Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[EJ3]

Didn't used to matter. Radio was a portable music source back in the day, just as streaming on smartphones is today. Apples to apples. Now fewer of the stations worth hearing have any kind of signal strength. I can get radio stations on my computer if I want to. But in any case, I've already moved on.

Just as I get over the air TV, I get over the air FM in approximately 85 miles. 36 channels of uncompressed TV signal.
No dropouts, lags, etc. Maybe if I was closer to the city, I would do something different, but that would be the opposite of the direction that I want to be in.
As to having a computer hooked onto my audio system, just NO.

 

[Holmz]

Do you have a good antenna?

^That’s^ sort of a personal question…

Didn't used to matter. Radio was a portable music source back in the day, just as streaming on smartphones is today. Apples to apples. Now fewer of the stations worth hearing have any kind of signal strength. I can get radio stations on my computer if I want to. But in any case, I've already moved on.

Radio is still somewhat handy when out of range of cell and internet coverage areas.

 

[Robin L]

^That’s^ sort of a personal question…

The answer is no and I don't care. Spent ten years volunteering at a major-league listener-sponsored station. Became quite aware of the sonic limitations of the format in the process. Even the best stations have to use some limiting to prevent blowing out the transmitter and most use far too much.

Radio is still somewhat handy when out of range of cell and internet coverage areas.

I've got a DAP with 1600 CDs worth of Apple lossless files, my computer mirrors those files, and I have over 1500 CDs. I think I'm covered. Every now and then I find a YouTube video here at ASR that piques my interest. And my volunteer work at the local library gives me access to a lot of $1 CDs. I'm cool.

 

[Galliardist]

The answer is no and I don't care. Spent ten years volunteering at a major-league listener-sponsored station. Became quite aware of the sonic limitations of the format in the process. Even the best stations have to use some limiting to prevent blowing out the transmitter and most use far too much.

Sonicallly limited old listening format? Must be time for a renaissance then!

 

[Robin L]

Sonicallly limited old listening format? Must be time for a renaissance then!

Be sure to get an old-fashioned tube powered tuner to get that wonderful station drift and the smell of transformers and capacitors cooking.

 

[killdozzer]

But wait...wasn't that very solution proposed almost immediately? And yet there's 400 more pages.

Surely it can't be the right solution, given this?

No, I think this mystery must be very profound indeed, my friend. It might need another hundred pages of lengthy, verbose posts to even begin to answer.

Carry on. I'll check back in another few months.

Nah, not really. Nothing mysterious. It's just ego, plain and simple. Very few people can actually say; well, I like it even if it's worse. Most are in love with their own farts and have to say; since I (me, me, me, the very golden ear of my generation, the grand arbiter) like it, it MUST be just as good as anything else. Just read Matt's comments. It's all there.

Very similar to todays - "my opinion = fact" fallacy or - "my feeling = reality" or even worse - "my hurt feelings = reparations".

It's only simple for the people who are not in love with their own farts! Check this out; I like Bob Dylan better than Luciano Pavarotti even though Pavarotti is a better singer. It's so easy it almost hurts how easy it is.

And check this out (and really brace yourself) - the fact that I like Dylan better, doesn't make him better or equally good singer as Pavarotti.

 

[EJ3]

^That’s^ sort of a personal question…



Radio is still somewhat handy when out of range of cell and internet coverage areas.

Those are the types of areas that I prefer to be in.
There are some places I go that none of the above is happening.
Satellite link, maybe.

 

[rank]

The renaissance of vinyl, followed by the cassette and even magnetic tape or infamous 8-track cartridge is proof of the power of advertising.

 

[Count Dacula]

I never listen to the radio in the car. GenX grew up with the notion that media companies don't care and are not capable of sourcing entertainment I like. Now 1980s and 1990s music is de facto mainstream, not really even retro.

The one exception is during long roadtrips thru the South, I listen to AM radio just to kill time and give context and texture to everything.

 

[Count Dacula]

 

[Robin L]

And check this out (and really brace yourself) - the fact that I like Dylan better, doesn't make him better or equally good singer as Pavarotti.

 

[MattHooper]

Nah, not really. Nothing mysterious. It's just ego, plain and simple. Very few people can actually say; well, I like it even if it's worse. Most are in love with their own farts and have to say; since I (me, me, me, the very golden ear of my generation, the grand arbiter) like it, it MUST be just as good as anything else. Just read Matt's comments. It's all there.

whoops…your projection is showing.

 

[killdozzer]

This is too effin funny!! I literally laughed out loud (not just as in emoji LOL)

 

[krabapple]

Another Dylan/60s piss-take, why not?

 

[EJ3]

I never listen to the radio in the car. GenX grew up with the notion that media companies don't care and are not capable of sourcing entertainment I like. Now 1980s and 1990s music is de facto mainstream, not really even retro.

The one exception is during long roadtrips thru the South, I listen to AM radio just to kill time and give context and texture to my time.

Since I never got what I would consider 'respectable' results out of AM stereo, in the car, it's FM or Digital).
FM is among the myriad of choices in my home system: FM (many other radio bands and Television formats over the air), Reel to Reel, cassette, Turn Table, CD/DVD/Blu-ray/4K & other digital sources (no streaming).

 

[antcollinet]

I thought the point was the "pure" analog sound.

Not for me it's not.

But even if it were, if the pure analogue sound from the preamp goes into an ADC, then the sound that eventually emerges from whatever DAC is finally used will be audibly identical** to the pure analog sound that was digitised. So it wouldn't be a worry.

Partly why my phono pre - a parks puffin waxwing - is connected into my MiniDSP via optical toslink. A perfectly isolated hum killing interface from turntable to amp - also allowing me to have the turntable remote from everything else with a 10m optical cable between them.


**Given competent ADC and DAC designs.

 

[Count Dacula]

One cool thing about FM, even more so than AM, is the sense of community it generates. In my experience, it was a "thing" to follow along when a big band was coming to town. Not just for the promos and freebies, but literally the "vibe". Literally for my Gen it was rock bands at The Spectrum in Philly. AC/DC Yes and at JFK, The Stones and Live Aid.

I guess you had that feelz in AM communities when it was a truly singluar shared experience, like the date of the local fair, and an important source of "info", replacing a classic education for decision making.

Funny example, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". I bet that quote can be traced to a classic source, like Sun Tzu or Lau sun or Marcus Aurelius. So instead of referring to a classic education, we agree with the offered propaganda because "the radio said...." This is what turned my parents into the "Silent Generation", never questioning authority. Germany issued radios to the public that only received one channel (I believe) lol.

Ok, for spoken voice, or big band horns, AM. For Elevator Muzak or Rock n Roll, FM. Everything since, Digital.

 

[antcollinet]

Very few people can actually say; well, I like it even if it's worse

Thats odd. I'm certain the majority of vinyl aficionados in this thread have (<<<---- that way) stated just that.... multiple times. I know I have.

 

[Robin L]

Another Dylan/60s piss-take, why not?

"Well I guess it's time for my bootheels to go wanderin' . . ."

 

[Robin L]

Another Dylan/60s piss-take, why not?

https://www.salon.com/2015/10/07/bob_dylan_called_me_a_scurrilous_little_wretch_with_a_hard_on_for_comedy/