Is it all worth it?


Do you ever get the feeling when you start to question whether playing records is really worth it all?
You know with everything involved with great record playback.
The setup, the cleaning regime, the $1000 plus cartridges that start their finite lifespan as soon as stylus first touches vinyl and spirals into less and less value with every play.
All the tweaks involved, cables, mats, isolation etc.
Then the media itself with it's inevitable disapointments.

Don't you just like to push a couple buttons on your phone app and be listening to great sound with a worldwide catalogue at your fingertips.

Or is it that when all of it lines up and the sounds are just sublime, then yes you sit back with a wry smile and say...

Yep, it's all worth it!
128x128uberwaltz
I used to think because I had to be more alert and concentrated to play records it meant I was paying more attention to the music.
Not sure as that's the case.
In fact sometimes it can have opposite effect when I know a side is getting near the end and I have to move my ass to lift the needle. Yeah I know get a Little Fwend!
Of course if on the SL-10 or QL-A7 that's not a worry.

But wait, WTH am I doing with all these TT? And ten plus cartridges??
I have one streamer, one DAC.

I picked a hell of a week to quit glue sniffing!


Funny about a year ago my partner built a reference level phono stage.  He brought it over to my house to have a listen.  The funny part is that neither of us owned a turntable to test the thing out.  I then borrow a TT from a friend of mine who buys old vintage equipment at estate sales.  He gave me a basic TT and off we went.  We had on e record to play and it was fantastic.  Out of curiosity my partner looked at the TT to see who manufactured it.  Turns out it says JC Penny on it.  I called my friend and he told me that CEC make them for various companies back in the day.  But it sounded fantastic.  We took the phono stage to VPI a few months back and they loved the sound also.  I still only own two or three records to play but the sound is fantastic.

Happy Listening
Yup.

Worth it!

As the world is going through a crazy difficult time, with so much sadness, hardship and loss, listening to records and all the process that comes with that, gets me moving.

I could easily slip into a major depressive episode, and staying active - mentally and physically - is really important right now.

Are records important in the big picture right now?

No, but simple pleasures can be of some help.

Any little thing that can bring people joy, is important at times like this.

And hopefully, anyone who has some joy, shares that happiness with others so it can spread :)