Vinyl In The Modern World!

Vinyl in the modern world.

I frequently read that vinyl playback is undergoing a bit of a rebirth and I am particularly gratified to see 'young people' reared on CD's, Ipods and music downloads rediscovering the pleasures of old fashioned vinyl playback. Yet some people are still surprised to see vinyl still being played at all! In recent months I've had a few personal experiences where friends of mine and acquaintances have partaken of the 'vinyl' experience (sorry but I couldn't resist that one), and liked it.

A few months ago, a long time Ham Radio friend visited from another Australian state and although only 'lukewarm' about the sound of high quality vinyl playback was suitably impressed when I played a Classical record for him. 'The high frequencies are clearer and nicer than CD', he remarked. About a year ago a young Generation Y chap here to look at my computer was given a listen to AC/DC's 'Back in Black' album on vinyl and was clearly impressed. As least he knew what records were! About the same time I walked into a local cafe with a couple of records I'd just bought at a jumble sale and the waitress (in her twenties) asked me what they were, and I said 'records'. She looked at me blankly, so I explained as best as I could! It took a while, but I think she got it eventually. Apparently she had never seen a vinyl record before! Mmmmmmm.

Just very recently, a neighbour dropped by whilst I was playing a recently acquired Jazz LP and she asked, is that 'the radio'? I said, no a 'record'. She looked around with eyes wide open and watched the record being played on the turntable for a few minutes whilst she listened to the music. 'That sounds nice doesn't it', she commented. She was more familiar with vinyl records, but I got the distinct feeling that she'd never heard a record sounding so good judging by the look of pleasant surprise on her face! In conversation later she did say that she had seen these new record player/CD combo's and I advised her that they were not of very high quality and that 'real' record players (turntables) are still being made but are rather expensive because they are precisely built items. This is actually a shame as my personal feeling is that interested listeners would happily buy a good quality turntable if not for the initial expense. Certainly high quality turntables can be very expensive at least here in Australia, not to mention the cost of the phono cartridge and the associated playback electronics which is one of the very good reasons why I DIY so much of my own high fidelity gear.

The subject of the records themselves was also discussed and my friend was a little surprised to know that they are still being made and then I mentioned my fondness for the second hand shops where well preserved records can be purchased cheaply. Most of my large collection of records were purchased second hand, I added. She nodded!

It is a personal lament of mine that this so called modern and technologically advanced world of ours has seen the accelerated demise of old fashioned activities and pursuits for no good reason and justification. Vinyl playback is one of those, although I am hopeful that the positive trend back to vinyl playback will continue. Similar trends are evident with one of my other passions, analog and short-wave radio being displaced 'not so slowly' by digital systems and delivery systems. Am I just showing my age? No! Whilst I have embraced much of modern and contemporary digital technology, I cannot see any reason why the 'older stuff' has to be completely dispensed with, when there is nothing wrong with it! Sadly many people today have simply become slaves to 'fashionable trends' and 'publicity'. I say, think for yourself! More to come! Felix.