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

@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.

Inconsistency in pressings has always been a problem. Be it classical or rock or jazz. Much better luck with digital in most cases.
But when you have a good pressing it sounds good. I have the original DG Brahms and Beethoven symphonies box sets with Karajan and they sound great. To me these are exceptions, not the rule. You have to research what pressing to get irrespective of genre. There’s a lot of garbage circulating on a new and used vinyl market. 
All the bad or mediocre sounding records…when you come across one in your collection, sell it. With high quality streaming setup in your system it’s hardly worth a bother. 

I thought this post was all about vinyl?

Read the question.

Best practice is to keep the discussion pure, unpolluted with other formats?

”Rediscovering records” is brief enough to avoid misunderstanding.

@audphile1 

​​​​​​Frustration with poor quality used vinyl overrated by sellers was one of the reasons that I got out of vinyl a few years ago. Also, some remastering is poor. You do have to be selective. However, pressings seem to be more consistent these days. Phil Hobbs of Linn Records said recently that plants are getting better at using the correct temperatures.

@rvpiano 

I totally agree about turntable upgrades taking vinyl to a whole new level. That's one of the reasons I got back into vinyl last year with a much upgraded version of the same model that I had before (bearing, power supply and phono stage). I am getting more out of it now. It has become my main source again.

I have a great used record store in Dallas, Jose Records, buy all my previously loved vinyl there. I can inspect each album. Also find the Jazz, Classical and Blues vinyl is usually in better condition than Rock albums. I buy rock albums new...