"Julian Fowler" wrote


Strange, since I prefer music on vinyl, for me, "music *is* better on
vinyl". (I'd be daft to prefer it, if it sounded worse, wouldn't I?)

Yes, but you definitely fall into the "reasonable" camp, Keith - you
don't tend to claim that vinyl sounds better to you because of some
spurious technical superiority. You like it because you like it ...


Thanks for that - I really have no opinion about someone else's expressed
preference for any 'non vinyl' medium. Whatever floats their boat is
perfectly fine by me! (A view I think you will find is shared by nearly all
'vinylheads'.....)

(Also not totally unaware that banging on about vinyl is only creating
'competition' for vinyl related stuff and any resultant increased demand,
while it may improve choice, can only drive prices up at the end of the
day!)



What
troubles me is that vinylphobes can't stand to hear that someone prefers
vinyl without being irritated while most vinylphiles I know are very
happy
to hear someone prefers digital and really couldn't care less.

Can't comment ... whilst not being a vinylphile (I do listen to vinyl,
albeit only where the music concerned is not readily available in
digital form, or I've not yet got round to purchasing it on CD) I'm
not a vinylphobe either. The "irritation" (which, to be honest, is
only minor as far as I'm concerned) is when over-zealous vinylphiles
jump from statements of preference to statements of technical
superiority.


Again, I can only state I'm not aware of many (if any) such statements. I
think what it is the 'vinylphobes/digiphiles' take enthusiastic remarks
about 'lifelike' 'engaging' and 'presence' (or whatever) and translate them
into 'accuracy' 'dynamic range' etc.



For the record:

ukra = 'vinyl enthusiasm' is anathema

ukrav = 'vinyl enthusiasm' is mandatory

OK?

:-)


snip

Fine, except that have you really ever seen/heard a Moggie owner

yes (usually in form claims that Moggies are "environmentally
friendly")


Which, if caring ownership of a well-tuned Moggie for, say, 30 years, means
that a square mile (or two) of rainforest hasn't been chopped down to
provide the 15 or so '2 year replacements' in that time, is a perfectly
reasonable claim, IME.



(or
vinylphile) make these 'technically superior' remarks?

yes. Maybe its the mark of a true vinylphile that he/she doesn't see
claims that vinyl has (for example) better dynamic range than CD as
being technical incorrect. Likewise the denial that the mastering
techniques necessary to create a vinyl disc involve substantial
degradation of the source material which is not necessary with CD
mastering processes.

I think you will find
it is actually the longest-running strawman argument in ukra.

Vinylphiles may claim 'sonic superiority' and will certainly express a
personal preference, vinylphobes are uncomfortable with this (doesn't
match
their own 'scientific' findings) and substitute the word 'technical' in
their little, er, ****** heads!

Now try this one - home-baked bread is much better than a supermarket
sliced
white loaf despite the fact that the supermarket loaf will very likely
fulfil more 'perfect white bread' specifications on paper......

... um, since when did white bread have anything to do with accuracy
of audio reproduction?


At about the same time as the mention of the Morris Minor.......


Maybe the key difference *is* that vinylphiles
have a preference for a certain sound (and the common claims in favour
of valve amplifiers in conjunction with vinyl suggest that "certain
sound" to be an inaccurate, coloured one), whereas those with a
preference for CD are seeking the best possible reproduction of music
as intended by the artists, engineers, and producers responsible for
it. If your interest is with accuracy then specifications are
important - if your interest is in a sound you like (without much
attention to the relationship between what you are hearing and what
was recorded) then I agree that specs and measurements are irrelevant
to you.


Your mention of valves raises a very good point. It is my contention that
'valves & vinyl' go together like cheese and pickle and combine to create an
utterly sublime sound. ('Accurate', 'distorted', 'coloured' or not - I
really couldn't give a sh*t, I simply never tire of it!) I often wonder if
vinyl would have quite so many detractors here if they had had the chance to
hear the 'full monty'.....