The Return of Vinyl: Turntables and Analog Audio

[DrWho42]

last purchases:

 

[Gee]

Flea market finds.

 

[psylockolussus]

I went to three record fairs this month. Cds were only like 15% to 20% from those venues, and the rest were vinyls. I don't get the appeal of vinyl records.

A. The size is too big, and if you've got dozens of them, it would be hard to display them all side by side, compare to cds.
B. I watched unboxing videos and I don't think the packaging looks better compare to CD packaging. Very few I've seen have a booklet. Most packaging I've seen, have fewer photos compare to a CD booklet. Most CDs I've seen recently still come with jewel cases which is more protection to dirt.
C. The audio is worse compare to CD and needs more maintenance compare to a CD.
D. Vinyls are freaking expensive so as a new record player. For a price of 1 vinyl, I could buy at least 6 sealed brand new CDs. I saw a vinyl of Spice Girls greatest hits and Kylie Minogue's 1st album, and even if I wanted to buy them, the price is too expensive. Plus with 1 vinyl, I can already buy a 1 nice new pair of Nike shoes. Its that expensive for me.

I wouldn't have this reaction if only I've seen more stores selling cds online and in those record fairs. I've been searching some old albums from the 90s/2000s, and they are only available in vinyl... like why?

 

[Gee]

Trip to the US from two weekends ago. Finally completed my Metallica Wal-Mart exclusives collection.

A. The size is too big, and if you've got dozens of them, it would be hard to display them all side by side, compare to cds.

Big? You realize it's an analog storage medium right? Of course records are bigger than CDs... Honestly, just based on aesthetics, I prefer a vinyl record to a CD. The former is nice to hold in hands and when I have friends/family over I usually have a record playing and the big jacket/sleeve gets their attention. Also, records look perfectly fine on the wall if you want to display them side by side. Personally, I store them in my shelves like my books, movies and CDs: vertically with the spines facing outward. Displaying the front covers look nice on a shelf too.

Spoiler: Some examples from Google Images

B. I watched unboxing videos and I don't think the packaging looks better compare to CD packaging. Very few I've seen have a booklet. Most packaging I've seen, have fewer photos compare to a CD booklet. Most CDs I've seen recently still come with jewel cases which is more protection to dirt.

Some records come in a gatefold (opens like a book). I have Giacchino's The Batman score in a very nice triple-gatefold. Records also come in many coloured and "splatter effects" variants nowadays. You can see some of my records in the previous page for examples.

As for protection, you can always buy third-party sleeves and outer jackets which can protect from moisture, dust and even discoloration. I put my records, old and new, in those. Dust is not a problem assuming you have a brush and any serious record collector will own one. Dirt? Unless you touch your records the way you shouldn't (e.g. touching the grooves with your greasy fingers), that also is not a problem.

C. The audio is worse compare to CD and needs more maintenance compare to a CD.

Sure CD audio quality can be superior especially compared to a badly pressed record. In general, you listen to records for the analog sound which brings warmth compared to the cold, digital sound of a CD. I have my turntable and speakers behind me and I feel like having a live band playing behind me while I work. Also, record listening is a completely different experience.

The only "high maintenance" I do with my records is when I buy used records from flea markets. I give them a proper rinse/wash using a homemade cleaning kit.

D. Vinyls are freaking expensive so as a new record player. For a price of 1 vinyl, I could buy at least 6 sealed brand new CDs. I saw a vinyl of Spice Girls greatest hits and Kylie Minogue's 1st album, and even if I wanted to buy them, the price is too expensive. Plus with 1 vinyl, I can already buy a 1 nice new pair of Nike shoes. Its that expensive for me.

There are some good vintage record players out there. No need to buy a brand new one...

For the price of one record, I could buy one or two RG Gundam plastic model kits! Instead of two records, I could buy a video game! Instead of a dozen records, I could buy a Hot Toys figure! Or... I could just spend all that money on food and rent like any sensical person should.

In the end of the day, record collecting is just another expensive hobby. You and I have disposable income that can be spent on our respective expensive hobbies. I don't give a **** about Nike shoes as I don't have any love for those. If you find records too expensive for what it is, then that's fair and CDs are perfectly fine for your needs.

I wouldn't have this reaction if only I've seen more stores selling cds online and in those record fairs. I've been searching some old albums from the 90s/2000s, and they are only available in vinyl... like why?

Records have a better resell value than CDs. Records have been around what? The 19th century? Of course you will find way more old records in those fairs...

I still buy CDs, but it's mostly to rip them into FLAC files so I can listen on my PC or on my DAP when I'm outside.

 

[psylockolussus]

In those record fairs I've visited, its actually not just old records. I've seen Taylor swift (2020s albums), Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Blackpink and repressing of vinyl records that weren't around 10 years ago. I didn't even check the vinyls one by one as I wasn't interested. It was still evident, they were plenty of vinyls that aren't vintage. I can't say the same to CDs, there was only one 2020s album I saw in CD format. Then with 90s/2000s albums, in my experience certain CDs are harder to track down, online.

