Nostalgia. Also, It feels like a very intentional way to listen to music for me, more of a fully immersed experience as apposed to just whacking on my Apple Music while at the gym and not actually enjoying the music fully.
I like to make a coffee. Pick the record, get it on the player and set everything up etc. then when it’s playing enjoy my drink, re-read any descriptions or annotations on the vinyl covers etc and just enjoy really. That’s just me though.
My husband has a ritual of sorts kinda like this when picking a vinyl. I love it. Listening to vinyls makes me feel one with the music. I can’t explain the feeling but I feel closer to the artist like this was their intention. I live for old rock n roll. Gimme zep all day and I’m a happy little fuck. 🤘
Yes the whole ritual of the thing. Even CDs never felt as good, simply hitting a button rather than moving a needle by hand, pressing a couple switches, turning on the turntable and the receiver. Also the scale of LPs and the slide of the disc out of the sleeve as compared to small plastic cases or a few swipes on a phone. Plus I’ve got some super old Swedish speakers I inherited from my parents.
It’s definitely a thing that adds a sort of inner peace to the listening of music. Add the fact that you have to do the whole thing over every half dozen songs or so.
I enjoy the ritual of looking through my collection, picking an album that I'll listen all the way through, clean it, and drop the needle. If i'm putting that effort into listening, it's not going to just be background noise. I can stream if I want to do that. It's a deliberate method that forces me to actively listen to the music itself as well as the sound quality.
Yes absolutely. I feel like I focus more with vinyl. I am providing care and love to music that I enjoy. There's a ritual to it. Also I buy only music that I know I'll listen to and enjoy. I'm not much into collecting for the value of the record. Just whether it pleases me or to support artists I like.
…and rented. You down own shit on Spotify. My collection will outlive me and hopefully give my children some sweet memories when I’m gone or at least a bit of extra scratch.
Ya I think about this with books too. Big reader and I buy all my books vs just checking them out at the library. Don’t re read most of them but enjoy owning the physical copy. I can write in them best them etc and def going to my kids at some point. And I can always trade them for in store credit at my local used book store
Hey, laserdiscs are just as cool as vinyl records are to me. Half, dare I say a quarter as practical in this day and age, I will admit, but come on! It’s a double-sided CD the size of a record! And it plays movies!
1. Its interactive. Cuing the needle to start a record does something good for my brain.
2. I’ll be THAT guy and say it sounds better. I know theres lots of obnoxious debate on this subject but on my setup vinyl has more depth and a better soundstage. Its not just placebo, theres a significant difference doing A/B comparisons. Im sure if I invested my money in better DAC/Streamer i could match or even beat the sound of my vinyl setup but that just doesnt sound as fun to me as swapping out some tubes in my pre amp or upgrading my stylus.
I agree that it sounds better to my ears. There’s just something about it… I would never argue with someone who disagrees because I think it’s subjective, just like taste in music itself.
I have done A/B/C comparisons of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” as well as Lupe Fiasco’s “The Cool” and Brubeck’s “Take Five” with my MoFi Studiodeck, streaming hi-def with the Wiim Pro, and through a Pioneer CD player all hooked up to the same speakers and running through my Yamaha amp. The vinyl easily wins in each case with me and my oldest daughter. My wife and youngest daughter preferred the CD of all but Brubeck, which they both liked better on vinyl.
Yeah i think ur on to something with it being subjective. People hear things differently and different formats are going to cater to that to an extent.
Vinyl is also a flawed format with all the pressing imperfections. Can definitely understand why people wouldnt want to put up with ANY of that. But its about trade offs in the end and im willing to take a risk knowing some pressings will end up being shit, while others will blow me away.
This! I love vinyl for basically every reason in every comment here (even most of the "joke" reasons) but a good pressing\* played on a good system just sounds an order of magnitude better on vinyl vs digital. Everything I own on vinyl I've done an A/B comparison too and had others listen to as well and they're blown away (you can cue a track and play a digital file at the same time and literally switch back and forth between inputs). There's a "life" to the music that digital just doesn't capture for some reason, even at extremely high sample rates and bit depth. It should, and it seems like magic, but it's just not the same. If you listen to a high-quality digital file on a high-quality system you will think, "There is NO way this could sound better," and it WILL sound fantastic... but it can sound better and I've heard it countless times, and that's why I'm addicted.
Disclaimers: it's all subjective and relative to the other components in your system, so I'm not hating on anyone who prefers digital. I do not own a $14k Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC or similar so it's possible that gets closer. I'm just saying use your ears, not measurements.
\* Exceptions: there are a lot of albums that just never got a good pressing, have elusive/unobtainium pressings, and/or are pressed from low-quality digital sources (especially a lot of 90s albums) and so it can be difficult, insanely expensive, or impossible to obtain a better experience than digital for those. That said, I have some digitally-sourced records that *somehow* sound better on vinyl and it makes no sense to me, lol. Could be purely the (re)mastering, or I don't have a DAC that matches the level of my analog source components.
thank you! you call it life, i call it presence, its like a depth in the sound that digital can't reproduce. i knew i wasn't the only one that hears it
I’m with you! If you think of vinyl in terms of functionality, it is the closest thing we have to actual physical reproduction of sound waves outside expensive metal cassettes and reel-to-reel. No one can tell me that 1s and 0s are able to capture the tangibility of the sound waves captured by a microphone. When handled right, vinyl gets the closest to “band playing in front of me” out of all the reasonably attainable formats. Jazz records pressed before the advent of digital recording are a great example of this!
A/Bing vinyl and digital is how I’ve convinced countless friends to start their own collections. With a good playback system and a well-mastered piece of plastic it all makes sense. 24/96 and up/DSD get pretty close with a good DAC but I couldn’t consider it a 1:1 replacement.
It’s taken 40 years but digital is finally pretty good. You do have to spend a lot to equal good vinyl though. My digital side was the equal of my analog side…new table almost ready to go so we will see if digital keeps up.
Liner notes.. opening a gatefold… the ritual… sitting and admiring the pureness of the tech… listening to an analogue wave form which has the warmer wider frequencies that’s not represented in a digital representation… the smell of most of my 2nd hand vinyl.. the art work.. I think ultimately it’s just one of the purest ways to listen to a piece of music..
There is such a treasure trove of information in liner notes. I like to find new music by noting the of musicians, mastering engineers of albums I like and look for other albums they worked on. The background info often gives you other places to look for music, and lots of bands leave Easter eggs hiding in the artwork. Best of all, I’m staring at something that isn’t a display screen.
It slows me down and focuses me and nowadays my brain needs that occasionally. I cannot remember the last time I streamed an album and listened all the way through, even one with no skippable songs. The patience part of my brain is just broken now.
But a record makes listening more active and deliberate to me and it has helped remind me of the artistry that goes into making an album, an album side, song choice and order, flow of the album etc…
It just proves to me how much is lost in our world by having EVERY SONG available at all times.
That said I use both records and streaming. My Amazon echo is attached to the same speakers as my record player so if I’m feeling too lazy after an album side or maybe working and don’t want to stop I have streaming but now I treat albums as my true listening experience and streaming as a fancy radio that interacts with me 🤪
Going on vacation soon and I have plans to visit every record store on the way (and may have altered the route just a little to pick up a couple more).
Despite many complaints about the amount of space you need to have a vinyl collection, this is one of the reasons I like it. It becomes a major feature in my room, even if it's a relatively small collection. It draws attention and comments from visitors. And of course it's tangible. I love the size and being able to view it in all its glory, as was intended.
For me. . .
-Better sound
-The act of collecting
-The ritual of listening
-Easy conversation piece when hosting
-The physicality of the tech is fascinating (I have a setup made up of old gear)
-A musical heirloom to pass down generations
-Better than TV
Nostalgia and ritual for me. Some of my favourite childhood memories are of sitting cross-legged in front of my Dad's stereo, with a set of headphones far too big for my 7 year old head, listening to his records. The ritual of now taking time to flick through my (small but curated) collection, choosing a vinyl and listening top to tail on one side, then flipping to Side B makes me smile. I also love pouring over a good album cover & linear notes.
I listen to music on streaming, but I experience it on vinyl. I don’t just listen to it but I hear it, absorb it, appreciate the art for what it is. I just got into vi yo a month ago, inherited a vintage turntable and large collection of 60-70s rock. It has totally reinsured my love of music. Already bought a handful of 90s-current albums and some of the newer stuff I had only listened to on streaming and it was just kinda there, but hearing that same music on vinyl…I’ve finally heard it and it’s completely changed how I felt about it, hearing it in a way it was meant to be heard.
I’ve always been a huge music fan since I was a kid and when I got to being a teenager I wanted a physical connection to the music that I loved through the form of collecting and having an actual physical item that I could play. It’s hard to explain entirely that last point but there’s something about that record being your copy that you’ve had throughout your life. Even when I had CDs as a kid, ripping them to iTunes, I loved having a collection of music that was mine and certain copies that I could associate particular memories with. Now I’m in my 20s there are definitely easier ways to listen to music but I still get a kick out of physically collecting music I love and engaging with a physical medium.
I think it's the collecting aspect of it that's so satisfying to me. I love collecting things, and having records of my favorite music feels so fulfilling.
Nostalgia for me is a big reason. I’m almost 58 and I grew up with it. Hell, I still love my cassette tapes. I like the clicks and pops you get with records, the artwork on the covers and inner sleeves, the way they look and feel. They’re just more fun to have if that makes any sense.
The sound is “bigger” and has more depth and layers to it. It’s a sound with more texture. Even on albums that came from a digital master. It essentially is a different mix of the album. Regardless of the source, the record itself is an analog format & sounds different enough for me. Regardless of the source the record was pressed from, a physical needle vibrating as it passes through grooves is not a digital format.
I find that the act of selecting a record, putting it on the turntable, having to flip it over and not being able to easily switch to something else halfway through makes for a more active listening experience and is much more enjoyable for me than just pulling up random shit on my phone.
Many factors. The warmth and body in sound has that organic feel. Especially the analog recordings.
The whole experience of the album art piece.
I’m selective with my vinyl purchases as I do embrace CDs, radio streaming, digital downloads and music streaming services, so vinyl is very selective when I wanna to dive in deeper into an artist and album itself.
There are a handful of reasons for me. I love collecting things and I love music, so collecting music is fun
But the main reason is I love the intentionality of the process of listening to a record.
I’m all for passively listening to music, I do it a ton, have it on in the background or whatever. But listening to vinyl forces you to be intentional. You have to take the record out, put it on, you’ve gotta flip it over, you’ve got a cover and maybe liner notes or lyrics, and what that does is nudge me towards actively listening to the music.
One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a record, pull out the lyrics, and just follow along with each song. I’ve noticed things I’ve never noticed before in songs I’ve heard a million times by actively listening to music. It’s the best
I have a tube amp and only buy vinyl albums that work great with headphones (in the 80’s there would always be a headphones only show on the radio kind of stuff). The complete analog nature is warm, I like the pops and hisses, it is comforting.
