Topic: Vintage Hi-Fi enthusiasts?

[jlh3rd]

10,000..thing is, there could be some beatle albums worth high sums....nirvana, foo fighters, ...

[BallAquatics]

10,000..thing is, there could be some beatle albums worth high sums....nirvana, foo fighters, ...

+1  No doubt, out of 10,000 there are some real gems!   

[dave500]

i got abbey road and sgt peppers,few others,i have a 45rpm son of a preacher man dusty springfield,janis joplin pearl,too many to list,zz top etc.

[ofreen]

The problem with used LP's is that so few people knew/know how to correctly handle, clean, and store them.  (or really cared enough to)  Most have been played on turntables that were more like a lathe than an instrument for high fidelity reproduction.  All that does is add is add to LP's inherent auditory problems - surface noise, tape hiss, tracking error, inevitable skips and pops, inner groove compression, susceptibility to damage and so on.  That isn't to say that I don't understand the argument between analog and digital reproduction.  I even agree to an extent with the analog camp.  But a well mastered digital reproduction can sound very good without all the annoying issues with LP's.  So I haven't played any of my 700 or so LP's in decades.  I should figure out what to do with them.

[carnivorous chicken]

The problem with used LP's is that so few people knew/know how to correctly handle, clean, and store them.  (or really cared enough to)  Most have been played on turntables that were more like a lathe than an instrument for high fidelity reproduction.  All that does is add is add to LP's inherent auditory problems - surface noise, tape hiss, tracking error, inevitable skips and pops, inner groove compression, susceptibility to damage and so on.  That isn't to say that I don't understand the argument between analog and digital reproduction.  I even agree to an extent with the analog camp.  But a well mastered digital reproduction can sound very good without all the annoying issues with LP's.  So I haven't played any of my 700 or so LP's in decades.  I should figure out what to do with them.

That's why you gotta make sure a used record is in good shape before you buy it. Discogs and its rating system help -- I've bought records that were severely ovegraded and Discogs and Paypal always refund my money if the seller doesn't.

But I do think that digital formats can be troublesome as well: compression, hiss, sounding cold, etc. And with CDs, they're pretty easily scratched and become garbage. With downloads, aside from audio issues, there's nothing there -- nothing to hold, nothing to look at, nothing to file away. I worked at a record store in Seattle from 1988-1997, when CDs started making inroads. An LP back then cost $7.99 or $8.99, and CDs were $16-$20 and had insane packaging. But making a CD is pennies; it was a total rip-off.

I digitize my LPs to listen to stuff on my phone while traveling. And a lot of what I have simply isn't available except on vinyl.

[ofreen]

But I do think that digital formats can be troublesome as well: compression, hiss, sounding cold, etc.

No doubt about it.  When I say digital playback, I am talking about CDs.  MP3s and I-tunes crap are horribly compressed.  Sounds OK in a car going down the road at 80mph, but that's about it.  I bought one of the first CD players in 1984, a Hitachi DA-1000.  It was marked down from $1000 ($3000 in today's money) to $600, so I jumped on it.  Turns out there was an inherent problem with the digital-analog converter in those, so they were dumping them.  All I knew was that while it didn't sound horrible, I could tell something wasn't right.  I used it for a while but ended up giving it to a friend who thought her Bose 901s sounded good, so it didn't matter to her.  What compounded the problem was that the record companies were too cheap and lazy to remaster for CDs, so they used LP masters.  LPs used the RIAA equalization standard that boosted the high end in particular due to cartridge/stylus' less than linear frequency response.  Because CDs are linear (in general), the result was harsh and tinny playback, and obvious tape hiss that was also boosted.  This is what kept Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab going as LPs died out.  I have quite a few of their remastered CDs and they are not bad.  Of course the record companies figured out they could sell another CD album to someone who already had it by remastering it.  How many times have Led Zeppelin albums been remastered now?  It is better these days with really decent CDs out there, but some are produced and mastered better than others.  Just as it was with LPs.  Some famous albums were really bad sound-wise.

I digitize my LPs to listen to stuff on my phone while traveling. And a lot of what I have simply isn't available except on vinyl.

Actually, I have done this too.  When I said I haven't played my LPs for decades, the exception is when I digitized a bunch of them.  I have bootlegs that don't sound bad that got that treatment.

