Getting into the groove

AudioFile returned from a short but much-needed vacation to find a bloated inbox with questions from anxious readers who feared that this corner has ceased to exist. Take it easy, guys! I just took a breather from my day job and column writing to spend some quality time with my family, away from the suffocating stench of dirty politics, the crass vulgarity of some TV programs, and the spiraling costs of basic commodities. 

It’s heartening to note that the responses and inquiries I’m getting from my column are now mainly from young people. And most of them are eager to get into the groove, but need guidance on what direction to take. Getting into the groove here means that these guys are lured by the sonic quality of the vinyl record, and most of them are excited to start building a collection. After all, it is in the vinyl’s grooves where the impression of our favorite music is stored. The rebirth of analog audio has added a new dimension to vinyl, so much so that owning it has become hip again. In fact, a growing number of young artists now wish to have their respective albums recorded first on vinyl before any other music formats.

Where to buy and how to pick the right vinyl recordings are common worries of beginners. Vinyl has unofficially re-penetrated the mainstream since the ‘90s, and what used to be an exclusive music domain of audiophiles has now metamorphosed into every music lover’s commodity. 

Yes, freshly-minted records of contemporary artists such as Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and Beyoncé are currently competing head to head with their CD, MP3 and even lossless audio counterparts. Locally, you can try sourcing them from Fully Booked at Fort Bonifacio Global City and Acoustic Dimension at the Rockwell Plant Mall, or online at eBay, Amazon, Elusive Disc and Acoustic Sounds, among others. Nothing, however, beats surfing or becoming members of local and international audio forums such as Wiredstate, Pinoy DVD, What’s Best, Audiogon and Vinyl Engine. Here, you can buy records from reputable sellers who are governed by forum rules, and where eventually you will learn enough to actively participate in ongoing discussions.

Those who wish to take the hobby to a higher level may want to check out how experts in the field review recordings of your favorite albums. You can check out any or all of the following:

The Absolute Sound (Tas) List

TAS is an American monthly audio magazine that reviews audiophile equipment and recordings. It was founded, published and edited by Harry Pearson in 1973. Until the mid- to late-1990s he owned and directed all rights to TAS. The magazine periodically comes out with its own list of what it thinks are the best among the best recordings in both CD and LP formats. You can review its listings and start bargain hunting for a particular album in its list that suits your listening preference. Through the years, audiophiles have been divided on whether to consider the TAS list as their bible. Many have cast doubt on the list’s faithfulness, pointing to TAS’s alleged bias for some recording outfits.

Tom Port’s Hot Stampers

Tom Port of Better Records (dccblowout.com) believes that sounds differ from pressing to pressing, and that even two copies of the same album from the same pressing will not sound alike. He reasons that human error often affects the process when a record is stamped and an impression of the music is etched on this round plastic surface. To him, there is no such thing as an audiophile recording because somewhere out there is a “hot stamper” or a superior recording stamped perfectly for audiophiles.

What Tom Port does is to buy hundreds of copies of the same album from the flea market. He patiently listens to each album just to find out which among them sounds the best. The process is entirely exhausting, but it’s just another day for this guy who charges a premium for every “hot stamper” he sells. An LP from the flea market may cost a mere $10, but a “hot stamper” of the same copy sells between $200 and $1,000-plus!

Tom Port says: “Our hot stampers are guaranteed to beat the pants off any Audiophile pressing (however you define that term) or your money back… For our Hot Stamper shootouts, we clean and play a large number of pressings — domestic, import, whatever — of the specific album and make the copies with the best sound.”

Arthur Salvatore

Arthur Savatore (high-endaudio.com) puts into good use his almost four decades of listening to an endless variety of records by coming out with his own “best list” which he bases mainly on his own musical taste. He says: “My sonic objective is very simple: I want to believe that I am somehow hearing something that is ‘real.’ This means either being transported to the actual performance space, or the performers entering my listening room. To achieve this ‘magical’ realization, the record must sound ‘complete,’ natural and ‘alive’ (‘immediate’). I must strongly emphasize that this is strictly a ‘sustained gut feeling,’ using only the listener’s basic instincts and senses.”

He labels his best picks as “the divinity,” second best as “demigods,” followed by “basic list” and “honorable mention.”

The lure of vinyl — its superior sonic and fashionable album art — has certainly become viral. It’s not that difficult to get into the groove. With patience, focus and some extra cash to spend, you’re good to go. What is good about collecting vinyl is that its price appreciates in time; a good investment, if you will.

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For comments or questions, please e-mail me at audioglow@yahoo.com or at vphl@hotmail.com.