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Post by tropicallutefisk on Feb 18, 2020 6:55:07 GMT -5
I never owned any vinyl and most likely will not. I'm not a hater though. Back in the olden days I used to listen to my dad's small collection of LPs on the cheap family stereo. I thought the LPs sounded much better than my cassettes. However, I was always on the go and I could take cassettes with me in my Walkman and later in my car. Then CDs arrived. No more tape hiss, dirty heads, eaten tapes, etc. From there it was all digital as a matter of convenience and better sound than I was getting from my cassettes. Since vinyl has become popular again, I have looked at buying a TT and some albums on a few different occasions. Each time I looked at the cost of a decent TT and the cost of albums and just could not justify going down this path. Instead, I invested in beefing up the system with better amps, preamp, speakers, etc. It seemed this provided better payback than delving into vinyl. Now I'm looking at my next "investment" into my system and again vinyl just doesn't seem to be in the running. Instead I will be improving my digital playback. Again not that I don't like the sound of vinyl. I do. I just don't think it actually sounds "better", its just a little different to my ears. Now if I had a vinyl collection from years back or had unlimited audio funds maybe I'd buy a TT and start a vinyl collection just to have the option.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Feb 18, 2020 7:33:52 GMT -5
Yeah - what was the microrendu kerfuffle? I recall you tried it and liked it, then...in a later unrelated review and now...you seem to say different. No skin off my nose, but...I don't recall any kerfuffle. Normally, if you try something and don't like it, you tend to raise holy heck about how awful it is. But, on this...crickets. Mark (PS - I stand by all my prior comments and reviews on the topic) I DID like my Microrendu. And I'm not saying any different now. The kerfuffle was about HOW the thing worked. The eventual conclusion (by all involved, if I remember right) was "darned if I know!" There was LOTS of speculation, but no actual proof. But the general consensus was that "bits is bits" is just NOT entirely so. I've been exploring that idea with a friend. A bit-perfect copy from EAC is sounding different from a bit-perfect copy from dB Poweramp, and the bit perfect copy from other software also sounds different. Boom Got it...I am pretty sure I said it before...I don't care how it worked. It sounded (and still sounds) great. Mark |
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Post by brubacca on Feb 18, 2020 7:36:24 GMT -5
I never owned any vinyl and most likely will not. I'm not a hater though. Back in the olden days I used to listen to my dad's small collection of LPs on the cheap family stereo. I thought the LPs sounded much better than my cassettes. However, I was always on the go and I could take cassettes with me in my Walkman and later in my car. Then CDs arrived. No more tape hiss, dirty heads, eaten tapes, etc. From there it was all digital as a matter of convenience and better sound than I was getting from my cassettes. Since vinyl has become popular again, I have looked at buying a TT and some albums on a few different occasions. Each time I looked at the cost of a decent TT and the cost of albums and just could not justify going down this path. Instead, I invested in beefing up the system with better amps, preamp, speakers, etc. It seemed this provided better payback than delving into vinyl. Now I'm looking at my next "investment" into my system and again vinyl just doesn't seem to be in the running. Instead I will be improving my digital playback. Again not that I don't like the sound of vinyl. I do. I just don't think it actually sounds "better", its just a little different to my ears. Now if I had a vinyl collection from years back or had unlimited audio funds maybe I'd buy a TT and start a vinyl collection just to have the option. Agree with this. Its too difficult to start from scratch on vinyl. New vinyl is very expensive. I have roughly 50 albums and get one or two a year. Thats why I've settled on a more modest vinyl setup. |
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Post by brubacca on Feb 18, 2020 7:40:13 GMT -5
Yeah - what was the microrendu kerfuffle? I recall you tried it and liked it, then...in a later unrelated review and now...you seem to say different. No skin off my nose, but...I don't recall any kerfuffle. Normally, if you try something and don't like it, you tend to raise holy heck about how awful it is. But, on this...crickets. Mark (PS - I stand by all my prior comments and reviews on the topic) I DID like my Microrendu. And I'm not saying any different now. The kerfuffle was about HOW the thing worked. The eventual conclusion (by all involved, if I remember right) was "darned if I know!" There was LOTS of speculation, but no actual proof. But the general consensus was that "bits is bits" is just NOT entirely so. I've been exploring that idea with a friend. A bit-perfect copy from EAC is sounding different from a bit-perfect copy from dB Poweramp, and the bit perfect copy from other software also sounds different. Boom Ok. Didn't remember that. I can't say why, just in my tests it was better. Also I notice a difference between power supplies on the mR. Now the interesting test for me will be my new Gumby upgrade with their Unison USB technology. They claim that it will be source independant and give good sound regardless of upstream components. I have the microRendu and a RaspberryPi that I am going to test (when I get the DAC back and get used to the sound). |
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Post by 405x5 on Feb 18, 2020 17:23:08 GMT -5
I always get a kick out of the word “vinyl” put out there for the last decade or so, that has been adopted as a sort of “nouveau riche“ term to add relevance or something special to what us 50 plus crowd grew up with called records.
