Why vinyl took the nose dive in the late 1980s - early 1990?

[magiccarpetride]

[...] simply because as humans, when we're exposed to it, analogue sound has something intrinsically 'right' about it that digital simply doesn't deliver.

OK, you have to set your story straight, man. In some other threads you are raving about how a properly set digital chain sounds literally indistinguishable from a properly set analogue chain (and vice versa). You seem to swear by that paradigm. But now we hear you claiming that 'analogue sound has something intrinsically 'right' about it that digital simply doesn't deliver'. So which is it -- are the two formats equal, or is one superior to the other? (you know my answer to that, but I'd like to hear your honest answer)

[Marco]

OK, you have to set your story straight, man. In some other threads you are raving about how a properly set digital chain sounds literally indistinguishable from a properly set analogue chain (and vice versa). You seem to swear by that paradigm. But now we hear you claiming that 'analogue sound has something intrinsically 'right' about it that digital simply doesn't deliver'. So which is it -- are the two formats equal, or is one superior to the other? (you know my answer to that, but I'd like to hear your honest answer)

Lol... I never said "literally indistinguishable". Now you're putting words in my mouth. What I said in other threads was that when the quality of vinyl and digital playback equipment is equalised, the differences in sound between both formats is small, to the point that sometimes you can forget whether you're listening to a record or CD.

However, differences still exist, and I'm on record here as ultimately preferring vinyl because, to my ears, there *is* something more 'intrinsically right' with how it treats recorded music, compared with CD. Therefore, my overall preference is still for analogue sound, at its best!

Marco.

[Macca]

I'm not meaning to sound snobbish about it. The important thing is that people listen to music and get off on it. Even if the delivery mechanism is the equivalent of chicken ding. The day no-one is into music anymore will be the last day.

[magiccarpetride]

Lol... I never said "literally indistinguishable". Now you're putting words in my mouth. What I said in other threads was that when the quality of vinyl and digital playback equipment is equalised, the differences in sound between both formats is small, to the point that sometimes you can forget whether you're listening to a record or CD.

However, differences still exist, and I'm on record here as ultimately preferring vinyl because, to my ears, there *is* something more 'intrinsically right' with how it treats recorded music, compared with CD. Therefore, my overall preference is still for analogue sound, at its best!

Marco.

Thanks for the clarification. I now realize I misread those posts. I have yet to experience this equalized situation, where I'm not sure whether it's analog or digital playing, but I'll take your word for it. (maybe if I'm listening from a different room, but if I'm sitting in a sweet spot, there's no way that I won't be aware of what's playing; and I'm not referring to surface noise or absence of it thereof!)

[magiccarpetride]

I'm not meaning to sound snobbish about it. The important thing is that people listen to music and get off on it. Even if the delivery mechanism is the equivalent of chicken ding. The day no-one is into music anymore will be the last day.

When I was a tiny-weeny little kid, I heard, for the first time ever, the Beatles "A Hard Day's Night" song on my grandma's crappy kitchen radio. I remember distinctly how transfixed my entire little body was upon hearing that sound.

I honestly doubt that I'd be as equally (or even as marginally) transfixed if, by some fucked up back-to-the-future freak accident my grandma was listening to the Beatles on her iPhone back then.

[Marco]

I'm not meaning to sound snobbish about it. The important thing is that people listen to music and get off on it. Even if the delivery mechanism is the equivalent of chicken ding. The day no-one is into music anymore will be the last day.

I agree, but it would be interesting to show those folk how their music could sound when reproduced by better equipment, which needn't necessarily be expensive, and if done, I suspect that their changed perspectives would for some alter how they chose to listen to music in future.

Marco.

[Jimbo]

Vinyl must always be kept alive to show other generations what true audiophile sound quality is. It is the benchmark for ALL music reproduction.

[walpurgis]

Vinyl must always be kept alive to show other generations what true audiophile sound quality is. It is the benchmark for ALL music reproduction.

Trouble is, most folk wouldn't give a toss about "audiophile sound quality". In fact I reckon the majority don't know what it means and probably have never heard the term. Many people not even knowing that there are 'different grades' of sound quality. Cynical maybe, but reality I think.

[RMutt]

I agree, but it would be interesting to show those folk how their music could sound when reproduced by better equipment, which needn't necessarily be expensive, and if done, I suspect that their changed perspectives would for some alter how they chose to listen to music in future.

Marco.

But that is the point. CD and now other digital media is doing just that.

[struth]

Trouble is, most folk wouldn't give a toss about "audiophile sound quality". In fact I reckon the majority don't know what it means and probably have never heard the term. Many people not even knowing that there are 'different grades' of sound quality. Cynical maybe, but reality I think.

most dont seem to care too much. and by that i mean everyone. we are the oddities