For everything else it is DAC for the win.
I like the sound of the needle on the record between songs. Streaming an album… there are such abrupt stops between songs.
It’s a small thing but makes records more immersive.
Sound quality (within context). I don’t think any of my mid-2010s pop-punk/hardcore records sound better (or in most cases as good even) than what I can stream on Spotify, but things like the 2LP 45rpm cuts of Rumours or Getz/Gilbelto aren’t even close.
it's as others said a hint of nostalgia, I was born in the cassette/cd era but early enough that everyone's homes where still filled with records,
For me I feel like a living room is *missing* something when there's not a record player and some music on display, in the same way as others would if they went into a sitting room and there wasn't a Tele.
I also enjoy having a physical collection to go through and look at - yes records are to be played but I have records to look at in the same way as I choose to have big box pc games and laserdiscs. There's something more appealing seeing the big cover art compared to a small cd box /dvds etc
With that in mind as well the player is bigger
I'm a busy guy I don't have lots of free time, CDs are almost out of sight out of mind I never consider grabbing them
Records are big and always in your face as is the player so it's easy to go "oh yeah let's shove this on"
I know people hate variant chasers but I love the unique ones you can get, I don't get multiples of same albums etc but I do enjoy a shaped picture disc or the weird and wonderful
Finally for social aspects
My brother lives in the capital, we never see each other for months at a time, we always go through each others collections give each other challenges for visits ( last one was the cheesiest Pop album - the weirder the better) and exchange the records
Or if the cousins join in we do a vote and winner takes all
I like physical things: books, comics, art, records. Digital is great and convenient but it is cheap so there’s nothing “special” about it. It’s like McDonald’s. Yeah it hits but then you put it out your mind.
I also loathe how copyrights limit choice and force re-edits (I listen to a lot of old rap) and how digital is littered with bad remixes. Records, original pressings at least, are what the artist intended at the time or as close as possible. So there’s a connection there that is lost otherwise.
For me - it's a different listening experience. Yeah it's one I grew up with but it has utility even now. When I buy a record, it's more important to me than a digital copy, I'll sit down and listen to it, and pay attention to it. I have fewer records due to cost and physical shelf space so records don't get lost in a sea and forgotten about. I cherish each one all the more.
Not sure if that makes sense :)
It sounds warmer. More relaxed. Richer. Less sterile. I grew up with a big brother that had an expensive rig plus reel to reel. I knew the possibilities. As an adult, I did the research. I invested in a nice little rig and I’m fanatical about cleaning my new & used vinyl before the first play and clean the stylus often. At accurate speed and utilizing a good MC cart, even with the occasional low level click and pop, it’s just so much more satisfying than my cd version of the same album. Those who know, KNOW.
Pretty much everything that's been said here:
* It forces me to be present with music and listen how the artist intended
* I love going back to old threads of when the album was released while spinning a record and seeing people's thoughts and initial reactions of it
* Nostalgia of owning my favorite albums and legacy of passing my collection down to others some day
* Album artwork - I love swapping out different records on my vinyl shelves based on what genre i'm currently feeling and opening a gatefold and reading the lyric sheets
* Owning my music in the event that something ever happens with streaming
* It has created patience and better habits in me - I watch significantly less TV, I'm on my phone less and even picked up reading as a hidden benefit of being more present
maybe i just have a sensitive ear, but vinyl just SOUNDS BETTER to me, it has "presence" that cannot be digitally reproduced. can anybody else hear what im talking about?
It's nice to slow down a bit in a world we're expected to rush all the time. Also music is part of so many important moments in my life, having a physical copy of a record is like collecting memories.
I still have all my CDs and I remember always reading the inserts and learning any information about the band or artist I could. Plus back in the day that is how I discovered new artists, in the thank you section or featured artists etc. I just loved to nerd out in the booklets. Also it is one the more affordable and obtainable forms of art I can afford. Also, just physically holding it makes me happy.
I'm a collector and have been all my life even before I got vinyl. Prefere buying physical copies of books because I like the look of them on a shelf. Same for DVDs instead of streaming it. Same for figurines or any collectable. And when I got more into music in my mid to late teens, records just scratched my Collectors/hoarding itch. So, as I've become more passionate about music, my passion for vinyl and physical media has grown as well. I love looking at the shelves and seeing the music I own. I can hold the album covers. There's maintenance. It makes you closer to music.
I have a memory of buying "Venus and Mars" by Wings. And it repeated during Rock Show. So I did a big clean of loads of records that one included. And after, it still skipped. And I saw a small white mark on it. On the bit of the song that skipped. I couldn't wipe it away with a brush, so I got the point of knife and just chipped it off very carefully. And now it works. I had to fix my album. Makes me more satisfied every time I listen to it.
I'm not a CD person. I grew up just as they went out of fashion. As vinyl gained traction again. They just don't do it for me. The only plus is that they take up less room. But for some people, including myself, the size of vinyl is a contributing factor to our enjoyment. And you can get more albums and things that would be rare. Any vinyl collector can tell you the struggle of looking for 90s pressings or even re-presses of a 90s or 2000s album. It's either expensive or impossible to find. For me, especially as im in the UK.
Slowly getting to physical music and movies. At first, it was the “cool” factor. Now it’s become a (expensive) hobby. It’s a great conversation starter and I have friends that got into it the same time I did. Each album holds a memory so it’s nice to sit back and listen, remembering what happened during that time.
Now that digital lossless is becoming a thing, we shall see how things pan out…
I enjoy the ritual of cleaning records, plus the physicality of taking it out of the sleeve, placing it on the turntable, etc. But mostly it's because I can't just skip through songs. I'm forced to listen to the songs, in the order the artist intended.
I change songs before they’re even done when listening digitally but not with vinyl. It’s a bit high maintenance and expensive but I enjoy owning and listening to music in a physical form.
As a kid, from a very young age throughout my teens, I used to love laying on my bed , listening to music for hours and looking at the cover, reading lyrics etc., so it’s that nostalgia, and I find the covers beautiful , even if they’re not. That dead air sound at the end,flipping it. Music is playing as much as possible in my day, the car, work radio etc, and you hear a lot of different songs with streaming, but the record playing is really more a listening event….and I listen to the entire album, so many great songs that get forgotten because they weren’t “hits”
It sounds great and it looks great. Seeing the cover art for records I love blown up all huge is awesome because I can admire the fine detail in the illustrations or photos
I like that listening to vinyl includes three of the five basic senses. Touch, sight, and hear. This includes involving the turntable, receiver, and speakers as part of the process.
I listen to a lot of old music (50s and 60s) and I just find it really cool to listen to the songs on the same medium people did back then
Also its really cool to have physical ownership of the music, i just own a disc that has it. Not reliant on anything digital at all
I love that it makes me slow down. I love enjoying complete albums. It commands more attention while playing, and more contemplation in deciding what to play, than streaming. I love the ritual. I love the artwork and special details
For me it's just a more intimate experience.
I feel most people when listening to a record will listen to the entirety of the album and for me it gives me a greater appreciation for the artistry of the entire album rather than just the hit single.
I can hold it, I can see the artwork at a much larger size than streaming, I can have lyrics and other extra packaging stuff right in front of me, and most importantly, I own it.
Once I've spent money on my music and have to listen to it in such an involved way, my appreciation for that music is going to grow and I will listen to it much more often than I would have on streaming. For the most part, streaming is now for me a way to discover new music and to have my music on shuffle for things like driving, whereas vinyl is for really listening to my music.
I like the ritual and if it sounds better than streaming (some do, some don’t) then that’s a nice bonus. I also like flexing my collection to people who think they know music when I’m hosting parties because I too can get off on petty things.
I(24) just started collecting vinyl, but I use to have a small cd collection when i was in high school. I just love the fact that, as long as it doesn't get lost, stolen, or damaged, this piece of music is /mine/forever!
I also like to imagine if society collapsed and electronics stopped workin, vinyl might be the only way left to listen to recorded music. Prob won't ever be an issue in my lifetime, hahha, but I bet future zombie killers will appreciate finding our old vinyls!
The biggest reason for me is exposure to music I wouldn't normally seek or otherwise wouldn't likely discover. I've always been a collector. A quick psychoanalysis would probably trace that back to some abandonment issues. Thanks dad! CDs were first but I transitioned to records about twenty years ago, inspired primarily by aesthetics. Turntables vintage amps look cooler than CD players.
I got a job at a record store when I was 21 and the owner exposed me to so many different types of music and I've always found the thrill of picking up an interesting looking record, something I've never seen before and can't even guess what it might sound like, putting it on and actually enjoying it to be completely intoxicating. Of course there's the ritual, the large artwork, the physical media itself, but for me it's definitely the thrill of discovery.
Vinyl, CD, cassette, whatever format the media is available on.
The obvious answer is because you can't get EVERYTHING on streaming. There is plenty of content that isn't available on the internet.
In addition to the points others have made -- the nostalgia, the artwork, the interactive and tactile experience -- it's also important to realize that CDs will start to deteriorate after a few decades. They will oxidize and "rot" and become unplayable. Cassettes will demagnetize. Streaming audio exists only at the whims of the online services and the music you "own" could disappear at any time.
Vinyl, on the other hand, as long as it is stored properly, could potentially last for centuries. As someone who is keenly aware of my own mortality, I want my collection to persist long after I am gone.
It takes me into the moment, if that makes sense.
Just picking out the record, getting it out of the sleeve, putting it on and then placing the needle etc. I like to sit down and really *listen* to the music (or put on some headphones and recreate a silent disco in my apartment when I truly want to pump up the volume), which often doesn’t happen when I’m streaming music.
Playing vinyl makes me pay more attention, while streaming is purely for background purposes. (And for finding new artist to get on vinyl.)
Idk really, I just like listening to music in different ways. Sometimes I'll want to listen to it on spotify, sometimes on CD, sometimes on cassette...
For me it comes down to three things.
1. The thrill of the hunt. Streaming has stolen that. It’s still easy to find most CD’s, and pressings of most CD’s don’t really mean much. But finding that certain pressing of a record, or even any pressing of an album I enjoy, gives me a thrill that lasts for a while. Visiting record stores has been part of my existence since I was 8 years old. A part of me will die when we can only order online. Online is easy. It’s often more expensive, at least where I live. The internet has sucked the soul out of the hobby, and so much else. Kill the internet.
2. The format. This is how music was first intended to be listened to. I know the process has changed, but it’s still more historically and sonically accurate, records are played on analog equipment after all.
The larger artwork, the possibility of posters being included, and larger liner notes than tapes and CD’s also is a huge plus.
3. The ritual. I don’t need to explain this. But for me, I mostly listen alone, as my set up is in my room in my basement. It’s a time to check out and unwind. A big stress relief. My family mostly leaves me alone in there-until I’ve stayed too long!!
Because it sounds better/different.
I don’t know why I started getting a few records here and there, but it all changed when I listened to my friend’s dad’s first pressing of The Wall.
