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Re: [ARSCLIST] They're still making vinyl
I prefer musicdirect for price, but both seem to offer good service.
Both are actively involved in their own reissue efforts (musicdirect
owns Mobile Fidelity, if I remember correctly). Tom, you know I'm one
of those guys with the $5,000 vinyl front end and $500 CD setup. I'm
guilty of not giving equal effort to the format, but since I have WAY
more records and don't want to spend that much converting to digital,
I'd rather max out my record listening experience. That, and I can't
afford to spend any more money on equipment. I prefer vinyl for the
very high frequencies (I wish SACD and DVDA had made it). I don't like
Classic Records reissues most of the time. They're too bright for my
tastes and usually brighter than the original. I prefer the mastering
approach by Stan Ricker and Steve Hoffman--better bass, better surfaces,
better maintained and alligned equipment, upgraded amps and mastering
chain, but a record that still sounds like a much better version of the
original. Kind of like those great sounding white label promos and test
pressings--first stampers, better vinyl, the best mastering engineer
available to the label.
Phillip
Tom Fine wrote:
Hi Dave:
Here are a couple, both charge list or near list and both will send
you a nice catalog full of eye candy:
http://store.acousticsounds.com/store.cfm
and
https://www.musicdirect.com/default.asp
Beware the "racks and racks" of audiophoolery but I've found both
quick and reliable with shipping and returns/exchanges. Any returns
I've had to make have been QC problems, mainly the fault of Classic
Records. None of it has been the fault of the retailers but they
handled customer care exactly as promised.
One of my fave used LP stores, the Bop Shop in Rochester NY, has some
new LPs for sale, generally at or near list price.
As for reissue labels, I haven't had one bad experience with Analogue
Productions. Their stuff is consistently great. The Classic Records
mastering is usually first rate but as I've said, their manufacturing
is not always (but I have always gotten un-gouged or scuffed copies in
exchange, so apparently their manufacturer is capable of excellent
work). Speakers Corner has an interesting and growing catalog. I was
thrilled to see this record back out, from a new player in the UK,
PurePleasure:
http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=15611&sct=music
my original LP was unplayable, a garage sale purchase.
Reviews have been good for Warner Music's recent LPs, but I must say
that I have a hard time with the main reviewers of LPs these days, as
they seem caught up in audiophoolery and myths.
My usual caveat -- there's no reason an LP should sound better than a
CD except for bad or primative/early CD mastering. Almost every LP
I've bought new in the last 5 years was not out on CD (either out of
print or never issued) or was done horribly on CD.
-- Tom Fine