Vinyl or CD, I know what I prefer.

[MATTBIN]

A few years ago (about 30 to be precise) I put together a stereo system, which wasn’t unusual then as no one manufacturer made all the component parts that would satisfy anyone who wanted a good stereo system. I researched the subject and set my budget to match the components as best I could. Conventional wisdom then was obviously to get the best possible parts you could for the budget you had but, it was generally felt that he front end should be good and the back end too, the amplifier could be the weakest link if the budget wouldn’t stretch. Obviously though you wouldn’t spend 90% of the budget on the front and back, 75% was seen as acceptable. Record decks then came in two types (mainly) direct or indirect drive, each manufacturer stating theirs to be the best, tone arms were both straight and curved with manufacturers again saying their design was best. Cartridges (stylus) could also be a minefield with some producing a bright system, other more bass, also the amp could influence the final sound. Speakers were generally as big as you could get them if you wanted a lot of bass, some had two drive units some had three, crossovers (the electronics that made the sound go to whichever part of the speaker required to be driven) were also variable. All in all, to get something sounding good required considerable research and/or luck. We also had the choice of which cables to use to hook it all together with and which speaker stands to use, depending on the room’s floor construction (concrete or suspended wooden floorboards affecting the sound).

It was generally agreed that UK hi-fi was best, certainly in speakers, probably in amps, although some American ones were well regarded, but Japanese stuff was generally less than optimal, or more accurately – crap, especially the all-in-one stuff such as music centres. The Japanese were just starting to create decent amps (and I do mean just), their record decks were pretty good for buget systems, although at the top end they couldn’t compete with the British stuff.

So I ended up with a Sanyo deck, Pioneer receiver and Wharfedale speakers, the weakest part without doubt the receiver (amplifier/tuner;radio combined). All in all though it sounded pretty good, the deck I wasnt that sure about but a refund was offered if I didn’t like it. I later found out just how good that deck was.

Move forward a few years and the children really meant my record ‘listening’ days were at best put on hold. The vinyl record was/is just too flimsy/delicate to be considered if children are around. Cassette decks were then the order of the day and later CD players.
My system by then had a Yamaha cassette deck, Kef Coda speakers replaced the Wharfedales, they in turn replaced by Bose mini speakers (with a big sub hidden, the Kefs going into the loft) and a NAD amp. The NAD although very well received by the press suffered (or mine did) to be very fragile, being replaced by a Cambridge Audio jobby. The record deck consigned along with my records to the loft. The cassette deck replaced by a CD deck (cant for the life of me recall whose make). So by now I had a CD player, a Cambridge Amp, Bose spkrs and a Yamaha cassette deck, it all worked ok and when I got a chance to have some music on it all sounded cleann and bright, perhaps to clean and bright.

We moved house a few weeks ago and I thought it would be nice to see if the old record player still worked. So I delved into the loft. It spun up ok when connected but the sound was awful, so I hatched a plan to get something else on which to play the vinyl. In the end I replaced the cartridge (at 25 pounds it was still in manufacture and a bargain). Hooked up and playing through the Bose speakers I felt something was still missing. I retrieved the Kefs from the loft, a look of horror came across my wifes face as I lugged the ‘bookshel’ speakers down the stairs. If they are bookshelf then it was going to have to be one Hell of a big bookshelf. I hooked up the Kefs to the amp, which was by now nicely warmed up. The old beauty and magic of vinyl came flooding through the speakers in waves of clear clean warm sound. I thought my ears must have been playing tricks on me, so having some stuff in both CD and vinyl I did a comparison check, side by side. Nope, the ears whilst not perfect by any means were hearing true in this case. The magic of a vinyl is absolutely un-believable, you sound like you are in there with the artist as they record their stuff, the lifeless flat sound that is a CD is no comparison, what a shame some people have never heard the sound of vinyl.

Perhaps the technology was at its peak then and had to be replaced as the manufacturers had saturated the market with quality gear and no-one was replacing their stuff, wouldn’t be the first (or last) time. Ignoring the convenience arguments it's really all about what you hear isnt it?

So for all you old duffers out there, dust down the old vinyl and get a new deck if you have to (Pro-ject do some great stuff I’m told at very reasonable prices). Vinyl can still be purchased off the net (2nd hand obviously) and some sites grade the stuff, offering a full refund if not satisfied with the quality as described.

For the youngsters, perhaps go listen to music as it should sound, you really don’t know what you are missing.

Matt

[dry suit diver]

yup gotta agree, have spent a long time putting vinyl onto MP3s and the hiss crackles and pops make it sound real.

the eldest sprog keeps asking what the big funny black things are on the shelf by the sofa

black gold is the answer she gets.

[Adrian Kelland]

Doesn't it bounce around a lot playing on the passenger seat in the car? And as for jogging...

[dry suit diver]

theres always one smart arse

[Simon TW]

I took all mine to the tip years ago. I can't believe what some of it would be worth now. However I haven't had to have it all hanging around gathering dust. I don't have many CDs now I have everything on MP3.

You can keep the crackles and hiss, if was meant to be there they would have an instrument to produce it.

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by Simon TW

I took all mine to the tip years ago. I can't believe what some of it would be worth now. However I haven't had to have it all hanging around gathering dust. I don't have many CDs now I have everything on MP3.

