Anyone Collect or Still Listen to Vinyl?

[Ziggy]

Hey, it's a retro gaming forum... of course there's vinyl enthusiast here!

I actually posted this recently in the "we can have nice things too" thread. I recently found an all vinyl record shop that's not too far from me, and finally got the chance to go down there and check it out. Picked up some things for not a lot at all...




One of my favorite bands just had most of their albums pressed on 180g, so naturally I picked them all up!



I currently have a decent Numark direct drive table. It was a huge upgrade from the shitty modern Sony table I had before it. The only thing, I don't have the money to splurge on a nice preamp, so I had to settle for a $15 one from Amazon. It isn't horrible, it actually sounds pretty good, but hopefully I'll eventually pick up something better.

[dunpeal2064]

Those Incubus records are awesome. Did they do Fungus as well?

I listened to records as a kid, but have yet to pick up a table myself. I need to make the jump soon.

[MulishaSoldier929]

Hey, it's a retro gaming forum... of course there's vinyl enthusiast here!

I actually posted this recently in the "we can have nice things too" thread. I recently found an all vinyl record shop that's not too far from me, and finally got the chance to go down there and check it out. Picked up some things for not a lot at all...




One of my favorite bands just had most of their albums pressed on 180g, so naturally I picked them all up!



I currently have a decent Numark direct drive table. It was a huge upgrade from the shitty modern Sony table I had before it. The only thing, I don't have the money to splurge on a nice preamp, so I had to settle for a $15 one from Amazon. It isn't horrible, it actually sounds pretty good, but hopefully I'll eventually pick up something better.

Funny you have 2112 up there.... I'm listening to it right now . If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pick it up for?

[dsheinem]

Aside from nostalgia/novelty, I've never really understood the appeal from an audio standpoint. The artists didn't (usually) create the music with random fuzz and pops in mind, records degrade over time, they aren't "warm" in the same way that high end analog tape is, etc. The vinyl I own is stuff I can't get elsewhere, bought due to novelty/price, or collector's items of bands I like.

[Ziggy]

Those Incubus records are awesome. Did they do Fungus as well?

Fungus Amongus and If Not Now, When? are the only two albums they didn't do. My theory is that If Not Now, When? was just recently released on vinyl anyway (though a reprint would have been nice since you can't find it new in stock anywhere). Fungus, I don't think Incubus really considers it to be a true album. Just a fun collection of songs that they re-released under the Sony label because of fan demand (they even apologize for it in the album jacket lol).

Funny you have 2112 up there.... I'm listening to it right now . If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pick it up for?

Six bucks!

Aside from nostalgia/novelty, I've never really understood the appeal from an audio standpoint. The artists didn't (usually) create the music with random fuzz and pops in mind, records degrade over time, they aren't "warm" in the same way that high end analog tape is, etc. The vinyl I own is stuff I can't get elsewhere, bought due to novelty/price, or collector's items of bands I like.

That's why you have to take proper care of your vinyls, so you don't get those clicks and pops. Of course, it some times can't be avoided when you buy used vinyls.

From a pure audio standpoint, you'll hear arguments why vinyl is better or why CD is better. One thing that you can't argue, that is pure straight fact, is that some times an album is compressed to shit on CD but it's vinyl counterpart isn't. I've heard worse clicks on pops on brand new CDs, released in the past decade, than on any of my vinyls.

There's also just the fun of playing a vinyl. There's something magical about putting a record on the platter and spinning it up, no other form of playing music can compare. I would compare it to the emulation vs real hardware debate of the gaming realm.

[dsheinem]

Those Incubus records are awesome. Did they do Fungus as well?

Fungus Amongus and If Not Now, When? are the only two albums they didn't do. My theory is that If Not Now, When? was just recently released on vinyl anyway (though a reprint would have been nice since you can't find it new in stock anywhere). Fungus, I don't think Incubus really considers it to be a true album. Just a fun collection of songs that they re-released under the Sony label because of fan demand (they even apologize for it in the album jacket lol).

Funny you have 2112 up there.... I'm listening to it right now . If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pick it up for?

Six bucks!

Aside from nostalgia/novelty, I've never really understood the appeal from an audio standpoint. The artists didn't (usually) create the music with random fuzz and pops in mind, records degrade over time, they aren't "warm" in the same way that high end analog tape is, etc. The vinyl I own is stuff I can't get elsewhere, bought due to novelty/price, or collector's items of bands I like.

That's why you have to take proper care of your vinyls, so you don't get those clicks and pops. Of course, it some times can't be avoided when you buy used vinyls.

From a pure audio standpoint, you'll hear arguments why vinyl is better or why CD is better. One thing that you can't argue, that is pure straight fact, is that some times an album is compressed to shit on CD but it's vinyl counterpart isn't. I've heard worse clicks on pops on brand new CDs, released in the past decade, than on any of my vinyls.

There's also just the fun of playing a vinyl. There's something magical about putting a record on the platter and spinning it up, no other form of playing music can compare. I would compare it to the emulation vs real hardware debate of the gaming realm.

I mentioned pops as the OP cited them as a feature.

Point taken about problems with CDs, but I also know of recent vinyl that uses the same compressed source or is victim to the "loudness war". It's always a crapshoot in any medium anymore

I think the emulation analogy falls apart in many ways when discussing CD, though you might be on to something if comparing vinyl to MP3...

[Nemoide]

One of my prize possessions: 7" single of a J-pop rendition of the menu music from Dragon Quest II. (The song's called "Love Song Sagashite").

I have a pretty sizable vinyl collection with a lot of cool stuff. I think 45s are a lot of fun and like recent releases like Man or Astro-Man's new EP series or Alice Cooper's glow-in-the-dark "Keeping Halloween Alive." I have a double-album compilation featuring William S. Burroughs, John Giorno, and Laurie Anderson. I have two kazoo records. Link Wray! Hasil Adkins! The A-Bones! These are things that are best on vinyl.

IMO, CDs provide better sound quality and if I have a choice, I usually pick CD over LP, but there's something cool about records.

It's technically not vinyl, but I also started collecting 78s recently. I don't have the ability to play them, but they seem really interesting. Stuff from the Philippines, Japanese-language recordings from Hawaii, old-time boogie-woogie... I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LISTENING TO THEM AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE!

[MulishaSoldier929]

Aside from nostalgia/novelty, I've never really understood the appeal from an audio standpoint. The artists didn't (usually) create the music with random fuzz and pops in mind, records degrade over time, they aren't "warm" in the same way that high end analog tape is, etc. The vinyl I own is stuff I can't get elsewhere, bought due to novelty/price, or collector's items of bands I like.

It does tend to be more of a novelty than anything. I mean who really needs records when you have ipods that can hold 1000's of songs in the palm of your hand?

Not sure exactly what it is tho but when I light some inscents and drop a Led Zepplin album on the turn table I feel that I have a much greater listening experience than say just playing a Led Zepp cd on a stereo. idk hard to explain. Its not an "audio" issue but an enjoyment factor that for some reason vinyl gives me.

[MulishaSoldier929]

Funny you have 2112 up there.... I'm listening to it right now . If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pick it up for?

Six bucks!

I think my gf is going to be jealus. She picked up that album for my birthday off from ebay for around 25 I believe. By far my fav RUSH album .

[MulishaSoldier929]

I have two kazoo records.

I have to know. Is that a band name or do you own two records where all the music is performed with kazoo's???? Either way I'm impressed