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Our subject is a very vocal advocate of the superiority of LPs as an audio format. Of course that's not exactly rare round there parts so some more clues ...Our subject might be said to have recently re-discovered our cherished format ... let's say our subject is a Born Again LP fan.
Now not all re-births are painless and this is certainly the case for our subject as the following short history demonstrates.
The time is 1975 and out subject sells LP collection and dedicates collection energy into audio cassette. Attracted to "Perfect Sound Forever" our subject sells cassette collection and becomes one of the first to buy into the Devil's own format. Our sujbect then endures the CD Dark Ages and jumps in and out of CD collecting. Finally the advent of Hi-Resolution provides some relief from the recurring bouts of Build CD Collection/Sell CD collection mania and our subject finds some measure of sonic bliss. Hello DVD-A (mostly) collection.
Now in 2003 things take a turn toward the true path and our subject in a set of what appears chance circumstances --- ha!, we followers of the Analog God know better, but let's not digress --- purchases a inexpensive turntable and the rest is history; as is the DVD-A coillection I might add.
Opps, getting wordy, better hit the ole submit button, after all should we tarry longer our Born Again LP fan might well have abandoned us altogether for goodness knows what! Sooooo ...
Identity the LP Fan
Follow Ups:
I started back around 1965.
Lps rule.
Then various things happen, I sell the stuff.. cold turkey.
Buy another setup and a few LPs a few years later.
jump into Cd as soon as it arrived. Sold the LPs, TT.
After a long wandering in the outer darkness, I just happened to be able to buy a LOT of LPs cheap (all classical) I decided to jump even though I no longer had a TT.
Got some TTs... Some carts, some phono-preamps
Within 2 years I had aquired 13,000 LPs and returned to the ocean of secondhand about 3,000 of those as doubles or not quite perfect copies.
Prodigal daughter?
(But lately all I do is listen to CDs or watch my new Sony 42" Plasma over the air broadcasts.. )
Actually, the plan was the LPs are for my retirement years....
I went from LPs to Reel to Reel in 1974. It was not until Audiophile Cassettes came out in 1978 that I went to cassettes. I collected Audiophile Cassettes (not commercial cassettes) in 1983 sold my collection of over 150 Audiophile Cassettes about half were MFSL but I also had In Sync Labs. Direct To Tape, Sound Ideas, Audible Images and other audiophile cassettes.The sale of my audiophile cassettes and my Nakamichi 480 Cassette deck gave me enough money to purchase the Sony CDP-101 CD player in April 1983 and a handful of CDs. I tried tons of CDs and the only ones I even liked or could tolerate were Telarc CDs, which were not too bad but within 6 months I was getting massive headaches and I didn't want to listen to music ever again! I sold the SACD player and it was over 1 1/2 years before I coulc listen to music again. I was devastated. I couldn't go back to Cassettes as all the audiophile cassette companies folded up or went on to CD. I couldn't go back to Reel to Reel as Barclay-Crocker went out of business. And I hated the all the maintenance, cleaning, etc. of LPs. I hated surface noise; I hated pops and ticks.
In 1986 I went back to LP even though I hated it so much because there was no other option I could see. The Internet was not invented yet so I had no source for used audiophile cassettes or Reel to Reels.
I would buy into CDs every time there was a promised improvement to make them sound as good as LPs. Every time I was disappointed and I would sell off the CDs and the CD player with a matter of 6 months or less. Before the Internet I had to advertise in stereo magazines.
I still hate the care and feeding of LPs and that is one reason I also have lots of LPs and Reel to Reels. So when I don't feel like messing with an LP I play one of these. For the first time I have accepted the good and the bad with LP. I spent half of my life looking for something better and it is just not out there.
I do still have 15 DVD-Audios and 24/96 DADs in my collection they just get played much as all my analog recordings are more enjoyable.
Also as one poster noted I was in and out of SACDs twice. And every recording I have heard on SACD and LP the LP was just so much better even on my old cheap $250.00 Music Hall MMF-1 turntable with the LP Gear upgrade. Each time I left SACD it was as much for hardware reasons as much as software reasons, you can read about this if interested in old posts on Hi Rez Highway.
The rest of it is right on the money.
"Analog is Music, Digital is mathematics"
Happy listening,
Teresa
following the bouncing ball of format devotion was a challenge based upon my cursory look the record (your past posts) so I appreciate the summary.In any event seeing that your current LP format infatuation has been of no great duration, --- "On 2/20/04 I was back with Vinyl for 1 year." (*) --- certainly not when compared to the many devotees here who have been with the format for decades uninterrupted (myself included), perhaps you'd be well advised to adopt a more tempered approach at this - what to call it? - "toddler" stage of LP fandom.
Now expressions of elation from new/returning fans to the format are certainly welcome and heartwarming, but, speaking frankly, when elation becomes overbearing zeal and you find yourself dictating what are, and what are not, suitable forms of expression and inquiry for the members of this forum you can safely assume you've gone way overboard.
Besides, given the record perhaps it would be prudent to allow a passage of time, say another 2-3 years, to convince *yourself* that your devotion has in fact found a enduring affection.
--
But hey, no biggie! This forum is generally a lot more laissez faire than many others at the AA and the recent outburst will blow over in no time. Everything's going to be just fine.
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Remember I have both a cassette deck and Reel to Reel deck. I have had cassettes all in the car through most of these many changes. That is after I gave up the bus and bought a car about 10 years ago. So if it is based on long term I guess I would have to say cassette even though it is nowhere near my best sounding format.You did an excellent job mapping my journey.
