Hi,
Been reading this thread and trying to understand the arguments on which way to go, Analog or Digital? I'm a music fan and I don't care much if the music is cut in vinyl or pressed in CD. What matters is that I appreciate the music I listen to, IMHO.
i think iceman already pointed out above the importance of knowing what type of music you listen to when choosing to go analog or not. for example, if someone likes pre-1990 music, it might make sense to invest in some analog gear. why? i have two answers in mind right now.
First, its doesn't seem easy to find pre-1990 titles in either CD or SACD format, whether from off- or on-line sources. Used LPs in Mint condition of pre-1990 titles are neither expensive nor that hard to find. lalo na ngayong madami nang nagbebenta ng LPs ulit.
Second, while this might not be true for new recordings, i find that most of the pre 1980 stuff released in CD format sound very inferior to their vinyl counterparts. Madalas manipis, matalas at nakakapagod pakinggan ang maraming old titles na released in CD format before 1990. Supposedly maraming flaws ang Digital to analog processing noon. Ngayon the technology is far better, that's why many new recordings do not sound that bad anymore. Nevertheless, the better sounding remastered material from the past are not very common and can still be quite expensive (e.g. XRCDs or SACDs).
On the question of which way to go, Analog or Digital: Here’s a question: are we the ones to decide which way to go or the recording companies? Sure, there are quite a number of turntables (exotic and entry level) that are coming out, but is there enough software to complement the growing need? Will commercial record companies bring back their cutting machines and produce LPs along with CDs, knowing that recording companies earn more because the cost of production for CDs is cheaper than LPs? If the argument is that LPs are cheaper to produce, then why do these record companies continue to produce CDs, and are in fact, improving the medium (SACD, XRCD, XRCD2, HDCD, etc)? Also, why is the production of LPs limited to Audiophile classics and not commercial recordings? It’s all ‘bout profit taking, I guess.
Digital is still in and may still be the future, and it’s not because of the music.
Just my opinion.
Cheers.
The supply side or the decisions made by the record companies on what format to support is not within the buyers' influence. However, on the demand side, baka meron tayong epekto. Bakit nga ba ang dami nang nagbebenta ng LPs
ulit ngayon dito sa manila? Bakit nga ba dumadami ang brands ng turntables, cartridges, phono stage, record cleaners ang pumapasok lately? Kasi medyo lumalaki ang merkado.
Hindi rin totoong audiophile material lang ang lumalabas. Si Norah Jones, Diana Krall, atbp. na may pop following din naman
ay lumalabas pa din sa plaka. Marami ding oldies na di naman audiophile classics ang available pa din sa LP. Palagay ko malaking market pa rin ito kung pag aaralan lang ng mga record companies nang mabuti.
doon na man sa gustong pumasok ng analog, word of warning: ingat lang. the analog path can be quite dangerous.
nandyan ang napakadaming maaaring maging kakabit na gastos: maporma and heavy duty turntables, low output MC cartridges, decent phono stage, cleaning accesories, anti-warp devices, precision power supply belt drive motors etc...naku talagang napaka delikado...so try to keep it simple at first, pa-attend-attend ng sessions, etc. para maalalayan ang gastos.
huwag na lang maghabol nang maghabol
kung hindi, mapapasubo ka nang husto.
ngayon doon sa mga talagang ayaw mag-analog: di naman sila dapat pilitin. OK lang sa amin. At least makakabawas sa mga pacman o piranhang kalaban sa plaka.
siempre opinyon ko rin lang lahat ang mga ito.