independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Listening to Prince on Vinyl for the First Time
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 07/01/16 7:13pm

KingSausage

avatar

Listening to Prince on Vinyl for the First Time

I just got my first turntable and I'm listening to Prince vinyl for the first time. Holy hell. It's an entirely new experience. I've listened to Dirty Mind hundreds of times. But with vinyl it's on a whole new level.

I'm really hoping there aren't too many more delays (or cancellations!) with the WB vinyl reissue program.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 07/01/16 7:39pm

Doozer

avatar

Are you listening through headphones or over speakers? Do share your setup.
Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 07/01/16 7:58pm

KingSausage

avatar

Doozer said:

Are you listening through headphones or over speakers? Do share your setup.



Right now I don't even have an ideal setup yet, but I can already hear a huge difference. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC, a TC-750LC phono preamp, and a Polk Woodbourne speaker. My next step (probably not for another few months) will be getting an actual amp/speaker system.

I have some decent headphones but no way to hook them up to my turntable yet. Sennheiser HD598 (?). And Harmon Karden CL PrecisionSomethingBlahBlah.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 07/01/16 8:10pm

BlackandRising

KingSausage said:

Doozer said:
Are you listening through headphones or over speakers? Do share your setup.
Right now I don't even have an ideal setup yet, but I can already hear a huge difference. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC, a TC-750LC phono preamp, and a Polk Woodbourne speaker. My next step (probably not for another few months) will be getting an actual amp/speaker system. I have some decent headphones but no way to hook them up to my turntable yet. Sennheiser HD598 (?). And Harmon Karden CL PrecisionSomethingBlahBlah.

Hey serious question; I'm looking at Pro-Ject turntables; I want to add a turntable to my bedroom with a phono preamp for headphone listening, but don't want to go high-end given where it will be. I know yours is entry level, but what do you think of it so far quality-wise?

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 07/01/16 9:15pm

SanDiegoFunkDa
ddy

the joys of vinyl. you missed out on a great era. can you imagine buying the 1999 album and seeing a beautiful shiny purple album sleeve with a picture of the whole band. then pulling out the vinyl to see a huge Prince eye staring at you. I remember that Nov. 1982 day haha

[Edited 7/1/16 21:16pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 07/01/16 9:16pm

nursev

Damn the first time eek

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 07/01/16 9:17pm

nursev

SanDiegoFunkDaddy said:

the joys of vinyl. you missed out on a great era. can you imagine buying the 1999 album and seeing a beautiful shiny purple album sleeve with a picture of the whole band. then pulling out the vinyl to see a huge Prince eye staring at you. I remember that Nov. 1982 day haha

[Edited 7/1/16 21:16pm]

I do too...loved it

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 07/01/16 9:18pm

ISaidLifeIsJus
tAGame

avatar

SanDiegoFunkDaddy said:

the joys of vinyl. you missed out on a great era. can you imagine buying the 1999 album and seeing a beautiful shiny purple album sleeve with a picture of the whole band. then pulling out the vinyl to see a huge Prince eye staring at you. I remember that Nov. 1982 day haha

[Edited 7/1/16 21:16pm]

Fucking eh

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 07/01/16 9:39pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

I just finally sat and listened to the Dirty Mind remaster on vinyl the other day. It's just so different, yet familiar. I can't wait to get Controversy and 1999.

Congrats (finally!) on the new turntable.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 07/02/16 12:58am

KingSausage

avatar

BlackandRising said:



KingSausage said:


Doozer said:
Are you listening through headphones or over speakers? Do share your setup.

Right now I don't even have an ideal setup yet, but I can already hear a huge difference. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC, a TC-750LC phono preamp, and a Polk Woodbourne speaker. My next step (probably not for another few months) will be getting an actual amp/speaker system. I have some decent headphones but no way to hook them up to my turntable yet. Sennheiser HD598 (?). And Harmon Karden CL PrecisionSomethingBlahBlah.

Hey serious question; I'm looking at Pro-Ject turntables; I want to add a turntable to my bedroom with a phono preamp for headphone listening, but don't want to go high-end given where it will be. I know yours is entry level, but what do you think of it so far quality-wise?





If you're looking for an entry-level phono preamp with a headphone jack, my research indicates that this is the clear winner: ART USB Phono Plus https://www.amazon.com/dp...DxbT0MDA9D
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 07/02/16 1:00am

KingSausage

avatar

TrivialPursuit said:

I just finally sat and listened to the Dirty Mind remaster on vinyl the other day. It's just so different, yet familiar. I can't wait to get Controversy and 1999.

Congrats (finally!) on the new turntable.




Dirty Mind sounded so damn good. I also have For You, Prince, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Plectrum, and AOA. "The Gold Standard" sounded fantastic.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 07/02/16 1:21am

electrodyne

Congratulations on the turntable!

Any of the entry level Pro-Ject series are great. Waaaaay better than a Crosley or even a Technics.

