The vinyl collection, should it stay or should it go? The DS processes redbook so well that I have had little desire to play any vinyl for several months. I have quite an extensive collection of vinyl, probably worth 50 grand if I sell it off piece by piece. Still hard to do it, though, it’s been a part of my life since my teens.
Hi rez HDTracks as well. They pale in comparison to DS redbooks, so why even bother?
Buy yourself an NPC so you can rip the albums that probably won’t be released in digital form (and avoid paying for new copies also). Then you will really have a choice.
Seriously: it is hard to part with some albums that have been part of your life for a long time. I’m moving into a new house and have decided to pare down the vinyl collection now that digital is sounding so good. I am also at the point in life where having less “stuff” is appealing. I have designated one set of shelves for vinyl, and I will keep only that much. At least that’s the plan . . . we’ll see if I can bring myself to do it.
Magister, yes, exactly what I have been doing with my NPC. Six more months and I will likely have the entire collection archived in DSD format.
radioclash,
I think the answer to your question depends on whether you expect to ever upgrade your analog rig. If you don’t think you will never get a better turntable or cartridge, then sell. But if you think you might upgrade either or both at some point (as I did), then hang on to your LPs. I’m really glad I did. In fact, I have continued to purchase many more LPs, especially those cut at 45 rpm … many I’ve purchased (but not all of them) are really special. You can’t believe the difference.
Dave
radioclash said Magister, yes, exactly what I have been doing with my NPC. Six more months and I will likely have the entire collection archived in DSD format.About how long does it take to do one LP ? And this is full time right, meaning you can't start and return later like CDs ?
Using Vinyl Studio, the process is quite easy. The LP is recorded in real time of course, but the track splitting and tagging only take about 10 minutes per album. The track splitting/tagging can be done at a later time, does not have to be done while recording.
Post processing, such as click removal, is not possible with DSD.
supersax said radioclash,I have heard some needledrops from some very high end setups, and they just don't come close to what the DS does with redbooks. My setup is quite good, but I think I would need to look at a $30,000 turntable for it to become a fair fight!I think the answer to your question depends on whether you expect to ever upgrade your analog rig.
I love my DS but my VPI SSM kills it still.
My analog rig - while heavily upgraded - is nowhere near the investment that some of you have, and in many cases I think it still holds a slight edge to the DS. I think a lot of it is now down to picking out the differences in the actual recordings rather than the medium.
This is an excellent point. There is no hiding a poorly mastered/brickwalled redbook from the DS, it will hit us over the head with it! In those cases, the vinyl version is often the way to go.
I thought the same thing. The DS is that good. It would be nice to slim down my possessions; then I bought the Beatles Mono Vinyl box! Best Beatles available. they just sound the way their supposed to. It’s not Hi-Fi but it’s the Beatles. I’m keeping my turntable inspite of the hassles.