Vinyl, LP's and turntables

musicismylife78

yesterday my parents mentioned that they considered buying me a turntable for christmas, but as my musical interests and preferences have shifted, they didnt know if newer bands were putting out LP's.

There is no question my former musical loves of Jimi, Dylan, Uncle Neil, Pink Floyd and the like would sound awesome on a turntable nowadays, thats a given, but what interests me is how newer bands would sound on a turntable. What about bands like Fleet Foxes, Death Cab, Modest Mouse, The Shins etc...

I like alot of people rarely have bought a cd in the last few years. I download. Cd sales are down, month after month, year after year. Cd's dont sell anymore. Whats interesting is that Vinyl is selling amazingly well, I saw a figure that said sales were up over 100 percent. And from my own personal observations at shows, I can say alot of bands have LP's of their albums along with cd's at their merch tables.

So is investing in a turntable worth it? Does the sound really blow you away? What us recommended? I know if you are an aspiring hip hop dj, technics are the way to go, but what about a non dj type like myself?

And is it really worth it in these days to be spending the 20 bucks on a vinyl record, when a majority of people merely buy a spindle of 100 blank cd's for 30 bucks and are set?

Buying vinyl especially now seems expensive and rather absurd, but should I invest?

BlackThirteen

I just recently got a record player and I'm going to start buying vinyls when I can. But as far as actually investing in it I don't know about that. I mean for me personally the sound of a record isn't that much better than a cd. I think it's really a personal preference. I mean nothing beats putting a record on the player but it's expensive like many hobbies are. If you're expecting to be blown away by the sound quality you shouldn't hold your breath. It's really up to you at this point. For me personally collecting vinyl is too expensive. So I just buy what I can get cheap. That's my two cents.

soclose

I don't buy a ton of vinyl, but I've taken to pre-ordering new albumz that way (just pre-ordered the Decemberists a minute ago). The new stuff generally isn't all that much more expensive than a CD, and you almost always get mp3's or a CD included.

The sound of vinyl is certainly "warmer" than CD, and it's fun to sit down every so often with that huge artwork and listen to a record.

Another draw for me is that it reminds me of my childhood. I was a child of the 80's who started out buying music on cassette (not that I purchased a lot at that age), but I have fond memories of sifting through my dad's record collection. In fact, my record player was his - it's nearly as old as me, but it still works quite well.

DewieCox

I got into it about 6 months ago. I love it. I've spent a couple grand on used and new records. So many bands "benefit" from the wax treatment. For instance, you haven't listened to Zep, Floyd, Beatles, PJ, RHCP, Tool, MMJ until you've listened to them on vinyl.

If you are gonna invest, that means leaving stuff unplayed and sealed. If you leave stuff sealed, you should put a few slits around the edge of the cellophane to prevent the vinyl from warping as the the wrap shrinks up.

Store records vertically, not stacked on top of each other.

If you just wanna listen, look for used old stuff. You should be able to get about any classic album for next to nothing.

Tons of new stuff is comin out, both reissues and new albums. If you are interested in vinyl just not sure how much, look for a couple new vinyls that come with cd or download.

analogueaddict72

I guess it comes down to your equipment, I have a Rega Planar 3 with an ortofon cartridge and I have to disagree from my personal experience, you have to spend a shit load on a CD player to match the sound I'm getting.

Maybe some peoples decks aren't that great but the CD doesn't compare in my view, the warmth of the sound, the way the bass and drums sound is so different plus I can pick out sounds on a vinyl pressing that the I don't on the cd, little subties you don't hear on a CD.

I find it can be annoying although getting better, getting new albums on vinyl but more and more bands seem to be issuing there albums on the black circle but you might wait a while, it's like waiting for the directors cut on DVD as you don't feel parting with the cash for the theatrical cut 3 months after release.

My Era Vulgaris vinyl didn't arrive till nearly 6 months after the CD was released and PJ had a few months after the CD between the last album arriving on vinyl.

It's an investment and more patience is required but ultimately more rewarding, Darkside and OK Computer on vinyl are so much more fulfillng than that poxy little silver disc.

The new U2 album's front cover can only be appreciated in the 12" format.

I say go for it, the digital medium has made listening music to easy, people have a tendency to put on and do other things, I admit I'll sit and the computer and listen to my vinyl but most of the time I like to sit on the sofa with the sleeve, (espiecially a gatefold) and just listen to the aural beauty of what is still the finest music format on the planet. You make an investment and interaction, the process of listening to vinyl means an effort but people are getting lazier and music is fading into the background

It might not be a popular belief but these dam ipod's are killing the album format, the shuffle thing is ok but generartions on this is going to the only way some will listen to albums after the initial few listens. Please don't tell me you get the same thing from those bloody ear bud thing in your ear playing loud and winding people up on the bus that I do out of my full analogue vinyl experience because you don't.

The record companies managed to con people in the 80's that CD was superior format to vinyl when it was just cheaper to produce, you could rack more of it on the shop floor and it's disposable plus some rich person is making loads out of those useless fucking cases that keep breaking.

Cd feels and looks like a product and the download is even worse but vinly feels like something real not just a superior sound, the LP is a piece of art, no wonder some people are waking up to the sound of the record player again, the industries lies are beginning to be seen for what they are!

Mark my words the vinyl format will out live your plastic piece of crap, you just can't keep a good thing down!