Check out Around The World In Day, Parade, Sign O' The Times or Lovesexy - and any of the 12 Inch Singles from those eras. Your mind will be blown!

Enjoy!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 07/02/16 4:22am

Replica

avatar

The actual sound quality of Dirty Mind is pretty damn bad and muddy compared to most of his releases. However it has a sound to make up for it. The life and attitude of it makes it sound nice. And I belive the vinyl has more "meat" and fuller sound, if you known what I mean?
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 07/02/16 6:38am

djThunderfunk

avatar

electrodyne said:

any of the 12 Inch Singles from those eras. Your mind will be blown! Enjoy!


I second this suggestion. Don't forget to collect as many of the original 12" singles as you can. You need to get all of them up through I Wish U Heaven for sure!!

Not dead, not in prison, still funkin'...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 07/02/16 6:59am

KingSausage

avatar

I have pretty good vinyl rips (I think) of all those classic singles, but I would still LOVE to get them on actual vinyl. Especially the SOTT and Lovesexy singles.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 07/02/16 7:46am

TXfan

Ah, how I remember vinyl. When I was around 5 yrs old I used to go with my sisters to a neighbor's house to listen to "records". They would sit around talking about school,boys, and new dance moves. It was a different world. I remember buying my first 45 as a kid too, "da ya think I'm sexy". By the time I started buying Prince music it was on cassette. Cd's were cool but bulky after you start stacking em up. MP3's changed the game, I store my whole music collection on a tiny microSD. I now find myself buying vinyl again, you just can't beat the sound and the memories it brings back for me. Love the fact that Prince reissues are now available, it allows me to play them and preserve my vintage Prince records. Enjoy your new experience, you'll never forget it.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 07/02/16 7:49am

Bunsterdk

Oh yeah, I remember when CDs came and the thin sound compared to the good old vinyl. I don't have vinyl anymore, but it really is so much better.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 07/02/16 9:12am

Doozer

avatar

I admire fans who revisit and repurchase music in different formats like this. When I became a fan in 86, it was all cassettes. My dad had a record player so I picked up all the 12" singles I could, from 82 through 90. They are all in frames now in my office, including the SOTT 12" and I Wish U Heaven. Also have all th Graffiti Bridge 12" singles (Melody Cool, Shake). I don't have a record player now to even spin them on. Spent so much in the late 80s and early 90s repurchasing albums on CD to replace cassettes.
.
Some day I hope to revisit vinyl like KingSausage, Thunderfunk and others of you. Bravo.
[Edited 7/2/16 9:13am]
Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 07/02/16 9:15am

TheDigitalGard
ener

Nice one Sausage, glad you took the plunge to vinyl.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 07/02/16 9:19am

manabean84

nursev said:

Damn the first time eek

I'll be honest, I've never listened to P on vinyl either sigh

I'm not a human
I am a dove
I'm your conscious
I am love
All I really need is to know that
You believe
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 07/02/16 11:04am

KingSausage

avatar

I went to a record store for the first time. Like, a RECORD store. A WRECKA STOW. Not flimsy CDs or iTunes. Records. My fucking head just about exploded. I could have blown several paychecks there. I promised myself I would only buy one album. I bought Voodoo. I can't fucking wait to listen to it.

I haven't been this excited about anything in YEARS (other than my daughter being born, of course).

I have so many Prince records to listen to. And more to come if the reissue program isn't derailed for some reason. Plus, maybe I'll start picking up some singles and original pressings. Someday it might be fun to look back at the alternate future in which I saved up for my daughter's college fund. lol
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 07/02/16 11:24am

jaawwnn

The Kiss 12" man, get that NOW. Seriously, nothing prepares you for it. I dont even mean the extended bits, just the standard song - there's so much space in there on the 12" that no vinyl rip has ever captured...

TBH I'm iffy about how better some stuff sounds on vinyl at the best of times but you NEED to hear that one... a blackhole surrounding a groove.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 07/02/16 11:29am

Replica

avatar

KingSausage said:

I went to a record store for the first time. Like, a RECORD store. A WRECKA STOW. Not flimsy CDs or iTunes. Records. My fucking head just about exploded. I could have blown several paychecks there. I promised myself I would only buy one album. I bought Voodoo. I can't fucking wait to listen to it. I haven't been this excited about anything in YEARS (other than my daughter being born, of course). I have so many Prince records to listen to. And more to come if the reissue program isn't derailed for some reason. Plus, maybe I'll start picking up some singles and original pressings. Someday it might be fun to look back at the alternate future in which I saved up for my daughter's college fund. lol

D'angelo sounds really good on vinyl. But his albums sounds pretty good on cd also. That's because he has been very picky when it comes to recording, mixing, mastering... the whole process. Voodoo is really something, but I think his last album sounds very good also. Although I love his first album too, the mix sounds a bit dated. Kinda the same problem as with some of the 90s releases Prince did. Amazing songs, but with lack of "sound". I'd recommend buying Parliament and Sly & The Family Stone as well. Albums like There's a Riot Going On and Mothership Connection sound very good. Miles Davis on vinyl.. THATS SOMETHING! wink

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 07/02/16 11:35am

jaawwnn

Drives me mad that D'Angelo recorded/mixed the entire of Black Messiah in analogue and then when they made the vinyl they pressed it from a digital file. Defeats the whole purpose. I mean, it still sounds great but I KNOW it would sound better if it had been analogue all the way.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 07/02/16 11:39am

Replica

avatar

jaawwnn said:

Drives me mad that D'Angelo recorded/mixed the entire of Black Messiah in analogue and then when they made the vinyl they pressed it from a digital file. Defeats the whole purpose. I mean, it still sounds great but I KNOW it would sound better if it had been analogue all the way.

