Is vinyl becoming too mainstream yet?

evsgjamm

What do you think? Is the resurgence of vinyl becoming too mainstream? Seems like whenever new music is brought up in digital or CD or DVD format... the most common question is "no vinyl??" ... so I thought I had to put it out there. Is anyone getting the impression that the market is being too flooded by vinyl? If so, is it something to be concerned about? Will the next generation of music listeners still be actively pursuing vinyl like they are today? Your thoughts please.

(I for one love my vinyl collection. 350+ albums of classic rock and some newer stuff. I started collecting in 2001 with older classic rock albums from vinyl stores and PJ & Nirvana vinyl that has always been available. I could still use some more classic rock albums and am becoming quite the audiophile with the plans to purchase a high-end Hi-Fi system soon. As always, I'll pick up any PJ and Nirvana vinyl that I deem suitable for my collection, as well as any CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, cassette, poster, painting etc etc etc... I'm a collector at heart)

MotoDC

Methinks this post is in the wrong forum. Might get a better response in AET?

JonnyPistachio

Good question.
In my experience, of my core group of friends, most of which are pretty big music fans, most still dont do vinyl.
In the age where everything is getting more immediate and more accessible, I think us vinyl lovers will mostly keep our space.

JimmyV

I don't do vinyl but I do see more of it out there than I ever did before.

even flow - question mark

I guess of your allergy to leather keeps you down, try vinyl.

I don't like the fact that some of the newer albums, PJ included sound like they are digital even though they are on vinyl. But for the most part I like that they have come back and sticking around. Can't beat buying a good vinyl album used for two bucks.

hedonist

even flow - question mark wrote:

I guess of your allergy to leather keeps you down, try vinyl.

:P

We have old LPs - some sweet stuff, actually - but haven't acquired anything in years...plus we don't have a player.

Nothing like that old sound when the needle hits!

Newch91

Is there something wrong with vinyl becoming mainstream again? A lot of my friends see me buy a few records from the record store and think it's awesome that I buy. I encourage my friends to take a listen to vinyl.

evsgjamm

Newch91 wrote:

Is there something wrong with vinyl becoming mainstream again?

In my opinion (and this thread was started solely for opinions), it's getting too commercial and I don't like it. I don't particularly like how it seems every band is rushing to put out a limited edition vinyl, a numbered vinyl, a colored vinyl... it's all been done before and these bands jumping on the wagon are showing us their unoriginality. I can see the other side of the coin, (if it works, use it; strike while the iron is hot etc. etc.) but as my opinion is solely my own, I'll post it in confidence. I don't like how mainstream vinyl has become. I look forward to your negative comments

Newch91

evsgjamm wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

Is there something wrong with vinyl becoming mainstream again?

In my opinion (and this thread was started solely for opinions), it's getting too commercial and I don't like it. I don't particularly like how it seems every band is rushing to put out a limited edition vinyl, a numbered vinyl, a colored vinyl... it's all been done before and these bands jumping on the wagon are showing us their unoriginality. I can see the other side of the coin, (if it works, use it; strike while the iron is hot etc. etc.) but as my opinion is solely my own, I'll post it in confidence. I don't like how mainstream vinyl has become. I look forward to your negative comments

Nothing negative. Just a difference of opinions. I personally hope more people buy and listen to vinyl.

fear4freedom

IS....BECOMING....TOO.....YET? Wow is that an oxy-moron squared?

Dead Man Walking

even flow - question mark wrote:

...Can't beat buying a good vinyl album used for two bucks.

This is exactly why I love vinyl.

I'm not going to go buy every album on vinyl that I already have on CD. Yeah, there are a few of my "personal favourites" that I will get on both formats but for the most part, I love just getting old wax for dirt cheap.

