Anyone else collect and/or listen to vinyl records?

[photoman13]

The reason I am asking is because I listen to my collection a lot and it's usually accompanied by my pipe or a cigar. Something about the physical element of vinyl is lost with cds or mp3s. When I pull out a record and the needle hits it I feel more connected to the artist than with a cd or mp3. Please post anything you want. You can tell me I am crazy. It's all good. I, at one time thought it was crazy myself. Another interesting thing about vinyl is that artist still make vinyl. I just picked up a few the other day and have been playing them frequently.

Maybe I can convert some music fans out there.

 

[ejames]

I know what you mean about listening to albums. I really liked listening to them. Most of mine are long gone. Loaded them up in the truck about 3-4 years ago and hauled them to Arizona and traded them for a motor and trans for a 72 Charger I was working on. Sold the car not long after that.

 

[photoman13]

That's to bad man. Vinyl is becoming more and more valuable if they are in decent condition.

 

[hobie1dog]

Into LP's big time. Have 1200+ , and just went to a Vinyl Show and bought a big batch a couple of weeks ago. There are lots of them that will never be released on CD because there is no market for them. I have 6 turntables and am now designing my own that will use a magnetic levitation system for the platter using neodymium magnets to eliminate all vertical bearing contact. The tone arm will be straight line tracking and have an air bearing to allow the arm to float on a 20mm rod. I'll post up some pics of models made by others like this tomorrow for you. I am fascinated by the mechanics of dragging a needle across a groove and picking up various modulations with such great fidelity. My friend and I have done lots of comparisons between the LP's and their re-released CD's and many times the LP just sounds more dynamic and natural. He has over 30K in his system and the musicians are in the room with you, it's friggin fantastic, almost better than sex.

 

[photoman13]

ha ha agreed I only have 400 or so. I have repaired and sold a few turntables. I have never done anything to the extent of you though.

 

[hobie1dog]

I keep dreaming of getting that phone call where someone asks you to come and get all those old records of their relatives, and you walk into a room with 20k LP's.

 

[photoman13]

I have the same dreams. I feel like those days have past though. Most people like that have already sold or given away their collections.

 

[jaysin]

to me vinal sounds more idk pure more like live than a cd. I have all my orginal Kiss Led Zepplin Doors hollys manford man records

 

[photoman13]

My girlfriend's father game me Led Zeppelin II. It is a little scratched but it just gives the music more character.

 

[briarbird]

I love listening to vinyl. There is something about it that you just do not get on any other audio format. I even buy a lot of the newer music I listen to, on vinyl. Anyone have a favorite album or two that they love listening to on vinyl? I find myself putting on James Taylor albums, Elton Johns "Madman Across the Water," and Ryan Adams albums as my "go to's."

 

[hobie1dog]

My Empire 598 Troubador before restoration( which is on the back burner now )

One of my Harmon Kardon TT's

 

[hobie1dog]

This is the air bearing for the tonearm which I'll likely use to insure frictionless movement. The inside of the bushing/bearing is made of a porous graphite which allows air to be flowing over the entire inside of the bearing surface to float it on the rod it travels on.

 

[morlader]

Me and my wife have still got and play our old vinyls from way back including some of the original Elvis and Beattles albums.Eldest grandson has some of Sinatra's vinyls as well. That's a great set-up you have there Hobie.

 

[hobie1dog]

More TT Porn

And the Transrotor Gravita, about 150K dollars

 

[hobie1dog]

My last turntable that I recently sold. Oracle with a Koetsu tonearm. The previous owner installed a special dry ceramic bearing assembly which produced an oscillating rubbing sound...he should have left the thing stock ( audiophiles are a strange bunch of humans). I got tired of messing with it, and sold it. It was one of those TT's that I always lusted for, then once I got it, and dis-assembled it trying to fix it, you realize it's not all it's cracked up to be.

 

[photoman13]

Hobie1dog -Wow man those are are some amazing turntables. I currently have a cheapy turntable but have it hooked up to bose speakers and acoustimass center. Sounds pretty amazing.
Briarbird -my favorite to listen to on vinyl is probably Iron and wine - our endless numbered days or strangely Hall and oates - Abandoned Luncheonette. If I am partying it is one of my many Beastie Boys albums.
Morlader -I have the beatles white album and the magical mystery tour. Some of my most prized records.

 

[bentmike]

My dad had that Led Zeppelin II album with the fold out cover. Awesome! I must have spun that record a thousand times before I was even a teenager. He also had a nice Fisher Studio Standard amp and turntable that was sweet back in the 80's. By the time I was earning enough scratch to buy music the cassette tape was out and I bought a few of those. I'd love to get back into LP's but just don't have the space to store more stuff.
Hobiedog your homebrew engineering is great!

 

[keith929]

Holy S@** ! Hobie1dog, what a great set of TT. Being a jazzoholic I love my vinyl, I can hardly imagine the sound those puppies produce.

 

[ohin3]

Nice gear Hobie. I listen to a lot of electronic music that that is all still released on vinyl. I have close to a thousand lps and 12" singles. There is no substitute for true analog sound waves. Digital gets closer and closer but I don't care if you have a billion samples per second, it will never be a smooth natural analog sound wave with all its richness.

 

[briarbird]

Hobie1dog, wow... thats all I keep saying to myself...wow...