Anyway its just my personal thoughts. I'm sure plenty of people love collecting vinyls hence why there's a term "vinyl revival", but I personally don't get it. I just wish the volume of CDs out there is the same as vinyls especially if the sales for both formats are on the rise. Even back in the mid 2010s, when records stores from where I live, were still around, I never got the appeal of vinyls, and committing to a vinyl collection of my favorite artists doesn't seem worth it, compare to a CD collection - which offer superior audio, less expensive player, more photos (from the ones I've compared) and easier to maintain since 95% of them came (still come) with jewel case.

 

[Zantera]

I feel like I need to pull the handbrake because I buy too much vinyl. I'm now at that point where I'll buy a colored vinyl by a band I love even if I already have the regular black one. I think my issue is my music taste is too broad (metal, rock, pop, jazz, electronic, hip hop etc you get it) and I think maybe I need to limit myself to only buy something if it's a band that's been among my favorites for a while and are likely to stay there. I look at some of my vinyl and it's bands I liked a lot 10 years ago but fell off after that. Or just impulse purchases and I never bought more vinyl with that band.

 

[Gee]

In those record fairs I've visited, its actually not just old records. I've seen Taylor swift (2020s albums), Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Blackpink and repressing of vinyl records that weren't around 10 years ago. I didn't even check the vinyls one by one as I wasn't interested. It was still evident, they were plenty of vinyls that aren't vintage. I can't say the same to CDs, there was only one 2020s album I saw in CD format. Then with 90s/2000s albums, in my experience certain CDs are harder to track down, online.

Anyway its just my personal thoughts. I'm sure plenty of people love collecting vinyls hence why there's a term "vinyl revival", but I personally don't get it. I just wish the volume of CDs out there is the same as vinyls especially if the sales for both formats are on the rise. Even back in the mid 2010s, when records stores from where I live, were still around, I never got the appeal of vinyls, and committing to a vinyl collection of my favorite artists doesn't seem worth it, compare to a CD collection - which offer superior audio, less expensive player, more photos (from the ones I've compared) and easier to maintain since 95% of them came (still come) with jewel case.

Lots of artists (and even record labels) nowadays have vinyl releases with multiple variants. Taylor Swift, especially, has a different coloured variant for each album: one exclusive to Amazon, one to Wal-Mart, one to Target, etc. And each exclusive comes with its own bonus song. Swifties will go out and buy each variant because they want it all... Swift knows this because she is also a businesswoman after all. Because of her, pressing plants are overloaded with her thousands of copies to press.

Apparently, this also happened back in the 80s so it's nothing new. Singles were also released on 7" and 12" vinyl records. Just to give you an idea why there are so many records out there in the wild compared to CDs.

I feel like I need to pull the handbrake because I buy too much vinyl. I'm now at that point where I'll buy a colored vinyl by a band I love even if I already have the regular black one. I think my issue is my music taste is too broad (metal, rock, pop, jazz, electronic, hip hop etc you get it) and I think maybe I need to limit myself to only buy something if it's a band that's been among my favorites for a while and are likely to stay there. I look at some of my vinyl and it's bands I liked a lot 10 years ago but fell off after that. Or just impulse purchases and I never bought more vinyl with that band.

I'll have to verify, but I think I only have two duplicates (two Death albums). I think I would get a black duplicate for an album that will get spinned a lot since a record will be degraded over time after multiple spins. Thus, I'd listen the coloured variant for rare occasions.

As you know me, my musical taste is metal so my vinyl collection is mainly that genre. However, vinyl collecting allows me to buy and play records of other genres, mostly jazz. When I invite people over my place, let's just say it's more welcoming when there's jazz music playing in the background and not some funeral doom metal or depressive suicidal black metal.

I just buy what I like, whether it's my favourite album from a band I love or some album from an opening act band I bought to show support at a concert. For now I don't intend to sell some of my collection, but if one day and for whatever reason, I won't mind selling some of my records. Fortunately, some may have a good resell value.

 

[Gee]

RSD Black Friday 2024 list:

SpecialReleases | RECORD STORE DAY

Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first...

recordstoreday.com

Maybe 1-2 releases for me. I guess I'll be saving money this year.

 

[Gee]

Small haul from Black Friday weekend. No RSD exclusives since no releases really piqued my interest.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

For anyone interested, The Weeknd collaborated with the legend Frank Miller on a collector's edition of his upcoming album cover. It's not too expensive, either.

X O S T O R E

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Collector’s Edition (First Pressing Vinyl). Designed by Frank Miller. Limited to 4 per customer.

xo.store

 

[Gee]

For anyone interested, The Weeknd collaborated with the legend Frank Miller on a collector's edition of his upcoming album cover. It's not too expensive, either.

X O S T O R E

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Collector’s Edition (First Pressing Vinyl). Designed by Frank Miller. Limited to 4 per customer.

xo.store

That's a better cover art than whatever he tried to do for the Deadpool/Wolverine comic book.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

That's a better cover art than whatever he tried to do for the Deadpool/Wolverine comic book.

one could say it's also a better cover than the actual cover to Hurry up tomorrow.