Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[Robin L]

Gah. Imposters! As someone who grew up around Detroit I’m offended.

AMERICA'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL MAGAZINE

Spelled c r e e m.

 

[drewdawg999]

In renaissance related news, the Beatles in Mono 14 LP box set repress has sold out everywhere, while still in the pre-order phase. Not cheap at $545, I considered buying it for 15 minutes, but when I went to window shop it was already gone. Significant because the mono mixes were the primary ones and the stereo were afterthoughts, so some of the hard-panning (especially of vocals) is quite undesirable. The mono box is an AAA audiophile pressing, but oh well, seems like I'll never have it.

 

[Robin L]

In renaissance related news, the Beatles in Mono 14 LP box set repress has sold out everywhere, while still in the pre-order phase. Not cheap at $545, I considered buying it for 15 minutes, but when I went to window shop it was already gone. Significant because the mono mixes were the primary ones and the stereo were afterthoughts, so some of the hard-panning (especially of vocals) is quite undesirable. The mono box is an AAA audiophile pressing, but oh well, seems like I'll never have it.

I had the previous AAA vinyl issue of the Beatles in Mono. Sonically, you aren't missing a thing. "Help" is essentially a mess, one side of the "White Album" was audibly off-center. The best sound was on the Mono Masters collection of (mostly) singles gathered together on LPs. Even though the mono mixes were the primary ones (and relevant for the first two albums), some of the later stereo mixes make for a better listening experience. This reissue series is basically all about bragging rights for hard-core collectors.

 

[Snoopy]

I considered the set as well but I got all the John Lennon and Beatles SDE Blu-ray sets and Revolver as LP SDE (I paid 56€ for that) plus the 2009 Mono CD boxset and other digital releases (+ everything they got on streaming. )

I looked at my discogs cart and for 500-550€ I could easily order 60-70 NM- used Japanese LPs, stuff that is mostly not on streaming.

Easy enough decision (to me).

I also returned my red and Blue reissue because multiple tracks had issues. Not a fan of modern LPs.

 

[drewdawg999]

I had the previous AAA vinyl issue of the Beatles in Mono. Sonically, you aren't missing a thing. "Help" is essentially a mess, one side of the "White Album" was audibly off-center. The best sound was on the Mono Masters collection of (mostly) singles gathered together on LPs. Even though the mono mixes were the primary ones (and relevant for the first two albums), some of the later stereo mixes make for a better listening experience. This reissue series is basically all about bragging rights for hard-core collectors.

Interesting to hear this from a disgruntled owner. I guess my FOMO was going off, but I needn't have worried. Mostly interested in Sgt. Pepper and Revolver anyways, and to a lesser extent Rubber Soul. But Sgt. Pepper and Revolver have modern remixes that IMO are the best they've ever sounded. I did listen to the mono mixes in digital on those deluxe editions and thought they sounded flat in comparison to the new stereo remixes.

 

[Count Dacula]

If a vinyl record surface is scanned into digital, is it still soleful and legit upon playback?

 

[goat76]

If a vinyl record surface is scanned into digital, is it still soleful and legit upon playback?

People I have talked to say that a vinyl rip sounds identical to the vinyl playback.

I don't have a turntable to compare this myself, but I have a vinyl rip I’ve compared to the digital version of the same master. While there are sound differences due to the vinyl-specific preparations made to the master, the small differences that can be heard can be EQ-matched to make the digital version sound identical to the vinyl rip.

 

[Count Dacula]

People I have talked to say that a vinyl rip sounds identical to the vinyl playback.

I don't have a turntable to compare this myself, but I have a vinyl rip I’ve compared to the digital version of the same master. While there are sound differences due to the vinyl-specific preparations made to the master, the small differences that can be heard can be EQ-matched to make the digital version sound identical to the vinyl rip.

Not a TT rip, an optical scan. No TT required, so I believe it looses "soul".

We hear about precious vinyl/shellac archives....why aren't they scanned into "the record"

 

[DSJR]

Beatles fans if they've not done so already, should look out the Parlogram guy in YouTube. he's spent ages comparing UK/EU and US cuts with fascinating tales (are the US pressings from UK original cuts for example?). he has an ex Australian 30IPS copy of Sgt Pepper and took it to Abbey Road for checking. While there, he was shown the original 15IPS master, with notation on the box of every playing of the tape (about nineteen at the time I believe). their cutting engineers are fastidious and retain a VERY well kept lathe and ATR tape machine. I only know the talk Talk 'Colour of Spring' recut and it's very good, if a touch more 'organic' than the DMM original, which would have had some necessary filtering below 60Hz (may explain the slightly different 'feel' of the two cuts).

 

[IPunchCholla]

Not a TT rip, an optical scan. No TT required, so I believe it looses "soul".

We hear about precious vinyl/shellac archives....why aren't they scanned into "the record"

Because, before you do anything you need to have a plan and reasoning for that plan. So you need to determine how to best scan those shellacs so that rescanning in the future won't be necessary. Decide on a file system and storage mechanism that won't will preserve all of the necessary data and be readable long term. Develop a system for cataloging the material including enough meta data that people will be able to find it through searches of different origins. Develop an equitable solution for distributing the material. You need to do all of this within the current legal framework. And pay for it. The knowledge, the labor, the equipment, the ongoing maintenance of the data.

 

[goat76]

Not a TT rip, an optical scan. No TT required, so I believe it looses "soul".

We hear about precious vinyl/shellac archives....why aren't they scanned into "the record"

Sorry, I didn't read your post correctly and misunderstood what you asked about.

 

[Count Dacula]

Totally. I'm just thinking of a different approach.

 

[WisEd]

Because of things like this! The first commercially availabke digitally recorded album ever made! For which the master doesn't exist! Still in mint condition from all the way back to 1978!

 

[MatrixS2000]

Just arrived:

Now if only my analog chain was up and running….

 

[WisEd]

I feel for you
Mine is incomplete but still up. I'm waiting for the test of my step up transformer (in Amir's shop). I'm back to using my pre for the moving coil duties.

 

[JRowland]

My Metallica records are all worn so I ordered new from their website. They showed up today, pretty cool that they come with a digital download as well. Nice heavy vinyl, sounds great, $25 ish each seems fair.

 

[VMAT4]

My Metallica records are all worn so I ordered new from their website. They showed up today, pretty cool that they come with a digital download as well. Nice heavy vinyl, sounds great, $25 ish each seems fair.

View attachment 457239

In 1977 I paid $6.35 for an album on a regular basis. That's $31.66 in today's dollars. So, you got a deal!

 

[rocksteady]

Physical media has substance. It's tangible. It's real. You can hold it. I think some people are sick of streaming. There is something to say for the vinyl experience. Not quality, but ritual.

Not quality? Have you ever listened to a Top Quality, well cared for LP reproduction system? Based on your assertion, I would guess you haven't, as most certainly the Poster hasn't either...

 

[DSJR]

I feel for you
Mine is incomplete but still up. I'm waiting for the test of my step up transformer (in Amir's shop). I'm back to using my pre for the moving coil duties.

Theoretically, these days with modern transistors and chips, shouldn't an SUT be inferior to a well designed solid state MC stage as well as more expensive? I appreciate the added distortions will be as nothing compared to the mess that vinyl is at the frequency extremes, but hum can still be an issue I remember.

 

[Robin L]

Not quality? Have you ever listened to a Top Quality, well cared for LP reproduction system? Based on your assertion, I would guess you haven't, as most certainly the Poster hasn't either...

Yes, I have. It's almost as good as a properly sorted digital playback system and a hell of a lot more expensive.