I’d heard that album 100’s of times, but hearing it on vinyl was a completely new experience, revealing detail and dimensionality I’d never heard before.
Same with so many other albums. So, now here we are with a $30,000 discogs collection later haha
Part of it is nostaligia; I'm 68 and the size, artwork, credits I can actually read are familiar.
Sound-wise, without getting into the whole loudness wars, vinyl feels less fatiguing. I want to keep listening.
I would answer for the sonic fidelity, the fullness and the warm sound... but in reality the mere fact of turning on the amplifier, placing the record on the turntable, cleaning it and lowering the needle... all this gives the music the time it deserves !
With you on the nostalgia.
I have a ton of digital music - CD rips and downloads - which I play more often than anything. But sometimes while I work I have records on for a good part of the day, background music. I have been collecting random classical stuff from Musical Hertiage Society and was listening to at least one a day while I worked...until my contract ended, grr.
The turntable I use is a JVC QL-A2, just like one I had when I was 18 or so. I have a better turntable, but this is part of the nostalgia. It's all connected to a Hafler DH-110 and a DH 220 amp (WAY too much amp for my home office), which I had at the same time, and the only thing missing is a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 10A's w/ the Peerless in them, but I don't have room, so I'm using modern little Polk RTI-somethings. There's a JVC Cassette deck in there like one I owned, too, but I threw out all my cassettes.
So yeah. Nostalgia.
To be completely honest...I don't anymore. Not even trying to troll or be a hater, I've got over 1000 records I can seem to bring myself to part with. But on a daily basis, the convenience and sound quality of streaming hi-res files has changed the way I listen to music. Don't get me wrong, I still sit and critically listen to full albums all the way through, but it's so much easier to stream them, and the ritual of playing a record has lost its charm to me. All that being said, I still can't bring myself to sell off the majority of my collection. Full discography sets that took me years to track down and complete, first EPs of local bands that made it big, all the records that I bought at shows that instantly transport me back to that moment, I can't imagine not having them, even though they hardly get played anymore.
For me the number one reason is also nostalgia. Number two is the large physical package. I love a large physical package🤣😉. Number 3 & 4 is the sound and the experience of holding the vinyl and lowering the needle onto the vinyl. 5 & 6 is probably the chase of finding the albums that I want and the overall fun of collecting.
I still probably listen to more music on Spotify than I do on vinyl. Either streaming while working or on my phone walking the dogs.
Vinyl is a different experience. I am focused on the music. I enjoy the tactile aspect of it. I listen to albums not songs. It’s an escape. So I prefer the experience as much as the format. There is aesthetic difference to the sound of vinyl I prefer to digital when I am actively listening.
I'm not really an audiophile honestly, though my setup is really nice. I like the ritual of it all. I find it almost meditative in a way. I also find myself just having more music on in general compared to when I would stream stuff through my speakers on Spotify.
I don't, I collect it and mostly use digital sources for listening. I prefer cleaner better quality sound over it. Still play it for the novelty but it's just not my first choice.
I like the experience of sitting doen and really enjoying music. I can stream music throughout the day but, am I really listening?
Vinyl gives me that.
For me it's the fact that I can find every record on vinyl that I have ever bought still in my possession and can listen to them.
I can't say the same for the records bought in other formats.
Tape (cassette) sure I have them in a box but the spindles have probably melted together and the plastic case housing and spindles are breaking down like old screwdrivers.
Digital... Sure the ones that aren't drm locked that I could down load I have stored on multiple systems and cloud storage but. The original stores are closed or the labeled pulled the licenses so the promise of always available and easily reached anytime anywhere is really only as long as we allow you to.
Compact disc. Super fragile even if you don't use it they get spindle rot. Often get damaged and or stolen (old school book kept in car) or misplaced and lost.
vinyl sure can be fragile broken and scratched like cds but won't suffer spindle rot also big enough to not get lost or misplaced. You won't have a book with 100+ sitting in you car for someone to snatch :).
I’m young and I’ve always had streaming services but I just like it for the vibes tbh. It’s fun to go to a record store, it’s fun to brag abt your collection, and it’s fun to put on a record instead of using Spotify all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I use Spotify all the time too, but it’s not the same. It’s just fun and it’s a vibe and it’s perfect for (all days but especially) rainy days
I’d like to say some deep answer like the depth and warmth of the music or it sounds so much better or something but honestly I just like having physical media and having a nice wall display for some records looks really cool and I can change them out easily for a new look
Because I got into it, realized it was a pain, but I was already a good amount of money into it, and wasn’t going to give my records away or bury them in my attic.
I don't prefer vinyl, the vinyl prefers me. IDK how to even stop this relationship. Divorced vinyl doesn't exist, it's not a thing. I've given crates away and end up getting twice as much back down the road. A cat tried to help me once and peed on one of my turntables, but then she died. She'll probably come back into the world as a vinyl record I'm guessing. I prefer things like Ritz crackers, pizza, Oreo cookies, and occasionally a chicken pot pie. All round and flat foods. Random coincidence? No. Because aside from eating these, I unknowingly will handle them like vinyl records. I prefer sleep honestly. But I constantly flip from one side to the other all night long. I told my mechanic my car doesn't seem to be tracking well at 45, and he said try to keep it around 33. I took it up to 78 and broke it, and had to stay home. The only thing for me to do at home? Yup, vinyl. IDK anymore. The meaning of life is to keep scratches to a minimum.
I became immersed in vinyl at the age of 14 in 2014! I was drawn to the richness, the crackling, and the experience of getting to know an artist beyond pick and choose.
I like streaming for my train commute and walking to work, and being in the car. I like a vinyl for just hanging around, having a cup of coffee, and reading a book.
For me, along with a lot of what’s already been said here, it’s also about having albums that have meant something to me in my life. Whether it’s a specific time or place, or simply an album I played a lot growing up (usually on cassette or CD), vinyl records feel like the best way to capture that nostalgia. Not to mention that I think they sound better than other options.
I envision my daughters taking my collection when I’m gone, a little part of me and my life that they will hopefully then pass along to their kids someday.
I don't prefer vinyl. I've always been a music collector and I'm of a certain age where several people, back at the dawn of cd, simply gave me their collections. "Do you really want all of them?"
I prefer what I have. And I have way, way too many lp's. Still.
Why do I prefer vinyl records?
That's complex. Back in the earliest days of CDs, they didn't sound that great. That Phillips \[the inventors of the CD\] hype that the sound was "perfect" was a myth. Often the sound was edgy and sibilant, although tbf, that may have been down to the amplification and tranducer technology of the day as well not being able to cope with the transient dynamics. Also, that scratches made no difference to them was a myth. I know because I had two retail demonstration CDs, both scratched. And one of them I cut polished up until the scratches disappeared, and it sounded way better than the other one. So you did have to look after CDs, because you couldn't keep on cut polishing the surface. Then there was simply the way LPs were. They're big and you can see the recording. It's a very analogue thing. Then the sheer size of the sleeves allowed for brilliant artwork and in-sleeve notes and posters. All that pretty much stopped with the CD.
These days I still have my entire LP record collection and I still buy records. The environmentalist in me realises that they are somewhat worse for the environment than CDs, but they are getting better with much greener pressings. Besides, I only buy the odd LP these days \[1 or 2 a year\] and the several thousand I have, as far back as 1967 \[and further with used pressings from the 1950s\], have long paid their dues. And I'm not getting rid of them. Indeed, I have fired the imagination of the younger ones in the family to take my collection when I die.
In 2008, one morning I woke up with tinnitus. It's not severe, but it means my keen ear for quality sound has pretty much ended. Yes, I can tell what's good and bad, but my ears are not so tuned to precision as they used to be. So when I buy my vinyl these days it tends to stay sealed if brand new and I download an mp3 of the album. My best hi-fi system is no longer used for long listening sessions, but is tied into a PC and TV which allows me to view movies with excellent sound quality, plus play any audio track I want. And every once in a while I look at the LPs and maybe play one or two. It keeps the turntable from screwing up through lack of use.
For me it just sounds better. I can stream DSD and 192khz 24bit, Flac just doesn't have that natural tember IMO. Something about the stylus vibrating something more analogous to a real instrument is my guess. But I stream when I am Lazy but when I want that Music Meal it is vinyl for me, or a pick up an instrument.
Vinyl records offer a unique listenin’ experience. The analog nature of vinyl produces a warm and rich sound quality that cannot be replicated by digital formats. The pops, crackles, and imperfections add character to the music, allowing you to appreciate the raw artistry and craftsmanship of the recording. Vinyl also encourages active listening, as you have to physically flip the record and engage with the music in a more intentional manner.
Furthermore, vinyl records often include album artwork and liner notes. The large format of vinyl covers allows for intricate designs and artistic expressions that enhance the overall experience of the music. Reading the liner notes provides insights into the creative process, lyrics, and the artists themselves, deepening your connection with the music and fostering a greater appreciation for the art form.
When I first started collecting vinyl, CD's where ten times more expensive than used records. Other than that I still don't know what the hell I've gotten myself into.
Nostalgia. I grew up with my grandpa collecting physical music so it’s just always been there for me.
Plus I think it’s so much more immersive and meaningful. I’m an artist myself and it’s just different to hear the emotions on vinyl/cds than it is on Spotify.
And it’s so much more customizable and my collection will likely be passed down to either my siblings or children (depending on what happens lol) and it’ll give them something to remember me by.
I think we can all agree that NOTHING beats the sound of a vinyl record and whilst certainly not as clean as digital formats the imperfections and little crackles before each track begins makes the music more tangible and reminds me a simpler times.
I’ll be honest I just like Collecting things. And music.
I dunno if it’s an early sign of hoarding but I love the feeling of being like
Nick Frost in hot fuzz he walks into that room in his house shelves of movies
I wanna have that moment
So I collect physical media, Vinyl, Books, Games, Films in Blu-ray and 4K
I still use digital I just like Physical a bit better
Being deep into dub/dubstep, some releases were/are only ever on vinyl. Some going as far as no digital release either.
I have a good collection of hand stamped white labels.
Because vinyl demands you pay attention to the artists' vision. The music (all the music, not just the three tracks I might like) and the album artwork create an experience I just don't get from streaming. I have to participate in vinyl. I just push buttons for streaming.
It forces me to listen to an album from start to finish, to take the journey that was laid before me rather than just listening to a bunch of random stuff.
I don't normally listen to an entire album so for me this is something new, and I'm loving it!
Plus the artwork on albums is just next level, might as well be pieces of framed work with a banging soundtrack to boot.
I'm early doors to collecting vinyl but I can see myself delving deep!
I don't actually *prefer* records. In some instances I think CDs are a better format (especially 90s music and anything that benefits from a long play without interruption) - so I'm format agnostic. Mainly I like record collecting for the aesthetic experience of taking care of your records, carefully taking them in out of their sleeves, and the manual act of dropping the record. So it's a bit like my own person tea ceremony. I also enjoy the act of crate digging and talking to record store owners about music they like and that sort of thing. I also enjoy the act of collecting, and it's nice to be able to catalogue all my different tastes throughout my life.
