This was all pretty educational to me! I didn't know that since 1989 vinyl has been created digitally. It makes sense but I never thought about it that way. I usually hook up my turntable and play it through my Mac speakers. I know, not the best sound quality at all. I need to explore using bluetooth. You are always inspiring Andres!
Thank you so much, Dan! Glad you enjoyed! I see what you mean about Mac speakers, but to be fair, I’ve noticed a considerable improvement when I last upgraded my Mac (from a 2016 model). But yes, you should give bluetooth a try! If you have wired options, they tend to be better but if you get some good bluetooth speakers, it’s definitely worth trying! Thanks again
I started (or restarted) back in 2020 with one of the cheap suitcase record players that I got off amazon with a Covid stimulus check! LOL 😂 The speaker on that wasn’t great, but it worked for what money I had. I added a Bluetooth speaker, which definitely helped!! But, once I realized records were skipping on it, but not on a nicer turntable (at a local brewery), I got a cheap starter kit (turntable and speakers) from my local record store for $299 with my tax refund. The speakers it came with can either be connected directly to the turntable with wires, or can be used through Bluetooth. I connected them with the wires, but I’m imagining they would sound just as good with Bluetooth. I feel like it’s more the quality of the speakers? If I can figure out the Bluetooth I may have to experiment 😂
Thank you, Kristin! I love how you've got your priorities right when it comes to making the most of tax refunds and stimulus payouts! 😅 I honestly think money spent on music is always money well spent (or rather, invested). Technically, vinyl will sound "better" (warmer, fuller, rounder) through wires, all else being equal (by which I mean, the quality/condition of the record, speakers and the rest of the gear will play an important role). If you've got both options using the same gear, it's worth experimenting, just to see what you prefer. Bluetooth connectivity is less stable and can be spotty at times, but it's ultimately a matter of preference. Some people say with bluetooth you lose bits of the audio and you're not making the most of the lossless quality of vinyl (unlike vinyl, bluetooth is not technically lossless) but in my experience, that particular difference is not always that noticeable or even relevant to the average listener.
Anymore, I think the only "purity test" that matters is whether or not something works for you as a listener. Want a high-end/purely analog system? Great! Have fun. Prefer (or need) a Bluetooth setup? That's cool, too. Gatekeepers are as outdated as words like "afternoonified." :)
Thank you so much for your comment! Preach, brother, preach! That’s exactly what many “purists” don’t seem (or want) to get: that it’s all ultimately a matter of preference, convenience, budget, and essentially what may or may not work in your circumstances.
Both gatekeepers and Victorian times are way past their due date, that’s for sure! If only gatekeepers were as charming as some old-fashioned words, though!
Great post! If your vinyl journey is still in its aspirational stage - i.e. you want to spin vinyl now, but you know you’ll get a better setup later - even more important than how you connect is the nature of the substance coming in contact with the grooves. You’ve probably covered this before, but make sure you’re using a diamond stylus even on a cheap turntable. That way, when you do upgrade, your LPs and singles will be in about the same shape as when you bought them. “Starter” turntables sometimes come with a stylus that’s not diamond, which should be replaced immediately.
Thank you, Jeremy! I agree 100%. I have covered several times the the importance of getting a good stylus but it always bears repeating. The stylus is ultimately the one thing in main contact with the grooves so it is crucial to ensure collectors get the best possible stylus they can afford within their budget and compatibility ecosystem. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Another interesting (and entertaining as always) post Andy! I’d wondered about Bluetooth speakers with vinyl and always assumed there must be some compromise on audio quality with the compression. But your point is so spot on: if that’s what you can afford (or what works for your circumstances), then it’s better to just get yourself in the game and upgrade later if and when you’re able.
Have to say I’m so tired about the fact that such music snobbery continues to exist. It’s been an awful long time since I let any of that gatekeeping really impact me in any way (part of the wisdom that comes with getting older I think), but I’m sure a lot of younger people that really rely on so-called (often self-proclaimed) “experts” could easily be led astray or demoralized to the point of giving up on vinyl completely.
Thank you so much! Yes, bluetooth is "lossy", so there's an element of downgrade when it comes to the purity of the sound. However, some will take this to the extreme, without realising that a good quality bluetooth setup will invariably sound better than a low quality or battered "traditional" setup. Unfortunately gatekeeping is a recurring "pest" in the music world. With audio tech, there's the added technical element, which means some gatekeepers attack on both fronts. Fortunately I'm not seeing a lot of gatekeeping (as traditionally defined) on Substack yet. Let's hope it stays like this!
