Is the vinyl turntable digging its LP?

The evocation of the vinyl turntable refers to a ceremony from another time, that of the 1960s to 1980s. We then delicately took the LP out of its square sleeve, then from its antistatic protection, before blowing on the record to remove dust. Once it was installed on the turntable, we placed the arm equipped with a diamond which then released a velvety sound after a few sputters. For 45-rpm records, it was enough to insert a centralizer in the middle of the turntable to drive the disk.

But the explosion of CD players in the 1990s put vinyl records and old pickups aside. Then the streaming tsunami in turn made compact discs obsolete. Now, music is immaterial, it no longer needs specific support. However, in recent years, vinyl sales have been on the rise again, and like Mozart, Orelsan and Kavinsky are now listened to in the old-fashioned way. The black disc, sometimes colored or transparent, is to be cherished, especially when it is vintage (and miraculously not scratched!) or issued in a limited series.

The aesthetics of the cover are also important, making collectors swoon… “We used to accumulate masses of MP3s on our computer. And CDs get damaged over time whereas a vinyl, if stored well, does not wear out. The return of LPs is also part of a desire to consume better and to reclaim the long time of listening to a piece. analyzes Timothée Cagniard, co-founder of La Boîte concept, which markets a turntable with integrated preamplifier and optional speakers. On the square oak object, the disc protrudes aesthetically to the side as it rotates.

“We don't do wireless because it converts analog sound to digital, which can degrade the listening quality. Even though there are very high quality digital tracks”, he nuances. The renowned British manufacturer Rega also offers fine, minimalist and elegant turntables for the living room. At the entry level, we find those from Pro-Ject, at a reasonable price, especially wireless. Finally, Sony is making a comeback by also offering a turntable. The circle is complete (and the discs have not finished spinning).