Any Record Afficianados/Collectors out there???

[Blue Meanie]

Having been completely dissapointed with recent so called re-mixed/re-mastered CD's, especially the Capitol Beatles Box sets that came out in the last 2 years, I have been seriously thinking about selling off my entire CD collection and start making my own CD's from my Records. I've found out recently that just recording my LP's/Records to my computer with just de-clicking/popping and absolutely NO EQing I can make a CD that's better than what is already out there. I've recorded LP's to CD from my Complete Beatles Blue Box Set and I was completely blown away by how much better it sounds than the CD's that are out there. The 2 LP's I've recorded so far are Revolver and Yellow Submarine. Revolver sounds incredible and I can now here the rich Bass and Drums that are almost non existent on the original '87 Beatles CD releases. Yellow Submarine sounds great too. George Martin's Orchestration from side 2 sounds AMAZING!!! It also is missing from the new Yellow Submarine Songtrack that was released a while back. I plan on doing a lot more than just my Beatles LP's...but just from what I've heard so far, I can say that I am re-juvinated with collecting vinyl. I guess George Martin was right when he said that CD's will never re-create the sound that you get from LP's.

Any others out there that collect and enjoy Records/LP's???

[megoat]

Yeah, Meanie. Been buying records my whole life. I love them.

The aspect of record hunting I love the most is that, in a way, it is like archeology. Imagine as a Mego collector if you could routinely hit thrift stores and junk stores and find Mego's THAT OTHER COLLECTORS HAD NEVER SEEN. This happens all the time with records. I couldn't imagine life as a music fan without records--I'd say maybe only 10 percent of pre-compact disc era records (1900's thru 1970's) ARE AVAILABLE IN A DIGITAL FORMAT. And that's being conservative. So many records out there just waiting to be heard and discovered! So exciting!

[Mikey]

I've never really noticed a difference because I didn't jump from LP's to CD's ......

I went from LP's (to about the mid 80's) then to cassette ... Then to CD's ....

I haven't owned a record player in well over 20 years

So my comparison's are always just Cassette vs CD.... which I always thought CD's were 100% better then cassettes

LP's really sound better than CD's ?

[Blue Meanie]

What happens when a CD is made is that the "compress" the original masters so that they can fit the format. 12 inch original LP is compressed to fit the 5 inch format of a CD. When this compression is done to fit the CD format you loose High End and Low End that was present on the Original Masters. So Bass is less than what it should be as well as High pitched guitar or cymbols etc. These days they go in and re-mix and re-master original masters...problem is they don't uses the original engineers that were in on the sessions...so the new engineer that is doing the re-mix and re-master usually puts his own version of the albums down on the "New" master. If you listen to the new Beatles Box Sets from Capitol are the most horrible re-masters I've ever heard. They are mixed so HIGH that it is on the verge of distortion in some areas. Just a really muddy new mix IMHO. So in that respect, yes, Vinyl/Records are better than CD's. The benefit of CD's is the fact that you can play them over and over without doing any damage to the material that is on the CD...Each time you play a Record or play a tape, it loses one life. It's like an acetate...they have only a limited ammount of plays in them before you completely play them out.

[megoat]

The benefit of CD's is the fact that you can play them over and over without doing any damage to the material that is on the CD...Each time you play a Record or play a tape, it loses one life. It's like an acetate...they have only a limited ammount of plays in them before you completely play them out.

This is sorta true, however A) Mishandled Cd's are prone to skipping problems just as records B) Properly handled records, even when played many times, should last a lifetime. They should also be played on a quality turntable with a quality needle to ensure their longevity.....

[Blue Meanie]

Oh yeah...scratched CD's are the worst...or for that fact if you leave your CD's in the heat and/or the cold...that affects them too.

I still have to get a record cleaning machine.

[The Bat]

I know what You mean...Meanie! I still have My Records, and will never part with them. Unfortunately...My older Harmon Kardon Receiver has 2 blown channel in the front Speakers. But I'll get it repaired, because it still has a Phono Jack(the new ones don't!).

One of the other problems isn't just the CD's...it's that Our old Receivers, We had in the 70's...were Tube. Now...everything is Transister, which has a Tin-y sound...and not the lush FULL sound You were talking about.

Tube Receivers can still bought however....if You want to spend $ 3 to 5,000. Bucks!

[megoat]

One of the other problems isn't just the CD's...it's that Our old Receivers, We had in the 70's...were Tube. Now...everything is Transister, which has a Tin-y sound...and not the lush FULL sound You were talking about.

Actually, 70's receivers were generally NOT tube amplifiers/receivers. Most of the big behemoth wood grain finish receivers from the 70's (Marantz, Pioneer, Yamaha etc etc.) were solid state. They still sound great, though.

Tube amps were more popular in the 50's and 60's. Tube amps sound wonderful, but require a load of maintenance--a little more attention I'm prepared to give at the moment. I did make the switch a few years ago to preamp/amp combo rather than an "integrated" receiver and the sound is soooo much better!

[The Bat]

I guess I was lucky to have a Tube one then. I also play Guitar...and Transister Guitar Amps SUCK!

[megoat]

I guess I was lucky to have a Tube one then. I also play Guitar...and Transister Guitar Amps SUCK!

Was yours the Harmon Kardon you speak of? It's probably a 60's amp.

And yes, solid state guitar amplifiers do indeed, "suck".....

[LadyZod]

I'm pretty tone deaf, meaning I can't catch the difference between CD or Analog, or 5.1 suround or 2.0 dolby. I know the buzzwords, that's it.

Saying that, between my husband and I would guess we own over 1900 LP's. We had about 1000 more, but we sold off a bunch at a convention about a year back.

When in Orlando, we hit Rock and Roll Heaven. Great shop for vinyl lovers.

www.rock-n-rollheaven.com

[HardyGirl]

You guys pretty much know how I am. I love my records. I've always bought them, played them, loved them. I even have records in my classroom. I actually like pops and cracks in the records, b/c it lets you know that it's been there for you. I love both albums and 45s. I even have cereal box records. I also love the extras: the artwork (whether on the cover or enclosed in a poster), iron-ons, book covers and shopping bags that sometimes come w/ a record. Gatefolds are cool, particularly when they have good photos or art. In fact I'm expecting an album I finally won from Ebay after 5 years of being outbid!

I won't even bother telling you how I feel about digital technology, 'cos you know.

[JPkempo]

I still have many records including a few half speed masters.

[kingdom warrior]

I still have and collect Lp's it took me years to finally give in and collect Cd's. I always thought they never had the sound that an Lp had. My cousin is a young Dj in Florida and uses beats from Lp's especially obscure lp's that are not avaiable on Cd.....Once a Cd is scratched that's it.....at least the record can still be played.

[Beatnik]

I am a big fan of analog recordings myself and as far as remastering goes, just why would anyone try to improve on something that was slaved over already and considered a finished work. Sort of like thinking you could make an original oil painting better by adding your touch ?

The thing these days seems to be loud, not clean, just loud. I can't stand most of it, but it's almost all you get with the newer releases. I'm a huge Rush fan, have yet to listen to Vapor Trails all the way through because is recorded so hot it's distorts which makes it unlistenable.