Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[HammersRocco]

More expensive. Less convenient. Worse sound quality. What's not to like?

That's the same for many endeavours/preferences/hobbies etc. They have the first two in common, third one will be specific. Take you pick. Own a luxury car? A sports car? A pickup truck in L.A.? Or a Tesla, for that matter.

We like what we like - and we all have/do stuff that makes no practical sense. Mock vinyl users, but look at yourself. What are you hiding?

(BTW, using @Brian Hall 's comment as a springboard for mine - no intention of singling out Brian or to have beef - the "you" in my comment is not Brian specifically )

All IMHO, of course

 

[HammersRocco]

Oh. Seriously. Like we didn't already know that the sales revival is driven by innocent babes who know nothing about vinyl except it's cool and hip, and they feel every bit as cool and hip listening to a record as a Kardashian fan bathing in some bath oil that KK promoted. "Best bath oil evva! 5 clicks out of 5!"

Don't generalize. If you knew me in real life you would admire me. And I am a vinyl user.

 

[HammersRocco]

I agree. It doesn't make sense to buy or own any paper books now except for books that would be useful in a real SHTF situation where electronic devices no longer function. Reading on a Kindle or tablet is better in every way.

Comparable to how CDs and streaming formats are so much better in every way than vinyl records.

The only physical books I still have are the FoxFire series, edible plant guides and the SAS Survival Guide.

Well... TBF the case for non-digital is stronger for books just re: availability. A lot of...well... let's call it "serious stuff" is not available digitally. Sure, lots of classics (because many are free now) and the cheap, easy stuff; best sellers, popular books, summer novels, related and similar. But for example, the book on the fall of Italian opera in the 20th Century I just finished is not available digitally and will probably never will be.

 

[copperblue]

I never buy books as physical media, only ePub/Kindle format.
I buy new and second hand CD'S and vinyl. A big chunk of my new vinyl is bought direct from Artist/Bandcamp, which also comes with download code for format of one's choice.
I love playing vinyl records, warts and all, and I also love streaming my collection (preferably lossless, some download codes are high bitrate MP3 etcetera) over the network to my hifi. I also love streaming Spotify lossy over Bluetooth 8 hours a workday, and can't wait to sign up for their lossless tier when it eventually arrives.
Vinyl is hardly a fad for me, I've been buying the things for the last 50 years, easily impressed teenager I am not.
Analogue/Digital does not have to be a Binary choice...

 

[Brian Hall]

We like what we like - and we all have/do stuff that makes no practical sense. Mock vinyl users, but look at yourself. What are you hiding?

I have a turntable setup that I listen to about every couple of weeks after enough time has passed to partially forget how inferior the experience is.

 

[Brian Hall]

Ha! I Didn’t think anyone here would take that seriously. Your post just exemplified the view I was lampooning, which is the refusal to see how other people find value in things you may not.

Based on your posts, I knew you weren't being serious, but I do feel that way about physical books. I prefer reading on a Kindle Scribe. Book sized front lit e-ink screen.

Some people prefer vinyl records to CDs or streaming. Some people still like physical books.

I prefer living in the present and taking advantage of current technology to get the best experience/quality available instead of being limited to things from the past.

 

[AaronJ]

Based on your posts, I knew you weren't being serious, but I do feel that way about physical books. I prefer reading on a Kindle Scribe. Book sized front lit e-ink screen.

Some people prefer vinyl records to CDs or streaming. Some people still like physical books.

I prefer living in the present and taking advantage of current technology to get the best experience/quality available instead of being limited to things from the past.

Current technology is about detaching people from living in the present as much as possible.

 

[Brian Hall]

Current technology is about detaching people from living in the present as much as possible.

Does listening to a CD while reading a book on a Kindle detach me from the present more than listening to a vinyl record while reading a paper book?

 

[AaronJ]

Does listening to a CD while reading a book on a Kindle detach me from the present more than listening to a vinyl record while reading a paper book?

Yes. Being on a kindle reinforces dependence on devices.

 

[Brian Hall]

Yes. Being on a kindle reinforces dependence on devices.

Reading a physical book reinforces dependence on having a physical copy of that book. I don't see any difference. Both are means to an end -- reading the words created by the author of the book.

 

[RickS]

Yes, but agree vinyl is clearly more of a tactile connection. On the other hand, as far as sound quality, it is a regression in my experience. Have tried at least 3 times to see if I could hear some benefit. Mainly what I hear are more noises (pop, skips, potential rumble and feedback). I always favored belt drive, but sold my Dual CS5000 and bought an AT direct drive and it mainly collects dust.

My wife and I still have our vinyl record collections (and my CDs). Most of the vinyl will be sold or donated as we downsize.

