Records are better. I actually heard it


Just went to a friend's house whose dad has a (somewhat low end) audiophile system. He had on a couple CD's in the background, but once we started talking audio stuff, he plopped on a record.

And I actually heard with my own ears how much better records sound than CD's! Granted, maybe his CD player was crappy, but really so was his record player. He bought the table at the swap meet for like $50 (supposedly great for bargain tables and records as well), and added a $200 MC cartridge.

But the music, oh the music. I had always just assumed it was going to take a ridiculously expensive system for me to be able to hear the difference. But no. The music was alive. Like it was right there, that's the only way to describe it. And it flowed. The highs seemed effortless and non-fatiguing. The record even had some scratches or whatever in it so that it crackled and popped a bit, but even with this I still preferred it.

I need to find a way to make room, but I don't think I'm going to be able to hold off on getting a turntable for very long. Is there anyone who thinks it would be a big mistake to follow in my friend's dad's footsteps and buy an old table at the swap meet for $50 and add a nice $200 MC cartridge to it? He's picking up records at the swap meet for $1-$2 apiece. That's an entry cost of like $300 for sound that appears to kill CD sound.
matt8268

Showing 2 responses by audiotomb

amen Ragmuffin

let your ears do the walking

so are your musical tastes more pre 1989?
or have you found a lot of newer vinyl?
those 200 gram lps are wonderful

I have Peter Gabriel's 1 (car) and Up

Up is a whole new experience on vinyl
much more emotional and engaging

also Lucinda Williams World Without Tears, Love - Forever Changes and Steely Dan Everything Must Go

I also have a lot of Japanese pressings from the early 80's of 70's stuff I taped once and put away, nice to bring those back out.

My Nottingham Spacedeck kills my digital system which is no slouch, so glad I took the plunge, it was quite a leap of faith having no demo from my dealer, only hearing one in a poor setup at the only other person in New Orleans house. Thanks to audiogon, you guys helped me off the cliff and back into true audio nirvana.

Tom