what is old is new again

I got a catalog today from a company that sells -- of all things --
------- records of new and old music.

Yeah, you know, LP's. Vinyl.

Huh?


Remember when you got rid of all your old crummy record albums because CD's were gonna be the next big thing?

Well, time to get rid of your crummy ole CD's and trade em for LP's -
--- cause it's the next big thing.



Oh... and I forgot to mention one other change -----
----- remember when LP's cost about $10 bucks?

Kiss that goodbye too...

A new copy of "The White Stripes" will set you back $30.... plus shipping.

Metallica's Black Album is a comparitive bargain - 22 bucks,
.... as is Death Cab for Cutie's "Narrow Stairs" at $18.

Hoo boy.....
doesnt that make you want to rummage around the local Salvation Army store for albums?



Well, not so fast. Unless, of course, you kept that nice turntable you had, too.

'Cause guess what else has gone way, way up in price...........

There's a real nice one in this here catalog for only $28,000 ....

.......... it's an SME model 20 with tonearm and cartridge included.

Ok- to be fair, there's also a Thorens 190 for only $700 , with a cheap cartridge.



But , now we gotta start adding stuff like tube-driven pre-amps and amplifiers.

"TUBE-DRIVEN?", you ask, incredulously. "... you mean, like vacuum tube driven??"

Yes indeedy.


Lest you should think that we are taking some bizarre technological big-leap backward --

the catalog explains that::

if you are indeed the audiophile you claim to be,
and not just some wanna-be lover of those exquisite frequencies
-- between 30 hertz and 35,000 hertz,

only expensive tube driven amps and pre-amps will give you the kind of quality sound
-- that your $28,000 SME turntable and your $1695 Grado headphones ---

( Oh, didnt I mention headphones?) deserve.


Just imagine,
listening to Nat King Cole's "After Midnight" LP in glorious analog monophonic for only $75.

Or, the Doors first album, also in glorious monophonic - for only $50.

"Light My Fire" in one channel.......
Be still my heart.



And if that isn't enough, if you order now,

you'll get the extra added convenience of not only having to flip the albums,

but since they were recorded at 45 RPM, you've got to switch them half way thru, too.


Isnt that better than popping a CD in and forgetting about it?

Oh sure.



I guess I'm playing the devil's advocate a little bit here, though.

I own way over a thousand albums from the ' old days' ..
and although I still can't imagine buying a new piece of music in album format today,
--- I do understand why people like LP's.

The appeal - the frequency response curve -
... or what people call the 'tone' - of LP's can be better-
the tone of CD's is often described as 'treble shifted' or tinny -
-- and at loud volumes in particular, there is a noticible difference --
provided you've got good enough equipment to reproduce that LP sound faithfully.


That's where the tube amplifier comes in....
... tubes can produce a warmer, more realistic tone than 'solid state' amplifiers.



If you were like me and owned a Quad set, with Quad LP's-
---- you'd get amazing head space and separation.

 It's like hearing recorded music for the first time.  



 You can't get quad CD's. They don't make em.

( you for-real audio techie types are thinking -
.... what about Dolby Surround Sound? Sorry... not the same. )
 


 The album art is something I miss, ok......  sometimes.
http://carolinamuscle.xanga.com/703652904/really-terrible-album-covers/ 




 There are also a lot of LP's - many, many LP's -
-- especially Jazz and Blues, that just aren't available in any other format.

 You can't download em, you can't buy em, you can't hear em - 
---  unless they're played on a turntable.




 But all the old inconveniences also come with the deal.

 When the amp tube blows out, you have to find out which one it is,
...  and then find a replacement.

 When the record plays one side through, you gotta go flip the damn thing.

 Needles break,
tonearms get bent by four year olds,
belts slip  ( I got a direct drive, thank you...) ,  
speeds vary, 
tracking weight controls get adjusted by clueless people,
cartridges take specialized hard-to-get styluses,
there always seems to be an annoying ground loop hum.... ,
and of course- 
records warp and scratch... easier than Madonna can put on a pointy bra.



 For most people, 
the tinny tone of CD's are more than compensated for
-- by their utter convenience and portability.  



 And I'll admit, about the only time I break out my turntable and the assorted kit needed to play with it ---
----   is when I'm transferring the contents of my old records to a CD or to ITunes. 


 Still, though....
 I found that Julie London "Julie Is Her Name, Volume One" LP Set  hard to resist.....  

  .................................  until I saw the price.  ($50)




 If you're one of those audiophiles who just has to have the latest releases on LP, check out these guys at:  www.acousticsounds.com.

 Hey, it's the least I can do- they sent me a free catalog, after all.