Thanks for that additional info on the history. As usual many variables. I'm with you on the travel priorities. That would be mine as well. If I can get what I consider great sound reproduction at a decent price that's all I need. Quite it often it depends what we compare it to.
As I said I got drawn back into audio because of my son. So now he has an entire system that costs < $1500 dollars with speakers he picked out (sub-$300). Most was spent on TT + cartridge. It sounds better than anything I have owned to date. It would be laughed at by true audiophiles, I'm sure, but at the same time I'm sure it sounds better than anything 1 out 100 people I know have. Tom On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 5:44 PM, John Sessoms <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Tom C >> >> FWIW, when vinyl was in it's heyday, considering the quality of >> playback equipment most commonly used by the largest % of the record >> market, I wonder whether the LP's themselves were made to the high >> quality audio specifications, that eliteists believe they are hearing. >> I can hear a diffference between same vinyl and CD recordings, but >> how good is the vinyl, really? > > Depends on the original analog mix; quality of the original vinyl - ratio of > virgin vinyl to recycled vinyl; thickness of the pressing; quality of the > lacquer cutting; quality of the master disc; quality of the "mother" discs; > quality of the stamping molds; where it comes in the press run ... how the > LP has been handled since it left the factory floor. > > Mass market vinyl from the 60s and 70s ain't often that great. They made > CHEAP, thin records, cut a lot of corners in manufacturing, and quality > control was often poor. New audiophile LPs use higher quality materials, > more of them and cut fewer corners in production. > > The same factors apply to CDs. > > Audiophile CDs have much better sound quality than the ones you find in the > discount bin at WalMart; especially some of the early CD issues of 60s & 70s > LPs that were digitized straight from the old LP "master" tapes without any > kind of re-mixing, re-mastering ... that's why there are re-issues (one > reason anyway). > > Another thing is the recording process is stood somewhat on its head from > what it was in the golden age of vinyl. Where before everything was recorded > onto analog tape and then digitized along the way to making an LP into a CD, > now-a-days almost everything is recorded digitally from the get-go and has > to be converted to analog somewhere along the way to making a new vinyl LP. > > What I'm saying is really good quality vinyl and really good quality digital > sources both sound *REALLY GOOD*. > > It can also be REALLY expensive relative to what's good enough for most > purposes. > > It boils down to everyone has to determine their own cost benefit ratio > regarding their chosen audio reproduction system. I have what I consider a > good quality legacy audio system with a better than average turntable, good > speakers and a set of audiophile head-phones ... plus tape decks and CD > players. > > When I use my legacy system, I play CDs or home recorded cassettes. I'm not > a connoisseur of the audio listening experience. For me it's a soundtrack. > > I can't remember the last time I actually listened to my vinyl LPs because > they don't fit in with the way I want to listen to music, although I do > still have those vinyl LPs; even some of my old 45s. I keep 'em around in > case the CDRs ever wear out. I can go back and rip 'em again if I need to. > > I have listened to audiophile vinyl on audiophile component systems, > including the multi-thousand dollar turntables. > > But, if/when I have multi-thousands of dollars to spend, I wouldn't spend it > on stereo equipment. Maybe a new camera body, a lens or two and I'd put a > lot of miles into my next "photo-safari". There's 50 states out there; 49 of > 'em I intend to see either at least once or at least once more ... and then > there's the Orient, Europe, Australia, Africa ... are all calling my name. > > Ain't no audiophile stereo listening experience good enough to drown that > out, and it wouldn't fit into a carry-on anyway. > > So ... > > Usual terms and conditions apply. > Feed face down, nine edge first. > It had a good beat, was easy to dance to - so I'll give it about a 63. > Closed course with professional driver. > Void where prohibited, licensed or taxed. > Do not bend, fold, spindle or mutilate. > Your mileage MAY vary! > Consult your owners manual for additional details. > Don't try this at home kids. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
