In article b_Sqd.385025$%k.294610@pd7tw2no, Spiderant
wrote:

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...

[big snip]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your patient explanation. As I mentioned to Dave Plowman and
John Philips, I now know that whereas I was assuming that all things
are equal, in fact most things are very far from equal. I had a
temporary relapse and purchased five used LPs. Those LPs that didn't
skip, crackled so loudly that it was hard to concentrate on the music.
While listening to Richter playing a Beethoven sonata, at one point I
found myself nodding in rhythm to this persistent tick probably
originating from a scratch in the record. After a couple of hours of
this experimenting, I tossed the records into the trash, threw on some
beautifully recorded CDs (listed in the replies to Mr. Plowman and Mr.
Philips) and remembered why I had given up on vinyl years ago.

What you write above is pretty to similar to my own experience which has
lead me over the years to virtually cease bothering with LPs. Yes, some of
the LPs I have sound excellent. Others do not, and my experience is that
the medium is cursed with problems like those you mention. This, in turn
drove me to 'cleaning rituals' before playing an LP, and often listening
with a sense that at any moment a new 'rifle shot' would turn up and upset
my ability to relax and enjoy the music.

During the 1970's well over half the new LPs I bought I promptly returned
top the shop for a replacement due to faults. This deterred me from buying
LPs as I often could not face having to listen to copies and return them
until I got one I was prepared to accept.

With CD-A I am not sure what my return rate is, but I'd estimate it is the
order or a percent or less. So I just buy the disc and enjoy the music.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html