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Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

Laika2 said:
For me it's like having 2 mixes of the same item, CD & LP. Many but not the majority of vinyl sound better to me. Mostly favorite albums before CDs or at least before CDs dominated. One example is Roxy Music's Avalon. The LP is a haunting wall of sound, the CD sounds way to surgical and loses the haunting spiritual feeling of the LP.
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The 5.1 mix on SACD is something else.
 
Leporello said:
Personally I think it is just one of the things a vinyl fan is supposed to say.
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Or: that’s what a digital music fan is supposed to say. ;-)

Facile deprecating characterizations don’t help anybody.

As I’ve said before, I don’t remember getting the memo as to what I’m “ supposed to say.”
I’m just describing my experience, as well as the experience of other others.

It’s up to you, whether you want to understand it or whether you want to use it as a reason to feel superior.

Leporello said:
Vinyl fandom is very much self congatulatory, keen to present itself as deeper level music appreciation.
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There are vinyl snobs, and there are digital snobs. It’s not helpful to take the worst part of any group as representative.

If somebody happens to express, they personally get a deeper level of music appreciation when they engage in one method of listening, I don’t see any problem with that. I mean when people here say “ Trying to listen to records takes me out of the music because of all the hassle and record noise, with digital I don’t have to worry about that and just relax” I don’t get uppity. I get that it makes sense.

Again in this thread and particular, it tends to be a one-way route in terms of disparagement - you’ll find much more disparaging of records, and those who listen to records versus those of us playing records disparaging other peoples choice to play only digital.

early rejecter said:
Not sure how admitting that one doesn’t have the patience or self-discipline to listen to a full album side unless the format makes it inconvenient not to could be considered self-congratulatory.
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Exactly. As I’ve put it before my own “music ADD” problem when trying to sit down and listen to a full album, using streaming is more a source of embarrassment… and admission of failure in my attention… than anything else.
I’ve said before I admire and envy those who can just sit down and listen to whole albums via music streaming.

It’s like how I admire my friend who told me he just finished reading Moby Dick. How the hell he has that attention span in this digital age blows my mind. Kudos to anybody else with such powers of concentration!

Me telling somebody why I like something doesn’t mean that their thing is wrong.
 
EERecordist said:
From Polaroid to vinyl, Gen Z is making retro tech one of 2025’s biggest trends: ‘These things just have more value’

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You're invited to the KICKBACK.

We've grown up glued to our iPhones, and honestly, we're pretty over it. That's why KICKBACK is focused on designing products that celebrate real life—not distract from it.
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Snarfie said:
In short, it is historically inaccurate to position vinyl as an exceptional or inherently superior listening medium
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early rejecter said:
True, but again there’s no real evidence that that attitude is driving the revival.
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A least, not with ASRs.

Argh. Is it over 3 years since the thread started. And still alive due to those members who cannot stand people doing something they consider not worthy.

Pls gentlemen (because you know you are all guys), I repeat, here in ASR we don't claim superiority. We just like it. LET IT GO. That's the attitude that give ASRs a bad name.
 
For me one of the most important things that (almost) vanished with vinyl is the cover art. The LP format was perfect and unmatched to carry along some of the greatest covers, booklets and photographs, pieces of art in many cases. CD was already a huge disappointment and with streaming or download files it’s nonexistent for me. I simply don’t want to hold a tablet as it’s no comparison to an LP cover.
 
I just ordered another 15 used LPs where I’m not able to stream (tidal, Qobuz, Apple) them.

Nor am I able to buy a big chunk of them digitally, and if I want to buy some of them as digital download I will need a VPN to get around licensing restrictions AND I still end up paying double or triple of what I paid for the used NM LPs.

It’s all about the Music :) I also do the VPN stuff and purchase music from Japanese sites where I need a translation app to be able to read what I’m purchasing.

Turns out some of the Digital Files are probably sourced from LPs.

But doesn’t that make the LP a even more important source of music?