"Analog is Music, Digital is mathematics"
Happy listening,
Teresa
my own interest in LPs actually had a reawaking in early 2004. I'd never abandoned the format, rather my gear was mothballed upon the arrival of my children; a common occurence it seems, especially for the LP side of things.First attempt to get back at the hobby started somewhat earlier (by a year or maybe more) when I got a very good CD player (Arcam CD92), my first CD player from post "CD-sucks" era; I have no idea when that era started as I had lived from the early 90's with a heavily modified custom player that at least didn't hurt my ears, but most (95%+) of my listening was LPs anyway.
However the CD92 never really did it for me, it wasn't nasty or anything, hard to explain really; I've since learned the benefits of resonance control footers and power cords, especially for CD players, and wonder if I hadn't held back the CD92.
Anyway I picked up a Dual 504 in spring 04 that got my LPs spinning again and then it was only a matter of time beore I restored my main player to working condition.
However the CD92, while not a perfect fit, was certainly plenty good enough to tell me that the format had arrived and in spring 05 I got a Jolida JD-100 that is just amazing IMHO. It didn't hurt that even with Foculpod footers (they're cheap, 4.50 each from Parts Connection) and a good power cord (local design, approx. 300US) it still only cost about half what I paid for the CD92. I never thought that I'd hear a budget (sub $1000US) CD player that is not only enormously listenable but can actually accomplish "twinkling of the ivories" with a level of sophistication and subtlety that would cause many even a very good TT to blush.My experience with CD players, including some very expensive ones listened to in audio shops, is that just like TTs it's most definitely *not* a one size fits all world. I've heard players that I've no doubt would run rings around my Jolida in objective terms, e.g. resolution, extention, etc., etc. that I'd pass over (for the Jolida) without hesitation. Mind you I heard other that would likely cause me to wave bye-bye to the Jolida just as fast, including an earlier 20-bit generation TOTL Copland model, but I'm in no rush.
--
Interestingly I was given a rather nice jazz collection on cassettes (home recording of LP and CD originals) but have found that getting a good sounding cassette player from the thrifts is harded than I assumed it would be. Thus far it been a steady seriers of "Ugh, this thing sucks". I've actually given up realizing that to get a good one would require some research (and a few more bucks) but can't find the inspiration to bother with it.
I nearly had a heart attack when I spotted it setting on a row of complete dreck cassette decks. I grabbed tested it and took it home. I got the service manual on eBay as the azimuth was off, found the adjustment screw and adjusted it by ear. When means it's not perfect but close but nowadays to get any piece of equipment worked on you have to drop at least a $100 bill. For a $39.50 purchase I wasn't willing to do it yet. I'm not using it for recording just playback. I use my Reel to Reel for recording, which is in perfect adjustment.While I only had Cassette for the car I picked up a lot of normal commercial cassettes which were fine for the car environment. But to my surprise most of these sound excellent on the Nakamichi at home. Sometimes near equal to the LP in sound but with lower noise. The Nakamichi even with only Dolby B has very little tape hiss and some of the best bass I've heard in any format, plenty of impact and energy. And audiophile cassettes sound almost as good as audiophile LPs.
I compared "The Missing Linc" which I have on Sheffield Lab Direct to Disc LP and Nakamichi Reference Cassette real time transfer from the Sheffield Lab Analog Master to TDK Metal tape. Remember this is a comparison of the Direct to Disc versus the tape copy of the back-up master tape. Here is what I heard:
1. The LP had the most extended high frequencies
2. The tape had the best bass with the most impact
3. The LP had some surface noise.
4. The tape had zero tape hiss and no noise except for the performers.All told I like the cassette the best if it is not played right after the LP as the high frequencies of this Direct Disc LP are among the best in my collection. I have many LPs that do not have as much high frequency energy as the cassette.
I had to keep both as they both offer me different things from the same recording.
Cassettes of this caliber are very rare. But Cassettes can be carried around with you and played in a Walkman and can be played in your car as well.
I continue to be amazed how good cassettes, at a slow speed of 1 7/8 IPS can sound so good. Cassette errors are sins of omission not sins of addition. If you find a Nakamichi at a good price grab it.
"Analog is Music, Digital is mathematics"
Happy listening,
Teresa
don't expect much 'tempering'. I've advised Teresa the same many, many times, with zero effect.However, saying that, I certainly don't feel she should be blackballed from the site as a (very) few seem to think is appropriate. All should be welcome here. Excepting 'Guy', of course.
Teresa :)
nt
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Just how far *out there* do you want me to go with the allegorical caricature? I mean come on, it could get a little beyond ridiculous ... why next you'd have me having our Subject, prior to New Born LP fandoom, mouthing off something like:"SACD and 24/96 DAD are not only better than CD, LP, Open Reel but to a degree of one thousand fold"
though not as good as vinyl.
Dave
Later Gator,
Crank up your talking machine, grab a jar of your favorite "kick-back", sit down, relax, and let the good times roll.The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Dare I say it...dare I even think it...is it...
I have not heard a cd outperform an LP in a long time. I have some that sound as good but none better. At one time I too, had ceedees that sounded better than LP's. That was back when I was running a Vintage Dual TT and cheap phono preamp. But even then, the Dual would hang with my $2300 cdp on occasion, but not with consistancy as a good TT/cart/phono pre will do.
I only use my gun whenever kindness fails
Oh! Wait...Comercial compact cassetes have always sucked and I have never sold off my software unless it was due to finding a "better" copy (this includes the dreaded CD,SACD, DVD-A and LPs).
Nevermind!
--
Al G
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
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