Records...

[Telp]

I just got myself a record player the other day, and am finally able to sit down and listen to the fathers old collections of records (lots of stuff we both have collected on CDs again) and as ive listened, I think that everything sounds so much better (well almost everything) on vinyl. Does anyone else think this?

[aaronw1986]

<begin heavy debate>

[Telp]

<begin heavy debate>

Let's hear it!! :D

[rockosmodurnlif]

No.

[Telp]

Thanks for your input.. :rolleyes:

[killerrobot]

It's not that it actually sounds better, I just really prefer vinyl because you get to hear the imperfections of real recordings before all the high tech digitalization gear takes over and makes everyone sound like a rock star and never miss a note. That and I love the scratchy sound. Call me sentimental.

[Telp]

It's not that it actually sounds better, I just really prefer vinyl because you get to hear the imperfections of real recordings before all the high tech digitalization gear takes over and makes everyone sound like a rock star and never miss a note. That and I love the scratchy sound. Call me sentimental.

Haha, no i feel pretty much the same way. Maybe its just the honost sound of vinyl that makes it sound so much better...

[jecapaga]

Oh I'd have to say vinyl, a good turntable/needle and system sounds better. I guess it depends if you're comparing lossless versions to the vinyl obviously but vinyl just sounds richer to me.

[Telp]

Oh I'd have to say vinyl, a good turntable/needle and system sounds better. I guess it depends if you're comparing lossless versions to the vinyl obviously but vinyl just sounds richer to me.

True, I'm finding I like albums a lot more on vinyl. Like theres a bunch of CDs I've listened to and have not liked at all, and i put the vinyl version on and it just like, hits me. WAM! THIS IS GOOD!

[Alrescha]

Does anyone else think this?

I think it's possible that vinyl sounds better than some CDs or some other digital media - the very first time the needle touches the record.

I lived with vinyl records, it's all that there was. I had cleaning kits and brushes and anti-static sprays and you name it. I religiously recorded my new albums to tape and hid the vinyl away so it wouldn't get scratched/dirty/warped.

When CDs arrived in the 80's, with all their early faults, I couldn't ditch vinyl records fast enough. However nice that they could *potentially* sound, they just weren't worth the trouble. I've never looked back.

A.

[mperkins37]

As the owner of 1300+ vinyl records, I am a little biased, but I agree that they feel right to many people. They are honest representations of audio, not digitally masked. Then again I am very biased.

[jecapaga]

No question that vinyl is a labor of love. I grew up with it and still have 100s that I grew up with. Total pain dealing with warping, wiping, keeping them clean, etc. Some day soon I'll bust it out and do a side-by-side comparison.

[TooFastForLove]

Recorded on analog equipment = sounds better on vinyl
Recorded on digital equipment = sounds better on cd / various file formats

It also cracks me up when people release DVD-Audio formats of things like old Bob Dylan records: typically they're just one guy and a guitar, how many ways can you pan that through the 5.1 channels and not make it sound hokey?

[Victor ch]

Most "audiophiles" will use a turntable/vinyl to listen to their expensive audio equipment, supposedly records are the closest thing to the original recording, haven't tried one yet (not planning on getting one neither). I'll stick with cds and Lossless files for my hi-fi stereo, IMO records are not worth the hassle.

Victor

[quigleybc]

I think it's the same concept as ' whiskey tastes better out of a tin cup when you're camping'


it doesn't really


but it's more fun

[Leareth]

I find that vinyl just sounds 'warmer'
more real, less perfect.
especially classical music, is best on vinyl.

[richard.mac]

vinyl outputs real sound waves whereas digital audio on CDs or as mp3/aac outputs imperfect sound waves in binary as 1s and 0s so audiophiles will say it sounds better.

also vinyl has that slight 'crackle' sound from dust accumulating on the record which disk jockeys love when recording Hip Hop or Dance tracks. makes it sound more "authentic" and old school.

you always know theres a good DJ if they use vinyl. but digital audio on CDs or mp3 players are cheaper and more accessible for some so you cant just judge every DJ on that but every professional DJ e.g. Axwell (Dance, House) DJ Premier (Hip Hop) will always use vinyl.

[Killyp]

Seeing as most people's sound systems are made up from mostly analogue components, then vinyl usually does sound better.

For the rare occasion that your sound system is 100% digital, then CDs do sound better, and a completely digital system sounds better than a completely analogue system.

Digital/CD is also highly dependent on how the recording is mastered. On a few occasions, I've heard DDD recordings through completely digital stereo systems, and it sounds stunning.