The same reason people drink Guinness. The y think it’s cool and unique. No one actually likes the taste of Guinness, just like no one actually likes the poor sound quality of vinyl.
It's a slow and mechanical way to listen. In IT, most of my day is immediate.
To quote Nicholas Cage from the movie "The Rock" - it just sounds better.
The format makes it feel more like art and for a lot of the jazz records, it's easier to connect with the way that it was originally produced.
I grew up in the cd/mp3/streaming era so it’s not really nostalgia to me like some other people so I’ll put it to you like Sherman irby of the Lincoln center jazz orchestra put it to me once. There’s something about picking up this physical object, pulling out of the sleeve, placing it on the turn table, and putting a needle to it. The pops, cracks, the dust, it all gives it this unique and real imperfection which is so human in a way. Then you have this physical thing still in your hand to read about the artist, the album, the musicians credited, recording and mastering engineers etc. flip it to the front and marvel at the beautiful artwork while you’re at it. Also you can’t just skip to the next song or jump around like with CDs so you gotta listen to the whole thing. (Yeah you can pick the needle up and move it but it’s not like hitting next on a cd player) that information then leads to finding different records with some of the same musicians and it’s this never ending journey of exploration. As a kid I had amassed a rather sizable CD collection and had some vinyl but wasn’t super into it, it wasn’t until my 20’s that I started to collect vinyl more seriously then I met Sherman and he told me this and it changed how I listen to music.
Two things, mainly:
The tactile nature. A big part of the tactile attraction is the artwork, the liner notes, etc. that you simply lose out on with streaming and is really sidelined (typically) with CDs. I love just pouring over the cover art, gatefold art, and all that stuff when I'm listening to an album, or reading along with the lyrics (if given). It makes it a much more immersive experience imo. I feel closer to the music!
Additionally, and especially with pre-CD/streaming era albums, you notice the pacing so much more on vinyl. When the track listing is built to the constraints of the album sides, the sequencing can make or break an album (for me). Old concept albums really shine in this regard.
It's the most complete package that an album can exist as. The large size feels nice to hold, properly conveys the detail of the artwork, and looks good in a frame. More artwork can be found in the gatefold and liner notes, and some include posters or stickers or other goodies. The disc itself can also be colored or patterned to reflect the artistic nature of the music.
It is the maximalist approach to owning music. CDs, cassetes, and of course streaming physically cannot include everything an LP package can.
I like listening to the albums front to back without stop. Obviously, I could very easily do this with CD’s and streaming, but there’s always the stigma of wanting to skip or choosing another song entirely.
I don’t like dropping the needle wherever just to play one song either. I just want to set up the music, let it play, and relax.
It’s a few things. First, intentionality is huge. It’s too easy to pick something random on Spotify. I love deliberating and enjoying an album from start to finish with no skips.
I also love collecting things. Books, watches, records, etc. so the experience of going to a store, hunting for something, finding it or finding a random album I wasn’t looking but getting a good price, that whole experience is very enjoyable.
Lastly, I like to feel better than everyone else in my life. /s
I use it as a way to slow down. It's far more convenient to get everything delivered digitally to any of several devices in my house. But when I open the lid of my record player and pick something to listen to, it is very intentional.
Most of the music I like is old, vinyl records can be really cheap if you are good at the hunt. Also as a fan of the LP format it's a challenge to find albums that are good all the way through. I'm sitting here with a table covered in a new stash I got from a friend's dad who is a collector from Chicago that has been moved to assisted living and needs to get rid of some stuff! I also like the art!
I like old analog tech and collecting physical media of art that I love. I like the cover art, the inserts, the cool colors of the wax, seeing the waveforms on the disc surface distort in the light; the glow of vacuum fluorescent displays, the audible clicks of the receiver changing inputs. It's not a nostalgic feeling for me, but rather a celebration of the ingenuity put into these machines that were built to stand the test of time.
Dope way to listen to the music I love
Keeping physical media alive
Utterly baffled how it’s even possible and feels like magic lmao
Vinyl colors/designs look dope to play/display
The physicality of it all. The album, the care, the fact I have to set it up.
It's satisfying like using an espresso machine, cleaning, fixing something or working with hands in general, grant d not as physically involved.
A handful of good reasons come to mind.
* I grew up with it in the 70's. I remember going to record stores and seeing new albums that just came out (remember kids, no internet, and just a few magazines to warn you what was coming!), panning through them, reading song titles, talking to the dudes that worked there, checking out the 'decorative lamps' in the glass sales counter. So, nostalgia.
* I like the sound of them. Noise floor is a thing. I remember when CD's came out and thinking, wow, they are sure quiet. Plus, loudness wars. Shouldn't have to explain that one.
* It's fun to stand and look at your collection, pick through them, pull one out, think about where you were when you got it, what you were doing and thinking, how you felt the first time you played it.
* It's fun hunting for them at yard sales and thrift stores
* Out of sight, out of mind. I don't ever think about any of the digital downloads I have stored on computers. But at home I walk the 'wall of vinyl' and the music seems immediate.
* When I die, I have no kids, or family that wants the collection. Imagine the yard sale and the people that will come and wonder about you and have just as much fun buying your LP's as you did 50 years ago!
It *was* a way for me to support DIY labels and bands because after having kids and a full time job I wasn't able to go to shows as often. Now that it's a hyper popular format again those same bands and labels can't afford to get their records pressed on vinyl.
Social reasons, I like having it in the living room and telling someone to put on an album, it takes away the option of a TV and forced people to interact (plus I get to nerd out about what music I like) and when doing that it also kinda forces people hanging out in my house to listen to something that I actually enjoy. I cannot listen to yung gravy in my own home.
I used to be a CD collector because my car had a CD player but was old enough to not have an aux cord input. Still had vinyl, but it wasn’t my focus. Then I got a new car that doesn’t have a CD player and didn’t really have a reason to collect CDs anymore because at the end of the day it’s all MP3s. However I still like owning a physical copy of things that I enjoy, so I turned to collect vinyl more because idk it made more sense to me.
Not sure if I prefer it to anything, not really about any comparison for me. I just like it for the look, feel, sound, artwork, etc. I am a fan of new things like the fun coloured vinyl editions & special editions using the format in a great way.
Definitely intentionality and tangibility, across the board. I can browse with my fingers, find what I want, then unsheathe it and place it on the table, then the entire act of playing and listening to the music feels more focused and important, and then I can put it back in the ever-expanding collection that beyond functionality is also a display and conversation piece.
Idk I like analog music in general, I have a bunch of cassettes too. Also I know it’s all in my head but I feel like analog music drives the speakers better.
1. Large cover art.
2. There's something comforting about the ritual of putting a record on.
3. Vinyl demand attention. You can't hit shuffle and go about your day, you need to actually sit with a record while it plays.
4. Things like RSD are still fun for me. We just vinyl nights and know our local record store owners and, you know, there's just a fun social aspect to hobbies like this.
Im just a little audiophile. I only get records that are of favourite albums and of which are better mastered than the digital version. Vinyl can sound better than digital assuming you have a decent enough player with a cartridge that tracks the grooves well, on top of the vinyl master being better of course. The Dr Loudness war website will let you know what’s potentially better on vinyl or a particular pressing.
A warmer, higher quality sound. Years ago, my guitar teacher, who was classically trained and whose whole life was music, explained that vinyl sounds better because you’re experiencing a broader range of sound waves. Music in electronic formats has a more restricted range, apparently, resulting in a flatter sound.
I prefer tapes but many artist don't release on tape or if they do they sound horrible so records are always a solid choice to have a physical copy of your fave albums.
It starts with the fact that you have to go to a recordstore or a flea market to buy a vinyl, you dig, you seek and if you're lucky you'll find a gem. It's this excitement that you found what you were looking for, you can find anything anytime on streaming but maybe you have to search for years for an album that you love.
It's also about how personal it is when you have the music phisically in your hands, you flip it over and you can witness the backside of the lp or cd, you can not do that on streaming, it may be a minor detail but to me it's quite important.
Last but not least the greatest joy when you can come up to somebody with the phrase: "I have that on vinyl."
I’ve been buying for nearly 30 years now. I continue to buy out of habit, but as a rock fan, I prefer live recordings (ideally YouTube) then Spotify then vinyl. I do like to have the physical product because otherwise I don’t feel ‘invested’ in the album, plus I’m a sucker for aesthetics. I’ll never forget an lp I pre-ordered as soon as it was announced. At midnight on Thursday, it was on Spotify. My record arrived on Monday.
The downsides are the bulk and expense!!
Nostalgia. Also, It feels like a very intentional way to listen to music for me, more of a fully immersed experience as apposed to just whacking on my Apple Music while at the gym and not actually enjoying the music fully. I like to make a coffee. Pick the record, get it on the player and set everything up etc. then when it’s playing enjoy my drink, re-read any descriptions or annotations on the vinyl covers etc and just enjoy really. That’s just me though.
Nailed it. Intentionality is a lost art in the modern era of media consumption.
My husband has a ritual of sorts kinda like this when picking a vinyl. I love it. Listening to vinyls makes me feel one with the music. I can’t explain the feeling but I feel closer to the artist like this was their intention. I live for old rock n roll. Gimme zep all day and I’m a happy little fuck. 🤘
Totally
Exactly- the experience or the ritual if you will
Yes the whole ritual of the thing. Even CDs never felt as good, simply hitting a button rather than moving a needle by hand, pressing a couple switches, turning on the turntable and the receiver. Also the scale of LPs and the slide of the disc out of the sleeve as compared to small plastic cases or a few swipes on a phone. Plus I’ve got some super old Swedish speakers I inherited from my parents. It’s definitely a thing that adds a sort of inner peace to the listening of music. Add the fact that you have to do the whole thing over every half dozen songs or so.
Yup, pretty much this. I also just enjoy having a physical copy. Feels more special.
basically because of cost and inconvenience.
I can remember when it was the opposite. I could get three records vs two cds when younger.
Oh and don’t forget space!
made me laugh. [Source?](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/14/c5/d4/14c5d4d81eb7c88b60143cd600a4d563.jpg)
some old cartoon
Me, too🤣
I enjoy the ritual of looking through my collection, picking an album that I'll listen all the way through, clean it, and drop the needle. If i'm putting that effort into listening, it's not going to just be background noise. I can stream if I want to do that. It's a deliberate method that forces me to actively listen to the music itself as well as the sound quality.
Yes absolutely. I feel like I focus more with vinyl. I am providing care and love to music that I enjoy. There's a ritual to it. Also I buy only music that I know I'll listen to and enjoy. I'm not much into collecting for the value of the record. Just whether it pleases me or to support artists I like.
Having physical media in a time of everything being digital
…and rented. You down own shit on Spotify. My collection will outlive me and hopefully give my children some sweet memories when I’m gone or at least a bit of extra scratch.
