Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[DarkKoala]

Do I need say more?

 

[Newman]

Haha, that reminds me, there is a thread in another audio forum I keep an eye on, and the thread title is, “Show us your TTs”. Witty. I can’t help smiling.

 

[Andysu]

loving the alien isn't cheap

 

[Axo1989]

Haha, that reminds me, there is a thread in another audio forum I keep an eye on, and the thread title is, “Show us your TTs”. Witty. I can’t help smiling.

I should post pix of my car there?

 

[Axo1989]

Watching yet another new TV show where a turntable makes an appearance (signifying an at-home musical interlude) I notice again the easily-signified transition from plot-advancing-dialog via text message to introspective-moment-for-the-protagonist. I think we are stuck with it as a visual/narrative trope for the time being.

 

[EJ3]

I should post pix of my car there?

Is it a TT (like the short abbreviation for urinating, as in "I have to go TT, Mama)?

 

[MattHooper]

Watching yet another new TV show where a turntable makes an appearance (signifying an at-home musical interlude) I notice again the easily-signified transition from plot-advancing-dialog via text message to introspective-moment-for-the-protagonist. I think we are stuck with it as a visual/narrative trope for the time being.

Yeah. Honestly, the “trading on vinyl being cool now” stuff in TV shows has become worth worthy of an eye-roll.

 

[mhardy6647]

blue LPs are the explanation for the vinyl renaissance?

 

[DMill]

Can’t lie and say vinyl isn’t a fun hobby. I don’t miss record cleaners, beat up LPs, storage space issues, tweaking a stylus, etc. But every now an then I miss an overpriced rock in plastic.

 

[Axo1989]

Yeah. Honestly, the “trading on vinyl being cool now” stuff in TV shows has become worth worthy of an eye-roll.

I also chuckled to myself, because of conversations like these.

In this case the protagonist (Asher Keddie playing an anxious journo in Fake) isn't even being coded/represented as cool. But I think this trope works in the video narrative medium. If we show someone selecting music from their phone app to stream at home, the mood shift is less visually coherent/explicit. Those of you who do this in real life may agree with the evocation.

 

[egellings]

blue LPs are the explanation for the vinyl renaissance?

Maybe there's a blues artist recorded on it.

 

[mhardy6647]

Maybe there's a blues artist recorded on it.

One would hope so, actually.
Or maybe that Rolling Stones tribute album (which is pretty good, actually).

 

[deweydm]

Billy Edwards’ student dissertation on the topic here: How can we explain the resurgence behind vinyl records….

 

[DarkKoala]

First press 1988 Maiden … Just such a find … almost a old as me …
The Zep one… I first got the record, then by coincidence got the cover from a completely different place. Now have a complete item from 1970 … just such a joy. Never listened to Zeppelin. Even jokingly calling them l.e.d. zeppelin … light emitting diod… the only song i like is the immigrant song… Iron Maiden is a different story. I would like to get couple more of them. Them I like

 

[killdozzer]

Your math is a bit strange or maybe I’m not getting it and it’s irony…

You buy a direct drive turntable. Even a new one, from technics you will get under 1000€.
You will probably end up using that thing a good 20 years before even thinking about having it serviced. No need to replace belts or anything else.

You don’t need to spend 1000€ on a ortofon black. You might as well just get a AT 33PTG/2 for 530€ that also has a ML stylus.

Or you go even cheaper with a AT VM540ML with the option to replace the stylus.

New records are expensive but there is plenty of stuff around 20-25€ . And of course used LPs are a nice option where you get nice VG+ or NM stuff for less than 20€

Streaming services are nice but not everything is on there. Especially not if you don’t want to listen to „whatever“ master is currently the one the publisher deems best

A bit late, but I wholeheartedly back this recommendation. 540 is just an excellent stylus. I'm very happy with it and I went through a lot of affordable styli of today. So much so that seeing some recommend 95 to be just as good, I'm a bit at odds.

That aside, tastes are tastes, of course, AT VM540ML was such a sweet spot to me. It really thrilled me, but didn't break my bank. I remember waiting for a sale, it was some small xmas discount, but it was good enough. The seller was nice enough to throw a little bit extra discount, I got it under 200€. In my parts this is like getting a cartridge for the price of the stylus.

 

[killdozzer]

Billy Edwards’ student dissertation on the topic here: How can we explain the resurgence behind vinyl records….

These are always "pat myself on the back" type of discourse. It can hardly escape this "buying one thing is an epic struggle against buying another thing" sort of delusion. As long as you're buying, the system doesn't care. You're just a part of it. It's impossible to change anything through buying. And as long as you're willing to give more of your money in the name of nostalgia, you're an even more desirable "foot soldier consumer".

Regardless of whether it should be a struggle against some sort of conformity, I just don't think it's possible. Consumerism doesn't care what you're buying.

 

[Galliardist]

Billy Edwards’ student dissertation on the topic here: How can we explain the resurgence behind vinyl records….

There are some interesting statistics in there at least. The one that struck me after all the wasted pages here: only 15% of the survey respondents disagreed that vinyl brings the best sound quality.

The other interesting result underneath all of it is that most collectors were not overly concerned about the cost of vinyl.

I'm not convinced of some of the method here, in particular a reliance on sellers as a source of information: the emphasis on community in the "revival" shows that he got only part of the revival group, and probably got fewer audiophiles in the mix since I remember a few years ago that many of the references in forums to buying showed a reliance on online purchases.

The author is an advocate which often skews results no matter how careful you are.

 

[HammersRocco]

There are some interesting statistics in there at least. The one that struck me after all the wasted pages here: only 15% of the survey respondents disagreed that vinyl brings the best sound quality.

Same as any paper a formal review would be interesting. But I think the above is significant. IMHO it suggests that "Sound Quality" as understood by audiophiles is nothing more that an opinion. A measure of personal satisfaction if you will.

We all agree that digital is technically (and measurably!) better performing that the analog formats. There is no doubt about that.

You can be aware of the above and ALSO be an enthusiastic user of the format. The personal satisfaction brought by the experience is what keep us there. The difference is that, for example, if I was being, let's say, paid to recommend a best solution for audio, I would recommend digital; professional diligence dictate that. Beyond, that, love the experience of vinyl.

 

[Newman]

it suggests that "Sound Quality" as understood by audiophiles is nothing more that an opinion. A measure of personal satisfaction if you will.

Or that cognitive bias distorts perception...which, being indisputable, is far more likely than your conclusion.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Billy Edwards’ student dissertation on the topic here: How can we explain the resurgence behind vinyl records….

Thought I would check in here to see if anyone had the answer yet in nearly 8000 posts. I think this paper is pretty well done, and mostly gets it all right.