Any LP players?

[razz]

We have a fair number of LP's and I would like to enjoy them. Crosley makes an LP player but the combo had problems so I returned it to Sears.
What else is out there?
I am hearing rumours that LP's may make a comeback with the demise of the DVD. Any truth to this?

[catherine]

I am hearing rumours that LP's may make a comeback with the demise of the DVD. Any truth to this?

Yes.. LPs have made a comeback. There was some talk of it in this thread (http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?7876-How-many-people-still-have-a).

My kids--all twenty-thirty somethings--have turntables, and they LOVE getting vinyls for gifts. Thank God Princeton Record Exchange, just a few miles away, is still going strong--I've been able to get most of the stuff on their Christmas and birthday lists!

One of the reasons vinyls are considered desirable is because there is so much piracy with regard to music, it's one of the best ways for young artists to brand themselves and their work and actually get money for it. Not to mention the quality of the music is better, according to some, although I'm not quite that much of an audio connoisseur.

[frugalone]

Oh yes. In fact, yesterday was Record Store Day--and a number of LPs and singles were released/re-released and made available to the public.

[Gregg]

I still have a Bang & Olufsen turntable that I bought in the 80's and still use it on a regular basis. I'm one of those that thinks the analog sound from vinyl is superior to digital (until it gets scratched or someone dumps beer on it at a frat party, but I digress). You can narrow the gap if you have a really good equalizer, but there is always a certain warmth missing that a digital recording just can't seem to capture.

[Alan]

I have a turntable and hundreds of LP's, although I've not played any of them since, what, 1990 or so. One of these days.....

[SteveinMN]

I, too, have a turntable and hundreds of LPs and I do listen to them regularly. There is something to be said for the sound of a record -- almost more liquid, if that were a possible descriptor. But I have to say that a periodic click-click-click on a record is a fast way to destroy that "you are there" illusion. :( On that, CD and DVD have it all over vinyl.

[decemberlov]

We have an LP collection as well and it pretty much what we listen to at home all the time. A few years ago I ran across a yard sale where the guy was selling over 150 records, I got all of them for $40.00 and there are some really great albums in there!! I love how much "warmer" vinyl sounds...I also think it makes you a little more mindful of your music since you can't just pop it in and let it play - but you're tending to your music every 5 songs or so.

Bummer you didn't have any luck with the Crosley player - I've had mine for about 4 years now with no issues except the needle does need to be replaced now.

[SevenSeven]

LP Sound is awesome, I have over 200 of vinyls in my collection of some excellent material as Womack & Womack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCnKUNNyl5o) - and there will be always a number of people that appreciat the unique sound.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I too have lots of albums, probably 200-300. I had an my old stereo record player from the '70s and it was getting very draggy. I went out in search of someone to repair it and I was all but laughed at each place I went. Finally I conceded it was time to bid it goodbye, but I still wanted to hear the old vinyl. I found a guy in California who restored electronics and after much thought and emails back and forth I bought a totally refurbished stereo and two speakers from him. It was a bit pricey for me with the shipping from CA, but when I want to hear Janis, or Jimi, or Dylan on vinyl - I can. Razz, I would do a web search for someone like that who does restore and refurbish and you might find just what you are looking for.

[razz]

Glad to hear that you found as solution.
I am thinking that I will look into one of the Sony LP players that have a USB so that I can enjoy the vinyls as is and also on my MP player using the memory stick.

[zeaxmays]

ok heres my view as a former collector.

pros
-vinyl does sound better to me
-its fun to play with records/read the liner notes/track down that record for your collection
-its the best medium for music as cd's and cassettes don't last as long.
-alot of them can be found fairly cheap, but thats been changing as ill show in the cons

cons
-they take up a lot of space if you love music, ive found i like to be able to take that mp3 player with all music and put it in my pocket, rather than have a van to drive them around. records are clutter if you are trying to become clutter free
-they are not ecologically friendly, records are made from petroleum, they dont recycle old ones to amke new ones as virgin vinyl is the best for making records
-alot of the best albums are super expensive - records i used to buy for 2-20 dollars are now going for 50-100. one i paid 50 for i later sold for 520.

i recently bought a phonograph after years of not having one and have found the records to pile up again, its something else to take care of and clean. im ready to get rid of them again.

ive found that if you have a decent set of stereo speakers the end result of the sound is not that noticeable especially if you have at the bare minimum high and low shelf equalization controls. the problem is that producers now mix albums differently and bring all the levels up "loudness wars", which makes digital music sound worse that traditional analog music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war
-

[ctg492]

I really really wanted to love my 300 plus LPs. I have not had them out for a spin in years. I don't even love the tubs of CDs anymore, iTunes and my iPhone and YouTube are my players now. I did get a 78 record player a few years ago and play that with my my assorted collection even if it is just to make the dogs howl.
I guess I don't get the LP love that is out there today. I tried and was a dragger moving to CDs and was really behind at replacing those with a hit of "Buy" and presto it is on my phone. But once I did I never looked back.