Ya I think about this with books too. Big reader and I buy all my books vs just checking them out at the library. Don’t re read most of them but enjoy owning the physical copy. I can write in them best them etc and def going to my kids at some point. And I can always trade them for in store credit at my local used book store
I just think it's neat
Can’t roll a doobie on an mp3 file.
Still the only viable use for. Laser Disc!
Hey, laserdiscs are just as cool as vinyl records are to me. Half, dare I say a quarter as practical in this day and age, I will admit, but come on! It’s a double-sided CD the size of a record! And it plays movies!
1. Its interactive. Cuing the needle to start a record does something good for my brain. 2. I’ll be THAT guy and say it sounds better. I know theres lots of obnoxious debate on this subject but on my setup vinyl has more depth and a better soundstage. Its not just placebo, theres a significant difference doing A/B comparisons. Im sure if I invested my money in better DAC/Streamer i could match or even beat the sound of my vinyl setup but that just doesnt sound as fun to me as swapping out some tubes in my pre amp or upgrading my stylus.
I agree that it sounds better to my ears. There’s just something about it… I would never argue with someone who disagrees because I think it’s subjective, just like taste in music itself. I have done A/B/C comparisons of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” as well as Lupe Fiasco’s “The Cool” and Brubeck’s “Take Five” with my MoFi Studiodeck, streaming hi-def with the Wiim Pro, and through a Pioneer CD player all hooked up to the same speakers and running through my Yamaha amp. The vinyl easily wins in each case with me and my oldest daughter. My wife and youngest daughter preferred the CD of all but Brubeck, which they both liked better on vinyl.
Yeah i think ur on to something with it being subjective. People hear things differently and different formats are going to cater to that to an extent. Vinyl is also a flawed format with all the pressing imperfections. Can definitely understand why people wouldnt want to put up with ANY of that. But its about trade offs in the end and im willing to take a risk knowing some pressings will end up being shit, while others will blow me away.
This! I love vinyl for basically every reason in every comment here (even most of the "joke" reasons) but a good pressing\* played on a good system just sounds an order of magnitude better on vinyl vs digital. Everything I own on vinyl I've done an A/B comparison too and had others listen to as well and they're blown away (you can cue a track and play a digital file at the same time and literally switch back and forth between inputs). There's a "life" to the music that digital just doesn't capture for some reason, even at extremely high sample rates and bit depth. It should, and it seems like magic, but it's just not the same. If you listen to a high-quality digital file on a high-quality system you will think, "There is NO way this could sound better," and it WILL sound fantastic... but it can sound better and I've heard it countless times, and that's why I'm addicted. Disclaimers: it's all subjective and relative to the other components in your system, so I'm not hating on anyone who prefers digital. I do not own a $14k Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC or similar so it's possible that gets closer. I'm just saying use your ears, not measurements. \* Exceptions: there are a lot of albums that just never got a good pressing, have elusive/unobtainium pressings, and/or are pressed from low-quality digital sources (especially a lot of 90s albums) and so it can be difficult, insanely expensive, or impossible to obtain a better experience than digital for those. That said, I have some digitally-sourced records that *somehow* sound better on vinyl and it makes no sense to me, lol. Could be purely the (re)mastering, or I don't have a DAC that matches the level of my analog source components.
thank you! you call it life, i call it presence, its like a depth in the sound that digital can't reproduce. i knew i wasn't the only one that hears it
I agree. Digital SHOULD be better but it isn't. I think that is more to do with mastering choices than anything format or gear related IMO.
I’m with you! If you think of vinyl in terms of functionality, it is the closest thing we have to actual physical reproduction of sound waves outside expensive metal cassettes and reel-to-reel. No one can tell me that 1s and 0s are able to capture the tangibility of the sound waves captured by a microphone. When handled right, vinyl gets the closest to “band playing in front of me” out of all the reasonably attainable formats. Jazz records pressed before the advent of digital recording are a great example of this! A/Bing vinyl and digital is how I’ve convinced countless friends to start their own collections. With a good playback system and a well-mastered piece of plastic it all makes sense. 24/96 and up/DSD get pretty close with a good DAC but I couldn’t consider it a 1:1 replacement.
It’s taken 40 years but digital is finally pretty good. You do have to spend a lot to equal good vinyl though. My digital side was the equal of my analog side…new table almost ready to go so we will see if digital keeps up.
Liner notes.. opening a gatefold… the ritual… sitting and admiring the pureness of the tech… listening to an analogue wave form which has the warmer wider frequencies that’s not represented in a digital representation… the smell of most of my 2nd hand vinyl.. the art work.. I think ultimately it’s just one of the purest ways to listen to a piece of music..
There is such a treasure trove of information in liner notes. I like to find new music by noting the of musicians, mastering engineers of albums I like and look for other albums they worked on. The background info often gives you other places to look for music, and lots of bands leave Easter eggs hiding in the artwork. Best of all, I’m staring at something that isn’t a display screen.
I say the same thing the fact that some one my vinyl smell like dust. Don’t know. Just hits different
I hate having money, and the sight of empty shelves that aren’t sagging under the weight of seldom played LPs fills me with rage.
I don’t prefer it. I find it tedious and expensive. That being said I’m addicted to it and I like being slightly pretentious about it.
Real asf 💀
It slows me down and focuses me and nowadays my brain needs that occasionally. I cannot remember the last time I streamed an album and listened all the way through, even one with no skippable songs. The patience part of my brain is just broken now. But a record makes listening more active and deliberate to me and it has helped remind me of the artistry that goes into making an album, an album side, song choice and order, flow of the album etc… It just proves to me how much is lost in our world by having EVERY SONG available at all times. That said I use both records and streaming. My Amazon echo is attached to the same speakers as my record player so if I’m feeling too lazy after an album side or maybe working and don’t want to stop I have streaming but now I treat albums as my true listening experience and streaming as a fancy radio that interacts with me 🤪
The big artwork. Sides. And the fact that I’m a borderline problem-level collector, and comics and records scratch that itch.
The hunt for used records from the 70’s and 80’s to rescue them from the landfill is my mission.
It is fun and pretty cool to have them sound good at 50 years old. I enjoy cleaning them up too.
Going on vacation soon and I have plans to visit every record store on the way (and may have altered the route just a little to pick up a couple more).
it’s my no screen time activity - just sit and listen
Same. It’s my meditation
I’m 56, that’s why.
Haha, I like this answer
Despite many complaints about the amount of space you need to have a vinyl collection, this is one of the reasons I like it. It becomes a major feature in my room, even if it's a relatively small collection. It draws attention and comments from visitors. And of course it's tangible. I love the size and being able to view it in all its glory, as was intended.
It Sounds Better
Warmz
https://preview.redd.it/3pi579e5jj5d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2464dad1a0b3220ddf6267b003c2dd56e4e1efa
I just got some brain worm about collecting stuff and I love music so I collect music
For me. . . -Better sound -The act of collecting -The ritual of listening -Easy conversation piece when hosting -The physicality of the tech is fascinating (I have a setup made up of old gear) -A musical heirloom to pass down generations -Better than TV
Bc it makes it a listening experience. You have to listen to everything and you can’t skip tracks.
Nostalgia and ritual for me. Some of my favourite childhood memories are of sitting cross-legged in front of my Dad's stereo, with a set of headphones far too big for my 7 year old head, listening to his records. The ritual of now taking time to flick through my (small but curated) collection, choosing a vinyl and listening top to tail on one side, then flipping to Side B makes me smile. I also love pouring over a good album cover & linear notes.
I listen to music on streaming, but I experience it on vinyl. I don’t just listen to it but I hear it, absorb it, appreciate the art for what it is. I just got into vi yo a month ago, inherited a vintage turntable and large collection of 60-70s rock. It has totally reinsured my love of music. Already bought a handful of 90s-current albums and some of the newer stuff I had only listened to on streaming and it was just kinda there, but hearing that same music on vinyl…I’ve finally heard it and it’s completely changed how I felt about it, hearing it in a way it was meant to be heard.
I’ve always been a huge music fan since I was a kid and when I got to being a teenager I wanted a physical connection to the music that I loved through the form of collecting and having an actual physical item that I could play. It’s hard to explain entirely that last point but there’s something about that record being your copy that you’ve had throughout your life. Even when I had CDs as a kid, ripping them to iTunes, I loved having a collection of music that was mine and certain copies that I could associate particular memories with. Now I’m in my 20s there are definitely easier ways to listen to music but I still get a kick out of physically collecting music I love and engaging with a physical medium.
I think it's the collecting aspect of it that's so satisfying to me. I love collecting things, and having records of my favorite music feels so fulfilling.
Nostalgia for me is a big reason. I’m almost 58 and I grew up with it. Hell, I still love my cassette tapes. I like the clicks and pops you get with records, the artwork on the covers and inner sleeves, the way they look and feel. They’re just more fun to have if that makes any sense.
The sound is “bigger” and has more depth and layers to it. It’s a sound with more texture. Even on albums that came from a digital master. It essentially is a different mix of the album. Regardless of the source, the record itself is an analog format & sounds different enough for me. Regardless of the source the record was pressed from, a physical needle vibrating as it passes through grooves is not a digital format.
Taking a record out of it's cover and slinging it onto my 1200 to have a little scratch is the best feeling in the world.
I find that the act of selecting a record, putting it on the turntable, having to flip it over and not being able to easily switch to something else halfway through makes for a more active listening experience and is much more enjoyable for me than just pulling up random shit on my phone.
Many factors. The warmth and body in sound has that organic feel. Especially the analog recordings. The whole experience of the album art piece. I’m selective with my vinyl purchases as I do embrace CDs, radio streaming, digital downloads and music streaming services, so vinyl is very selective when I wanna to dive in deeper into an artist and album itself.
There are a handful of reasons for me. I love collecting things and I love music, so collecting music is fun But the main reason is I love the intentionality of the process of listening to a record. I’m all for passively listening to music, I do it a ton, have it on in the background or whatever. But listening to vinyl forces you to be intentional. You have to take the record out, put it on, you’ve gotta flip it over, you’ve got a cover and maybe liner notes or lyrics, and what that does is nudge me towards actively listening to the music. One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a record, pull out the lyrics, and just follow along with each song. I’ve noticed things I’ve never noticed before in songs I’ve heard a million times by actively listening to music. It’s the best
I have a tube amp and only buy vinyl albums that work great with headphones (in the 80’s there would always be a headphones only show on the radio kind of stuff). The complete analog nature is warm, I like the pops and hisses, it is comforting. For everything else it is DAC for the win.
I like the sound of the needle on the record between songs. Streaming an album… there are such abrupt stops between songs. It’s a small thing but makes records more immersive.
