Loving that Vinyl Sound
by Steve Watters on 07/17/2007 at 3:30 PM
A few weeks ago, my wife and I bought a retro audio system. It was built by Crosley, an audio company that has been making radios since 1920 and offers a lot of modern technology packaged in classic radio boxes. Our motivation was to have a system that could play cassettes and records. We've enjoyed pulling out a couple of old 45s that my dad recorded when he was in rock'n'roll in the 60s and 70s. Having the player motivated us to pick up some older Ella Fitzgerald and Andrews Sisters records on eBay as well. What came as news to me, however, was that there is now new music coming out again on vinyl.
In this article from yesterday's issue of The Guardian, Katie Allen writes:
The format was supposed to have been badly wounded by the introduction of CDs and killed off completely by the ipod-generation that bought music online.
But in a rare case of cheerful news for the record labels, the latest phenomenon in a notoriously fickle industry is one nobody dared predict: a vinyl revival. Latest figures show a big jump in vinyl sales in the first half of this year, confirming the anecdotal evidence from specialist shops throughout the UK.It comes as sales of CD singles continue to slide - and it is not being driven by technophobic middle-aged consumers. Teenagers and students are developing a taste for records and are turning away from the clinical method of downloading music on to an MP3 player.
Vinyl fans interviewed for the article pointed to the tangibility, artistic vinyl covers and the community of buying records alongside other fans as part of their motivation. Cara Henn, a DJ, echoed the reason I like records when she said, "I like to hear crackling, as if it's actually real." This reminds me of a post Ted ran back in April about how the new digital audio formats we play our music in these days may be missing some of the quality found in old analog formats that we've thrown on the ash heap of history.
Any other vinyl fans out there? Any under 30?
HT: AlbertMohler.com
1. Michele said the following at 3:55 PM on Jul 17:
27 years old, and a huge fan of vinyl. My dad never got rid of his turntable (it's older than I am and still puts out great sound!) and has a fantastic vinyl record collection. I've been looking to invest in a turntable for myself, because it's really easy to find classic vinyl in good condition - used bookstores are great for it.
2. Jo said the following at 3:57 PM on Jul 17:
i so want a gramophone :( but i don't have space for one, and just buying a record player doesn't hold the same retro coolness for me. to be honest, i haven't heard an lp played since i was a child, but the musical purist in me really wants to hear some of those old albums as they were originally meant to be played.
3. Leann said the following at 4:02 PM on Jul 17:
Yes, I am under 30 and have revived the vinyl. One day, upon digging through the attic of my parents-in-law, I struck gold with Johnny Cash, Elvis, Tommy James and the Shondells, the Monkees, The Carpenters, and George Harrison. Then I went over to my parents' house and my mother gave me some Iron Butterfly, The Mamas and The Papas, Linda Rondstadt, Elton John, The Captain and Tenille, Bread, America, and Neil Diamond. My friend gave me a turntable and although I haven't used it much yet, I intend to do so. I would like to start collecting vintage albums.
4. Lora said the following at 4:04 PM on Jul 17:
I'm 22 and i remember when I was younger I would play my parents' Star Wars and Bing Crosby albums on an old record player. I would love to own one again and be able to play old music with it.
5. Jeffrey J. Stables said the following at 4:10 PM on Jul 17:
I definitely like the sound of vinyl—and even cassette: you know, "analog is warmer"—for the listening experience. Digital music is higher quality, so that's the most essential. Once I'm out of college and have enough money and space, I'll definitely have a turntable and cassette player. Right now, for my generation, it's just cheaper and easier to stick with CDs and digital music. The technology is much more prevalent, and therefore more budget-friendly. I'll go for the experience of vinyl as soon as I'm not strapped for cash all the time!
6. Peter Wells said the following at 5:05 PM on Jul 17:
Yes!
Vinyl is great, and you can often find classic albums dirt cheap at garage sales and things. It's a bit of a hobby of mine... I'm twenty btw.
Then again I'm just generally a music junkie -- I probably spend far too much money on that particular addiction.
7. San Soo said the following at 7:52 PM on Jul 17:
I'm 28, and I have been listening to vinyl for 13 years. I started djing in high school so I have a bunch of records: hip-hop, pop, rock, soul, obscure, dance, the list goes on.