 

[Anton D]

Reading a physical book reinforces dependence on having a physical copy of that book. I don't see any difference. Both are means to an end -- reading the words created by the author of the book.

I can see the love for gadgets, but I don’t like long spells of screen reading, so my disdain for back lighting leaves me only the old style kindle.

Books don’t need internet, Wi Fi, chargers, etc and can stand up to sandy beaches, bright sun, being tossed into less than advantageous bags, etc.

So, I go both ways on this!

 

[DarkKoala]

Today I went to a big chain store and got some records for 5€ … bands i never heard of …. 5€, the one even signed (meaningless to me … but atleast a human touched the product )
In small modern and cool stores records go for atleast 10€ …. I guess I‘m not that cool, paying 15€ for something thats older than me. When the CD is available new for 5€. I guess modern cool record stores are a ripp off. I‘ll go to the reduced sections in the big stores .

 

[Brian Hall]

I can see the love for gadgets, but I don’t like long spells of screen reading, so my disdain for back lighting leaves me only the old style kindle.

Books don’t need internet, Wi Fi, chargers, etc and can stand up to sandy beaches, bright sun, being tossed into less than advantageous bags, etc.

So, I go both ways on this!

The newer Kindles are all front lit instead of back lit. It makes a big difference. Wifi is only needed to get the books downloaded. With Wifi off, the Kindles can go for a couple of weeks without needing a charge. They also work great in bright sun.

 

[stringer]

I just got back from a Record Riot. 20,000LP flea market taking over an empty department store at the mall for the morning. I think a lot of the hate/love to vinyl can be boiled down to sighted/confirmation bias. Some people see that vinyl start spinning and it turns them into Scrooge McDuck ;^) I turn into a six year old on Christmas morning. Thinking about those hisses and pops make my mouth water. Limited myself to $60 budget. Picked up ten albums. Jazz, soul, funk, rock, blues. Including an excellent copy of Led Zep I for $4 due to a damaged cover.

 

[Digby]

There is a relatively popular watch thread on this forum. To me, analogue watches are superseded more than vinyl is; there is a question of whether something sounds better on vinyl (whether down to vinyl or mastering), there is no question that digital is better at keeping time and yet, many people love expensive analogue watches that keep time worse than a cheap Casio (or their smartphone) does. To each their own.

I suppose an expensive watch is also a fashion statement or affirmation one 'has arrived', but yeah it is kinda funny:

"Vinyl, bleh! outdated and superseded, we are men of science here.....OMG is that a Patek Phillipe blah blah model"

 

[MattHooper]

Based on your posts, I knew you weren't being serious, but I do feel that way about physical books. I prefer reading on a Kindle Scribe. Book sized front lit e-ink screen.

Some people prefer vinyl records to CDs or streaming. Some people still like physical books.

I prefer living in the present and taking advantage of current technology to get the best experience/quality available instead of being limited to things from the past.

I certainly have no argument against anyone who feels like you do. I was just defending it is reasonable for some people to feel otherwise.

In fact, I’ve been looking into getting a Kindle, which might be useful to me in some conditions. I’ve seen tons of reviews, with a range of reactions from readers, from “now I prefer to read books on my Kindle” to others who still love physical books and see the Kindle as a supplement.

 

[Robin L]

I certainly have no argument against anyone who feels like you do. I was just defending it is reasonable for some people to feel otherwise.

In fact, I’ve been looking into getting a Kindle, which might be useful to me in some conditions. I’ve seen tons of reviews, with a range of reactions from readers, from “now I prefer to read books on my Kindle” to others who still love physical books and see the Kindle as a supplement.

Sometimes the only way one can get a book from the library is via the Kindle. There was an excellent Neil Young bio (Shakey, by Jimmy McDonough and James McDonough) that was only available as an E-book.

 

[Doodski]

@Brian Hall @MattHooper. A girlfriend of mine in Germany reads voraciously and I can tell how much she has been reading by her visits to Ikea for more shelving for the many books she collected over the 23 years we have been buds. She reads only books and won't touch a kindle. I see a Kindle as being a bonus. No pages to flip, illumination provided by the Kindle and no holding the book open because the spine is stiff etc.

 

[Robin L]

@Brian Hall @MattHooper. A girlfriend of mine in Germany reads voraciously and I can tell how much she has been reading by her visits to Ikea for more shelving for the many books she collected over the 23 years we have been buds. She reads only books and won't touch a kindle. I see a Kindle as being a bonus. No pages to flip, illumination provided by the Kindle and no holding the book open because the spine is stiff etc.

Just finished War and Peace. The spine fought back and the weight on my wrists was a bit much.