[ARSCLIST] My response to--Re: [78-l] Viva vinyl

[Martin Fisher <wmfisher@xxxxxxxx>]

Being of the opinion that vinyl is a good thing, not to say that CDs don't have their place too, I'll support the return to vinyl as a choice.  

Here are my "BIG BUTS".  

Get away from those flimsy, crappy, vinyl pressings of the last few decades!!!!  

Take a lesson from the snooty, audiophile folks and press those "round black thangs" in a minimum of a heavy 180 gram format.  Better yet, follow Classic Records' example and start issuing in 200 gram format.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the heavier vinyl format is better all around for sonics and resistance to warpage.  

Another thing that the audiophiles have realized is that EVERYTHING sounds better at 45 r.p.m. as opposed to 33 1/3 r.p.m.  Given the choice, I'd be happy to pay an extra buck or two....NOT 20 EXTRA BUCKS MIND YOU....for the advantages of the 45 format which also stands up better both sonically AND wear wise.  Don't bother with a single sided pressing to get more bulk, and thus a higher price, out of the package.  I've never figured that one out.  Most audiophiles are probably using some sort of platter mat which negates the problem of the bottom side of the disc rubbing against a bare, harsh acrylic or aluminum surface.  Why stretch a standard length album out to four single sided discs and related paper product when two double sided discs in a gatefold will suffice.  Seems that the labels who currently do so are spending only a few cents more for vinyl and paper to press up another two SS platters only to have an excuse to charge customers another 15 to 30 bucks per disc!

And here's something that even the audiophiles haven't figured out that steps on everybody's toes, Edison included.  What's the problem with getting the hole in the center of the pressing?  I find that the holes of even most of the 30.00 audiophile vinyls I'm running across are off center to some degree.  You'd expect that since the big a-phile vinyl suppliers put so much care into the nanoponents of the high end recording and playback chains that this one basic booger wouldn't have evaded their expert ears.  Audiophile consumer geeks listen and unite!  If the difference between copper braid and oxygen free silver platinum nichrome tonearm leads can be detected how can the slow wow in a 25.00 to 30.00 pressing of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" be ignored?  I don't see turntable manufacturers offering removable spindles yet!!

And don't even get me started on the so called "preservation" and reissue projects that are being carried out without regard to the off center issue....

End of rant....for the time being....

Martin 

My opinions belong solely to me and anyone else who happens to be in agreement.

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Lennick 
  To: 78-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 11:42 AM
  Subject: [78-l] Viva vinyl...forwarded from ARSClist


  An interesting article from "The Business Online" from the U.K.

  Back in the groove

  14 May 2006

  Technology Editor Tony Glover reports how in the iPod age the record
  industry is going forward by returning to the days of vinyl. BESET by
  digital piracy and increasing customer reluctance to pay for CDs, the
  music industry is fighting back with its latest technology - black vinyl
  records.

  <edit>