WSJ Article on Vinyl

[MylesBAstor]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...290800632.html

[Gregadd]

...They've rightly derided the brittle compression of CDs and given the cold shoulder to even the more robust digital formats, such as super-audio CDs. (Don't get them started on the hopeless degradation of MP3s.)


That had to hurt!

[NorthStar]

Might is well simply make your own music (write, compose, play, and record it).

... Using a CD recorder? ... Or on Tape (R2R)? ... Or 'burn an album' (acetate) directly?

[rbbert]

My admittedly biased reaction to reading the article this morning was that much of vinyl's current appeal does not relate to absolute sound quality. The discussion of cover art, the physicality of the medium, and the characterization of the sound quality differences have little or nothing to do with true audio quality. Criticizing the "brittle compression" of CD's must refer to mastering practices, because it is certainly not inherent to the medium, and even less so for higher resolution digital, which is lumped by the writer in with CD.

[FrantzM]

My admittedly biased reaction to reading the article this morning was that much of vinyl's current appeal does not relate to absolute sound quality. The discussion of cover art, the physicality of the medium, and the characterization of the sound quality differences have little or nothing to do with true audio quality. Criticizing the "brittle compression" of CD's must refer to mastering practices, because it is certainly not inherent to the medium, and even less so for higher resolution digital, which is lumped by the writer in with CD.

If there is something that I find amiss with the current way of listening to music is the tactile experience of a great LP cover and album design in general. Holding the smallish CD jewel case of holding my iPad/Pod to look at the graphics is simply not the same thing aside from that ...
See a thread I started .. on TT I will get one but the reasons are definitely not sonics .. far from it .. Content and sentimentality

[MylesBAstor]

My admittedly biased reaction to reading the article this morning was that much of vinyl's current appeal does not relate to absolute sound quality. The discussion of cover art, the physicality of the medium, and the characterization of the sound quality differences have little or nothing to do with true audio quality. Criticizing the "brittle compression" of CD's must refer to mastering practices, because it is certainly not inherent to the medium, and even less so for higher resolution digital, which is lumped by the writer in with CD.

Agreed one really wanted more meat to the piece; this story has been repeated many times. The bottom line is still that sales have increased and that young people are again listening to vinyl. That's were our future lies

[MylesBAstor]

If there is something that I find amiss with the current way of listening to music is the tactile experience of a great LP cover and album design in general. Holding the smallish CD jewel case of holding my iPad/Pod to look at the graphics is simply not the same thing aside from that ...
See a thread I started .. on TT I will get one but the reasons are definitely not sonics .. far from it .. Content and sentimentality

Yes, the cover art on albums was just that--Art There are some very famous people that did album covers too

[puroagave]

"The embrace of vinyl isn't just some retro fad, but a push-back against the techno-triumphalism that insists there is no future for physical artifacts like books and newspapers. It's a small declaration of independence, a refusal to let the march of progress stomp on one's pleasures."

best quote in the article and what many vinylphiles won't admit too. of the many serious vinyl collectors ive know over the years, sound quality wasnt the first, second or third reason they hung on so long, althought they'll be quick to quote people like fremmer even though they never read TAS or knew what a decent system sounds like.

[JackD201]

I like the part about how the ritual results in more purposeful listening. Perhaps it's become a welcome respite for the young 'uns from their multitasking lifestyles. Another one of the reasons I love LP is it forces me to slow the heck down. I have to say that even the silences between tracks and turning the record over are almost as pleasurable as the listening itself.

[treitz3]

The embrace of vinyl isn't just some retro fad, but a push-back against the techno-triumphalism that insists there is no future for physical artifacts like books and newspapers. It's a small declaration of independence, a refusal to let the march of progress stomp on one's pleasures.

Oh, of course! It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the sound. *rolls eyes* I take it that he has never actually listened. If he had, he would not seem to be on par with a donkey.