Vinyl foibles

@thecarpathian 

I am well aware of chatgbt's flattery, and I know how to put aside that distraction. You may have asked it about a silly poem, but I am a well-published poet. I write subtle and nuanced poems and their meanings are hidden below the surface story. I have taught poetry and been in workshops with experienced poets. It is not easy for people who are steeped in poetry to get every little nuaance of a serious poem in twenty minutes. Chatgbt did that in under five seconds, including references to Classical literature and Jungian archtypes. Try asking chatgbt about a serious poem. You will be surprised. 

BTW, I have been working with chatgbt for many months now. It is helping me with research for a novel. It stops the flattery after a while when it gets to know about your endeavors. As I said, it's not a good writer, and it will endorse my ideas. When I ask its opinion on a plot point, it is not very good at all. I have gotten to know chatgbt very well, and I also know when it is wrong, which happens.  

@pindac 

The manual on mats is helpful. It seems to reinforce my choice for a good, cork mat. I have wondered, though, if the cork or gunk on the cork is getting on my records. I have one of those sticky rollers for cleaning records, and I am begining to clean the cork with it.

@audio-b-dog “What do you do with your favorite albums that you wear out?  They pick up too many crackles and skips”

l have never worn out any favourite albums, or had too many crackles, or have any skips.
I have been buying LP’s since 1968 (some are favourites) and still play them.
 

I must be doing something wrong.

Vinyl and all of its complications is a time, money and frustration suck imo. I stuck my toe back in to the tune of a 6k table a cartridge, a phono pre amp and about 75 180 gram records at $40-$50 each. Most sucked with noise, poor recording etc. about 15 sound good to great. The minutia, cleaning, care, prep, constantly getting up to flip sides, clean again etc. is insane. Cut your losses and go back to streaming- $150 a year for millions of songs, playlists, instant skipping of any song you don't like. I'm not buying any more vinyl and def don't buy into the hype of it "sounder better". It doesn't and the coast and problems are outrageous.

@speedthrills 

Getting up out of my chair to turn over an album is a good thing says my physical therapists. Shouldn't sit too long without getting up. 

Almost all records sound far better than digital, although I must admit when digital resolution gets up to 96 khz and above, sounds pretty damn good. But it's not as good a vinyl.

I am getting smarter about staying away from records whose music was stored digitally. The albums have a digital signature to some degree. Some are unlistenable to me, while others are okay. Rather than reissues I look for orignal pressings.

I think enjoying music is the important thing. No matter how you listen to it. For years I listened to almost all CDs. I had put my turntable and records in a closet. I had to purchase a somewhat decent turntable (Rega 3) and phono preamp. But I've always enjoyed music no matter how it was delivered. If I can make it sound better, however, I will, within financial limits.