LP's... Do they sound better now than 30 yrs ago?

My double LP of Rastus sounds amazing and better than anything else because this Tower of Power style band was never re-issued apart from the original few LPs.

Chakster...I have lots of older RCA's, Mercury's etc. that sound wonderful....I also have some digitally recorded LP's that also sound wonderful.  New records (popular especially) are highly processed and not lifelike...  While I'm writing I'll recommend the original Vangelus recording of Blade Runner.  (I know it can't be lifelike - its 1 guy playing a computer)

Everybody bringing up his own anecdotal singular experience to prove a point one way or the other. Like Bogie said to Bergman in Casablanca, it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.

LPs still sound as good as they did 30 years ago.  The MAJOR difference is that the new equipment we are using to reproduce LPs provides us with sound quality that far surpasses any other souses developed since the introduction of LPs.  It's not about reproducing the tunes, it's about reproducing the subtleties and hidden nuances that are hidden in the grooves.

Far better now.

First, ultrasonic cleaning systems are readily available. If you haven't heard an ultrasonically cleaned record on a good system, you have no idea of the potential in terms of silent backgrounds and micro-detail. See the Rushton thread.

Second, playback systems today are far superior to what was available 30 years ago. There have been several revolutions since then: air bearings, tangential tracking, amorphous core step-up transformer technology, exotic stylus shapes and materials. Also, there is a widespread understanding of the benefits of precision set-up. Who ever heard of a torque wrench for cartridge mounting screws back in the day?

Bill Gates' system of 30 years ago can't compare with my modern one. Period.