I have to keep thinking up new ways to tell the tale, because it is by now and if you’ll pardon the expression a bit of a broken record. Being 63 growing up in the 70’s it was all records. Yes some kids had 8-track, and cassette, but even a zit-faced kid could see those were crap. No way my hard earned paper route money was going to anything like that!
In 76 I upgraded to a Technics SL-1700. But, worried about record wear most of my listening was to records dubbed onto my Pioneer RT-707. Or whatever the model was. 10" open reel. This was so good as to be almost indistinguishable with my gear at the time, except for very low level of tape hiss. Records were reserved for special listening sessions, and greatly enjoyed, it was a super-special thing and I still recall the night a friend and I sat rapt with fascination listening to my MoFi Crime of the Century.
After college though, life happened. My precious table went in a box to be kept safe until I was able to move somewhere and set it up like it deserved. By then though CD came out, and was adopted without ever comparing. Looking back its clear now this was an early example of fake news, and I fell for it. (Been making up for it ever since. Ha!)
Flash forward to around 1994, my CD based high end system in my newly built dream of a lifetime listening room is just about finished when respected reviewer Robert Harley says no wait a minute Miller I said turntable. Not CD. Turntable.
Well always being one to test things out on the cheap first I went to the garage, dug out the Technics, and hooked it up. Mother...! Harley’s right! Wife came home. What did you do dear it sounds so good? We both stare in wide wonder how this old beater beats out modern and much more expensive CD. With better interconnect. And power cord. And Cones. Expletives deleted!
One thing led to another, which led to talking with Michael Fremer, which led to a Basis/Graham/Glider/PH3SE. Then for a few years was able to enjoy both. CD is great for convenience, and especially for being able to program tracks. But I’m a listener. I’m the guy for whom its all about sound quality. Superficial stuff like remote control only goes so far. CD never could compete on sound quality.
But wait! There’s more! That was merely the first time I rediscovered vinyl!
Some years ago I was taking pain killers to control chronic back pain and the tinnitus it caused turned me off listening to music. Went several years without ever playing a record. Movies, okay. Music, no way. Got so despondent, made up my mind to just sell the turntable. But first maybe spin just one for old times sake, to say goodbye.
One minute in and its like, What were you thinking!?!?!?! Dang those records sound good! And away we go!
There really is nothing else like it. Probably never will be. As good as it was sounding this year, gave myself a little Christmas present modding it even better. Now 2 weeks later I’m staggered how much better everything sounds. Its a fine rig, but realistically there should be even better out there. I’m a long term thinker/planner and got my eye on that Paul Beckett guy. His Cue, with zero lube and darn near zero play ceramic bearing, direct drive and SOTA-like vibration control design sure looks the business.
Conventional wisdom is diminishing returns. Like you will at some point hit a wall. Not seeing it. To me it feels more like about to walk through a doorway. Anyone still doesn’t have a turntable get one, step into a whole new world.
In 76 I upgraded to a Technics SL-1700. But, worried about record wear most of my listening was to records dubbed onto my Pioneer RT-707. Or whatever the model was. 10" open reel. This was so good as to be almost indistinguishable with my gear at the time, except for very low level of tape hiss. Records were reserved for special listening sessions, and greatly enjoyed, it was a super-special thing and I still recall the night a friend and I sat rapt with fascination listening to my MoFi Crime of the Century.
After college though, life happened. My precious table went in a box to be kept safe until I was able to move somewhere and set it up like it deserved. By then though CD came out, and was adopted without ever comparing. Looking back its clear now this was an early example of fake news, and I fell for it. (Been making up for it ever since. Ha!)
Flash forward to around 1994, my CD based high end system in my newly built dream of a lifetime listening room is just about finished when respected reviewer Robert Harley says no wait a minute Miller I said turntable. Not CD. Turntable.
Well always being one to test things out on the cheap first I went to the garage, dug out the Technics, and hooked it up. Mother...! Harley’s right! Wife came home. What did you do dear it sounds so good? We both stare in wide wonder how this old beater beats out modern and much more expensive CD. With better interconnect. And power cord. And Cones. Expletives deleted!
One thing led to another, which led to talking with Michael Fremer, which led to a Basis/Graham/Glider/PH3SE. Then for a few years was able to enjoy both. CD is great for convenience, and especially for being able to program tracks. But I’m a listener. I’m the guy for whom its all about sound quality. Superficial stuff like remote control only goes so far. CD never could compete on sound quality.
But wait! There’s more! That was merely the first time I rediscovered vinyl!
Some years ago I was taking pain killers to control chronic back pain and the tinnitus it caused turned me off listening to music. Went several years without ever playing a record. Movies, okay. Music, no way. Got so despondent, made up my mind to just sell the turntable. But first maybe spin just one for old times sake, to say goodbye.
One minute in and its like, What were you thinking!?!?!?! Dang those records sound good! And away we go!
There really is nothing else like it. Probably never will be. As good as it was sounding this year, gave myself a little Christmas present modding it even better. Now 2 weeks later I’m staggered how much better everything sounds. Its a fine rig, but realistically there should be even better out there. I’m a long term thinker/planner and got my eye on that Paul Beckett guy. His Cue, with zero lube and darn near zero play ceramic bearing, direct drive and SOTA-like vibration control design sure looks the business.
Conventional wisdom is diminishing returns. Like you will at some point hit a wall. Not seeing it. To me it feels more like about to walk through a doorway. Anyone still doesn’t have a turntable get one, step into a whole new world.