Vinyl - new vs old recordings

[littlebooner]

I've started collecting vinyl as of late. With the resurgence of artists releasing limited edition vinyl albums, I'm curious if it really makes a difference in audio playback when so much music is recorded and mastered digitally today. I've done back to back comparisons of digital source vs vinyl on albums that were recorded analog or released on vinyl originally and heard a noticeable difference.

Have any of you noticed a difference with new albums on vinyl vs digital? I'm wondering if its worth it for audio or if its more marketing collectibles/nostalgia.

 

[bassdude51]

You've just asked a difficult question to answer.

I have over 4,000 vinyl Lps and bought my first Lp back in 1963. So, I love vinyl! But, I love Cds too.

Getting the best out of vinyl is expensive! Decent turntable and needle cartridge can cost hundreds of dollars even thousands.

I subscribe to Stereophile Magazine and it is being said that the best fidelity sound is coming from streaming. With some streamed songs about equal to the original studio recording.

If you are after fidelity, you are probably gonna get that best from Cds or streaming.

As much as I love vinyl, it ticks, pops and can have "needle ride" sounds.

I used to be able to go to the OSU campus on High St. to Used Kids Records and buy used Lps for $1.00 to $5.00. A much better value than $13.00 for a new Cd.

Now, Cds are going for really cheap and vinyl has gone popular and more expensive.

I now have way too many Lps and I've stopped buying them.

Vinyl is special. You can hold it in your hand and read the front and back cover. Has photos too. It a good feeling watching the Lps go around in circles. It's hard to explain why vinyl is special.

 

[Richland123]

I have a massive vinyl collection in the many thousands with lots of hard to find and collector pieces. I stopped buying albums years ago but I used to buy quite a few every week for years. I also went to record conventions and I was a vendor at them too. I need to start selling off my collection. I also have thousands of CDs.

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

In terms of accuracy for information retrieval, vinyl doesn't compare to the better digital formats.

But that doesn't mean it isn't as or more enjoyable. A few years back I bought a beautifully restored Dual direct-drive turntable; the same one that I had coveted as a teenager back in the 70s. About 300$, with a handmade walnut replacement base. Then I got a NOS Shure cartridge, and I couldn't be happier with it. I've had fun buying (mostly jazz) records, playing them back on the turntable, looking at the album cover and liner notes, and it's wonderful for nostalgia. But I'm under no delusions about the accuracy; vinyl is measurably less accurate, but not necessarily less enjoyable.

Most of my listening is still digital, and I prefer it for classical, for example. But if you enjoy the fun, the feel, and the sound of vinyl, don't let accuracy stand in your way. Have fun!

 

[littlebooner]

I guess its less about quality but just different. I listen to my stereo and notice different parts in a recording depending on the source but through the same speakers. I do enjoy the physical aspect of holding the cover and reading through it. I enjoy the well thought out booklets in CDs as well.

My father in law bought me a Sting record ("My Songs") where he re-recorded some Police songs a couple years ago. Ill have to listen to that against the digital stream to see if there is the same difference as older records.

On another note: I used to buy a lot of CDs but I struggle paying $30-50 per a vinyl record. I think fnding a gem for a good deal is part of the allure for me as well.

 

[Killing Floor]

I'm not a Luddite and I am a recovering audiophile, Ono Blue is about as much as I'm willing to spend on a stylus and I don't obsess. But I also steam and had CDs from day 1 along with vinyl. I'm not saying there was a a single right or wrong.
But to me full digital production sounds as far from natural live performed music as is technically possible. And in many cases analog or AAD or ADD production simply sounds more natural to me. If you think about it when you hear a band play that's their music and voices through their gear and broadcast through speakers (or acoustic) but a digital recording by design eliminates the natural ambient anomalies that we live within. It's sterile even when we tell ourselves it isn't.
In my opinion good vinyl sounds more like how I want music to sound. Is that 'better'? Not my place to say. But I prefer it.

 

[twinjet]

I am a recovering audiophile

You make it sound like a debilitating condition.

 

[JW56789]

I grew up with vinyl. I went out on a limb years ago, had one of those wonderful Yamaha linear-tracking turntables with a serious Stanton cartridge, and so-very-carefully handled my LP's as if they were organs bound for a transplant surgeon. Know what? They still popped, scratched, hissed, etc., just in far higher fidelity. I spent a lot of money to hear all that noise better.

