:16
Jeffrey Lee
Audiophile

Posts: 708
Location: Louisville
Joined: September 24, 2002
What a ridiculous comment. The essay actually deals with a very real and tangible aspect of choosing vinyl as a preference to digital, not to mention that the writer is clearly not a spectator. SMH.

 

RE: Article on vinyl in today's Newspaper, posted on January 8, 2017 at 20:10:09
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3398
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2012
Perhaps you took a speed reading course or are living in an alternate universe. In any case, take a breath, go back and read the article.

 

I believe Mr. Mann was referring to the notion that vinyl..., posted on January 8, 2017 at 21:56:44
hcman
Audiophile

Posts: 6357
Location: S.E.Washington
Joined: February 5, 2005
has an inherently "scratchy" sound.

 

Probably a good idea to read past the FIRST PARAGRAPH! Nt., posted on January 8, 2017 at 23:21:14
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3398
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2012
.

 

I have the book., posted on January 9, 2017 at 05:32:45
Biff
Audiophile

Posts: 7527
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: January 27, 2002
I like it, so far.

 

RE: Probably a good idea to read past the FIRST PARAGRAPH! Nt., posted on January 9, 2017 at 06:56:48
SoundMann
Audiophile

Posts: 581
Joined: October 21, 2015
Lets sum up what the article said.

Vinyl is an outdated, "scratchy" medium which digital is markedly "superior" to, who's only value is "nostalgic"!

Did I miss anything here?

 

Yes, you did., posted on January 9, 2017 at 07:06:49
Biff
Audiophile

Posts: 7527
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: January 27, 2002
Like this, for instance:

"To the millions of consumers worldwide who have resurrected the record industry over the past few years, I suspect the feeling is mutual. To us, the return of vinyl, even as we listen to streaming services on the drive to work represents not regression, but progress."

If you read just the introduction in his book, you would clearly see that he is a fan of all things analog.

 

Tangible vs sound???, posted on January 9, 2017 at 07:14:24
TomWh
Audiophile

Posts: 764
Location: Tucson Az
Joined: August 7, 2003
Am I so far out on the bell curve that sound is the real reason for vinyl??? Is the real reason I never got rid of my turntable and LPs is because of some large disc that needs to be care for like a child or because the alternative was not a option for REAL sound???

Truth be known I find the ritual or inconvenience to be a pita. I do admit I like building really large turntables.
Well I guess I will be kicked out of the TRC (Tangible ritual club) for writing this but I do feel better!!!

Enjoy the ride
Tom

 

RE: I have the book., posted on January 9, 2017 at 09:17:14
vinyl survivor
Audiophile

Posts: 1471
Location: Southeastern US
Joined: November 28, 2007
Thanks for the feedback.

 

Assuming you have records since you're reading/posting at VA, posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:04:36
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6587
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since:
July 4, 2007
"an inherently "scratchy" sound"

Where did you buy them? I have a few thousand LPs and none of those I bought new came with scratches, so why do you refer to "inherently"?

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: One person's pita can be another's comfort zone. nt, posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:07:28
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

You bet., posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:14:36
Biff
Audiophile

Posts: 7527
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: January 27, 2002
Check your email.

 

I wish I could remember who said it, posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:15:54
Biff
Audiophile

Posts: 7527
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: January 27, 2002
but they compared playing a record to having an "indoor barbecue." In terms of being involved I suppose.

Watch it, your LP is burning. Better flip it.

 

RE: Article on vinyl in today's Newspaper, posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:24:24
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
I have not read the article yet but I did read all the posts reguarding the article, yea I do that sometimes. LPs, turntables and everything that goes with it has always impressed me the sound and the set up CD not so much.
Kindablue

 

RE: Probably a good idea to read past the FIRST PARAGRAPH! Nt., posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:47:03
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3398
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2012
With all due respect, yes, you did miss something here-- you missed the essence of the article! You missed the author's main intent. He sees nostalgia as a good thing, not something to be demeaned or dismissed. He says: " Nostalgia's role here is crucial. It is the critical eye that values everything against what came before it, and constantly asks whether each new idea is an improvement, or not....nostalgia isn't just some foolish whim. It is a life raft, and the one sure means of grounding ourselves in a world that promises constant change."

Your summation of the article that "vinyl is an outdated, "scratchy" medium which digital is markedly "superior" to, who's only value is "nostalgic"! " is clearly not to be taken literally. The author is merely echoing what others have said. If anything, he is clearly a cheerleader for the analog medium.