[jlh3rd]

this type of discussion can go on for pages. Look at audiokarma, as an example, and pull up vinyl vs cd. It is educational but heated.
The cd is digital..1's and 0's....which allegedly makes the music waveform a series of "steps" not the uniform continuous soundwave it is, which cuts the signal off........Ok, I' ll buy that.
On the other hand, I learned that making records back in the day required that the live music signal had to be "compromised " because of the limits of the playback equipment at the time. I guess primarily the needle/cartridge/ turntables capability to track the groove.
I'm a vinyl guy.
But if I play the same album , vinyl and cd, at the same time and switch back and forth....I gotta say the cd seems to come out ahead. but the cd is louder so I have  to turn it down, ...and my hearing is definitely not close to a 20 year old....and my turntable equipment is late 70's pioneer , and my speakers ,well, I don't know how good they compare....so my stuff is not top of the line......so, it's subjective,
My cd's are older..AAD, Which is supposedly the best way to make a cd.

Generally speaking my older albums, even if I played some a lot, can sound better when compared to a newer vinyl pressing of the same album.....it can depend on who's doing the remix, is it a pristine master tape, and the cutting and pressing......
another page after page of discussions and discourse......

I prefer vinyl....

[jlh3rd]

The problem with used LP's is that so few people knew/know how to correctly handle, clean, and store them.  (or really cared enough to)  Most have been played on turntables that were more like a lathe than an instrument for high fidelity reproduction.  All that does is add is add to LP's inherent auditory problems - surface noise, tape hiss, tracking error, inevitable skips and pops, inner groove compression, susceptibility to damage and so on.  That isn't to say that I don't understand the argument between analog and digital reproduction.  I even agree to an extent with the analog camp.  But a well mastered digital reproduction can sound very good without all the annoying issues with LP's.  So I haven't played any of my 700 or so LP's in decades.  I should figure out what to do with them.

yep..

[ofreen]

this type of discussion can go on for pages.

Kind of like the film vs. digital photography discussions.

[carnivorous chicken]

  I should figure out what to do with them.

Forgot to add: I'd be happy take them off your hands!

[ekpent]

 A very good friend of mine and who was also my wife's brother in law on her first marriage was a major major record collector of all kinds in our area. Everyone knew Gerald with his hat. Unfortunately he has passed on. As he grew older he was doing mostly just 45's because of the weight in handling them. I saw him sell some 45's on E-bay for hundreds of dollars apiece, he really knew his stuff. I used to buy bulk lots of 45's for him on my travels and he would come over and look through them and take them off my hands. He tried teaching me the fine points and I learned a little bit. Still buy some but not like I did. Recently bought this batch for 10 bucks from an estate that I have not dug through yet. Some look interesting.  Wish he was still here so we could get together and have a coffee and hang out a little while he did his thing.  A big wheel from Detroit came over and bought out his huge collection from the widow that was all catalogued in his basement.

[ofreen]

A BIC pen was my surgical instrument of choice...

[grcamna2]

I prefer vinyl also.
I would love to have the $ to purchase an entire collection to start with;I don't have any right now..

[dave500]

that feeling,in your car,when you eject a cassette and a streamer spews forth!then the light goes green and the car behind blows its horn as you try and save your favourite cassette!

[grcamna2]

that feeling,in your car,when you eject a cassette and a streamer spews forth!then the light goes green and the car behind blows its horn as you try and save your favourite cassette!

Noo !!!!   

[Tracksnblades1]

Come on guys, phono or digital, it has to sound better through just about any loud speaker than IPhone IPad AirBuds gen2 speakers…

I’m worried about this new generation. They think Iphone music sounds good…😳

Looked up the frequency response of the new AirBuds gen2 pro.. reminds me of an old 8 track or maybe a cassette player response, minus all the Dolby noise reduction hiss…🤫

75db at 20hz losing and ramping slightly down in db consistently up to 8,000hz, then nose diving to the basement, spikes straight back up at 15,000 hz and falls immediately back to the basement and stays there to 20,000hz….and according to the tester they need to remain in your ear exactly where they achieve the best response…🙄

In his next test he plans to test the noise cancellation and automatic compensating ear to ear volume from ear placement differences.

PS. I still think a CD will sound only as good as its DAC….and similarly the phono player will only sound as good its Phono board and cartridge. Understanding that the power supplies, preamps, power amps, and loud speakers aren’t already holding them back…🤔

I like both the old formats the best but like the conveniences of music streaming your playlists while working or driving. Like already mentioned some of the music streamed makes you think you’ve got a capacitor breaking down or a blown speaker…😩

[jlh3rd]

I’m worried about this new generation. They think Iphone music sounds good…😳





And…
They think their “music “ is music.🙄

[Stev-o]

I’m worried about this new generation. They think Iphone music sounds good…😳
And…
They think their “music “ is music.🙄

Doesnt this happen with every generation?  I remember my Dad asking me what that "noise" was that I was listening to?!!

I've tried bridging that gap with our daughter by bringing her to "cool" concerts through the years such as Tom Petty, Stone Temple Pilots, Black Keys and her fav at the time, Gwen Stefani.