Yard sales up in the county in the summer are gold mines for old records. I love just pulling off the side of the road and taking a quick look at what people are selling. Usually you can get them to sell you a whole crate for $15...

brianlux

Vinyl isn't about the format- it's about the sound. Read Neil's Young's book for excellent info on the subject. MP's only have a fraction of the sound data of master tapes or good vinyl records. CD's are not much better. Give yourself a chance- do a listening comparison somewhere where you can hear back to back MP3's, CD's and well cared for vinyl on a good system. Most people who do this agree- vinyl is closer to real sound and much more pleasant to listen to. Fortunately, the technology is out there to put out digital at 192kHz (CDs are sampled at 44.1 kHz) and eventually even higher. That will be cool, but I'll always keep my records spinning for the best sound.

If I had the choice between only owning 10 good vinyl records or 200 CDs, or 500 records on MP3s I'd go for the 10 records without thinking twice about it.

morello

^^^ Hey this reminds me of something I've been wondering after reading Uncle Neil's book & hanging out for his Pono system....

So, master files have more sound data than vinyl, which has more than CDs, which have more than mp3s. Will Pono have the same as vinyl or masters do you think? Does anyone have a better understanding of this than me? Will Pono be better than vinyl?

JimmyV

If vinyl is as good as so many believe it is, why shouldn't it become mainstream?

Dead Man Walking

JimmyV wrote:

If vinyl is as good as so many believe it is, why shouldn't it become mainstream?

I ask this same question about music in general all the time.

even flow - question mark

JimmyV wrote:

If vinyl is as good as so many believe it is, why shouldn't it become mainstream?

Since you posed this in a question form..................Two cents............

It was mainstream. Remember? Then the corps told you what you were going to listen to music on and nobody had a choice. Remember? So people who were in the know didn't get rid of their vinyl because if you enjoy listening to music as more then backround noise or to drown out the sorry outside world, you wanted to hear it properly. Now the newbies are catching on and turntables go for up to 800 bucks a pop. What a cycle that was. People don't understand (not pointing a finger at anybody) that because it is loud and from Apple that it may not be up to snuff.

JimmyV

even flow - question mark wrote:

JimmyV wrote:

If vinyl is as good as so many believe it is, why shouldn't it become mainstream?

Since you posed this in a question form..................Two cents............

It was mainstream. Remember? Then the corps told you what you were going to listen to music on and nobody had a choice. Remember? So people who were in the know didn't get rid of their vinyl because if you enjoy listening to music as more then backround noise or to drown out the sorry outside world, you wanted to hear it properly. Now the newbies are catching on and turntables go for up to 800 bucks a pop. What a cycle that was. People don't understand (not pointing a finger at anybody) that because it is loud and from Apple that it may not be up to snuff.

The corps? Who?

I was just happy to have a form of music that didn't scratch if kids were playing in the room. 8-tracks and then cassettes clearly did not sound as good, but once CD's came along the battle was over in my mind. I'll never start buying vinyl no matter how mainstream it may become.

brianlux

morello wrote:

^^^ Hey this reminds me of something I've been wondering after reading Uncle Neil's book & hanging out for his Pono system....

So, master files have more sound data than vinyl, which has more than CDs, which have more than mp3s. Will Pono have the same as vinyl or masters do you think? Does anyone have a better understanding of this than me? Will Pono be better than vinyl?

Excellent question. From what I've read, Pono is said to be very real sounding because the high sampling rate. It's said that it's indistinguishable to analog for most listeners.

Analog masters are made on high grade tape. I've never heard an analog master but I'm told they are the ultimate in good sound. I had a room mate in the early 70's who had a good quality reel to reel player back when you could buy music on high grade tape (much bigger, much higher quality that cassette tapes) and that sound was out of this world- very true to real sound, better sounding even than vinyl. The room mate only pulled these tapes out for ritual-like listening- total focus on the music. That's how he insisted we listen and it was a great experience. But reel to reel today would never fly- it's inconvenient for skipping or selecting individual tracks and I'm guessing even high grade tape stretches over repeated listening.

evsgjamm

hedonist wrote:

Nothing like that old sound when the needle hits!

mmmmm yummy. That was a great sentence. Think you'll ever get a Hi-Fi system for your records?

evsgjamm

fear4freedom wrote:

IS....BECOMING....TOO.....YET? Wow is that an oxy-moron squared?