It’s the original master, it’s what the Artist approved some 50 or more years ago in some cases. And I still get artwork and a Physical medium for less than a Digital File.

Sure most of the music is probably not interesting enough to the Majority of people discussing vinyl here.

but there are also plenty of OOP CDs that are not on streaming services or that got remastered to crap if they are.

Do I care if one is superior to the other? Not at all.
 
Eric Bibb excerpt from the Good Stuff 45 RPM LP. I cannot really get used to this recording - Bibb's voice is a bit too "dynamic". Unfortunately some ticks/pops in the end.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
 
BeeKay said:
For me one of the most important things that (almost) vanished with vinyl is the cover art. The LP format was perfect and unmatched to carry along some of the greatest covers, booklets and photographs, pieces of art in many cases. CD was already a huge disappointment and with streaming or download files it’s nonexistent for me. I simply don’t want to hold a tablet as it’s no comparison to an LP cover.
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Not to mention the gatefold. Who does not remember this:

Front and back:

iu


The inside:

iu
 
BeeKay said:
For me one of the most important things that (almost) vanished with vinyl is the cover art. The LP format was perfect and unmatched to carry along some of the greatest covers, booklets and photographs, pieces of art in many cases.
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I largely stopped buying new vinyl in 2002 after I opened my copy of the recently released “Source Tags & Codes” album by …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and discovered that rather than design a printed sleeve or 12x12 insert, the record label had simply slipped the CD booklet into the jacket. I figured vinyl releases had become an afterthought at that point. (I’ve since resumed now that it seems care is being taken again.)
 
HammersRocco said:
A least, not with ASRs.

Argh. Is it over 3 years since the thread started. And still alive due to those members who cannot stand people doing something they consider not worthy.

Pls gentlemen (because you know you are all guys), I repeat, here in ASR we don't claim superiority. We just like it. LET IT GO. That's the attitude that give ASRs a bad name.
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You are being selective, aren't you? Also recently, we had our new friend morphemes who is adamant about superiority. We had the friendly term "digital cultists" thrown at us. None of this is "one way traffic". Nor does it get in the way of the genuine conversation as much as you think.

A point that should be obvious - there is a world outside of ASR, most vinyl users are not members of ASR, and discussion of any "vinyl renaissance" is necessarily going to discuss both claims and facts (such as sales figures) that take place outside of ASR. You can shout that

HammersRocco said:
here in ASR we don't claim superiority.
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but it doesn't stop it happening outside. Given the subject of this thread, discussing such claims seems to me to be within bounds, as long as forum rules are followed. I'm happy to be corrected on that by our host or a moderator, if not so.

Moreover, actually claiming superiority in the sense of LP mastering being superior for a large number of releases is firmly on the table as a subject for discussion - as it should be.

Still, if you genuinely think comment in this thread is giving ASR a bad name, or you are insulted by what is said sufficiently to put a claim (and one that doesn't always hold up, there are newcomers) in massive bold type because someone or something has offended you:
you are welcome to report this post to the moderators (button bottom left) and give examples of why you believe this thread should be closed, removed, request post removals and even thread bans for those indiviiduals you believe have overstepped the mark, or whatever remediation you think it needs. I have no problem with being reported.

You can also always report specific posts that you feel are misplaced or break the rules here: every post has a report button.
 
Galliardist said:
You are being selective, aren't you? Also recently, we had our new friend morphemes who is adamant about superiority. We had the friendly term "digital cultists" thrown at us. None of this is "one way traffic". Nor does it get in the way of the genuine conversation as much as you think.

A point that should be obvious - there is a world outside of ASR, most vinyl users are not members of ASR, and discussion of any "vinyl renaissance" is necessarily going to discuss both claims and facts (such as sales figures) that take place outside of ASR. You can shout that



but it doesn't stop it happening outside. Given the subject of this thread, discussing such claims seems to me to be within bounds, as long as forum rules are followed. I'm happy to be corrected on that by our host or a moderator, if not so.

Moreover, actually claiming superiority in the sense of LP mastering being superior for a large number of releases is firmly on the table as a subject for discussion - as it should be.