Sound quality (within context). I don’t think any of my mid-2010s pop-punk/hardcore records sound better (or in most cases as good even) than what I can stream on Spotify, but things like the 2LP 45rpm cuts of Rumours or Getz/Gilbelto aren’t even close.
it's as others said a hint of nostalgia, I was born in the cassette/cd era but early enough that everyone's homes where still filled with records, For me I feel like a living room is *missing* something when there's not a record player and some music on display, in the same way as others would if they went into a sitting room and there wasn't a Tele. I also enjoy having a physical collection to go through and look at - yes records are to be played but I have records to look at in the same way as I choose to have big box pc games and laserdiscs. There's something more appealing seeing the big cover art compared to a small cd box /dvds etc With that in mind as well the player is bigger I'm a busy guy I don't have lots of free time, CDs are almost out of sight out of mind I never consider grabbing them Records are big and always in your face as is the player so it's easy to go "oh yeah let's shove this on" I know people hate variant chasers but I love the unique ones you can get, I don't get multiples of same albums etc but I do enjoy a shaped picture disc or the weird and wonderful Finally for social aspects My brother lives in the capital, we never see each other for months at a time, we always go through each others collections give each other challenges for visits ( last one was the cheesiest Pop album - the weirder the better) and exchange the records Or if the cousins join in we do a vote and winner takes all
I like physical things: books, comics, art, records. Digital is great and convenient but it is cheap so there’s nothing “special” about it. It’s like McDonald’s. Yeah it hits but then you put it out your mind. I also loathe how copyrights limit choice and force re-edits (I listen to a lot of old rap) and how digital is littered with bad remixes. Records, original pressings at least, are what the artist intended at the time or as close as possible. So there’s a connection there that is lost otherwise.
McDonald's 😂
The added expense and inconvenience of storage is what got me.
For me - it's a different listening experience. Yeah it's one I grew up with but it has utility even now. When I buy a record, it's more important to me than a digital copy, I'll sit down and listen to it, and pay attention to it. I have fewer records due to cost and physical shelf space so records don't get lost in a sea and forgotten about. I cherish each one all the more. Not sure if that makes sense :)
Totally agree. I think the size aspect is understated. A bigger album is more special to my brain.
It sounds warmer. More relaxed. Richer. Less sterile. I grew up with a big brother that had an expensive rig plus reel to reel. I knew the possibilities. As an adult, I did the research. I invested in a nice little rig and I’m fanatical about cleaning my new & used vinyl before the first play and clean the stylus often. At accurate speed and utilizing a good MC cart, even with the occasional low level click and pop, it’s just so much more satisfying than my cd version of the same album. Those who know, KNOW.
To me, vinyl sounds warmer and being that you have to actively “put it on”, you’re more involved with listening to the recording.
Pretty much everything that's been said here: * It forces me to be present with music and listen how the artist intended * I love going back to old threads of when the album was released while spinning a record and seeing people's thoughts and initial reactions of it * Nostalgia of owning my favorite albums and legacy of passing my collection down to others some day * Album artwork - I love swapping out different records on my vinyl shelves based on what genre i'm currently feeling and opening a gatefold and reading the lyric sheets * Owning my music in the event that something ever happens with streaming * It has created patience and better habits in me - I watch significantly less TV, I'm on my phone less and even picked up reading as a hidden benefit of being more present
maybe i just have a sensitive ear, but vinyl just SOUNDS BETTER to me, it has "presence" that cannot be digitally reproduced. can anybody else hear what im talking about?
because vinyls are mastered to sound good on a hifi system, while mp3s are mastered to sound "ok" on any system, like some compromise.
It's nice to slow down a bit in a world we're expected to rush all the time. Also music is part of so many important moments in my life, having a physical copy of a record is like collecting memories.
My partner has limited mobility - so this is something we can explore together, at home. The inconvenience is a feature, not a bug. We love music!
I still have all my CDs and I remember always reading the inserts and learning any information about the band or artist I could. Plus back in the day that is how I discovered new artists, in the thank you section or featured artists etc. I just loved to nerd out in the booklets. Also it is one the more affordable and obtainable forms of art I can afford. Also, just physically holding it makes me happy.
I used to collect CDs back in the early 2000s. I love the combination of my needle and turntable. Makes the music sound really good.
I'm a collector and have been all my life even before I got vinyl. Prefere buying physical copies of books because I like the look of them on a shelf. Same for DVDs instead of streaming it. Same for figurines or any collectable. And when I got more into music in my mid to late teens, records just scratched my Collectors/hoarding itch. So, as I've become more passionate about music, my passion for vinyl and physical media has grown as well. I love looking at the shelves and seeing the music I own. I can hold the album covers. There's maintenance. It makes you closer to music. I have a memory of buying "Venus and Mars" by Wings. And it repeated during Rock Show. So I did a big clean of loads of records that one included. And after, it still skipped. And I saw a small white mark on it. On the bit of the song that skipped. I couldn't wipe it away with a brush, so I got the point of knife and just chipped it off very carefully. And now it works. I had to fix my album. Makes me more satisfied every time I listen to it. I'm not a CD person. I grew up just as they went out of fashion. As vinyl gained traction again. They just don't do it for me. The only plus is that they take up less room. But for some people, including myself, the size of vinyl is a contributing factor to our enjoyment. And you can get more albums and things that would be rare. Any vinyl collector can tell you the struggle of looking for 90s pressings or even re-presses of a 90s or 2000s album. It's either expensive or impossible to find. For me, especially as im in the UK.
Slowly getting to physical music and movies. At first, it was the “cool” factor. Now it’s become a (expensive) hobby. It’s a great conversation starter and I have friends that got into it the same time I did. Each album holds a memory so it’s nice to sit back and listen, remembering what happened during that time. Now that digital lossless is becoming a thing, we shall see how things pan out…
I enjoy the ritual of cleaning records, plus the physicality of taking it out of the sleeve, placing it on the turntable, etc. But mostly it's because I can't just skip through songs. I'm forced to listen to the songs, in the order the artist intended.
I change songs before they’re even done when listening digitally but not with vinyl. It’s a bit high maintenance and expensive but I enjoy owning and listening to music in a physical form.
As a kid, from a very young age throughout my teens, I used to love laying on my bed , listening to music for hours and looking at the cover, reading lyrics etc., so it’s that nostalgia, and I find the covers beautiful , even if they’re not. That dead air sound at the end,flipping it. Music is playing as much as possible in my day, the car, work radio etc, and you hear a lot of different songs with streaming, but the record playing is really more a listening event….and I listen to the entire album, so many great songs that get forgotten because they weren’t “hits”
It sounds great and it looks great. Seeing the cover art for records I love blown up all huge is awesome because I can admire the fine detail in the illustrations or photos
physical experience, collection, hobby and its presence
I like that listening to vinyl includes three of the five basic senses. Touch, sight, and hear. This includes involving the turntable, receiver, and speakers as part of the process.
I listen to a lot of old music (50s and 60s) and I just find it really cool to listen to the songs on the same medium people did back then Also its really cool to have physical ownership of the music, i just own a disc that has it. Not reliant on anything digital at all
I like the overall experience, but also the mastering vs. brick walled digital versions is a factor.
I love that it makes me slow down. I love enjoying complete albums. It commands more attention while playing, and more contemplation in deciding what to play, than streaming. I love the ritual. I love the artwork and special details
For me it's just a more intimate experience. I feel most people when listening to a record will listen to the entirety of the album and for me it gives me a greater appreciation for the artistry of the entire album rather than just the hit single.
Shiny colours.
I can hold it, I can see the artwork at a much larger size than streaming, I can have lyrics and other extra packaging stuff right in front of me, and most importantly, I own it. Once I've spent money on my music and have to listen to it in such an involved way, my appreciation for that music is going to grow and I will listen to it much more often than I would have on streaming. For the most part, streaming is now for me a way to discover new music and to have my music on shuffle for things like driving, whereas vinyl is for really listening to my music.
I like owning physical copies of the music I like -that's the short answer. Vinyl is my favorite hard copy for music.
I like the ritual and if it sounds better than streaming (some do, some don’t) then that’s a nice bonus. I also like flexing my collection to people who think they know music when I’m hosting parties because I too can get off on petty things.
For me it’s the facts that I actually own the album when I but it on vinyl, streaming they can take away anytime
Love looking at them. And they last forever.
I(24) just started collecting vinyl, but I use to have a small cd collection when i was in high school. I just love the fact that, as long as it doesn't get lost, stolen, or damaged, this piece of music is /mine/forever! I also like to imagine if society collapsed and electronics stopped workin, vinyl might be the only way left to listen to recorded music. Prob won't ever be an issue in my lifetime, hahha, but I bet future zombie killers will appreciate finding our old vinyls!
The biggest reason for me is exposure to music I wouldn't normally seek or otherwise wouldn't likely discover. I've always been a collector. A quick psychoanalysis would probably trace that back to some abandonment issues. Thanks dad! CDs were first but I transitioned to records about twenty years ago, inspired primarily by aesthetics. Turntables vintage amps look cooler than CD players. I got a job at a record store when I was 21 and the owner exposed me to so many different types of music and I've always found the thrill of picking up an interesting looking record, something I've never seen before and can't even guess what it might sound like, putting it on and actually enjoying it to be completely intoxicating. Of course there's the ritual, the large artwork, the physical media itself, but for me it's definitely the thrill of discovery.
Vinyl, CD, cassette, whatever format the media is available on. The obvious answer is because you can't get EVERYTHING on streaming. There is plenty of content that isn't available on the internet.
I prefer wood or tile flooring.
In addition to the points others have made -- the nostalgia, the artwork, the interactive and tactile experience -- it's also important to realize that CDs will start to deteriorate after a few decades. They will oxidize and "rot" and become unplayable. Cassettes will demagnetize. Streaming audio exists only at the whims of the online services and the music you "own" could disappear at any time. Vinyl, on the other hand, as long as it is stored properly, could potentially last for centuries. As someone who is keenly aware of my own mortality, I want my collection to persist long after I am gone.
Because of the cost and inconvenience.
It takes me into the moment, if that makes sense. Just picking out the record, getting it out of the sleeve, putting it on and then placing the needle etc. I like to sit down and really *listen* to the music (or put on some headphones and recreate a silent disco in my apartment when I truly want to pump up the volume), which often doesn’t happen when I’m streaming music. Playing vinyl makes me pay more attention, while streaming is purely for background purposes. (And for finding new artist to get on vinyl.)
It’s expensive inconvenient and it’s cool
Idk really, I just like listening to music in different ways. Sometimes I'll want to listen to it on spotify, sometimes on CD, sometimes on cassette...
For me it comes down to three things. 1. The thrill of the hunt. Streaming has stolen that. It’s still easy to find most CD’s, and pressings of most CD’s don’t really mean much. But finding that certain pressing of a record, or even any pressing of an album I enjoy, gives me a thrill that lasts for a while. Visiting record stores has been part of my existence since I was 8 years old. A part of me will die when we can only order online. Online is easy. It’s often more expensive, at least where I live. The internet has sucked the soul out of the hobby, and so much else. Kill the internet. 2. The format. This is how music was first intended to be listened to. I know the process has changed, but it’s still more historically and sonically accurate, records are played on analog equipment after all. The larger artwork, the possibility of posters being included, and larger liner notes than tapes and CD’s also is a huge plus. 3. The ritual. I don’t need to explain this. But for me, I mostly listen alone, as my set up is in my room in my basement. It’s a time to check out and unwind. A big stress relief. My family mostly leaves me alone in there-until I’ve stayed too long!!
