Coming back to vinyl?

[polypetalous]

Luckily for me, in 1996 I had ALL my CDs stolen when the house I was renting was broken into...

I was left with only my records, guess they were too heavy to take....

made it easy at the point on which media to focus on.

but.... if I wasn’t already so heavily invested in récords, not so sure I’d start now.

Ben “loves his records”

 

[ProBlogger]

In the late 80s my friends and relatives were giving me their records. Many were in great shape, and I still have the records I bought in my teens.

CDs are my medium of choice. Fast forward to today and I still listen to my records on “vinyl night” when I’m feeling nostalgic. Out of the hundreds that I still have, I’ll bet I only play about 30 of my favorites. If the albums you have 50 are some of your favorites, you’re already on your way.

I’m seeing new vinyl go for $20+ a title. Compared to the new CDs I’m collecting which run between $4 - $13, I don’t think I’d buy a new LP version over the CD version. I don’t think I’d buy used vinyl over a used CD either. That’s my approach.

Vinyl these days seems to be much more of investment than it was 35 years ago. If I had given away my records 30 years ago, I don’t think I’d be replacing them again today. Do it if money is no object, or the happiness of owning vinyl outweighs the investment. For some it does. For me, it doesn’t.

 

[RemoWilliams]

Just visit Goodwill or other thrift stores for cheap records as well as Craigslist. Of course in my case there is a used record store that has a good sized 1.00 selection upstairs and even though it can still add up in cost I am somewhere around 1000 albums after a year or so of starting out and four turntables. I tend to pay at most perhaps 20.00 for a used but nice record if I really want it, It has been fun so far but it also depends on who you listen to. I never thought i would purchase a Johnny Mathis or Perry Como album for instance but I have a handful of their earlier releases from the late '50's and early '60's for example. I guess many of the titles I have are not readily collected which is great in my case as even easy listening is interesting.

Some of it is actually well done such as Martin Denny, Chet Atkins, Al Hirt, Henry Mancini to name just a few. Trying to build up some of the rock albums I used to have when they were released such as Heart's Dreamboat Annie and some Creedence Clearwater Revival like Green river which were about 9.00 each which was reasonable in great condition.

 

[RunOutGroove]

Some of it is actually well done such as Martin Denny, Chet Atkins, Al Hirt, Henry Mancini to name just a few.

I never thought that I'd be into easy listening type music, but somehow I got hip to his music and have been collecting it ever since. I really only like the kind of music that he started out with, stuff that has various imported "exotic" elements, which is maybe unsurprisingly known as "exotica." His later albums after the exotic craze ended just sound like syrupy stuff that was once known as "elevator music." I have a few Henry Mancini albums too... That sort of thing and others like it were recorded in a real kind of widescreen fashion, so they're fun to listen to on good audio gear...

 

[Rdenney]

On turntables, the great can be the enemy of the good. I have a vintage Technics SL-20 in one of my systems. It was the budget table in Technics’s product line in 1977. It has no suspension, and the fixed tonearm is indeed rather loose and rattly.

It’s easy to do much better. But, at well under a hundred bucks, and with a properly aligned and adjusted $35 Grado cartridge, it takes care of the LPs and it makes music.

My main table is a Thorens TD-166 Mk II. This was the lower-line table in a line of high-quality tables. It’s very easy to spend more and do better. But when properly set up, it takes a LOT more to be noticeable better, even with its TP-11 tonearm. I paid $300 for it. $35 for a new belt, a few hours making adjustments (including just the slightest tightening of the tonearm bearings), and a $90 Grado cartridge and for around $400 it makes music.

The next step up might be something like a VPI Scout, or a used and carefully reworked Linn. But I doubt I’ll take that step.

35 years ago, the high-end audio shop in my locale demonstrated three tables to me: My Technics SL-20 (on which they had just installed and aligned the Grado cartridge), a Rega Planar 3, and a Linn Sondek LP-12. Each one was noticeably better than the one lower down. The better tables added clarity, like cleaning dirt off my glasses. But we all agreed that even the cheapie allowed the beauty of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto, and the sensitivity with which it was being played, to be revealed.

That’s why I say there is a reasonable solution at just about any price point.

Rick “who kept his old LPs” Denney

 

[Grenadeslio]

On turntables, the great can be the enemy of the good. I have a vintage Technics SL-20 in one of my systems. It was the budget table in Technics’s product line in 1977. It has no suspension, and the fixed tonearm is indeed rather loose and rattly.