Still, if you genuinely think comment in this thread is giving ASR a bad name, or you are insulted by what is said sufficiently to put a claim (and one that doesn't always hold up, there are newcomers) in massive bold type because someone or something has offended you:
you are welcome to report this post to the moderators (button bottom left) and give examples of why you believe this thread should be closed, removed, request post removals and even thread bans for those indiviiduals you believe have overstepped the mark, or whatever remediation you think it needs. I have no problem with being reported.

You can also always report specific posts that you feel are misplaced or break the rules here: every post has a report button.
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Hrm - indeed - I did miss the morphemes posts that you mention - I still haven't check them but I trust you. While "digital cultists" seems like an aggression it is also kind of funny. Again, without reading the posts, just from that phrase it seems like someone is parodying vinyl audiophiles just to rile people up here... but again, too busy to go back and double check.

I am a very good person and honest enough to say and admit that in the presence ( as, again I am a very good person, so I believe you implicitly) of a non-objective poster, actively arguing, that I jumped the gun...

I was a bit upset from seeing the "inconvenient vinyl" cartoon for the 1000000000000000th time a few posts back, and I was, like, "damn, captain obvious... we know, and we saw that cartoon like 10 years ago"... so I got a bit miffed at the thread. But again, if someone found this thread and created an account and is actively arguing a non-scientific, non-objective view, then, yeah, we need to clarify that and I totally support people arguing that.

Which takes me to the one thing I object in your reply. The one thing I DO find offensive is to suggest that I would consider reporting a post because I disagree with it. I have only done it in the face of actual prejudice, mostly misogyny and a couple of instances of racial prejudice. But because I disagree? Seriously...

Now, THAT offends me. And I won't report it, of course. I rather discuss it.

And BTW, we know the report button is there - is in every post and very noticeable. IT IS OBVIOUS. A lesser, less of a good person would take offence. Not me though! :D
 
HammersRocco said:
Hrm - indeed - I did miss the morphemes posts that you mention - I still haven't check them but I trust you. While "digital cultists" seems like an aggression it is also kind of funny. Again, without reading the posts, just from that phrase it seems like someone is parodying vinyl audiophiles just to rile people up here... but again, too busy to go back and double check.

I am a very good person and honest enough to say and admit that in the presence ( as, again I am a very good person, so I believe you implicitly) of a non-objective poster, actively arguing, that I jumped the gun...

I was a bit upset from seeing the "inconvenient vinyl" cartoon for the 1000000000000000th time a few posts back, and I was, like, "damn, captain obvious... we know, and we saw that cartoon like 10 years ago"... so I got a bit miffed at the thread. But again, if someone found this thread and created an account and is actively arguing a non-scientific, non-objective view, then, yeah, we need to clarify that and I totally support people arguing that.

Which takes me to the one thing I object in your reply. The one thing I DO find offensive is to suggest that I would consider reporting a post because I disagree with it. I have only done it in the face of actual prejudice, mostly misogyny and a couple of instances of racial prejudice. But because I disagree? Seriously...

Now, THAT offends me. And I won't report it, of course. I rather discuss it.

And BTW, we know the report button is there - is in every post and very noticeable. IT IS OBVIOUS. A lesser, less of a good person would take offence. Not me though! :D
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But...

HammersRocco said:
A least, not with ASRs.

Argh. Is it over 3 years since the thread started. And still alive due to those members who cannot stand people doing something they consider not worthy.

Pls gentlemen (because you know you are all guys), I repeat, here in ASR we don't claim superiority. We just like it. LET IT GO. That's the attitude that give ASRs a bad name.
Click to expand...
What is the tone of this post if it is not "I am offended by what people are saying in this thread"? And now you are claiming that you didn't even read most of the recent posts, you jumped at one post of that cartoon by a poster who was gently advised that posting it was not really a good idea.

It's not the first time you have done this, either. Every few months you charge in, with exactly the same line at being offended by the fact that this thread continues, and accuse people here of giving ASR a bad name.

