Do you play the same records over and over again?

ghdprentice

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I listen to remember how much I miss digital.

In 1973 I assembled my first high end system (ARC electronics, Magneplanar Tympani loudspeakers, Thorens/SME/Decca turntable), and over the next two years came to realize that I was picking LP’s to play based not on musical criteria (or appetite), but rather on recorded sound quality. I  found that disturbing, and purposely sold it all and assembled a more modest (in cost and sound quality) system, my listening habits thereafter being determined by the music itself, regardless of sound quality.

Since that time I have slowly assembled a system that is good enough to reproduce recorded music to a level that can be considered relatively high quality, but not so ruthlessly revealing as to make less-than-great recordings sound unpleasant. That endeavor was taken in tandem with a measure of maturity that came with age.

I now listen to music driven by the quality of the music itself, and if that music also sounds great, that's an added bonus. Great sound quality is appreciated, but not mandatory.

I listen to music for the music. I like good SQ - I've got excellent gear for that - but not everything has it, and I don't get bent out of shape if it doesn'. 

No. I’m always mixing up my playback stack / queue. Of course I have long-term favorites but there’s constantly stuff shuffling out and then in. If more than 50% of my 3,000 LP collection didn’t sound GREAT, then vinyl wouldn’t be my main format (probably ~ 70% is great). I generally avoid "audiophile", sampler, or show-off music; it doesn’t "vibe" with me. And rock music is way waaaaay more than just Dire Straits (I listen to them maybe once a year). Brothers in Arms sounds good but there’s plenty of exciting rock that sounds just as good even (sometimes) on the cheap "Club" pressings. 

So why don’t I cull the LPs that don’t sound GREAT? Sheer laziness. Their presence is a constant disappointment. For a while I’ve been meaning to yank them and toss or give away. At least set aside. Some have cool covers, some are valuable (beats the hell out of me as to why).