Starting a Classical Vinyl Music Collection

Classical is the arguably the best genre to  collect used LP's.

Typically cared for, less in demand. Depending where you're at, Goodwill and record stores that bother with Classical will have gems for cheap.

50's and early 60's are the peak of the LP production.

Do your Classical music history homework. Learn about the genres and eras which will help you understand what it's all about.

Find/discover your top 5 composers and their "must have compositions."

Endless choices.

Brought 6 Classical and Sinatra Vinyl discs to the HI FI shop.

They used Klaudio cleaning machine

Cost me $24 no big deal, but there was almost no difference in sound quality.

Same static and pops.

👎

I think the next step is buying new.

:Shrug:

Get an ultrasonic LP cleaner for sure.  Even when I clean new records, there is a bunch of vinly chips and dirt at the bottom of the bath when I clean them ultrasonically.

Especially you will need one if you expect to buy any used LPs (which has sometimes worked out great for me, sometimes not).

I don't use a mutl-thousand $$ unit.  I use a generic ultrasonic cleaner and an included LP mount that rotates the LPs through the claning bath.  Chinese units for about $250 incluiding everything.  Works great!

I still cannot believe how quiet the LPs play now. I would say eliminates 99% of snap/crackle/pop.

Check out vintage RCA Living Stereo classical (shaded dog and white dog) and Mercury Living Presence albums.  Recorded by great engineers like Lewis Layton and Robert Fine.  Recent SACDs of these records sound terrific.  Favorites of mine include Saint-Saens SYMPHONY No. 3 by the Boston Symphony/Charles Munch and Rimsky-Korsakov SCHEHERAZADE by Chicago Symphony/Fritz Reiner.  Enjoy!