Why is it a "healthy trend"? Rather than just a "trend"?
Fair enough, the use of the word "healthy" is surplus to requirement there. I guess its 'healthy' in terms of revenue for the manufacturer.
Audition what? Which sounds better? Which sounds more authentic? Whether someone can differentiate between them?
Sorry- 'audition' is a hi-fi nut's term for going to listen to the latest piece of kit at a 'proper' hifi store. Not sure about the situation in the US but here we have stores that have 'fake' living rooms (complete with leather sofas, pictures on walls, table lamps etc) that gets kitted out dependant on what you want to try out. One of the most amazing things I've auditioned was when I tried out changing the power supply on my Linn Sondek LP12 - most would scoff at the idea that a power supply could change the way the music is delivered - unless one auditions it.
Whether the vinyl record still sounds the same after 100 playings?
If it doesn't then your using a worn cartridge or have set the weight too high/too low.
I have an antique gramophone (1920's HMV) which plays with steel needles on bakelite records. Even they feel like they sound like they did when they were first pressed.
You might have guessed that I've got a thing about shiny black disks (although the gramophone is more of a collectors item/investment/piece of furniture).
Which is easier to use? Which sounds better in the 99% of situations that are NOT ideal?
And which looks more appealing? More stylish? More endearing? (unless your thing is LEDs)
That's what makes the free market great -- companies strive to fulfill unmet desires in order to make bucks.
Although with turntables you can spend anywhere between 100 quid and many tens of thousands of pounds.
But I still think vinyl will die in time -- even if under the right circumstances it sounds as good (or even better), the convenience of digital will win out.
Consider this - last year CD sales slumped again due to mp3 downloading (the poorest quality format yet) whilst sales of record decks continue to rise.
And if I'm wrong and 30 years from now vinyl still has a market -- great!
CD is just over 20 yrs old - lets see if it makes 30 (it won't!), Vinyl has been here since the 50s (bakelite before it) - that makes out at over half a century. And still going.
I apologise if the subject has gone full circle (no pun intended) and has become off-topic
