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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
genez
220 posts
 
I once owned an expensive, state of the art, turntable.  I owned several very good ones before I got my Merrill Heirloom and Grado Signature tonearm. I also used to be a TT repairman for the BSR company back in the day.  Turntables did not intimidate me.  Many records do not sound that good. Getting certain instruments to sound realistic with a cartridge can be frustrating.  When I heard good digital?  I knew what I was hearing was closer to the real thing.  Having been a musician and hearing live instruments up close, it just clicked with me. Too many assume that all music performances should sound fantastic.  They do not.  If you like how your system presents what you hear?  Why bother?
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elliottbnewcombjr
5,252 posts
 
Before upgrading my Phono system, I made a decision to properly clean my old lps, what a difference it makes.

just scrubbed 20 more lps yesterday. Without exception, every one I clean sounds great. Sometimes, rarely, I get a bit of static between tracks, otherwise music only.

I'm making quite a stack of LP's to sell, many are not my taste (given to me by friends dumping their lps), and many just poor engineering, odd imaging, ......., and I need room to fit my excess capacity leaning on the bottom shelves

Keeping about half, and the re-discovery is very enjoyable.

Personal involvement is definitely an attraction, sense of achievement, or, a big PITA
wjt3
202 posts
 
A blend and a single malt--alternate all the time--mood is key-=-
mikethehunterguy
50 posts
 
To me, playing records is absolutely worth it. I just get more "zen" spinning vinyl. I know it can be a PITA, but MY GOD, when it's good, it's GREAT! I still play digital, and really enjoy it.  But I'm typing this while listening to Malia on Qobuz. I can't do multi-tasking when listening to vinyl. It consumes all my bandwidth. 
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