You can keep the crackles and hiss, if was meant to be there they would have an instrument to produce it.

motown without hiss is like fish without chips -just wrong

[Dick Barwell]

Did the same a few years ago
Got my old AC/DC vinyl out and played it on my old system .....(ugly massive boxes which scream bass and a collection of 1980's hi fi )Great sound and agree CD sounded lifeless .........disappointing as got a well received SACD PLAYER (Where diid they go?)
The bass kicks and due to complaints from my kids its once again in the attic ...........!
Oh well I will get it all out again in 10 years and throttle the amp for a laugh !
db

aahh memories !

[Steven]

good one Mattt

the other day I leafed through a PC world leaflet and noticed a record deck that will convert vinyl to casette or MP3

Any thoughts on this???

I too have a cupboard full of unused vinyl inc a load of Led Zep
pity I'm out tonight - I've just powered up my Tecknics deck and suprisingly it works!!!maybe another night!

steven

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by dry suit diver

theres always one smart arse

Combed and polished every morning

[endoman]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

A few years ago (about 30 to be precise) I put together a stereo system, which wasn’t unusual then as no one manufacturer made all the component parts that would satisfy anyone who wanted a good stereo system. I researched the subject and set my budget to match the components as best I could. Conventional wisdom then was obviously to get the best possible parts you could for the budget you had but, it was generally felt that he front end should be good and the back end too, the amplifier could be the weakest link if the budget wouldn’t stretch. Obviously though you wouldn’t spend 90% of the budget on the front and back, 75% was seen as acceptable. Record decks then came in two types (mainly) direct or indirect drive, each manufacturer stating theirs to be the best, tone arms were both straight and curved with manufacturers again saying their design was best. Cartridges (stylus) could also be a minefield with some producing a bright system, other more bass, also the amp could influence the final sound. Speakers were generally as big as you could get them if you wanted a lot of bass, some had two drive units some had three, crossovers (the electronics that made the sound go to whichever part of the speaker required to be driven) were also variable. All in all, to get something sounding good required considerable research and/or luck. We also had the choice of which cables to use to hook it all together with and which speaker stands to use, depending on the room’s floor construction (concrete or suspended wooden floorboards affecting the sound).

It was generally agreed that UK hi-fi was best, certainly in speakers, probably in amps, although some American ones were well regarded, but Japanese stuff was generally less than optimal, or more accurately – crap, especially the all-in-one stuff such as music centres. The Japanese were just starting to create decent amps (and I do mean just), their record decks were pretty good for buget systems, although at the top end they couldn’t compete with the British stuff.

So I ended up with a Sanyo deck, Pioneer receiver and Wharfedale speakers, the weakest part without doubt the receiver (amplifier/tuner;radio combined). All in all though it sounded pretty good, the deck I wasnt that sure about but a refund was offered if I didn’t like it. I later found out just how good that deck was.

Move forward a few years and the children really meant my record ‘listening’ days were at best put on hold. The vinyl record was/is just too flimsy/delicate to be considered if children are around. Cassette decks were then the order of the day and later CD players.
My system by then had a Yamaha cassette deck, Kef Coda speakers replaced the Wharfedales, they in turn replaced by Bose mini speakers (with a big sub hidden, the Kefs going into the loft) and a NAD amp. The NAD although very well received by the press suffered (or mine did) to be very fragile, being replaced by a Cambridge Audio jobby. The record deck consigned along with my records to the loft. The cassette deck replaced by a CD deck (cant for the life of me recall whose make). So by now I had a CD player, a Cambridge Amp, Bose spkrs and a Yamaha cassette deck, it all worked ok and when I got a chance to have some music on it all sounded cleann and bright, perhaps to clean and bright.

We moved house a few weeks ago and I thought it would be nice to see if the old record player still worked. So I delved into the loft. It spun up ok when connected but the sound was awful, so I hatched a plan to get something else on which to play the vinyl. In the end I replaced the cartridge (at 25 pounds it was still in manufacture and a bargain). Hooked up and playing through the Bose speakers I felt something was still missing. I retrieved the Kefs from the loft, a look of horror came across my wifes face as I lugged the ‘bookshel’ speakers down the stairs. If they are bookshelf then it was going to have to be one Hell of a big bookshelf. I hooked up the Kefs to the amp, which was by now nicely warmed up. The old beauty and magic of vinyl came flooding through the speakers in waves of clear clean warm sound. I thought my ears must have been playing tricks on me, so having some stuff in both CD and vinyl I did a comparison check, side by side. Nope, the ears whilst not perfect by any means were hearing true in this case. The magic of a vinyl is absolutely un-believable, you sound like you are in there with the artist as they record their stuff, the lifeless flat sound that is a CD is no comparison, what a shame some people have never heard the sound of vinyl.

Perhaps the technology was at its peak then and had to be replaced as the manufacturers had saturated the market with quality gear and no-one was replacing their stuff, wouldn’t be the first (or last) time. Ignoring the convenience arguments it's really all about what you hear isnt it?

So for all you old duffers out there, dust down the old vinyl and get a new deck if you have to (Pro-ject do some great stuff I’m told at very reasonable prices). Vinyl can still be purchased off the net (2nd hand obviously) and some sites grade the stuff, offering a full refund if not satisfied with the quality as described.

For the youngsters, perhaps go listen to music as it should sound, you really don’t know what you are missing.

Matt

That could sort out my Christmas and birthday present. I've got loads on vinyl that back in the day I only played once to put it on tape, so the quality is as new.

Would something like rega planer 3 or a linn sondek still be considered good? what about the stuff the dj's use for scratching and mixing? I have quite a bit of house music and would fancy a go at that just to annoy the kids.