I get what you're saying. But if it's done with care, it's hardly noticable. Atleast for us humans. I'd argue it's impossible to hear, if done correctly. The only problem with digital music is the mastering and sometimes use of bad DACs and software.

[Edited 7/2/16 11:40am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 07/02/16 11:40am

KingSausage

avatar

jaawwnn said:

The Kiss 12" man, get that NOW. Seriously, nothing prepares you for it. I dont even mean the extended bits, just the standard song - there's so much space in there on the 12" that no vinyl rip has ever captured...

TBH I'm iffy about how better some stuff sounds on vinyl at the best of times but you NEED to hear that one... a blackhole surrounding a groove.



I actually had that single years ago (found at a garage sale) but gave it away to a friend because I thought I'd never own a turntable.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 07/02/16 11:42am

KingSausage

avatar

Replica said:



jaawwnn said:


Drives me mad that D'Angelo recorded/mixed the entire of Black Messiah in analogue and then when they made the vinyl they pressed it from a digital file. Defeats the whole purpose. I mean, it still sounds great but I KNOW it would sound better if it had been analogue all the way.

I get what you're saying. But if it's done with care, it's hardly noticable. Atleast for us humans. I'd argue it's impossible to hear, if done correctly. The only problem with digital music is the mastering and sometimes use of bad DACs and software.

[Edited 7/2/16 11:40am]




I listened to the first two songs on Black Messiah on both vinyl and CD the other night. The vinyl sounded warmer and with more desperation of instruments. And the percussion sounded more organic to me.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 07/02/16 12:27pm

Replica

avatar

KingSausage said:

Replica said:

I get what you're saying. But if it's done with care, it's hardly noticable. Atleast for us humans. I'd argue it's impossible to hear, if done correctly. The only problem with digital music is the mastering and sometimes use of bad DACs and software.

[Edited 7/2/16 11:40am]

I listened to the first two songs on Black Messiah on both vinyl and CD the other night. The vinyl sounded warmer and with more desperation of instruments. And the percussion sounded more organic to me.

It's quite possible you're right. Didn't notice the huge difference though. However, vinyl has kind of it's own warmth because of it's limitations as well as it's pros. It can't produce the highest frequencies, and neither the lowest frequencies. Because some minor analog distortion, it's rolling off the top frequencies, it sounds automatically "rounder" and "warmer". Not as harsh. Sometimes also the lack of the deepest frequencies can make it sound less muddier, atleast if the cd mastering had too much lo end. Too much low end, makes the mix sound messy. And it will be masking the qualities you actually want.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 07/02/16 12:52pm

djThunderfunk

avatar

Top 3 Essential U.S. 12" Singles (in my not-so-humble opinion):

Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City

Sign "O" The Times / La, La, La, He, He, Hee

I Wish U Heaven / Scarlet Pussy

Special mention goes to America / Girl as the only one in which the entire content was exclusively released as vinyl only. For all other U.S. 12" singles, some or all of the content is available on CD.

If you can find them, get any of the Madhouse on vinyl. The albums may be expensive but look for the 3 12" singles, might be cheaper and totally worth it. The first 3 Time albums & The Family sound great on vinyl as well... wink

Not dead, not in prison, still funkin'...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 07/02/16 1:58pm

jaawwnn

Replica said:

jaawwnn said:

Drives me mad that D'Angelo recorded/mixed the entire of Black Messiah in analogue and then when they made the vinyl they pressed it from a digital file. Defeats the whole purpose. I mean, it still sounds great but I KNOW it would sound better if it had been analogue all the way.

I get what you're saying. But if it's done with care, it's hardly noticable. Atleast for us humans. I'd argue it's impossible to hear, if done correctly. The only problem with digital music is the mastering and sometimes use of bad DACs and software.

[Edited 7/2/16 11:40am]

In most cases I wouldn't notice it but I always do with older vinyl, i.e. stuff before digital recordings and instruments, the cut off point being usually around the early 80's. This would be why i'm usually a little dubious on how much better Prince stuff sounds on vinyl, although I should probably upgrade to a decent system.

But with D'Angelo so much care was put into not having digital instruments/recording instruments etc. I feel he should have looked around for someone who was willing to do an analogue vinyl print you know?

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Listening to Prince on Vinyl for the First Time