cdnow.com... Lots of hip-hop and techno is released
this way. Some DJs
prefer to use vinyl, because it sounds better, and (IMHO) is just more fun
to handle than these little optical digital pieces of trash :). I've
purchased a fair amount of vinyl (modern) music from cdnow.
there DJ needles don't ruin records as fast as what an audiophile would use.
DJ needles ruin records *much* faster then audiophile needles. True
audiophile tables/tonearms/needles are balanced so they barely touch the
record.
A good audiophile causes very little wear to records for a host of reasons;
keeping the record clean, handling it very carefully, and using a well
setup cartridge that is clean, aligned, and doesn't mistrack. The tip shape
is also important, as the contact points in the groove wall are often
different from common needles, so wear from a common needle is less of a
problem.
Without being too snooty, most people have no clue how nice a LP can sound
when using the best equipment to play it back. Often very close to a good
cd.
Also an audiophile needle is NOT designed for cuing, ie being run backwards
in the groove, and would likely break VERY soon. Some but not all
audiophile cartridges are fairly delicate. One of my friends had a Signet
that used a hollow tube of saphire for the cantilever (thing the diamond is
mounted on directly).