I prefer the sound of vinyl to CDs and digital, not just because of the retro feel (which is cool), but because I believe that vinyl sounds better. It has a much fuller sound. Records aren't as convenient, but they're much more romantic (that's the only way I know to describe it).
8. Jordan Peacock said the following at 8:04 PM on Jul 17:
I'm 22 and an audiophile, ex-sound system tech. Have about 1400 albums in FLAC lossless on my computer, ripped from my cd collection (now spanning 3 continents; I found it easier to dump them to disc when I moved than haul the cases).
Will be picking up my beloved vinyl when I make it up to Canada this summer; all newer releases: Frodus - Conglomerate International, Radiohead - OK Computer, Smashing Pumpkins - Machina, Ninety Pound Wuss - Where Meager Die Of Self Interest and other punk and indie fare.
This news is not the least surprising; like all other aspects of the underground, the vinyl addiction has taken hold.
9. Missy said the following at 8:36 PM on Jul 17:
I've also got a record player (and I'm under 30...just barely! ;) I'm only sorry it's not an older one...it's part of a stereo/cassette/turntable system my parents got in the mid-to-late 80's, so it hasn't got that cool retro look of some systems (like the old Pioneer system that my parents had when I was little...THAT was an awesome stereo!!I have no idea where it is now!!) I've gotten some records at garage sales and used bookstores, and just need to get my turntable fixed to hear them. I can't wait!! :)
10. Ted Slater said the following at 8:51 PM on Jul 17:
Jordan -- for some reason your comment reminded me of something I read in one of my music production magazines: Audio projects are "mastered" differently, depending on whether they're destined for CD, MP3, or vinyl.
I honestly forget the details, but I do know that the process is different for each, since vinyl has limitations that CDs don't have (the size of the grooves, the speed that the stylus is traveling on the outer edge vs. the inner part of the disc), the way the right and left sides of the grooves differ, and so on). Perhaps this different "mastering" process contributes to the "sound" of vinyl....
11. Josh T said the following at 10:23 PM on Jul 17:
I'm 30 and my wife is 25... we bought a Crosley as a gift to ourselves for Christmas last year (actually it's our only sound system). She already had a couple of records, but she's been buying others on occasion for $0.25 each at a local thrift store. Cool stuff. I'm glad we bought it. My dad still has all his old records, too, so we may be borrowing some.
12. Ellie said the following at 12:46 AM on Jul 18:
When I was little, I had a kid's record player, with Sesame Street, Mary Poppins, and some other albums like that. : ) Now I'm 20....and wouldn't mind a return to the old format. One of my roommates swore to get her old record player from home, with all the records she could find, and get it to our apartment. My mom saved all her old vinyls from her childhood and teen years - great stuff from the Beatles and beyond. When I found the boxes, I was too young to fully appreciate it. Now, after several moves, I'm hoping to find it again.
13. Keb said the following at 1:14 AM on Jul 18:
I'm 27. I remember with fondness listening to Disney movie books on record on my own little record player in my bedroom as a child. I'd have fun changing the speed so that the characters talked funny, and I'd learn the records by heart. I actually still have some of them (that managed not to get broken) somewhere...and my old record player, too. Sometimes being from a family of packrats pays off (though it's mostly a pain, especially at moving time).
14. NeedACatchyName said the following at 8:09 AM on Jul 18:
I don't really miss vinyl at all. CDs are more durable, more easily stored, and you can play them in your car. With a CD, I don't have to worry about it getting dusty, cleaning the phonograph equipment, and changing out styluses and stylus cartridges. Furthermore, every time you listen to a vinyl record, the sound quality goes down a little bit. This is because the stylus coming in contact with the record creates tiny abrasions and scratches on it, which over time creates even more pops and skips. CDs have built-in error correction, so you're getting the same music every time you play it.
