What if vinyl was all we had?

Maybe I am just getting old-er, but who isn’t? I find myself leaning into things that make me smile. I am tired of chasing perfect digital sound, new technology, jitter reduction, etc. I do listen to digital and it is great. However, I find myself just grabbing a record these days, when I want to relax.

I think it has to do with a desire for simpler things. I am tired of trying to fix things, to get rid of sonic artifacts in listening that detract from my enjoyment. Sometimes I just don’t want to deal with modern technology. I am not a technophobe by any stretch, but sometimes I just don’t want to…

As I age, I am drawn to simple and good things, distilled, pure and real. I don’t associate with difficult people and I don’t do business with those I don’t like. I find that life is more about subtraction these days. I would rather remove complexity from my life and focus on what I really care about.

So what if we only had vinyl, would that be so bad?

I am going to first off, set aside the standard arguments about vinyl’s poor signal-to-noise ratio, channel separation, etc. I acknowledge that in these regards, digital measures better. The thing is, I just don’t care. I listen with my ears and I find vinyl to be a more enjoyable listening experience.

Current vinyl sales attribute to the fact that there is no shortage of music available. Not to mention the droves of old vinyl in the world to discover.

Analog equipment does not become obsolete. New technology, materials and design methodologies do mean better sound, but there is never a need to replace old analog equipment due to new-tech incompatibility.

There are an amazing number and range of turntable designs available these days, such as Pure Fidelity, VPI and SOTA just to name a few that I am fond of. Incredible cartridges are being made by Audio Technica, Hana and Ortofon among others.

So, we need a turntable, cartridge, phono/preamp, amplifier(s), speakers and cables. I envision a simple and calm space that is warm and inviting. Vinyl is displayed on the wall, there is a comfortable chair and warm light dimly fills the room. This is where I go at the end of the day. It is my respite from the world. It is my place of calm, peace and relaxation.

How could it be with anything other than vinyl?