I'm saying that if you see something that you think brings ASR into disrepute, or if you are going beyond disagreeing into being offended, you should consider reporting it.

And since you clearly and continually think that of this thread, I offered you the opportunity to do that.

You didn't. So please, stop jumping into this thread feet first like this and show a little consideration for the conversation that is actually taking place.
 
MattHooper said:
Well turning to vinyl so as to help focus attention and resist skipping tracks isn’t of course for everybody. No solution is.

But there are clearly good reasons why this “ encourages more relaxed and focused, listening “ aspect shows up again and again among vinyl enthusiasts.

It’s simply a fact that how you experienced something can change the experience.
There are all sorts of aspects of buying and playing a record that encourages a sense of investment and attachment to the physical object and the music on that object. Everything from the vinyl generally requires a greater commitment in terms of money, and often searching for and even physically having to go out and find and buy the item.
Right down to the sense of connection of opening up the record, holding it in your hands, the owning of and certain amount of care for a turntable, placing the record on the turntable, usually with the expectation you’re going to be listening to more than one track track, etc.

These are the type of factors that really do influence experiences in human beings.
So it’s understandable the theme comes up over and over about how vinyl encourages a somewhat different mindset during the listening process from streaming.

To acknowledge these facts doesn’t mean that every single person would have the same experience. People have different criteria.
But it explains why many people do have this experience.

Can this same difference I’ve experience be achieved with another physical format like CD?

Yes. Some people find CDs themselves to be a desirable form of physical media.

Here’s a photo of somebody’s CD collection from the CD collectors Reddit:

View attachment 436077

So clearly some can have a connection to the physical media. I think in the majority of cases it doesn’t take the level of commitment vinyl can, but it still something you have to put in a CD player.
So I can see how listening to CD can also help focus somebody’s attention more more than streaming.

On the other hand, with most CD players, you’ve got a remote so you can easily skip tracks, unlike with a record. And also, it’s hard to know whether CDs compete quite as well with vinyl in the “ I enjoy it because it helps me better focus attention through entire albums vs streaming ” aspect. This comes up routinely with vinyl, but I don’t see it nearly as much from what I’ve seen from CD collectors.

I just went through a thread on Reddit with over 500 comments about why music enthusiasts were collecting CDs. There was the occasional “ I tend to listen to a full album when playing a CD” comments, but they were relatively rare. There was a lot of talk about enjoying the physical collectable aspect. But it was also common for people to say they rip the CDs immediately, so they can play them anywhere. Which is quite different from the vinyl experience.

And even in a thread devoted to CD there were people still bringing up why they prefer vinyl as their physical medium, e.g.:

“I decided to switch to vinyl because I feel like I am more particular with it (grabbing whole albums of enjoyment vs. endless cds where I only like 1-2 songs on them). Considering I have a bit of hoarding tendencies, it is better to pick the thing that actually pushes me to be selective.”
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I don't stream music, so there's that.
I still listen to full albums whether I listen to the Physical CD, or the ripped version of it, unless i have a sudden mood change of course , but that hardly ever happens.
 
Listening to uninterrupted works and albums is great but so is easily being able to pick and choose songs at will. No more rousing oneself after the adagio to turn an album over to hear the last movement of a symphonic work. No more jumping up to lift a needle in order to avoid running into an overture you don't especially want to hear right now, added based on time length to fill out an album. It's hard to imagine a better era in which to listen to music.
 
wadude said:
Listening to uninterrupted works and albums is great but so is easily being able to pick and choose songs at will. No more rousing oneself after the adagio to turn an album over to hear the last movement of a symphonic work. No more jumping up to lift a needle in order to avoid running into an overture you don't especially want to hear right now, added based on time length to fill out an album. It's hard to imagine a better era in which to listen to music.
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Absolutely. I loved the era of mixed tapes.
And I certainly avail myself of playlists.

I mostly use those in the car.

If I’m on a very long drive, then it might turn into whole albums.
 
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