This was all pretty educational to me! I didn't know that since 1989 vinyl has been created digitally. It makes sense but I never thought about it that way. I usually hook up my turntable and play it through my Mac speakers. I know, not the best sound quality at all. I need to explore using bluetooth. You are always inspiring Andres!
Thank you so much, Dan! Glad you enjoyed! I see what you mean about Mac speakers, but to be fair, I’ve noticed a considerable improvement when I last upgraded my Mac (from a 2016 model). But yes, you should give bluetooth a try! If you have wired options, they tend to be better but if you get some good bluetooth speakers, it’s definitely worth trying! Thanks again
I started (or restarted) back in 2020 with one of the cheap suitcase record players that I got off amazon with a Covid stimulus check! LOL 😂 The speaker on that wasn’t great, but it worked for what money I had. I added a Bluetooth speaker, which definitely helped!! But, once I realized records were skipping on it, but not on a nicer turntable (at a local brewery), I got a cheap starter kit (turntable and speakers) from my local record store for $299 with my tax refund. The speakers it came with can either be connected directly to the turntable with wires, or can be used through Bluetooth. I connected them with the wires, but I’m imagining they would sound just as good with Bluetooth. I feel like it’s more the quality of the speakers? If I can figure out the Bluetooth I may have to experiment 😂
I’m super happy with my inexpensive set up!
Thank you, Kristin! I love how you've got your priorities right when it comes to making the most of tax refunds and stimulus payouts! 😅 I honestly think money spent on music is always money well spent (or rather, invested). Technically, vinyl will sound "better" (warmer, fuller, rounder) through wires, all else being equal (by which I mean, the quality/condition of the record, speakers and the rest of the gear will play an important role). If you've got both options using the same gear, it's worth experimenting, just to see what you prefer. Bluetooth connectivity is less stable and can be spotty at times, but it's ultimately a matter of preference. Some people say with bluetooth you lose bits of the audio and you're not making the most of the lossless quality of vinyl (unlike vinyl, bluetooth is not technically lossless) but in my experience, that particular difference is not always that noticeable or even relevant to the average listener.
Thanks again for watching and commenting!
Anymore, I think the only "purity test" that matters is whether or not something works for you as a listener. Want a high-end/purely analog system? Great! Have fun. Prefer (or need) a Bluetooth setup? That's cool, too. Gatekeepers are as outdated as words like "afternoonified." :)
Thank you so much for your comment! Preach, brother, preach! That’s exactly what many “purists” don’t seem (or want) to get: that it’s all ultimately a matter of preference, convenience, budget, and essentially what may or may not work in your circumstances.
Both gatekeepers and Victorian times are way past their due date, that’s for sure! If only gatekeepers were as charming as some old-fashioned words, though!
Great post! If your vinyl journey is still in its aspirational stage - i.e. you want to spin vinyl now, but you know you’ll get a better setup later - even more important than how you connect is the nature of the substance coming in contact with the grooves. You’ve probably covered this before, but make sure you’re using a diamond stylus even on a cheap turntable. That way, when you do upgrade, your LPs and singles will be in about the same shape as when you bought them. “Starter” turntables sometimes come with a stylus that’s not diamond, which should be replaced immediately.
Thank you, Jeremy! I agree 100%. I have covered several times the the importance of getting a good stylus but it always bears repeating. The stylus is ultimately the one thing in main contact with the grooves so it is crucial to ensure collectors get the best possible stylus they can afford within their budget and compatibility ecosystem. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Another interesting (and entertaining as always) post Andy! I’d wondered about Bluetooth speakers with vinyl and always assumed there must be some compromise on audio quality with the compression. But your point is so spot on: if that’s what you can afford (or what works for your circumstances), then it’s better to just get yourself in the game and upgrade later if and when you’re able.
Have to say I’m so tired about the fact that such music snobbery continues to exist. It’s been an awful long time since I let any of that gatekeeping really impact me in any way (part of the wisdom that comes with getting older I think), but I’m sure a lot of younger people that really rely on so-called (often self-proclaimed) “experts” could easily be led astray or demoralized to the point of giving up on vinyl completely.
Thank you so much! Yes, bluetooth is "lossy", so there's an element of downgrade when it comes to the purity of the sound. However, some will take this to the extreme, without realising that a good quality bluetooth setup will invariably sound better than a low quality or battered "traditional" setup. Unfortunately gatekeeping is a recurring "pest" in the music world. With audio tech, there's the added technical element, which means some gatekeepers attack on both fronts. Fortunately I'm not seeing a lot of gatekeeping (as traditionally defined) on Substack yet. Let's hope it stays like this!
Thanks again for watching and commenting.