“Hey I remember when I was a kid and my Mom and Dad used to spin vinyl..”.. I can’t keep a straight face!
Bill
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Post by brubacca on Feb 18, 2020 18:02:44 GMT -5
I always get a kick out of the word “vinyl” put out there for the last decade or so, that has been adopted as a sort of “nouveau riche“ term to add relevance or something special to what us 50 plus crowd grew up with called records. “Hey I remember when I was a kid and my Mom and Dad used to spin vinyl..”.. I can’t keep a straight face! Bill For me the problem being that I called vinyl albums records back in the 80s. When CDs came out I still called them records or albums. The term for me became synonomous with the group of music on the medium not the medium itself. So I say Vinyl to describe the medium not the collection of music. |
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Post by drtrey3 on Feb 18, 2020 18:57:32 GMT -5
Sorry about the stress. I am blessed to have a good working and easy vinyl set up that I just used to rip Sounds from True Stories. Bruce Hornsby is up next. Now theses are all records I bought years before, but they still sound great and rip well. Sorry it was not so for you.
Trey
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2020 21:50:49 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that.....Thank goodness you have other options..... Personally, I skipped the Vinyl fad ...........Loving digital soooo much!!!!!!! Fad .......... bingo! I have spent zero dollars on this "vinyl" fad. I still have a very fine Technics direct drive turntable (I got tired of replacing the supposedly superior belts), with high quality Shure cartridges. This was after several other excellent top turntables from Dual and Sony starting in the 60's. My last record/album buy was in the 70's. My best albums like my direct to disk Shefield Labs that I still occasionally play, sound excellent in spite of the inherent/subsequent surface noise. I never had a single issue except for belts. However, I quickly discovered that a high quality produced digital music source sounds superior to the same recording on "vinyl." The new Turntables, arms and cartridges are very cool and make for a fun purchase if one has the funds but no better sounding. |
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Post by mountain on Feb 18, 2020 21:52:58 GMT -5
I always get a kick out of the word “vinyl” put out there for the last decade or so, that has been adopted as a sort of “nouveau riche“ term to add relevance or something special to what us 50 plus crowd grew up with called records. “Hey I remember when I was a kid and my Mom and Dad used to spin vinyl..”.. I can’t keep a straight face! Bill For me the problem being that I called vinyl albums records back in the 80s. When CDs came out I still called them records or albums. The term for me became synonomous with the group of music on the medium not the medium itself. So I say Vinyl to describe the medium not the collection of music. I did not spin vinyl. I put on records and listened to albums. I play CD’s but I listen to albums. I stream music but I still listen to albums. 😁 |
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Post by 405x5 on Feb 18, 2020 22:47:16 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that.....Thank goodness you have other options..... Personally, I skipped the Vinyl fad ...........Loving digital soooo much!!!!!!! Fad .......... bingo! I have spent zero dollars on this "vinyl" fad. I still have a very fine Technics direct drive turntable (I got tired of replacing the supposedly superior belts), with high quality Shure cartridges. This was after several other excellent top turntables from Dual and Sony starting in the 60's. My last record/album buy was in the 70's. My best albums like my direct to disk Shefield Labs that I still occasionally play, sound excellent in spite of the inherent/subsequent surface noise. I never had a single issue except for belts. However, I quickly discovered that a high quality produced digital music source sounds superior to the same recording on "vinyl." The new Turntables, arms and cartridges are very cool and make for a fun purchase if one has the funds but no better sounding. Like Dave Grusin maybe?? (Sheffield Labs!) Bill |