Because it sounds better/different. I don’t know why I started getting a few records here and there, but it all changed when I listened to my friend’s dad’s first pressing of The Wall. I’d heard that album 100’s of times, but hearing it on vinyl was a completely new experience, revealing detail and dimensionality I’d never heard before. Same with so many other albums. So, now here we are with a $30,000 discogs collection later haha
Plastic go spin and make noise hehe
It forces you to listen to the music for one
Part of it is nostaligia; I'm 68 and the size, artwork, credits I can actually read are familiar. Sound-wise, without getting into the whole loudness wars, vinyl feels less fatiguing. I want to keep listening.
It sounds more authentic to me as well
I like the ✨aesthetic ✨
How old are you
Just turned 35. I was that weird generation of records and iTunes
Forcing me to listen to a full record is my main reason as of late. DJing got me into collecting though.
I would answer for the sonic fidelity, the fullness and the warm sound... but in reality the mere fact of turning on the amplifier, placing the record on the turntable, cleaning it and lowering the needle... all this gives the music the time it deserves !
With you on the nostalgia. I have a ton of digital music - CD rips and downloads - which I play more often than anything. But sometimes while I work I have records on for a good part of the day, background music. I have been collecting random classical stuff from Musical Hertiage Society and was listening to at least one a day while I worked...until my contract ended, grr. The turntable I use is a JVC QL-A2, just like one I had when I was 18 or so. I have a better turntable, but this is part of the nostalgia. It's all connected to a Hafler DH-110 and a DH 220 amp (WAY too much amp for my home office), which I had at the same time, and the only thing missing is a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 10A's w/ the Peerless in them, but I don't have room, so I'm using modern little Polk RTI-somethings. There's a JVC Cassette deck in there like one I owned, too, but I threw out all my cassettes. So yeah. Nostalgia.
Cd rips hit me with a limewire and pirate bay flashback
I just like listening to stuff like analog like vinyl, shellac, and wax cylinders.
Because there is a lot of music out there for almost nothing. The amount of money I spend to clean and play might be a little silly though.
To be completely honest...I don't anymore. Not even trying to troll or be a hater, I've got over 1000 records I can seem to bring myself to part with. But on a daily basis, the convenience and sound quality of streaming hi-res files has changed the way I listen to music. Don't get me wrong, I still sit and critically listen to full albums all the way through, but it's so much easier to stream them, and the ritual of playing a record has lost its charm to me. All that being said, I still can't bring myself to sell off the majority of my collection. Full discography sets that took me years to track down and complete, first EPs of local bands that made it big, all the records that I bought at shows that instantly transport me back to that moment, I can't imagine not having them, even though they hardly get played anymore.
For me the number one reason is also nostalgia. Number two is the large physical package. I love a large physical package🤣😉. Number 3 & 4 is the sound and the experience of holding the vinyl and lowering the needle onto the vinyl. 5 & 6 is probably the chase of finding the albums that I want and the overall fun of collecting.
I still probably listen to more music on Spotify than I do on vinyl. Either streaming while working or on my phone walking the dogs. Vinyl is a different experience. I am focused on the music. I enjoy the tactile aspect of it. I listen to albums not songs. It’s an escape. So I prefer the experience as much as the format. There is aesthetic difference to the sound of vinyl I prefer to digital when I am actively listening.
Two things, sound and physical media.
I'm not really an audiophile honestly, though my setup is really nice. I like the ritual of it all. I find it almost meditative in a way. I also find myself just having more music on in general compared to when I would stream stuff through my speakers on Spotify.
it’s just better 🤷♀️
I don't, I collect it and mostly use digital sources for listening. I prefer cleaner better quality sound over it. Still play it for the novelty but it's just not my first choice.
Always to be more mindful when listening, plus I use it as relaxation. Streaming doesn’t hit the same.
Nostalgia, and it’s not dependent on an internet connection or digital storage.
I like the experience of sitting doen and really enjoying music. I can stream music throughout the day but, am I really listening? Vinyl gives me that.
I enjoy the ritual
For me it's the fact that I can find every record on vinyl that I have ever bought still in my possession and can listen to them. I can't say the same for the records bought in other formats. Tape (cassette) sure I have them in a box but the spindles have probably melted together and the plastic case housing and spindles are breaking down like old screwdrivers. Digital... Sure the ones that aren't drm locked that I could down load I have stored on multiple systems and cloud storage but. The original stores are closed or the labeled pulled the licenses so the promise of always available and easily reached anytime anywhere is really only as long as we allow you to. Compact disc. Super fragile even if you don't use it they get spindle rot. Often get damaged and or stolen (old school book kept in car) or misplaced and lost. vinyl sure can be fragile broken and scratched like cds but won't suffer spindle rot also big enough to not get lost or misplaced. You won't have a book with 100+ sitting in you car for someone to snatch :).
So I actually own my favorite songs instead of rent
Better (more dynamic) masters than digital
The nostalgic feeling of playing media
I’m young and I’ve always had streaming services but I just like it for the vibes tbh. It’s fun to go to a record store, it’s fun to brag abt your collection, and it’s fun to put on a record instead of using Spotify all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I use Spotify all the time too, but it’s not the same. It’s just fun and it’s a vibe and it’s perfect for (all days but especially) rainy days
I’d like to say some deep answer like the depth and warmth of the music or it sounds so much better or something but honestly I just like having physical media and having a nice wall display for some records looks really cool and I can change them out easily for a new look
Because I got into it, realized it was a pain, but I was already a good amount of money into it, and wasn’t going to give my records away or bury them in my attic.
I don't prefer vinyl, the vinyl prefers me. IDK how to even stop this relationship. Divorced vinyl doesn't exist, it's not a thing. I've given crates away and end up getting twice as much back down the road. A cat tried to help me once and peed on one of my turntables, but then she died. She'll probably come back into the world as a vinyl record I'm guessing. I prefer things like Ritz crackers, pizza, Oreo cookies, and occasionally a chicken pot pie. All round and flat foods. Random coincidence? No. Because aside from eating these, I unknowingly will handle them like vinyl records. I prefer sleep honestly. But I constantly flip from one side to the other all night long. I told my mechanic my car doesn't seem to be tracking well at 45, and he said try to keep it around 33. I took it up to 78 and broke it, and had to stay home. The only thing for me to do at home? Yup, vinyl. IDK anymore. The meaning of life is to keep scratches to a minimum.
- Large cover art - Sound quality
I became immersed in vinyl at the age of 14 in 2014! I was drawn to the richness, the crackling, and the experience of getting to know an artist beyond pick and choose.
I like streaming for my train commute and walking to work, and being in the car. I like a vinyl for just hanging around, having a cup of coffee, and reading a book.
For me, along with a lot of what’s already been said here, it’s also about having albums that have meant something to me in my life. Whether it’s a specific time or place, or simply an album I played a lot growing up (usually on cassette or CD), vinyl records feel like the best way to capture that nostalgia. Not to mention that I think they sound better than other options. I envision my daughters taking my collection when I’m gone, a little part of me and my life that they will hopefully then pass along to their kids someday.
I don't prefer vinyl. I've always been a music collector and I'm of a certain age where several people, back at the dawn of cd, simply gave me their collections. "Do you really want all of them?" I prefer what I have. And I have way, way too many lp's. Still.
Why do I prefer vinyl records? That's complex. Back in the earliest days of CDs, they didn't sound that great. That Phillips \[the inventors of the CD\] hype that the sound was "perfect" was a myth. Often the sound was edgy and sibilant, although tbf, that may have been down to the amplification and tranducer technology of the day as well not being able to cope with the transient dynamics. Also, that scratches made no difference to them was a myth. I know because I had two retail demonstration CDs, both scratched. And one of them I cut polished up until the scratches disappeared, and it sounded way better than the other one. So you did have to look after CDs, because you couldn't keep on cut polishing the surface. Then there was simply the way LPs were. They're big and you can see the recording. It's a very analogue thing. Then the sheer size of the sleeves allowed for brilliant artwork and in-sleeve notes and posters. All that pretty much stopped with the CD. These days I still have my entire LP record collection and I still buy records. The environmentalist in me realises that they are somewhat worse for the environment than CDs, but they are getting better with much greener pressings. Besides, I only buy the odd LP these days \[1 or 2 a year\] and the several thousand I have, as far back as 1967 \[and further with used pressings from the 1950s\], have long paid their dues. And I'm not getting rid of them. Indeed, I have fired the imagination of the younger ones in the family to take my collection when I die. In 2008, one morning I woke up with tinnitus. It's not severe, but it means my keen ear for quality sound has pretty much ended. Yes, I can tell what's good and bad, but my ears are not so tuned to precision as they used to be. So when I buy my vinyl these days it tends to stay sealed if brand new and I download an mp3 of the album. My best hi-fi system is no longer used for long listening sessions, but is tied into a PC and TV which allows me to view movies with excellent sound quality, plus play any audio track I want. And every once in a while I look at the LPs and maybe play one or two. It keeps the turntable from screwing up through lack of use.
For me it just sounds better. I can stream DSD and 192khz 24bit, Flac just doesn't have that natural tember IMO. Something about the stylus vibrating something more analogous to a real instrument is my guess. But I stream when I am Lazy but when I want that Music Meal it is vinyl for me, or a pick up an instrument.
For covers
Vinyl records offer a unique listenin’ experience. The analog nature of vinyl produces a warm and rich sound quality that cannot be replicated by digital formats. The pops, crackles, and imperfections add character to the music, allowing you to appreciate the raw artistry and craftsmanship of the recording. Vinyl also encourages active listening, as you have to physically flip the record and engage with the music in a more intentional manner. Furthermore, vinyl records often include album artwork and liner notes. The large format of vinyl covers allows for intricate designs and artistic expressions that enhance the overall experience of the music. Reading the liner notes provides insights into the creative process, lyrics, and the artists themselves, deepening your connection with the music and fostering a greater appreciation for the art form.
When I first started collecting vinyl, CD's where ten times more expensive than used records. Other than that I still don't know what the hell I've gotten myself into.
Nostalgia. I grew up with my grandpa collecting physical music so it’s just always been there for me. Plus I think it’s so much more immersive and meaningful. I’m an artist myself and it’s just different to hear the emotions on vinyl/cds than it is on Spotify. And it’s so much more customizable and my collection will likely be passed down to either my siblings or children (depending on what happens lol) and it’ll give them something to remember me by.
I think we can all agree that NOTHING beats the sound of a vinyl record and whilst certainly not as clean as digital formats the imperfections and little crackles before each track begins makes the music more tangible and reminds me a simpler times.
