audiophiles or retrophiles

I think it is fair to say that not all "new technology" is better. Some is, I like the modern materials and techniques used to create some of the new cartridges, loudspeaker drivers, cables, or isolation technology. It's enjoyable to plug in a CD when I am working on something around the house or when we are too... preoccupied to clean, fetch, and catch an Lp side to side. But for my ears tube preamps and amps have a more visceral connection to making music, similar to that of a real acoustic instrument. It’s more than a hobby or a life style. And record collecting is something my friends and I have been doing our whole lives. There are so many events around music or caused by music or in the pursuit of music and the vinyl it resides on that I can not imagine what life would be like without it. There is the obvious fact that beyond the music is the visual art on a 12 ½” x 12 ½” scale, not to mention gatefolds. You don’t get that with the “perfect” modern format. And as I age I find the liner notes are getting a little small to scour. Well ironically, there’s always Lasik. Here's to modern technology, Cheers!

I think there is another distinction deeper in your query that might be drawn and that is, how many of us are retrophiles not by stylistic or preconceived notion, but rather through a somewhat unplanned, non-intellectual path of a process of elimination of what did not move us emotionally in the music reproduction itself?
Equipment is cool and it is easy to be sucked in to making choices based on things that are not at all related to the music. That said, it is never the less a reality in the material world that one becomes involved at an anal retentive level with the acoustical reproduction aspect. There is a lot of science involved, not to mention alchemy.
This all takes me back to something Ivor Tiefenbrun of Linn said early on and that is, (I will paraphrase) if you close you eyes and listen to the music and it doesn't make you tap your toe or if you can't sing to it, if it doesn't sound distinctly more musical overall, don't spend your money on it! He was referring to equipment purchasing.
That thought has pretty well stuck with me as I traveled on from my first major "Hifi" equipment purchase of a (you guest it) Linn Sondek Lp12 back in 1983. Funny thing is, there are a lot of cool turntables out today, maybe some with greater musical resolve. I’m just not moved to chase that demon. It's fine to be skeptical about the superiority (theoretically) of any technology, maybe even healthy, especially for those of us that are in it for the human emotional connection to the music and the pleasure of enjoying that together. Happy listening.

Rockvirgo, That is an interesting observation of our current lifestyle and technology. I'll bet my last record (Lp) buying dollar that you have not been collecting music on Lp's for the last thirty-five years. He, he, he! For some of us it is not a question of, why not download on an ipod from the net? That notion is completely unrealistic in the pursuit of what we want out of it and I’m not referring to the physical vinyl object itself. I only wish I could be around after you grow old with your cherished music collection to hear how you would relate to that future reality. Here’s to the music and hoping your hard drive never suffers you through a fatal error. Cheers!

Nice Scottish fling there Rockvirgo, but now I'm confused. Your comment did not appear as a rhetorical question but as a statement of conviction that you may personally subscribe to. So before Judy goes out and meets her photo op. leaning on her walker (Proscenium Gold Signature)preferably and I start packing an envelope full of the silver certificates I've had buried out in the yard in a coffee can, I think it's time for some s'plain'in Lucy. Where do you stand? Are you in or are you out?

While over here sharpening a stick (Ceramic Boron cantilever)… Where are my fellow flat earthers when I need them? Apparently on holiday still. Here again is the problem I find with the current state of affair with digital this and that for those of us who have been around longer than it. Rummaging thou my dusty, outdated, old format I found something you might find interesting Rockvirgo (per your 5/27/03 thread). When our beloved Fairport Convention released Unhalfbricking in the year of our Lord 1969 it was issued in the motherland on Island records. The first press was on a pink rim, palm tree label ILSP-9102, this cover showed an aging couple standing outside a gate with the band lounging in the yard beyond on the lawn (on the front) and the band sitting together sharing supper at a table (on the back). It was subsequently released here in the colonies on the A&M brown SP-4206 label briefly; this cover had your elusive elephants portraying a circus act (on the front) and a b&w of the front cover theme repeated (on the back). Brit releases often sound a bit more forward in vocal and pay attention to the strings, my personal favorite for presentation. Where as the U.S. releases generally are a bit more smoothed out soundstage wise and the vocals are back with the instruments. I feel it does not represent the music with a conviction commensurate with the energy of this band but in this particular case they are virtually identical. The digital realm has plenty to offer, visa vie our conversation but ... Anyway, digital had nothing to do with either of these excellent versions and often leaves out many of the particular details. This is precisely what motivates me to pursue analogue. Cheers!