Vinyl foibles
I'd like to make this a space to ask questions about vinyl problems you're having trouble solving. I have a lot of questions, but I think it's better if we ask one at a time, or else I think we could have long lists.
Here is my first question. I have a Degritter album washer. I think it works great. I wash all my albums once, but not before I play them again and again. Somehow, though, and this includes new albums no one else has ever touched, they pick up ticks and what sounds like scratches. I rewash the album and it sounds like new again. I only touch albums by their edges. How do inner bands become so dirty that sometimes a smudge can last a minute or more? I've been playing vinyl albums for more years than many of you have lived, and I have learned to be very careful with vinyl. Are there vinyl gremlins haunting my album shelves?
@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 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. |
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. |
You're a better man (audiophile) than I am. I have records I purchased in the early seventies, but I had a really inexpensive turntable and a cartridge I never changed. I'm surprised more of my old albums have not gotten skips and crackles. Most of the skips and crackles, I am finding, is from gunk in the grooves. The Degritter takes care of that. There is no question, though, that I am not as careful as Michael Fremer. I enjoy music too much to stop and be extra careful. I'm anxious to play the next record I've chosen. Still a kid when it comes to music and hi fi, I guess. |