[zelmo]

I don't necessarily agree that music on vinyl sounds better [I'll leave that one to purists to debate ad nauseum], but I definitely enjoy the experience of listening to music on vinyl more than popping in a cd or strapping on the ol' iPod.
When I was younger all of my music was purchased as vinyl, and I would sit in my room for hours listening to albums and checking out the packaging, reading all the lyrics and liner notes and studying the photos and artwork so that I felt a kind of connection to the artist.
With the advent of the cd and now the mp3, it became possible to have truly portable high quality music, and my listening habits have changed drastically. Instead of making time for music as a recreation in itself, music became integrated into other activities - driving, mowing the lawn, riding my bike, whatever. I no longer sit back and pore over the packaging, memorizing lyrics and becoming familiar with the artists. Hell, I've owned some cd's which I've listened to for years and don't know the track names, much less lyrics.
I guess I miss the intimacy of vinyl more that I feel the quality was superior...although there's nothing quite like a nice Japanese pressing.

[iJohnHenry]

I think it's the same concept as ' whiskey tastes better out of a tin cup when you're camping'

It's subjective, but analogue vs digital capture might have some merit.

I do love my vinyl, except for Joni Mitchell's debut album. Total crap on the pressing. Much better with the CD.

[Killyp]

It's subjective, but analogue vs digital capture might have some merit.

I do love my vinyl, except for Joni Mitchell's debut album. Total crap on the pressing. Much better with the CD.

That's one thing I will say - vinyl is very dependent on the quality of the pressing. My Coldcut and Peter Gabriel records in particular are the best pressings I own and are undeniably miles better than the CD equivalents. The same couldn't be said of some of my records...

[RaceTripper]

I have 3000+ classical and jazz LPs I play on a Linn Sondek LP12 turntable. The accuracy and quality for the sound far surpasses anything I've heard digitally recorded. If I want to listen to something casually I can stand a CD, etc., but if I want to sit down to some serious music listening it has to be my LPs.

Everything digital just sounds so sterile and lacking. Maybe it's better with electronic music (pop, etc) but for acoustic music digital stinks by comparison.

My $0.02

[MonksMac]

My father too has a large amount of LP's, like the OP. When I was younger I was often annoyed that he had so many of them because they are on a shelf in my closet. But a few years later I started to think it was pretty cool to listen to music on vinyl. So from time to time when no one is home I secretly get out the turntable to have a listen to a few tracks off of an album. I definately is a more pleasurable experiance than just popping a CD into my Stereo (that I very much dislike, but can't not use because it was a gift.) if only for the mere fact that I'm anxious the whole time to see if they are coming home.:eek:
The Bottom Line:
I really like listening to all of the old stuff on vinyl. There is just something about the whole experience that is calming and relaxing. Even though some records don't sound as good on Vinyl as on CD they still sound great! Have you ever heard Chaka Kahn on Vinyl?:p

[gvdv]

I don't necessarily agree that music on vinyl sounds better [I'll leave that one to purists to debate ad nauseum], but I definitely enjoy the experience of listening to music on vinyl more than popping in a cd or strapping on the ol' iPod.
When I was younger all of my music was purchased as vinyl, and I would sit in my room for hours listening to albums and checking out the packaging, reading all the lyrics and liner notes and studying the photos and artwork so that I felt a kind of connection to the artist.
With the advent of the cd and now the mp3, it became possible to have truly portable high quality music, and my listening habits have changed drastically. Instead of making time for music as a recreation in itself, music became integrated into other activities - driving, mowing the lawn, riding my bike, whatever. I no longer sit back and pore over the packaging, memorizing lyrics and becoming familiar with the artists. Hell, I've owned some cd's which I've listened to for years and don't know the track names, much less lyrics.
I guess I miss the intimacy of vinyl more that I feel the quality was superior...although there's nothing quite like a nice Japanese pressing.

Zelmo,
I've quoted the whole of what you wrote because I feel exactly the same as you do about this issue.

And I also have a few other thoughts, too.

I'm 45, and vinyl was the format which was around when I was buying music in my teens and early 20's. However, I think that part of the change in my music listening habits is attributable to getting older and having different things to occupy my time.

Also, moving back to Canada from the U.K. has been a factor in this, too. For example, knowing what the number 1 single was each week used to be a hugely important issue in the U.K. and was common knowledge - that factor hasn't existed in my lifetime in the U.S. or Canada. (Don't know if it's still as important in the U.K. because there are now more than the 3 T.V. channels and handful of radio stations that were around when I lived in Britain).

Another factor for me - unfortunately - is that I have now been conditioned to expect to see a video for the music I'm interested in while I'm listening to the music. So, in addition to wanting to get other things done while listening (like you, Zelmo), I also find myself wanting to have visual accompaniment to the music a lot of the time. I hate that.