It’s easy to do much better. But, at well under a hundred bucks, and with a properly aligned and adjusted $35 Grado cartridge, it takes care of the LPs and it makes music.

My main table is a Thorens TD-166 Mk II. This was the lower-line table in a line of high-quality tables. It’s very easy to spend more and do better. But when properly set up, it takes a LOT more to be noticeable better, even with its TP-11 tonearm. I paid $300 for it. $35 for a new belt, a few hours making adjustments (including just the slightest tightening of the tonearm bearings), and a $90 Grado cartridge and for around $400 it makes music.

The next step up might be something like a VPI Scout, or a used and carefully reworked Linn. But I doubt I’ll take that step.

35 years ago, the high-end audio shop in my locale demonstrated three tables to me: My Technics SL-20 (on which they had just installed and aligned the Grado cartridge), a Rega Planar 3, and a Linn Sondek LP-12. Each one was noticeably better than the one lower down. The better tables added clarity, like cleaning dirt off my glasses. But we all agreed that even the cheapie allowed the beauty of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto, and the sensitivity with which it was being played, to be revealed.

That’s why I say there is a reasonable solution at just about any price point.

Rick “who kept his old LPs” Denney

The Thorens TD166MKII is an awesome little table. Purchased my first in the hopes it would better my AR XA, sadly it didnt lol, that little, unassuming, table that could is uncannily good. But now the secret is out, not getting another XA for $15 like my last.

The XA now resides at my son's house, I have another TD166MKII that may go into the bedroom system, it's just such a great looking table that also happens to do nothing wrong.

If you havent tried one yet, I find the Pickering XV15 1200E/D1200 an awesome cartridge for this table, real synergy.

 

[GChief]

I'm pleased so far with my Fluance RT 84

Nice budget new table. Picked up an RT82 for my daughter. I had it in place of my modded ARXA for a few weeks before giving it to her and it held its own.

Out of the hundreds that I still have, I’ll bet I only play about 30 of my favorites. If the albums you have 50 are some of your favorites, you’re already on your way.

As far as the vinyls collection goes. I live in an “as seen on TV” 398sqft tiny house. I went through all my vinyls and only kept what I “had to have” and set up a decent streaming set-up for the rest of my listening. I culled the herd down to around 50 copies, have added up to around 70 with room for about 150.

 

[Rdenney]

Thanks—it’s been decades since I last messed with a Pickering cartridge. I’m using an Audio Technica AT-440mla that I bought new-old-stock last year—I thought I might get a bit more out of my old vinyl with a microline stylus.

Rick “also just started using a Music Hall Cruise Control” Denney

 

[Sansushi]

opmia

 

[Tiver]

...................

Vinyl these days seems to be much more of investment than it was 35 years ago.................

Relative to the cost of digital streams that is true, but as a direct comparison to the cost of vinyl now and then, not so much. In the early 80's, at the time the CD was introduced, new releases were $6.98 -$11.98 on vinyl and probably $12.98 - $14.98 on CD. And CD re-issues were not discounted for quite a long time, it might have been 20 years. Digital pirates were the force that caused the industry to rethink the delivery method and brought the record company produced CD to its knees.

Collecting records in the 70's and early 80's was not inexpensive. MoFi and Half Speed Masters were 50% - 100% more than standard releases. Of course there were re-releases and slow movers for $.99 - $4.99 (like "The Nice Price"), but not typical to current releases. As the 80's rolled on, vinyl lost its prominence, but new releases, when they were even pressed, were still in the $10 range.

 

[Swokie63]

Nice budget new table. Picked up an RT82 for my daughter. I had it in place of my modded ARXA for a few weeks before giving it to her and it held its own.


As far as the vinyls collection goes. I live in an “as seen on TV” 398sqft tiny house. I went through all my vinyls and only kept what I “had to have” and set up a decent streaming set-up for the rest of my listening. I culled the herd down to around 50 copies, have added up to around 70 with room for about 150.

Most of the music I listen to is streamed, but I do like the sound from vinyl, I also have an Adcom 5 disc changer, and am starting to buy cd's again..
My cd collection was aquired by some thieves back in the 90's, and I never replaced em..

 

[GChief]

Most of the music I listen to is streamed, but I do like the sound from vinyl, I also have an Adcom 5 disc changer, and am starting to buy cd's again..
My cd collection was aquired by some thieves back in the 90's, and I never replaced em..

I have tried to go CD’s 3 times since the late 80’s and always went back (never left) to vinyls. Being in the Navy for 23yrs and moving every 3yrs CDs made sense but meh .

