Rediscovering records


I have a large collection of records (about 2000-3000) but  culled about 200-300 to play over and over again through the years.  I picked the best sounding ones when I had a mediocre analog setup because I thought most of the collection sounded poor. Some time ago I did a major upgrade to my record playing system (about $8000 worth) but still listened to the few hundred exclusively. Just recently I started to listen to the rest of the collection and discovered to my delight that most sounded wonderful.  The better equipment changed my listening habits dramatically.

rvpiano

There are many jazz compositions that run over 8 minutes owing mostly to improvisation by each musician, but time duration is still a faulty way to define a genre. I’m fine with “classical”. Like “pornography”, I can’t define it but I know it when I hear/see it.

This reminds me of an argument I had with a person years ago.  It started something like this.  I said that although I am primarily a jazz person, I also like Baroque music and even some Early Western music.  The reply was, oh yes I like Classical music too.  To which I replied that Classical music was from a later period than I was referring to.  The conversation quickly devolved from there.

Based on my experience no single system does all genres equally. My system consisting of horns and SET amps, DHT preamps doesn't do justice for large scale orchestral music. Musicians in room presentation doesn't work for all music, I prefer a more distant presentation for this music, don't need or want 100 musicians in my room!

 

On the other hand I find big band music from 40's and 50's far more compelling with my system, these mostly mono recordings with band more recessed on sound stage. 

 

 

@oddiofyl 

Well played. I wish I’d had your good sense and not sold my vinyl records five years ago. You can always buy a new turntable, but record collections take years to build up. 

in my defence, I was quite ill at the time and moving to a smaller house. On the bright side, it’s fun acquiring them and I can be more selective this time.

In a year, I already have more than enough to play.

@sns 

Based on my experience no single system does all genres equally. 

This is more about personal tastes than anything. That's absolutely fine, but any genre of music will sound better on a better system. Qualities like less noise and distortion, deeper bass, imaging, etc. are universal.