Vinyl record albums have seen a resurgence in popularity lately, and are still in production. A few companies have begun licensing, manufacturing, and releasing "out of print" LP's, or "oldies" so to speak. They produce ultra high end records of impeccable quality using the most demanding reproduction methods and the highest

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quality materials available. In fact, these modern reproductions could be compared to gourmet cuisine at an exlusive restaurant; or, those who enjoy that sort of thing are certainly prepared and happy to pay top dollar for it.

A really good audiophile analog stereo system could easily run into the ten to fifteen thousand dollar range. And, of course, the price tag could be much higher depending the budget you have to work within. So in that light, the term "oldies" takes on a whole new meaning. And, the quality of these reissued masters must be ready and worthy of the gear on which they are to played. The producers use only the highest grade vinyl available to press these new masterpieces.

The most common method of production is to record the discs at half speed directly onto the vinyl album. The signal to noise ratio can be almost nil due to the quality of the vinyl, and allows it to play virtually without noise and with an incredible frequency response. Lee Benson, author of "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting" illustrates this point very well. He also states that these albums may look and feel like exact reproductions of the originals, but they are far superior in many ways.

Even though digital audio recordings are the main medium for mass production in the music industry, for those who love a realistic aural experience analog sound is truly the only choice. And, these new audiophile discs are produced with such care and craftsmanship that it is obvious when they are played that you are listening to something special. Many music lovers that hear these LPs for the first time are surprised by the depth of the sound they hear from their favorite tunes. For a few people it is a good purchase.