DragonDiscs - Vinyl Verbals Article

THE TIMELESS DEBATE OVER WHETHER VINYL IS SUPERIOR TO CD`s.

Answer: Beats me, but I sure like the sound of vinyl. To me it is "warmer" and doesn`t sound as if some parts of the timbre were clipped from it. I collect records but a lot of the reasons I like vinyl have to do with a lot of things other than the sound reproduction. I never hear people who like records give many of these reasons, but here`s my sense of the thing.

The Advantages Of Using Vinyl As A Music Medium

1. The Thrill Of The Chase. Anybody can go to a music store and buy a CD, but record lovers are obliged to search all over hell`s half-acre for titles. One can buy from mail order places, but the real thrill comes from walking into a Salvation Army Thrift Store and finding a title you`ve wanted and only paying fifty cents. Garage sales offer multiple opportunity, as do flea markets and second hand stores. Life is good.

2. Listening Is An Act Of Accomplishment. When I clean the record, clean the stylus, adjust all other turntable settings, and then coax a great sound from the recording, I feel a clear sense of accomplishment Listening on this level isn`t passive. I`ve been involved in the process. Life is good.

3. The Album Covers Themselves. The pictures can be seen, the print can be read. There can be additional payoffs of lyric sheets, photos, posters, instructions, and practically anything else that can be printed on a sheet of paper. Also, the covers themselves are great decorations. I`ve all kinds of them in frames, splattered all over my house. The covers can also be very collectible. Check out the web site about the Beatle`s "Butcher Cover". Life is good.

4. Huge Music Library. Most record collectors have literally thousands of records. They often buy in huge lots and in consequence have opportunities to investigate all sorts of music and artists. Discoveries wait in every collection. Life is good.

5. A Jackpot Around Every Corner. Who can say when that $20,000.00 Dylan record will turn up and allow me to sell it and invest the money and become rich. I can say. Life isn`t that good.

6. The Tape Advantage. If using tapes isn`t prohibitively offensive (for example, in the car or for casual listening), the purchase of a decent tape deck will allow portable access to the entire collection. Also, using a tape of a record will mean that when the tape loses its high end frequencies (due to not demagnitizing the tape deck heads often enough) you can just re-tape the record. It`s difficult for me to find advantage in buying pre-recorded tapes. Life is good.

7. Miscellaneous . Have to quit listing, but other advantages include Record Shows, Internet Activity, Magazines, Cleaning Solution Adventures, and much, much more. Life is very good.

Article submitted by: Walter L., Olean, New York.