Recommendations for a jazz record which demonstrates vinyl superiority over digital


I have not bought a vinyl record since CDs came out, but have been exposed to numerous claims that vinyl is better.  I suspect jazz may be best placed to deliver on these claims, so I am looking for your recommendations.

I must confess that I do not like trad jazz much.  Also I was about to fork out A$145 for Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" but bought the CD for A$12 to see what the music was like.  I have kept the change!

I love the jazz in the movie Babylon, which features local Oz girl Margo Robbie (the film, not the jazz).

So what should I buy?

128x128richardbrand

Just figure out what you want to listen to and dump most of the money into one of the two or achieve lesser performance and have both. If you have unlimited funds, build two state of the art front ends.

very astute observation.

regarding turntables, you have rim drive, belt drive, and direct drive. They all have their strong points and inherent problems, but unless you are into megabuck tables that have overcome or mitigated the problems inherent to each, by far the best choice is rim drive of the Garrard 301 variety. There are others but that is the one you hear about most often. Not sure what information the previous poster thinks they are masking or how they are fatiguing. My experience is the polar opposite. They make music, it is marvelous.

The holy grail for many is a Commonwealth from Australia. Long discontinued but very desirable. I have one coming in the next few weeks to probably replace my 301. My 301 has been updated including a heavy stainless steel platter and platter bearing which I think is essential, The stock Garrard platter has issues, but it is as old as I am (1955) and sounds superb.

Regarding the UHQR KOB there are many sealed and NM copies available on Discogs.com. I don’t know how much shipping to Australia increases the price but many are below what Acoustic Sounds asks for a new copy.

https://www.discogs.com/release/18884065-Miles-Davis-Kind-Of-Blue

https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/24373778

I don’t want to turn this into a debate on how to set up your table, but get some decent set up tools, protractors, etc, and some way to set azimuth other than by ear, too deep a subject for here but google it. If you have the funds and the patience, I’ve found Analog Magik to be indispensable.

good luck on your journey

As said, when mounted in certain plinth designs, in my assessment, struggles to get out of the way and has the potential to become quite noticeable to the point of being fatiguing after a period of listening. 

Has not there been an endless period of time known off, where Plinths for ID TT's is the main talking point.

Is there not an Cottage Industry out there where the Plinth for ID TT's are the main product being manufactured.

A recent thread on the Gon, that covers this very subject makes references to the Plinth having been the cause of the listeners discontentedness. Especially after having invested Monies into a Bespoke Design Plinth, from a Cottage Industry Plinth Production Service. 

Very Very few get the ID TT to function satisfactory as a right of the bat encounter. It takes quite a lot of investment in learning about the interfaces that optimise the design to produce a ID TT, that will stand out for being a strong contender when demonstrated in the Company of other TT Designs. 

Many Many listeners of Audio Equipment, especially using the Vinyl Source, are today a lone listener. Who do not create opportunities to listen to other set ups, or have their Source used in other Systems, or are having the Source from other Systems used in their own system. These type of individuals usually only know what they know, and again many many of these types of user of Audio Equipment are a listener that is not willing to learn how to find a betterment for the set up they have produced. Occasionally an inquisitive individual comes forward, listens to proposed ideas, finds their own way to produce something bespoke and creates something quite special for their needs.      

There is no record player that has as good of a signal to noise ratio as a good digital recording. Yes there is warm distortion and rumble but records are not in the same category as digital when it comes to accuracy. 

Bob James Touchdown

Grover Washington Jr Winelight

Grober Washington Jr Badest

Lary Conklin Dolphin Grace

Eric Gale Ginseng Woman

You can find them all reasonably priced

 

The quality of the pressing makes a big difference with vinyl I'm 71 so these are original pressings.