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higher end jazz vinyl: where to turn?

I'm a lifelong jazz listener but only new to entry-level hifi, as presently marketed--by which I mean Rega p3-24 turntable, Linn Classik amp, Vienna Acoutics Mozart Grand Speakers, and a lot of heart.

Anyway I have a choice set of old ECM records, Miles Davis records, and so forth, that I bought in the early 1980s. Most of them have some noise and crackle now and again--which I largely discount as the distinguished marks of age and memory. Nonetheless a clean sweet classic jazz LP played at substantial volume, even through a low midfi system like mine, is a beautiful thing. Beauty is a rare thing, I read somewhere. And it makes me wonder about upgrading the vinyl.

So here are questions:
1. Are these $50 classic content and such rereleases of Blue Notes really so good? Including worth the effort of getting up and turning the 45 over in middle of a strong Coltrane solo-a double indignity, to a genius and to the lazy.

2. What to say of all these 180g and 200g re-releases at higher prices versus the $10-20 unopened recent copy meant for mass market (or as massy as the jazz list allowed/allows)?

3. I'm using Disc Doctor record cleaners on my old and newer vinyl, but wonder how great the different is to move to a machine, say vpi 165?

4. I'm just a poor righteous teacher so I'm a bargain hunter: an Inexpensive Audiophile down with the feel of the Expensive Winos aestheticist mentality.

5. Thanks!
paanders
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
I had a Rega P-3 for almost 20 years, great TT, should keep you happy for a while.. yes if you can get the VPI 16.5 record cleaner, good step up and you will hear the difference.. also recommend the 'Hot Stamper' guy's record cleaning "Disc Docter" fluid he is a dealer for.. that stuff really works and works well on my VPI... your old records will never sound better. AND I rarely have to clean the sylus anymore. For Records.. Buy ECM titles that are pressed in Germany if possible. they are better. I have mixed results with the newer pressings on 180 grams... some are good, some so-so... I find in general that the ORIGINAL 1st pressings of any title from country of origin (usually using 1st generation tapes) will sound best.. some MFSL titles are good, some have exaggerated high end and missing lower midrange warmth. For Jazz, I've had good results with the classic records but have not tried those real expensive 45 rpm jobs.
I just bought on a lark a 180 gram pressing of Weather Report's Heavy Weather by Legacy/Sony... IT SUCKS.. my UK pressing and Holland pressing mop the floor with it...
I do buy records on EBAY and from Music Direct. Also from whatever local used record stores I can find.
jazdoc
365 posts
 
The 45 rpm Music Matters and Analogue Productions Blue Note reissues are sonically excellent. The packaging of the Music Matters is exceptional. IMO, they are worth the money and yes, it's worth it to get up twice as often.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
The best investment you can make is a proper wet vacuum record cleaning machine. It's a must if you buy used vinyl. You will abolish almost all of the crackle and pop. Suddenly all of your old 50s and 60s recordings will sound much better.

I love jazz too and watch live jazz at least once a month (you can see some of my jazz photos on my website). You will be very surprised how good your old LPs will be with a proper wash. Buy any one of the following VPI 16.5, Okki Nokki, Moth. Beware they are noisy, but you only have to turn the vacuum on for about 20 secs at a time. The high end cleaners are great as they're quieter, but their cleaning abilities are not much better than the cheap ones.

Good luck,

Charlie
www.charlie-chan.co.uk
jyprez's avatar
jyprez
241 posts
 
If you plan on doing any significant amount of Jazz record collecting, a record vac is the difference between the annoying crackle and dead silent or near dead silent records. You don't need to go crazy spending money on this. While I have a Loricraft today (and that makes sense given the size and value of my collection) I started with a homemade vac which could do a significant portion of what the Loricraft can do and cost almost nothing. If you are interested, let me know I will give you details or search the web for many plans. VPI is a good choise as well but more expensive.
If you are near central CT, I can give you the names of some excellent used jazz record shops.
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