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Post by novisnick on Feb 18, 2020 22:48:59 GMT -5
For me the problem being that I called vinyl albums records back in the 80s. When CDs came out I still called them records or albums. The term for me became synonomous with the group of music on the medium not the medium itself. So I say Vinyl to describe the medium not the collection of music. I did not spin vinyl. I put on records and listened to albums. I play CD’s but I listen to albums. I stream music but I still listen to albums. 😁 There ya go! 👍 On occasion I’ve been guilty and called them vinyl but it was in a form of a generic word, like Kleenex instead of facial tissue. |
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Post by Soup on Feb 18, 2020 23:32:27 GMT -5
What microrendu kerfuffle? I have one and love it. Sounds amazing to me its better than many other attempts at digital. This wasn't actually the end of my journey just the end of giving VPI my money. Felt jerked around by them. Running a Rega P2 with Hana EL cartridge now. Sometimes I prefer vinyl, sometimes digital. I don't think its an either or proposition. Digital (with Roon) gets a lot of play. Sometimes its vinyl. Sometimes the network isn't working so Vinyl saves me from throwing stuff out the window. I hate the arguments as to which is better. They both have their merits just like Tube vs Solid State! Exactly! I’ve never been let down by my Rega or soTm. Whichever mood strikes me is good, SS or tubes, Most music I listen to I prefer tubes! Enjoy the music. What soTm model do you have? |
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Post by novisnick on Feb 19, 2020 0:13:10 GMT -5
Exactly! I’ve never been let down by my Rega or soTm. Whichever mood strikes me is good, SS or tubes, Most music I listen to I prefer tubes! Enjoy the music. What soTm model do you have? I have the sms - 200 Ultra SE, powered with the spa - 500 SE. I’m also using their ethernet switch. The sum of the parts makes the whole sound great. I’m using a Brooklyn DAC all fed by my Mac Mini and connected external HDD. I have a custom made switch so I can utilize SS or tube Monoblock amps. (Of course) There are so many possibilities to adjust the sound that it’s silly and could take months and possibly years to play with all the possibilities. txs for asking. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2020 0:57:45 GMT -5
Fad .......... bingo! I have spent zero dollars on this "vinyl" fad. I still have a very fine Technics direct drive turntable (I got tired of replacing the supposedly superior belts), with high quality Shure cartridges. This was after several other excellent top turntables from Dual and Sony starting in the 60's. My last record/album buy was in the 70's. My best albums like my direct to disk Sheffield Labs that I still occasionally play, sound excellent in spite of the inherent/subsequent surface noise. I never had a single issue except for belts. However, I quickly discovered that a high quality produced digital music source sounds superior to the same recording on "vinyl." The new Turntables, arms and cartridges are very cool and make for a fun purchase if one has the funds but no better sounding. Like Dave Grusin maybe?? (Sheffield Labs!) Bill Bill, I don't have that album but bought the Lincoln Mayorga, Harry James, Thelma Houston/Pressure Cooker and Sheffield Drum (my son, a drummer. stole it from me  ). In the early 70's I was on a marketing trip to Kennewick in Eastern Worshington at a high end store, The Tin Ear (might be still there). They played Thelma Houston's To Know You Is To Love You from her Sheffield Direct to Disk album. It was with a high end amp (I think Audio Research?) over a pair of the room divider 3 panel Tympani 1 Magnepan's. I was absolutely floored and immediately taken to audio heaven. What an experience with such clarity, naturalness and inner detail, WOW! Yes, there were better speakers out there but in my 4th year in the hobby, the Maggies and the Sheffield combo was an ear opener. Just to give a taste of what I heard (which by BTW sounds super on my Emo reference speakers/amp/Technics-Shure), here are the two selections I listened to. To Know You is to Love You - Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker (Takes off at 60 seconds .)