In all honesty, if this were a college board SAT exam and the question asked was " which is the best response to sum up this article", is that the answer you'd choose?

 

RE: Assuming you have records since you're reading/posting at VA, posted on January 9, 2017 at 11:05:39
hcman
Audiophile

Posts: 6357
Location: S.E.Washington
Joined: February 5, 2005
You must have missed the "notion" in my subject line. I was, apparently unsuccessfully, trying to convey that records did not have a "scratchy sound". My wording may have been unclear.

I listen exclusively to records as I don't currently have a digital source.

 

RE: Probably a good idea to read past the FIRST PARAGRAPH! Nt., posted on January 9, 2017 at 11:13:21
hcman
Audiophile

Posts: 6357
Location: S.E.Washington
Joined: February 5, 2005
I read past the first paragraph and understand the authors POV. I obviously clearly failed to state my own. I took Mr. Manns post to mean he was deriding the idea that vinyl was "scratchy".

 

RE: Probably a good idea to read past the FIRST PARAGRAPH! Nt., posted on January 9, 2017 at 11:21:23
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3398
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2012
I wasn't referring to you in that post but Mr. Mann. I understood your point.

 

RE: Probably a good idea to read past the FIRST PARAGRAPH! Nt., posted on January 9, 2017 at 12:46:15
raya
Industry Professional

Posts: 662
Joined: May 9, 2014
The article did not enlighten me one bit. I mean, I agree with the content but there is nothing new here. Kind of the same thing that has been said before.

I am also in the camp of, " it just sounds good".

 

I agree that nostalgia is a good thing but, posted on January 9, 2017 at 17:45:50
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
he is flat out wrong about the merits of vinyl sound quality and that kind of kills the value of the article.

 

RE: I agree that nostalgia is a good thing but, posted on January 9, 2017 at 19:05:17
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3398
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2012
I'm not sure why this article has presented such difficulty, why it's subject to such misinterpretation.

As I read it, he says almost nothing about vinyl sound quality, except the word "scratchy" . Where does he talk about sound quality of vinyl in this article? I can't find it anywhere.

 

Tangible sound indeed, posted on January 10, 2017 at 10:38:35
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15386
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
Thse words alone describe the LP sound. The instruments and performers PLUS the space the music is performed in (when that was part of the recording) is more TANGIBLE when played back via LP.
...regards...tr

 

Nostalgia?, posted on January 10, 2017 at 10:44:09
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15386
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
That is NOT why I listen to vinyl. There is just more "there" there.
...regards...tr

 

Don't get to bent out of shape on this article or vinyl in general, posted on January 12, 2017 at 05:48:16
3db
Audiophile

Posts: 1514
Joined: July 22, 2003

The author may have had mal treated albums in his/her collection so they would sound scratchy and noisy. No big deal.

I use all media to my disposal and I don't limit myself to one just media. There is too much good music out there to do that. I've also own copies of albums spread across two or three different media with some performing better tha others depending on the recording/mastering engineer. Media doesn't make a recording better over another media. That's a common misconception based on die hard proponents of one media over another. The recording/mastering engineer ultimately determines how well a recording sounds regardless of media. My arguement excludes low bit rate MP3s

 

RE: I agree that nostalgia is a good thing but, posted on January 12, 2017 at 21:07:40
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
"these technologies are functionally obsolete. How could this be happening? Why would someone pay $20 or more for a secondhand copy of Bill Withers' "+Justments" on a scratchy plastic disc that plays only on a costly, troublesome turntable, when she could stream the same album in digital clarity on Spotify'

That's a lot more than "scratchy." It is a gross misrepresentation of the relative merits of the sound quality of vinyl.

So...maybe it isn't us who are having trouble understanding it or misinterpretating it.

 

RE: I agree that nostalgia is a good thing but, posted on January 13, 2017 at 11:54:15
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3398
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2012
Here we go again. I think you're misinterpreting the author's intent. Did you read my previous post?

"Your summation of the article that "vinyl is an outdated, "scratchy" medium which digital is markedly "superior" to, who's only value is "nostalgic"! " is clearly NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY! The author is merely echoing what others have said. If anything, he is clearly a cheerleader for the analog medium."

Let's just agree to disagree and end this.

 

Page processed in 0.043 seconds.