I think I thought too hard and long about the topic for the thread when posting what I wanted to say.

evsgjamm

Dead Man Walking wrote:

... I love just pulling off the side of the road and taking a quick look at what people are selling. Usually you can get them to sell you a whole crate for $15...

EH-MEN

evsgjamm

brianlux wrote:

Vinyl isn't about the format- it's about the sound. Read Neil's Young's book for excellent info on the subject. MP's only have a fraction of the sound data of master tapes or good vinyl records. CD's are not much better. Give yourself a chance- do a listening comparison somewhere where you can hear back to back MP3's, CD's and well cared for vinyl on a good system. Most people who do this agree- vinyl is closer to real sound and much more pleasant to listen to. Fortunately, the technology is out there to put out digital at 192kHz (CDs are sampled at 44.1 kHz) and eventually even higher. That will be cool, but I'll always keep my records spinning for the best sound.

If I had the choice between only owning 10 good vinyl records or 200 CDs, or 500 records on MP3s I'd go for the 10 records without thinking twice about it.

I like your way of thinking. Spot on !!

evsgjamm

morello wrote:

^^^ Hey this reminds me of something I've been wondering after reading Uncle Neil's book & hanging out for his Pono system....

So, master files have more sound data than vinyl, which has more than CDs, which have more than mp3s. Will Pono have the same as vinyl or masters do you think? Does anyone have a better understanding of this than me? Will Pono be better than vinyl?

THIS is some AMAZING news! I just did some research on it and holy smokes... it's who?? Uncle Neil? I was in the dark on his "inventing, investing, marketing, making digital better" movement. What gives? Have I failed as a fan? yes... a little. but back to this "Pono" system. It's got me all revved up. I'll be talking about this at the next open mic night for sure!! Is it too good to be true? I'd have to listen to it in one of them big ole boats in which he had it installed to see. How original would it be to have a classic car like that, with the Pono system, spinning on a show-room type turntable in your living room. Now THAT'S my idea of a good time

hedonist

evsgjamm wrote:

hedonist wrote:

Nothing like that old sound when the needle hits!

mmmmm yummy. That was a great sentence. Think you'll ever get a Hi-Fi system for your records?

The crackle!

I'd love to get something so we can actually enjoy what we have. Growing up, we had one of those huge cabinet-type deals, with large speakers sandwiching the turntable/radio area. Many evenings in the mid-70s would find me "grooving" to Cher and the Partridge Family

As mentioned earlier, crazy that the prices for turntables are so high, but nice that there's a market for them. Makes me wish we kept the above device, or at least the suitcase-style player my sister had.

Regarding mainstream, I don't even know what that is anymore! I just like what I like; if others do too, so be it. If others do it because it's trendy, then they're missing out on the whole point - again, so be it.

evsgjamm

even flow - question mark wrote:

... and turntables go for up to 800 bucks a pop. ...

Actually, turntables go for much much MUCH more than that.

http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/10- ... cleContent

wowzah; look at them puppies!!

evsgjamm

brianlux wrote:

...The room mate only pulled these tapes out for ritual-like listening- total focus on the music. That's how he insisted we listen and it was a great experience. ....

gotta love the good ole days of ritual-like experiences with good tunes

PJ_Soul

I wish!! If vinyl were mainstream, it would be cheaper and widely available!!

I'm not a fucking hipster (can't stand em). I just love vinyl. I would love it if everyone appreciated it as much as I do so that more record stores would open, vinyl would no longer be limited edition, and new vinyl and good turntables became easy to find and cheaper. It would be awesome if every single album put out by every band or artist was on vinyl because it would be u heard of for them not to be.

Unfortunately, this is not at all the case. I believe vinyl only makes up something like 7% of all music sales, and that's a huge jump from 5 years ago. And just recently London Drugs started selling a limited amount of vinyl in their music section... that is an interesting sign! Although it could just be that the guy in charge of music sales for London Drugs is an audiophile.


How many hipsters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?







It's a pretty obscure number. You've probably never heard of it.

PJ_Soul

evsgjamm wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

Is there something wrong with vinyl becoming mainstream again?