Don't Misunderstand (My favorite on this album). sheffieldlab.com/search.php?sl=1 |
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Feb 19, 2020 5:57:36 GMT -5
For me the problem being that I called vinyl albums records back in the 80s. When CDs came out I still called them records or albums. The term for me became synonomous with the group of music on the medium not the medium itself. So I say Vinyl to describe the medium not the collection of music. I did not spin vinyl. I put on records and listened to albums. I play CD’s but I listen to albums. I stream music but I still listen to albums. 😁 I tried spinning my streamer...didn't work out well. The wires were quickly tangled. Mark |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2020 17:26:43 GMT -5
I always get a kick out of the word “vinyl” put out there for the last decade or so, that has been adopted as a sort of “nouveau riche“ term to add relevance or something special to what us 50 plus crowd grew up with called records. “Hey I remember when I was a kid and my Mom and Dad used to spin vinyl..”.. I can’t keep a straight face! Bill Hey Bill, we use to pay $3.95/LP, maybe $5.99 for a double & $1.99 in the "cut out" section. The “nouveau riche“ are paying $25 for an LP; so ya, they are riche. lol I'm getting CD's for $6.99 btw- pressing "Play" on a remote control is so much better & easier- no more "hold my beer". |
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Post by 405x5 on Feb 19, 2020 18:27:00 GMT -5
I always get a kick out of the word “vinyl” put out there for the last decade or so, that has been adopted as a sort of “nouveau riche“ term to add relevance or something special to what us 50 plus crowd grew up with called records. “Hey I remember when I was a kid and my Mom and Dad used to spin vinyl..”.. I can’t keep a straight face! Bill Hey Bill, we use to pay $3.95/LP, maybe $5.99 for a double & $1.99 in the "cut out" section. The “nouveau riche“ are paying $25 for an LP; so ya, they are riche. lol I'm getting CD's for $6.99 btw- pressing "Play" on a remote control is so much better & easier- no more "hold my beer". Ha Ha! (And YES....I remember the LP’s with the corner missing!) Ya see, I struck a nerve....not the only soul agged by the terminology (but not so much!) Like anything else new to somebody, you have to experience it yourself. What the younger crowd will never get to experience was the revelation of going from records TO that little silver round thing with a hole in it🧐. Bill |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2020 19:32:38 GMT -5
Wow.. tough blow. Maybe get an inexpensive Technics to fill the gap til you can replace the other one? They make a model that reviews well for under 200usd. I'm looking at getting a Fluance RT81 next spring. Don, I've got my eye on the Fluance RT82 because of the brushless Servo Motor over the RT80 & 81 which have a different motor; had problems & failures for a period of time. Any reason why you're looking at the RT81 model? built-in pre-amp? |
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Post by dsonyay on Feb 19, 2020 20:05:18 GMT -5
Texzick.. since I posted that message, I bought a Rega p2 from a friend.  |
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). In the early 70's I was on a marketing trip to Kennewick in Eastern Worshington at a high end store, The Tin Ear (might be still there). They played Thelma Houston's To Know You Is To Love You from her Sheffield Direct to Disk album. It was with a high end amp (I think Audio Research?) over a pair of the room divider 3 panel Tympani 1 Magnepan's. I was absolutely floored and immediately taken to audio heaven. What an experience with such clarity, naturalness and inner detail, WOW! Yes, there were better speakers out there but in my 4th year in the hobby, the Maggies and the Sheffield combo was an ear opener. Just to give a taste of what I heard (which by BTW sounds super on my Emo reference speakers/amp/Technics-Shure), here are the two selections I listened to. 