Of course, vinyl fans always tell me that the real reason to listen to vinyl is the sound quality, which they say outweighs the obvious convenience advantages of CDs. I've heard the same album on the same stereo in both CD and vinyl format and...I still thought the CD sounded better, even though the person playing it for me was really trying to talk-up the advantages of vinyl. I know that some people like the "warmth" that vinyl gives, but most of the "warmth" is really just analog distortion and dust/abrasions on the record. And I'll take the actual music on the CD to distortion and dust any day. :) True, vinyl sounds better than MP3s off of someone's iPod, but really, even FM radio is almost higher quality than that. BTW, I totally agree with the poster above who rips his music to lossless FLAC...it really is worth the extra storage space.
I will say this in vinyl's defense: back when vinyl was king, cover art for albums was much higher in quality, since it had to be more detailed because of the larger packaging. Now that we have CDs, no one seems to care much about cover art any more. But I still think all the other advantages of CDs outweigh this disadvantage.
15. Dakota said the following at 8:32 AM on Jul 18:
I'm 20 and have a record player. My sister and I picked up a bunch of old records at a yard sale - my favorite is Nat King Cole. :) I only have about a dozen records though, but I enjoy listening to it. And the crackling is awesome!
16. Bo said the following at 8:51 AM on Jul 18:
My husband and I just moved his record collection last night to another room...he has about 500, at least...and he's 28.
17. nikki said the following at 9:20 AM on Jul 18:
I've been aware of the resurgence in popularity of vinyl and record players for quite some time now. I always see old, cheap records in thrift stores and am always reminded that I'd love to use an old gramaphone to play music when I have my own place one day. Until then I have to be content with what is prevalent and available (and what takes up far less space!). I think the appeal of vinyl is its genuine-ness, along with the quality of sound...someone described it as "warmer." that's exactly what it is. Warmer, fuller, thicker, denser, etc. Plus you get all of the aesthetics of the album cover that is nonexistent with digital music. I know you can download the album covers and such, but I never do because it's so robotic/sterile-feeling. I love the old, worn look of record jackets and I love the character they have. Not to mention the fact that music back then was a lot better than now! :)
18. Melanie said the following at 10:04 AM on Jul 18:
My husband is a professional sound engineer and he claims that vinyl is by far better sound quality than digital because digital formats have been compressed into a much narrower sound range while vinyl maintains a more dynamic range. However your average stereo system will not pick this difference up - you need high-quality speakers for this. Kind of like digital photos vs. film - both look good on the surface but zoom in close enough or blow the picture up large enough and the round pixils of conventional film give a truer representation than the square pixils of the digital.
19. Kas said the following at 10:09 AM on Jul 18:
I'm 24, and I have one of those stereo turntable systems from the 80's that has a dual cassette deck ($30 from a thrift store!). I heard that the systems from the 80's have a better sound than the older ones. I've been considering getting a Crosley, though. Do any of you know how they compare in sound?
I like listening to classic albums in their original format, like the Beatles. I highly recommend Paul Clark; he was a Christian artist and he has that cool "psychedelic, hippie" sound.
20. Karen said the following at 11:34 AM on Jul 18:
I'm 27--I actually found a cool old portable record player in a red leather case being junked at an antique store last year and snagged it...it works just fine and it was fun scouring thrift stores for working records!
21. Brian said the following at 11:59 AM on Jul 18:
de gustibus non disputandem est
(Latin: "concerning taste there must be no dispute")
Having said that, I believe the generally accepted definition for high quality music would be "truest reproduction of live performance", in which case vinyl in all of its analog glory will never hold a candle to CDs. CDs produce a truer sound than records in this regard.
As for those of you who dog on MP3 players for their poor sound quality, the majority of quality loss is either in:
a. Small, poor quality earbuds
or b. Low-bitrate encryption
My whole music collection is on my computers in 192kbps mp3, which is CD-quality. (Blind tests showed that people who were selected for their claimed ability to distinguish mp3 from CD could not tell the difference)
I also rarely use earbuds, instead choosing to hook my iPod into my car stereo or play songs from my computer on my home stereo. If you truly want the highest quality music, this is the way to go. You can love vinyl all you want, just don't claim that the sound quality is better! :-)
On a side note:
How many Christians have fallen into the world's idea of music piracy? When I started college I downloaded literally thousands of songs illegally without really questioning it. My conscience (or perhaps it was just my older brother) started bothering me about it several years ago and I have not illegally downloaded any songs since them. What are your experiences with this subject?
