Records and CDs

You would be surprised that if you are into current pop music, LPs are being released for a great many albums and sales are off the charts. 

I'm going to use this excuse to rant, I don't understand this at all. Vinyl is not a particularly good way to store music, as we all know it is subject to warping, scratching, and the inevitable clicks and pops. Couple that with what some believe to be an inferior form of music reproduction (digital) and you could conceivably have the worst of both worlds.

I know that in theory, music that is being mastered onto LPs these days is supposed to be high resolution (as in higher than redbook CD) but I wonder.

To me, the irony is that digital has never sounded better than it does today.

The other day I visited a store named Newbury Comics in the Danbury Mall in Connecticut.  I was astounding by the number of jazz artists, old and new, that were available on vinyl.  The problem?  The prices...$25, $30, $45, and higher - for records that will undoubtedly be warped due to the mishandling by twenty-somthings that have no idea how to properly store and display them. 

I only recently upped by vinyl playback game with a nice phono preamp and new cart, that took me to a new level in sound that surpasses what before was best, streaming. I’ve a modest digital system ( NAD C658 streaming preamp), but it sounds very good….but the vinyl has more life and depth of soundstage plus an “airiness” that the digital can’t quite match.
Consequently, until I up my digital end, vinyl will rule!

@rvpiano  - "Very few new titles are being released on records these days"? 

On what do you base that statement? Sales data would indicate otherwise, plus the fact that vinyl sales have been steadily increasing and new pressing plants are being opened. Will it ever be like the 'old days' again? No. But from what I've seen, just about every new release, large artist or small, is being released on vinyl....

What I don't care about are all the colored vinyl variants....

I feel very blessed I was very late to the vinyl game. The reason is I realized I do not need to buy tons of vinyl or everything that comes out. A lot of my friends are heavy into vinyl. That being said they mostly listen to what I call their top 100 albums and new acquisitions. So it might break out to 200. The rest sit on the shelf unplayed. I have my 200 close to my turntable. I sort of acquired for free about 400 classical albums that I slowly sort through. If it sounds dynamic I keep it. If it sounds like a lifeless MP3 then off to goodwill with it. My vinyl rig is very nice and beats the digital as long as the pressing is good. That’s what I’m saying. If your physical media does not beat Tidal or Qobuz then let it go unless it has value. Then sell it to a store or online. Life is way too short to accumulate a bunch of stuff you don’t touch. I recently just got back from a trip. I realized right away all the junk we buy: cups, trinkets, logo cloths we never wear, and don’t get me started on the shot glasses. If that’s your thing then you be you. I challenge you all to try to get rid of some stuff one room at a time. One of the reasons why vacations can be relaxing is you stop thinking about your stuff. Your brain is a hard drive. We are all running out of space. Start with albums and bar glasses you will never use. Believe me, you will sleep better. Start by putting it somewhere you can temporarily put it out of sight like a box in the basement marked charity. At the end of a month or two let it go. This helps you to let go and FOMO.