I was going to go that route again for the tiny house but with big 3 streaming services easily sounding as good or better than CD’s it was a no brainer (for me) to thin out the vinyls and stream everything else.

My GF has a big stack of CD’s she plays in the Blu-Ray player with the TV system and also streams from the Firestick, does the trick. In the “Listening Loft” it’s vinyls and streaming only. I do have the BRP going to the Bifrost but it never gets used.

 

[crazy-in-az]

I found a Pioneer PL-71 for $20 at a pawn shop because the speed wasn't steady. I traced it down to the micro switches, but I also knew it needed a full restoration. I ended up sending it to a repair guy in Prescott, and two weeks and $225 later I have a turntable that would probably outperform most modern $250 turntables.

If you don't mind buying a used one that needs TLC I'd recommend taking a look in your local pawn shop or thrift stores.

 

[Quadman2]

Better have deep, make that deeper pockets than in the past for vinyl!

Some record stores are asking astro prices on much of the better quality/more famous performers.

Some genres are really difficult to find.

Much of the left overs in the goodwill stores are not worth picking up.

There's a fair bit of gouging at this time for higher prices.


You might hit it lucky at some garage sales if you go early, find an overlooked online trove, or get to an auction/estate sale.

Q

 

[GChief]

^^^ Luckily we are not seeing any of that in our area. Adjusted for inflation even new stuff cost about the same as it did for me in the 70’s and 80’s.

Edit: I always forget a lot of AK is all about “cheap” for some reason

 

[Grenadeslio]

Here's a thought, when purchasing the new record also get the CD, with the new low prices on CD this will be a bargain when compared with the same double purchase in 1995.

I have no issues with the price of new vinyl, when taking inflation into account they're still competitive. Plus I have enough used vinyl (2000 records), so now I only buy new or still sealed versions.

The local Barnes & Noble has quite the selection and a no questions asked return policy, so I rarely order any new vinyl off the internet. There's a local guy with a used record store I deal with that will order anything I'm looking for also, so lots of purchasing options.

 

[Bodyblue]

Vinyl is a nice way to expand your hobby. I "finally" gave up on vinyl about ten years ago, because I thought it was too much work with all the cleaning and fiddling with tonearms etc.

I recently got back into it as a secondary source of music. This time, I don't take it so seriously, just enjoy a few records now and then.

Vinyl is good fun and it sounds different to digital sources. Not necessarily better or worse but definitely different.

100% agree. I put my Marantz 6150 back into my Marantz system frankly just for the novelty. I like having choices and vinyl is a choice but not a requirement.

 

[tom67]

I got back in in late 2017 after a 30 year absence. I cleaned approx 350 existing records. I loved it at first. Probably played a few records every day for about 4 months. The shine wore off quickly. I got tired of cleaning records and even fiddling with the jackets and blowing dust off the stylus. For another few months I made Friday afternoon my vinyl and vodka day, kind of like some kind of duty or ritual. I rarely play a record now and actually almost feel some kind of perverse guilt when I walk by the unused equipment. I think the addition of a streaming service with several million selections hastened the process. To address your question, I would not invest much up front until you make sure you actually like the ritual and will want to continue with the effort required. Like most, it's nice to seek out a new hobby, but not a new job.

 

[Swokie63]

I got back in in late 2017 after a 30 year absence. I cleaned approx 350 existing records. I loved it at first. Probably played a few records every day for about 4 months. The shine wore off quickly. I got tired of cleaning records and even fiddling with the jackets and blowing dust off the stylus. For another few months I made Friday afternoon my vinyl and vodka day, kind of like some kind of duty or ritual. I rarely play a record now and actually almost feel some kind of perverse guilt when I walk by the unused equipment. I think the addition of a streaming service with several million selections hastened the process. To address your question, I would not invest much up front until you make sure you actually like the ritual and will want to continue with the effort required. Like most, it's nice to seek out a new hobby, but not a new job.

You also have to keep your vehicle clean, service it, or have it serviced, vacuum or sweep the floors in your home, do the laundry, dishes, mow the lawn.. etc..
Its not a job, its life.. if it becomes a burden then you really never appreciated it for what it is..

 

[GChief]

You also have to keep your vehicle clean, service it, or have it serviced, vacuum or sweep the floors in your home, do the laundry, dishes, mow the lawn.. etc..
Its not a job, its life.. if it becomes a burden then you really never appreciated it for what it is..

I only get to go through the “ritual” a couple times a week when I am home. Since I have been doing it when I listen (for the most part) for the last 46yrs I don’t even really think about it. But I can see how it would trigger a lazy gene