The audio hobby is a terrible financial decision.

[PristineSound]

I categorically reject this encroachment of "investment" into domains properly defined as "buying."

You don't "invest" in speakers or amps or CDs or records. You fucking buy them.

Have you read post #4?

 

[Chrispy]

I can't imagine people listening above 85dB without hearing damage over the long term.

I'm at 75db normally.

Average? 20dB peaks?

 

[MAB]

That's kind of sad - isn't it?

No.

 

[Groove01]

If it’s a “hobby” returns are not the primary factor. But sometimes you do get lucky. If returns are a primary driver it starts bleeding into “collecting”.

The line can sometime be fine.

 

[krabapple]

Personally I put all my audio gear purchases in acid-free cardboard boxes and then seal them in plastic bags, thus protecting my investment from depreciation, or use.

 

[MattHooper]

Personally I put all my audio gear purchases in acid-free cardboard boxes and then seal them in plastic bags, thus protecting my investment from depreciation, or use.

Reminds me of the vinyl enthusiasts (who also own turntables ) who purchase albums, new and old/used but keep them all sealed up in the original shrink wrap “ and it has the hype stickers!” …. and never play them.

It’s a particular collectors mindset I guess that I’ve never quite accessed.

But then, maybe I’m making a
“ terrible financial decision” in taking that crap off and actually playing the record

 

[wadude]

One thing that does make sense are vinyl enthusiasts who buy the album, make a copy (at one time on tape, now digitally) and then stick the album up on a shelf.

 

[Ropeburn]

One thing that does make sense are vinyl enthusiasts who buy the album, make a copy (at one time on tape, now digitally) and then stick the album up on a shelf.

How do expensive small posters make sense? Lol

 

[MattHooper]

One thing that does make sense are vinyl enthusiasts who buy the album, make a copy (at one time on tape, now digitally) and then stick the album up on a shelf.

For me that misses the point. Interacting with the physical aspects of a record each time I’m listening to that album is part of the pleasure, and also leads (many like me) to more focussed listening.
If I just wanted to end up with tracks I was going to access on digital, I would get them on digital, with higher fidelity and convenience factor.

But we all got our own jones.

 

[Klassic]

I reckon that this hobby, HiFi Audio, is a terrible hobby financially.

At least with hobbies like mechanical watch, or cars, there is a chance some collectibles may hold on to its value and some may go up in value.

With audio, Gosh, have you tried to sell in the used market post-COVID? It's a disaster.

EDIT: See post #4 for further clarification

No, buy secondhand, choose carefully and you can have a great system for a good few years and sell for what you paid for it..

 

[wadude]

Maybe missed something here, I meant copies of the audio contained within the grooves on the vinyl album? At least it minimizes the inherent destruction caused by the needle being dragged through the groove!

 

[Ropeburn]

Maybe missed something here, I meant copies of the audio contained within the grooves on the vinyl album? At least it minimizes the inherent destruction caused by the needle being dragged through the groove!

It does. You also now have a digital copy vastly inferior to the one you could've bought for less than the vinyl.

 

[wadude]

For me that misses the point. Interacting with the physical aspects of a record each time I’m listening to that album is part of the pleasure, and also leads (many like me) to more focussed listening.
If I just wanted to end up with tracks I was going to access on digital, I would get them on digital, with higher fidelity and convenience factor.

But we all got our own jones.

I understand. The convenience allows me to attain that state more quickly and the higher fidelity lets me become immersed more deeply because I’m not distracted by the inherent surface flaws and the anticipation of having to jump up when the album is over.
All of this is just light conversation! Music is fantastic regardless of how we access it.

 

[MattHooper]

Maybe missed something here, I meant copies of the audio contained within the grooves on the vinyl album? At least it minimizes the inherent destruction caused by the needle being dragged through the groove!

I didn’t miss it. I knew what you were getting at.

Sure, I can see some of the logic. You get a physical copy if you’re into collecting those.
You make a digital copy of the first play which preserves the best sound quality you’re ever going to get from that record.
It even should preserve the sound of the vinyl if you happen to like the sound of vinyl as well. And then you can play it more conveniently as well.

I was just saying that for me that still misses a lot of what I get out of playing records, which comes from actually playing a record on my turntable every time I want to listen to it.
I like the visuals and haptics of handling the record, and I enjoy playing it on my turntable.
And it encourages me to just relax and sit through an entire side and usually listen to the whole album. And I generally don’t notice degradation of my records when played on a decent turntable.

 

[wadude]

It does. You also now have a digital copy vastly inferior to the one you could've bought for less than the vinyl.

Hey, we’re talking’bout hypotheticals here! I’m a file guy these days!

 

[Ropeburn]

Hey, we’re talking’bout hypotheticals here! I’m a file guy these days!

Hypothetical financially terrible decisions... it's astonishing, we're right on topic for once.

 

[wadude]

Hypothetical financially terrible decisions... it's astonishing, we're right on topic for once.

The one (and only) “vinyl” I went through the trouble of transferring to digital with nothing but happiness and joy over the time spent and final outcome is the Leo Kottke album, “Circle ‘Round the Sun.” Out of print and one I rarely played because of my desire to preserve it.

 

[wadude]

I didn’t miss it. I knew what you were getting at.

Sure, I can see some of the logic. You get a physical copy if you’re into collecting those.
You make a digital copy of the first play which preserves the best sound quality you’re ever going to get from that record.
It even should preserve the sound of the vinyl if you happen to like the sound of vinyl as well. And then you can play it more conveniently as well.

I was just saying that for me that still misses a lot of what I get out of playing records, which comes from actually playing a record on my turntable every time I want to listen to it.
I like the visuals and haptics of handling the record, and I enjoy playing it on my turntable.
And it encourages me to just relax and sit through an entire side and usually listen to the whole album. And I generally don’t notice degradation of my records when played on a decent turntable.

I never had much luck preserving vinyl…I have better luck melting them over tin cans to make ashtrays or warming them and bending them at 90 degree angles to create matching bookends!

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

Personally I put all my audio gear purchases in acid-free cardboard boxes and then seal them in plastic bags, thus protecting my investment from depreciation, or use.

We say something similar about sailboats. There are two things will eventually destroy any boat: sun and water.

So, if you want your boat to last forever, don't take it out in the sun, and never put it in the water.

 

[MattHooper]

I never had much luck preserving vinyl…I have better luck melting them over tin cans to make ashtrays or warming them and bending them at 90 degree angles to create matching bookends!

But did you ever try throwing them like frisbees?

My gawd did those things soar! They just went forever. Pretty dangerous though you don’t wanna try catching one.