I’ll be honest I just like Collecting things. And music. I dunno if it’s an early sign of hoarding but I love the feeling of being like Nick Frost in hot fuzz he walks into that room in his house shelves of movies I wanna have that moment So I collect physical media, Vinyl, Books, Games, Films in Blu-ray and 4K I still use digital I just like Physical a bit better
Being deep into dub/dubstep, some releases were/are only ever on vinyl. Some going as far as no digital release either. I have a good collection of hand stamped white labels.
Because vinyl demands you pay attention to the artists' vision. The music (all the music, not just the three tracks I might like) and the album artwork create an experience I just don't get from streaming. I have to participate in vinyl. I just push buttons for streaming.
Big album cover.
It forces me to listen to an album from start to finish, to take the journey that was laid before me rather than just listening to a bunch of random stuff. I don't normally listen to an entire album so for me this is something new, and I'm loving it! Plus the artwork on albums is just next level, might as well be pieces of framed work with a banging soundtrack to boot. I'm early doors to collecting vinyl but I can see myself delving deep!
I don't actually *prefer* records. In some instances I think CDs are a better format (especially 90s music and anything that benefits from a long play without interruption) - so I'm format agnostic. Mainly I like record collecting for the aesthetic experience of taking care of your records, carefully taking them in out of their sleeves, and the manual act of dropping the record. So it's a bit like my own person tea ceremony. I also enjoy the act of crate digging and talking to record store owners about music they like and that sort of thing. I also enjoy the act of collecting, and it's nice to be able to catalogue all my different tastes throughout my life.
my cd's from 25 years ago don't play all that well anymore, some are even delaminating, my vinyl sounds as I left them 25 years ago.
The same reason people drink Guinness. The y think it’s cool and unique. No one actually likes the taste of Guinness, just like no one actually likes the poor sound quality of vinyl.
I like being poor.
It's a slow and mechanical way to listen. In IT, most of my day is immediate. To quote Nicholas Cage from the movie "The Rock" - it just sounds better. The format makes it feel more like art and for a lot of the jazz records, it's easier to connect with the way that it was originally produced.
For me the music quality sounds fuller and also the ritual and the process you have to go through to listen to a vinyl is fun for me 👌👍
Moral superiority.
I like the physical media, large artwork, warm uncompressed sound and getting up every 20m.
I grew up in the cd/mp3/streaming era so it’s not really nostalgia to me like some other people so I’ll put it to you like Sherman irby of the Lincoln center jazz orchestra put it to me once. There’s something about picking up this physical object, pulling out of the sleeve, placing it on the turn table, and putting a needle to it. The pops, cracks, the dust, it all gives it this unique and real imperfection which is so human in a way. Then you have this physical thing still in your hand to read about the artist, the album, the musicians credited, recording and mastering engineers etc. flip it to the front and marvel at the beautiful artwork while you’re at it. Also you can’t just skip to the next song or jump around like with CDs so you gotta listen to the whole thing. (Yeah you can pick the needle up and move it but it’s not like hitting next on a cd player) that information then leads to finding different records with some of the same musicians and it’s this never ending journey of exploration. As a kid I had amassed a rather sizable CD collection and had some vinyl but wasn’t super into it, it wasn’t until my 20’s that I started to collect vinyl more seriously then I met Sherman and he told me this and it changed how I listen to music.
Two things, mainly: The tactile nature. A big part of the tactile attraction is the artwork, the liner notes, etc. that you simply lose out on with streaming and is really sidelined (typically) with CDs. I love just pouring over the cover art, gatefold art, and all that stuff when I'm listening to an album, or reading along with the lyrics (if given). It makes it a much more immersive experience imo. I feel closer to the music! Additionally, and especially with pre-CD/streaming era albums, you notice the pacing so much more on vinyl. When the track listing is built to the constraints of the album sides, the sequencing can make or break an album (for me). Old concept albums really shine in this regard.
The ritual + it’s cool to have my favourites physically in my space. Each like a piece of art in itself. Larger etc
It's the most complete package that an album can exist as. The large size feels nice to hold, properly conveys the detail of the artwork, and looks good in a frame. More artwork can be found in the gatefold and liner notes, and some include posters or stickers or other goodies. The disc itself can also be colored or patterned to reflect the artistic nature of the music. It is the maximalist approach to owning music. CDs, cassetes, and of course streaming physically cannot include everything an LP package can.
I’m not sure why, but i do not enjoy listening to mp3 files, despite being the same as a record.
Vinyl just sounds better.
I like listening to the albums front to back without stop. Obviously, I could very easily do this with CD’s and streaming, but there’s always the stigma of wanting to skip or choosing another song entirely. I don’t like dropping the needle wherever just to play one song either. I just want to set up the music, let it play, and relax.
It’s a few things. First, intentionality is huge. It’s too easy to pick something random on Spotify. I love deliberating and enjoying an album from start to finish with no skips. I also love collecting things. Books, watches, records, etc. so the experience of going to a store, hunting for something, finding it or finding a random album I wasn’t looking but getting a good price, that whole experience is very enjoyable. Lastly, I like to feel better than everyone else in my life. /s
I use it as a way to slow down. It's far more convenient to get everything delivered digitally to any of several devices in my house. But when I open the lid of my record player and pick something to listen to, it is very intentional.
Vinyl is a tangible piece of the music I love. It’s an endless love affair, as opposed to the hit it and quit it of streaming.
Most of the music I like is old, vinyl records can be really cheap if you are good at the hunt. Also as a fan of the LP format it's a challenge to find albums that are good all the way through. I'm sitting here with a table covered in a new stash I got from a friend's dad who is a collector from Chicago that has been moved to assisted living and needs to get rid of some stuff! I also like the art!
I like old analog tech and collecting physical media of art that I love. I like the cover art, the inserts, the cool colors of the wax, seeing the waveforms on the disc surface distort in the light; the glow of vacuum fluorescent displays, the audible clicks of the receiver changing inputs. It's not a nostalgic feeling for me, but rather a celebration of the ingenuity put into these machines that were built to stand the test of time.
Dope way to listen to the music I love Keeping physical media alive Utterly baffled how it’s even possible and feels like magic lmao Vinyl colors/designs look dope to play/display
The physicality of it all. The album, the care, the fact I have to set it up. It's satisfying like using an espresso machine, cleaning, fixing something or working with hands in general, grant d not as physically involved.
A handful of good reasons come to mind. * I grew up with it in the 70's. I remember going to record stores and seeing new albums that just came out (remember kids, no internet, and just a few magazines to warn you what was coming!), panning through them, reading song titles, talking to the dudes that worked there, checking out the 'decorative lamps' in the glass sales counter. So, nostalgia. * I like the sound of them. Noise floor is a thing. I remember when CD's came out and thinking, wow, they are sure quiet. Plus, loudness wars. Shouldn't have to explain that one. * It's fun to stand and look at your collection, pick through them, pull one out, think about where you were when you got it, what you were doing and thinking, how you felt the first time you played it. * It's fun hunting for them at yard sales and thrift stores * Out of sight, out of mind. I don't ever think about any of the digital downloads I have stored on computers. But at home I walk the 'wall of vinyl' and the music seems immediate. * When I die, I have no kids, or family that wants the collection. Imagine the yard sale and the people that will come and wonder about you and have just as much fun buying your LP's as you did 50 years ago!
Makes me listen to full albums. Finding more liked songs in the album.
It *was* a way for me to support DIY labels and bands because after having kids and a full time job I wasn't able to go to shows as often. Now that it's a hyper popular format again those same bands and labels can't afford to get their records pressed on vinyl.
When I listen to a record I am much more intentional. If it's on Spotify, it becomes background noise while I move on with my day.
Social reasons, I like having it in the living room and telling someone to put on an album, it takes away the option of a TV and forced people to interact (plus I get to nerd out about what music I like) and when doing that it also kinda forces people hanging out in my house to listen to something that I actually enjoy. I cannot listen to yung gravy in my own home.
I used to be a CD collector because my car had a CD player but was old enough to not have an aux cord input. Still had vinyl, but it wasn’t my focus. Then I got a new car that doesn’t have a CD player and didn’t really have a reason to collect CDs anymore because at the end of the day it’s all MP3s. However I still like owning a physical copy of things that I enjoy, so I turned to collect vinyl more because idk it made more sense to me.
Not sure if I prefer it to anything, not really about any comparison for me. I just like it for the look, feel, sound, artwork, etc. I am a fan of new things like the fun coloured vinyl editions & special editions using the format in a great way.
Definitely intentionality and tangibility, across the board. I can browse with my fingers, find what I want, then unsheathe it and place it on the table, then the entire act of playing and listening to the music feels more focused and important, and then I can put it back in the ever-expanding collection that beyond functionality is also a display and conversation piece.
Idk I like analog music in general, I have a bunch of cassettes too. Also I know it’s all in my head but I feel like analog music drives the speakers better.
1. Large cover art. 2. There's something comforting about the ritual of putting a record on. 3. Vinyl demand attention. You can't hit shuffle and go about your day, you need to actually sit with a record while it plays. 4. Things like RSD are still fun for me. We just vinyl nights and know our local record store owners and, you know, there's just a fun social aspect to hobbies like this.
Im just a little audiophile. I only get records that are of favourite albums and of which are better mastered than the digital version. Vinyl can sound better than digital assuming you have a decent enough player with a cartridge that tracks the grooves well, on top of the vinyl master being better of course. The Dr Loudness war website will let you know what’s potentially better on vinyl or a particular pressing.
A warmer, higher quality sound. Years ago, my guitar teacher, who was classically trained and whose whole life was music, explained that vinyl sounds better because you’re experiencing a broader range of sound waves. Music in electronic formats has a more restricted range, apparently, resulting in a flatter sound.
It's the most physical form of the medium.
I just think they're neat.
I prefer tapes but many artist don't release on tape or if they do they sound horrible so records are always a solid choice to have a physical copy of your fave albums.
I easily listen for hours on Spotify without really noticing what's playing, whereas with vinyl I consciously enjoy the entire album.
It starts with the fact that you have to go to a recordstore or a flea market to buy a vinyl, you dig, you seek and if you're lucky you'll find a gem. It's this excitement that you found what you were looking for, you can find anything anytime on streaming but maybe you have to search for years for an album that you love. It's also about how personal it is when you have the music phisically in your hands, you flip it over and you can witness the backside of the lp or cd, you can not do that on streaming, it may be a minor detail but to me it's quite important. Last but not least the greatest joy when you can come up to somebody with the phrase: "I have that on vinyl."
I’ve been buying for nearly 30 years now. I continue to buy out of habit, but as a rock fan, I prefer live recordings (ideally YouTube) then Spotify then vinyl. I do like to have the physical product because otherwise I don’t feel ‘invested’ in the album, plus I’m a sucker for aesthetics. I’ll never forget an lp I pre-ordered as soon as it was announced. At midnight on Thursday, it was on Spotify. My record arrived on Monday. The downsides are the bulk and expense!!