Just a few thoughts,

GVDV

[CMD is me]

I just got myself a record player the other day, and am finally able to sit down and listen to the fathers old collections of records (lots of stuff we both have collected on CDs again) and as ive listened, I think that everything sounds so much better (well almost everything) on vinyl. Does anyone else think this?

I agree, but its really hard to get the turntable steady in the car.... don't even start on the quality of MP3s!

[davidanddavid]

I have always been torn on this issue.

Vinyl sounds warmer, I like album covers, it reminds me of my youth.

I hate pops and skipping though, so I tend to gravitate towards fidelity perfection. Although CD is not perfect, it sounds better to me overall.

If we could only get the warmth of vinyl without the imperfections on a digital format, then I'd be happy!!

[gvdv]

I have always been torn on this issue.

Vinyl sounds warmer, I like album covers, it reminds me of my youth.

I hate pops and skipping though, so I tend to gravitate towards fidelity perfection. Although CD is not perfect, it sounds better to me overall.

If we could only get the warmth of vinyl without the imperfections on a digital format, then I'd be happy!!

Hi davidanddavid,
I totally agree. I miss album covers because they remind me of my youth, and because it is easier to access (see) information like photos and liner notes, and something that 'big' seemed so special in some way.

But, I like the audio quality of CD's much better than vinyl. I've never subscribed to the 'warmth' argument, though.

GVDV.

[bartelby]

I recently had chance to compare 24bit audio , CD and Vinyl (180gm) all of the same recording.

Unsurprisingly the 24bit wiped the floor with the other two. But the vinyl out performed the cd. There were 4 of us listening and we all agreed on the outcome.

The equipment used:
Upgraded Musical Fidelity X series CD , pre and power amps
Upgraded AR ES-1 Turntable
Upgraded Monitor Audio speakers
All custom silver wire interconnects, speaker and mains cables

We did also agree that vinyl was nicer as the packaging was a bonus.

[Killyp]

Vinyl is terrible when it comes to technical perfection. I mean sure, it has a much larger dynamic range than CD, but you'll find there is tonnes of harmonic distortion going on there, particularly second and third harmonics, not to mention the wow and flutter. It's also tonally highly inaccurate (all RIAA amps have a slightly differing EQ curve).

I find records nicer to handle and put on though than CD. There's something lifeless about putting on a CD, whereas listening on vinyl has an 'event' to it.

[Loge]

I'm sure I've seen stated many times that vinyl has a lower dynamic range than CD, at least without introducing distortion.

I find that for classical music and opera, it sounds much better on CD, because the loud orchestral and particularly choral passages always seem to distort on vinyl. And while my equipment may not have been the best, I used to notice it too on Radio 3 (UK) back in the 80s when they were playing records, particularly when the stylus is near the centre of the record. Chamber music, however, did sound fine on vinyl since the required dynamic range is usually less.

[Silencio]

I recently had chance to compare 24bit audio , CD and Vinyl (180gm) all of the same recording.

Unsurprisingly the 24bit wiped the floor with the other two. But the vinyl out performed the cd. There were 4 of us listening and we all agreed on the outcome.

The equipment used:
Upgraded Musical Fidelity X series CD , pre and power amps
Upgraded AR ES-1 Turntable
Upgraded Monitor Audio speakers
All custom silver wire interconnects, speaker and mains cables

We did also agree that vinyl was nicer as the packaging was a bonus.

Interesting stuff. How was the AR ES-1 upgraded? On its own, that's a 30+ year old turntable and contemporary audiophile decks have come a long way since then. (I love all the old AR stuff, by the way: have fond memories of my dad's AR-3 speakers and I'm running a pair of AR TSW-410s still.)

My current deck is an equally old Dual 721, but I plan on upgrading to a newer Rega sometime soon.

For me, CDs got lost in the middle ground between vinyl and MP3s: vinyl is more pleasing to my unscientific ear, and MP3s are a lot more convenient than CDs (loving the new Remote app for iPhone with my Airport Express, BTW!).

[bartelby]

Interesting stuff. How was the AR ES-1 upgraded? On its own, that's a 30+ year old turntable and contemporary audiophile decks have come a long way since then. (I love all the old AR stuff, by the way: have fond memories of my dad's AR-3 speakers and I'm running a pair of AR TSW-410s still.)

Separated PSU, uprated drive, silver wiring, new tone arm and a Koetsu Black cartridge.

Out performs pretty much anything modern.

[zootie]

for me = vinyl
i am a vinyl junkie but also use CD's..but first choice for me is always vinyl...