You guys can have them. Here in Nashville, we have a record-pressing plant that pre-Covid was running 24/7
to supply the specialist demand. I suppose it's the aural end-game of analog recording, where the charm is that it's not perfect, could be a little out of tune or the time drags, but it's honest. OK . . . . .

I prefer CD's. None of the noise, and unlike downloads, I have a jacket with credits and liner notes. Probably one more bit of proof I'm a Neanderthal, but they suit me. Plus I know just as sure as I'm sitting here, IF I had a lot of downloads, I'd lose the phone, crash my computer, and POOF! they're all gone.

Idiot-proofing me is, as always, a full-time job.

 

[Alkali Ike]

I love vinyl records and turntables and all the related paraphernalia.

I hate vinyl records and turntables and all the related paraphernalia.

I got the bug again recently and ended up buying one of the new Technics TTs. As you may know, Technics got out of the turntable business around 10 years ago. All their tooling used to manufacture TTs was claimed to be worn out and they didn't see any point in investing new money into what was then considered a dead-end format.

Well fast-forward to now and Technics realizes they made a huge mistake. They're back in the game and the new models are superb. They came up with a new direct-drive motor design that eliminates the "cogging" problem most direct-drives have.

I love browsing at House of Records here. I like finding promo copies of singles or albums because in most cases they've never been played. This live Tubes promo album is an example. And it sounds fantastically good. Being from 1978, it's probably never been through any digital processing.

That's an Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge.

 

[Killing Floor]

You make it sound like a debilitating condition.

Just that I'm not staying up worrying about a dog hair floating to the turntable, that took a long time to accept. But I still have a blast shopping at record stores.
Starting to see some recovery of new inventory after the Apollo Masters press facility fire a year ago.

Remember,

 

[57pbass]

Because of space constraints we have gone digital. I do have my father's vinyl from the 50's until 84. Amazing collection of obscure music from that great era. I can connect a turntable to my system and plan on spending some time with them.
I grew up listening and learning on vinyl and it was great to sit and listen while going through the liner notes and looking at the pictures.

 

[Peteyboy]

I'm almost ashamed at how badly I want this turntable.

 

[MichelD]

I have a modest collection of vintage vinyl but truth be told; I don't actually listen to music unless I want to hear the original version of a tune friends want to play so I look it up on Youtube or I'm on a road trip and then I play CDs I've found in free boxes after yard sales. I don't know if I've ever bought one for myself. I've bought a couple for Christmas gifts.

But music in the house,nah, not for me.

 

[knumbskull]

As i understand it, modern recordings / reissues are more likely to be mastered louder and with less dynamic range - the "volume wars".

EDIT the point being, i guess if you want better dynamic range, buy old albums on vinyl! Not reissued versions.

 

[dcbluesbass]

You can use a Double Album cover to clean your pot. Try that with a Double CD case!!!

 

[higain617]

I was a hardcore vinyl fan and have a large collection. I purchased a lot of reissues, and many were inferior to the digital versions. I sincerely think a lot of the older records tracked to tape sound best on vinyl.

 

[JakobT]

You make it sound like a debilitating condition.

It is.

 

[Son of Wobble]

You can use a Double Album cover to clean your pot. Try that with a Double CD case!!!

You date yourself here. There are virtually no seeds in today's marijuana.

 

[Son of Wobble]

It is.

I don't think anyone addressed your question as I understood it. You are asking whether digitally recorded music benefits from being printed to analog, yes? I have wondered that myself having been in studios where the vinyl lathe is connected to a digital source. Color me dubious.

 

[JakobT]

I don't think anyone addressed your question as I understood it. You are asking whether digitally recorded music benefits from being printed to analog, yes? I have wondered that myself having been in studios where the vinyl lathe is connected to a digital source. Color me dubious.

Actually, that question was asked by the OP, @littlebooner.

For myself, I'm fairly relaxed about it. If it sounds good, it is good, regardless of medium, which by the way is why I jokingly called audiophilia a debilitating condition. It's easy to lose the music in the eternal quest for perfect sound quality.

That said, in recent years I've discovered that I really like the process of playing records, so vinyl gets the nod most often at my house.