That said, the 70's had the best music!  I dont get the "Swifties Revolution"!!!!

[carnivorous chicken]

Doesnt this happen with every generation?  I remember my Dad asking me what that "noise" was that I was listening to?!!

Yes. There is tons of good new music out there (at least according to my tastes, and that's not Taylor Swift...), and it's all on vinyl -- and there's a following among young people for it as well. I think part of the issue is that people, as they age, stop looking and are only subjected to the mainstream and what they see. There are still plenty of cool kids out there, and every generation knocks the subsequent ones.

[BallAquatics]

I love my vinyl, but I also love my cassette decks....  probably have about 6 too many!  Back in the day, WTUE in Dayton, Ohio had "Midnight Theater" where they played a new release album every week night with no commercial interruptions.  I had a deck on a timer and would listen to the tape each morning on the way to work.  What ever happened to all the great radio stations?

[Stev-o]

What ever happened to all the great radio stations?

KLBJ-FM in Austin is still running, since 1972!  [formally owned by the LBJ family]

"In 1972, KTBC-FM switched to a freeform rock format, with a progressive rock sound that was emerging on the FM dial in many cities in America"

In general, radio is dying a slow death due to all the streaming services available.  Although I do stream, I listen to the radio as well.

[ofreen]

Doesnt this happen with every generation?  I remember my Dad asking me what that "noise" was that I was listening to?!!

Back in the '70s I had my Phase Linear amp (still have it) and big speakers I built.  I lived out in the sticks and liked to set the speakers outside on a nice day and turn it up.  The system played loud and clean.  I once went down the road to see how far away I could hear it.  I could hear it a mile away, pretty good considering all the trees in between.  One of the favorite albums I'd play when the speakers were outside was the James Gang Live at Carnegie Hall.  (along with the Who Live at Leeds, Humble Pie at the Fillmore, Allman Bros at the Fillmore, Deep Purple Made in Japan, the live Rare Earth album, etc)  The second song on the James Gang album is 'You're Gonna Need Me' that builds to a crescendo at the end with feedback, reverb, distortion, everything three guys could throw in there.  It sounds spectacular turned up.  My dad drove into the yard just as it was building. He listened as it ended and then yelled "What the hell was that?"  He was a George Jones, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold kind of guy and it amazed him anyone would listen to that noise, let alone turned up to concert level.  However, I have always been convinced he actually liked it, just didn't want to admit it.

[Stev-o]

Doesnt this happen with every generation?  I remember my Dad asking me what that "noise" was that I was listening to?!!

Back in the '70s I had my Phase Linear amp (still have it) and big speakers I built.  I lived out in the sticks and liked to set the speakers outside on a nice day and turn it up.  The system played loud and clean.  I once went down the road to see how far away I could hear it.  I could hear it a mile away, pretty good considering all the trees in between.  One of the favorite albums I'd play when the speakers were outside was the James Gang Live at Carnegie Hall.  (along with the Who Live at Leeds, Humble Pie at the Fillmore, Allman Bros at the Fillmore, Deep Purple Made in Japan, the live Rare Earth album, etc)  The second song on the James Gang album is 'You're Gonna Need Me' that builds to a crescendo at the end with feedback, reverb, distortion, everything three guys could throw in there.  It sounds spectacular turned up.  My dad drove into the yard just as it was building. He listened as it ended and then yelled "What the hell was that?"  He was a George Jones, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold kind of guy and it amazed him anyone would listen to that noise, let alone turned up to concert level.  However, I have always been convinced he actually liked it, just didn't want to admit it.

Great story Greg!  Isnt it funny the memories we have of our Dads?!

Always Liked the James Gang but didnt recall that song, had to look it up. It's a wild one!
My favs were Funk #49 & Walkaway.

And FYI -  Joe Walsh is currently touring with the Eagles, they will be in Austin next month. But tickets are crazy expensive [$250ea for nosebleed], so I am on the fence about going. Will most likely be the last chance to see them.

[budman]

Isnt it funny the memories we have of our Dads?!

In 1977 a family friend gave me two tickets to see KISS.  I was only 13 at the time and my parents wouldn't let me go with friend, so my dad took me.  We had great seats.  My dad shoved cotton in his ears, and I remember him having dig it out after the show with a key.  He seemed like an out of place old man to me at the time, but he was only 34!  LOL!  A couple of months later they let me go see Queen with a friend.

My son and I have been to a lot of shows together.  He plays guitar, so it's been acts like Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, Monte Montgomery, Brian Setzer and some jazz and fusion bands.  I listen a lot of different kinds of music.  He was exposed to a lot of variety growing up.

[Ichiban 4]

Bump