In my opinion (and this thread was started solely for opinions), it's getting too commercial and I don't like it. I don't particularly like how it seems every band is rushing to put out a limited edition vinyl, a numbered vinyl, a colored vinyl... it's all been done before and these bands jumping on the wagon are showing us their unoriginality. I can see the other side of the coin, (if it works, use it; strike while the iron is hot etc. etc.) but as my opinion is solely my own, I'll post it in confidence. I don't like how mainstream vinyl has become. I look forward to your negative comments

Your opinion just doesn't make any sense to me.

even flow - question mark

evsgjamm wrote:

even flow - question mark wrote:

... and turntables go for up to 800 bucks a pop. ...

Actually, turntables go for much much MUCH more than that.

http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/10- ... cleContent

wowzah; look at them puppies!!

:shock:

evsgjamm

PJ_Soul wrote:

I wish!! If vinyl were mainstream, it would be cheaper and widely available!!

I'm not a fucking hipster (can't stand em). I just love vinyl. I would love it if everyone appreciated it as much as I do so that more record stores would open, vinyl would no longer be limited edition, and new vinyl and good turntables became easy to find and cheaper. It would be awesome if every single album put out by every band or artist was on vinyl because it would be u heard of for them not to be.

Unfortunately, this is not at all the case. I believe vinyl only makes up something like 7% of all music sales, and that's a huge jump from 5 years ago. And just recently London Drugs started selling a limited amount of vinyl in their music section... that is an interesting sign! Although it could just be that the guy in charge of music sales for London Drugs is an audiophile.


How many hipsters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?







It's a pretty obscure number. You've probably never heard of it.

You see, it's comments like these that pull me towards your point of view. It totally WOULD be awesome if vinyl was everywhere and never went through such a decline in sales. That way, it'd be all you said ... cheaper, more accessible and people would actually be listening to high quality sound on cheap and readily accessible Hi-Fi systems. However, that's not the reality in which we live, as you stated.

As for London Drugs offering vinyl; check out these prices:

AC/DC - Highway To Hell: $18
Pearl Jam - Backspacer: $25
Pink Floyd - The Wall: $50
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin: $55
Roy Orbison - All Time Greatest Hits: $60
Smashing Pumpkins - Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: $90
Genesis - 1976-1982 Box set: $200
King George VI - The Kings Speech to His People: $350

As for my opinion not making sense... I get that. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.

PJ_Soul

evsgjamm wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I wish!! If vinyl were mainstream, it would be cheaper and widely available!!

I'm not a fucking hipster (can't stand em). I just love vinyl. I would love it if everyone appreciated it as much as I do so that more record stores would open, vinyl would no longer be limited edition, and new vinyl and good turntables became easy to find and cheaper. It would be awesome if every single album put out by every band or artist was on vinyl because it would be u heard of for them not to be.

Unfortunately, this is not at all the case. I believe vinyl only makes up something like 7% of all music sales, and that's a huge jump from 5 years ago. And just recently London Drugs started selling a limited amount of vinyl in their music section... that is an interesting sign! Although it could just be that the guy in charge of music sales for London Drugs is an audiophile.


How many hipsters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?







It's a pretty obscure number. You've probably never heard of it.

You see, it's comments like these that pull me towards your point of view. It totally WOULD be awesome if vinyl was everywhere and never went through such a decline in sales. That way, it'd be all you said ... cheaper, more accessible and people would actually be listening to high quality sound on cheap and readily accessible Hi-Fi systems. However, that's not the reality in which we live, as you stated.

As for London Drugs offering vinyl; check out these prices:

AC/DC - Highway To Hell: $18
Pearl Jam - Backspacer: $25
Pink Floyd - The Wall: $50
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin: $55
Roy Orbison - All Time Greatest Hits: $60
Smashing Pumpkins - Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: $90
Genesis - 1976-1982 Box set: $200
King George VI - The Kings Speech to His People: $350

As for my opinion not making sense... I get that. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.

Yeah, the prices suck shit... but hey, it's gotta start somewhere.
What's the king's speech thing?? Like, the actual historical king's speech on vinyl???