22. xeres said the following at 12:12 PM on Jul 18:
Brian,
I never own an Ipod. I don't download music. My dad downloads songs from the net to CD but it is through the legal channel called iTunes or Kaaza, so it is not done illegally.
23. Amber said the following at 4:46 PM on Jul 18:
I'm 20 years old and I love music. While I'm doing my ipod thing right now, there is just something about playing a song on a record player that's cooler and if you want to share your music collection it seems to me that pulling out vinyl would look better than scrolling down a computer screen. Maybe one day when I have my own place and more space.
24. JMarie said the following at 4:51 PM on Jul 18:
What saddens me each time a new format for music comes out is how much older music is lost (at least to the multitudes). My dad, in what he thought was an "inspired" move at the time, got rid of his records and turntable a few years ago. This included a record of piano music that I had grown up dancing to with my silly childhood friends. It's probably mostly nostalgia, but I thought there were some good songs on there! We've both searched for the album on CD,and it doesn't seem to exist. So, unless some retro vinyl fan stumbles across the record, the music is just lost.
25. Robert Benson said the following at 6:22 PM on Jul 18:
Hello!
I love to read about all the "new" collectors out there. I have been collecting for over 30 years, and I must say, the thrill isn't gone. I have even written a very affordable ebook called "The Fascinating Hobby of Vinyl Record Collecting" which is available at my website www.collectingvinylrecords.com Stop by and check out my articles about vinyl, my blog and some of the best online avenues to find vinyl.
Regards,
Robert Benson
26. Leah said the following at 8:59 PM on Jul 18:
"Teenagers and students are developing a taste for records" - quite possibly.
"...and are turning away from the clinical method of downloading music on to an MP3 player." - highly doubt it.
27. Leah said the following at 9:00 PM on Jul 18:
Well, can't say I really know what vinyl sounds like. I can't really remember. However, I *DO* know that cassette music has TERRIBLE quality. (In contrast to CDs and good music files- mp3s aren't high quality files).
28. Samuel PG said the following at 1:06 AM on Jul 19:
There is something about listening to music on a vinyl that comes through no other medium. I'm 19, but my dad gave me his record collection (full of classic rock, showtunes, folk, etc.) when I left for college. Since then, I have had more family and friends give me old records because they hear that I still want them and my roommate has a growing collection of newer music as well. We can't get enough of our vinyls.
29. André said the following at 7:34 AM on Jul 19:
I wouldnt't label "downloading music on to an MP3 player" as clinical. Sure, it doesn't have the "feel" of opening a brand new record package, and putting it to spin, but good music is good music, whatever the media you use.
Living outside the US, mp3's and the internet allowed me to discover/purchase music that I otherwise wouldn't have access to.
And there's always the price. A good turntable is a very expensive item here in Brazil. Sure, vinyl is quite affordable, but the equipment required to play it isn't! The same goes for cd's. Most of the music I like isn't released here in Brazil so I have to buy imported stuff, that is quite expensive. Even cd's that aren't are expensive
So, for instance, I can buy Sufjan Stevens' songs on e-music (a legal mp3 download website), and about 30 songs will cost half as much as I would pay for a single cd.
And there you go, as much as I think vinyl is great, mp3's are still a more viable way for me to listen to music. (Not to mention that I wouldn't be able to carry a turntable with me on the bus ride to work).
30. Cara Henn said the following at 5:05 PM on Oct 1:
Hi all,
I'm the DJ that was quoted in this article. Vinyl won't die, especially in certain genres. It is being pushed by drum & bass DJ's/MC's/Producers to keep the crowd and budding DJ's buying vinyl, whereas most of the hard house/funky house etc has crossed over to digital format. Though, the sound quality is noticeably 'better', you'll still never find the crisp sound of a vinyl in a 1200kb MP3. The nicest thing about vinyl is that it doesn't sound too mechanical. Like pop songs, everything is manufactured to sound CD quality.
It just keeps everything real! I will keep digging vinyl, though you cannot beat spending a few pounds for a song rather than 7. What would you rather hear? Vinyl is unique!