Frustration with Vinyl...When Is It Time to Move on?

[Blueoak]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

Why not go with what makes more sense and sounds best to you and not try to follow the crowd. Just ignore what others say.

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+...SkwJKzeoJVoRM:

I agree. Do what's best for you. Lot's of reading, researching, and listening will help you make a great decision.

[Blueoak]

:d :d

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by Still-One

You mean uninterrupted for a maximum of 22 minutes and that is for someone with the patience and discipline to listen to every track on a 33 1/3 lp. Bless those that can do it.

Yes actually, listening to 22 mins or so without bothering to grab a remote. The way LPs were meant to be listened to in the old days. Think of listening to each side of St. Pepper in its entirety not just one track. Very relaxing [emoji41]

[Blueoak]

Originally Posted by nicoff

Yes actually, listening to 22 mins or so without bothering to grab a remote. The way LPs were meant to be listened to in the old days. Think of listening to each side of St. Pepper in its entirety not just one track. Very relaxing [emoji41]

The 22 minutes is just the engineering limitation given the rotation speed, surface area, and length of groove, right?

[Mikado463]

Originally Posted by nicoff

Yes actually, listening to 22 mins or so without bothering to grab a remote. The way LPs were meant to be listened to in the old days. Think of listening to each side of St. Pepper in its entirety not just one track. Very relaxing [emoji41]

agreed and that's why I also listen to 'Deep Tracks' on Sirius / XM

[Weirdcuba]

Just do what's right for you. I like all of the formats for various reasons, including even fm, but that's just me. It does mean that my collection is also varied in format, but other than that, I like the variety. I'd hate to choose only one of the children.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Weirdcuba

Just do what's right for you. I like all of the formats for various reasons, including even fm, but that's just me. It does mean that my collection is also varied in format, but other than that, I like the variety. I'd hate to choose only one of the children.

Jim.......I agree. I enjoy all the formats, vinyl LP's, CD's and SACD's, digital high-res downloads, FM radio, Internet streaming, reel to reel, and even cassette.

[PHC1]

"Frustration". First word of the thread name.

Some pops, some ticks, some lousy LP pressings and recordings. Starting all the way from the mastering and pressing process all the way to your stereo. There are so many variables that the end result and your satisfaction level will vary widely. It's all part of the game with vinyl. Those that venture into it must come to terms with that fact if they choose to continue down that path.

Along the way, you will spend tons of money trying to extract the maximum performance from vinyl in the form of better tables, better arms and cartridges and all the paraphernalia that promises to rid your vinyl of those dreaded noise gremlins and at some point you will either fall in love with the experience or you will get frustrated and quit.

The analog path in high end audio has long been eclipsed by digital in terms of noise free and wider dynamic range listening experience. Yet every once in a while, when all the stars line up, you sit down to listen to an LP and it still sounds more organic, more punchy, more alive, emotional and whole. That's when you feel like you are not ready to give it up and that you still have some enthusiasm left to press on dealing with all the variables and eliminating the weak links in your system and seeking out those truly great recordings and pressings among the sea of not so great ones that truly take you to that special place of audio nirvana and enjoying your favorite music.

Or you simply give up, trade in your analog gear for the latest and greatest component in your system and spin your shiny digital discs or stream your digital content from the server. Never having to go through all the voodoo rituals of getting that black plastic to sound good ever again and never looking back. The choice is yours and only you will know if some compromising of budget, time and effort is worth it to YOU.

[GaryProtein]

[Rex Anderson]

I took a class in vinyl disc mastering at the Institute of Audio Research (New York) in 1974. I worked as a recording engineer for over 30 years after that.

When I learned about all the limitations of the medium and how much information that is on the master tape that can not be transferred to vinyl, I was very happy when Compact Disc and digital audio came along. Of course it took years for the format to get the bugs worked out (A/D, D/A), but when done well, a good CD is much closer to the original recording.

With high resolution digital formats and great quality D/A, I haven't listened to a vinyl record for many years.