9 ms·

Also covered by Tech Radar (2025) -- You need to be careful when buying new vinyl – the digital music loudness war can mean they sound worse than second-hand re

by sneela 3mo ago

Also covered by Tech Radar (2025) -- You need to be careful when buying new vinyl – the digital music loudness war can mean they sound worse than second-hand records: https://www.techradar.com/audio/turntables/you-need-to-be-careful-when-buying-new-vinyl-the-digital-music-loudness-war-can-mean-they-sound-worse-than-second-hand-records https://www.techradar.com/audio/turntables/you-need-to-be-ca...

soupfordummies 3mo ago
I prefer original pressings whenever possible. It's still sometimes cheaper, but that is quickly going the other way.
- buildsjets 3mo ago
  I keep 3 pressings of Led Zep II out so I can demonstrate the difference to people who don’t believe that there is one. A first-week Robert Ludwig mastered version, a second-week pressing of the Ahmet Ertegun disaster, and 1977 remaster that really sounds just as good as the 1969 RL mix and is a lot cheaper. $20 for a VG+ copy compared to $1300. I am not insane so I did not spend $1300 on a used vinyl record, I found mine for $2 at Goodwill. https://www.therevolverclub.com/blogs/the-revolver-club/the-hot-mix-of-the-led-zeppelin-ii1969-by-robert-ludwig?srsltid=AfmBOop86zJ6gnWNKLnbAr-q8_uHGPKkTUwAQGz4jS6XxHeVEC-cd0u1 https://www.therevolverclub.com/blogs/the-revolver-club/the-...
  - lmm 3mo ago
    > I am not insane so I did not spend $1300 on a used vinyl record, I found mine for $2 at Goodwill. How is holding onto it instead of selling it for $1300 any less insane than buying it for $1300 in the first place?
    - bravura 3mo ago
      Who taught you this? And why do you think this way?
      - thaumasiotes 3mo ago
        He thinks that way because it's the only correct way to think. Try raising the value of the record and see what you think about it.
        prollings 3mo ago
        Why? We know the price was $1300. Doesn't mean anyone would buy it for that much. So try lowering the number and see what you think? The value is what someone is willing to pay for it.
        embedding-shape 3mo ago
        > He thinks that way because it's the only correct way to think. I typed up something, but ended up almost antagonistic. I realize I just feel sad that for some people money is literally the single goal in their life, seemingly nothing else matters.
        Dylan16807 3mo ago
        What are you talking about? They didn't say anything about what decision is correct. They just said that the two decisions are equivalent. Please note the use of the word "insane" is specifically because buildsjets said it was insane.
        NikolaNovak 3mo ago
        Mathematically that's absolutely true. Emotionally, it feels different. It's fascinating to see downright angry gut reactions! A few years ago my friend was selling his expensive camera on Kijiji. I asked him to sell it to me for slightly less as a friendly discount. He told me that's the same as just randomly one day giving me a wad of cash, so why would he do that?? I thought he's crazy and was a little bit offended. Actually maybe a fair bit offended! It took me YEARS to realize that 1. He's absolutely completely Inarguably correct, and 2. People would find me no less crazy if I adopted same perspective. Buy for $x, have and not sell for $x, same mathematically. But oh boy will people get instantly riled up emotionally :).
    - williamdclt 3mo ago
      If they don't need $1300 cash, they don't have any real reason to sell it
    - mrweasel 3mo ago
      The logic is a little broken for me... If he really wanted the record, and got it for $2, why would he then sell it and then not have it? Replacing it would cost at least $1300. You're logic is why so much in this world if fucking broken. Everything is a grift, a hustle, an opportunity for profit.
      - NikolaNovak 3mo ago
        People are getting angry at the math here. I'm Not the OP and have no moral judgement here, but from strict bank account balance perspective it's the same. Persuade me otherwise through addition and subtraction, not moral appeals. 1. I have 10,000 in my bank account. 2. I see a 1,300 record I like 3. I buy it 4. My bank account now has 8700 5. There's 1,300 difference if I choose to buy it or not 1. I have 10,000 in my bank account 2. I have a 1,300 record 3. If I sell it my bank account will have 11,300 4. 1,300 difference if I choose to sell it or not No "end of the world, this is what's wrong with everybody" gross hyperboles please, I don't care one iota about whether anybody buys or sells expensive records, I don't make any moral judgement whatsoever and would appreciate people in turn not making extreme assumptions about what I think about expensive records. But economically, buying an expensive item or selling expensive item is the same - Prove it wrong with numbers not appeals to emotion please.
        mrweasel 3mo ago
        > Prove it wrong with numbers not appeals to emotion please But my point is that I don't care about the numbers. If fact my complaint was that it was made into a financial decision, just because the record happens to be worth $1300. If it was a $10 record, bought used at $2, then few would argue that you should sell it and make $8. My argument is that it doesn't matter if you could make $8 or $1298, not if you enjoy the record and wish keep it. It's the defaulting to "You could make money" in so many of aspects of life that's starting to annoy me.
        Dylan16807 3mo ago
        It's fine if you want to own and use an expensive thing. The argument is not "you could make money", the argument is that if you got the expensive thing for free and choose not to sell then you're roughly as "insane" as the person that paid full price. Go ahead and splurge but try not to be a hypocrite about it. It's not lmm that was passing judgement, it was the person that owns the record passing judgement.
    - hidroto 3mo ago
      all right let me buy one of your kidneys, after all you only need one.
    - iainmerrick 3mo ago
      Even if you think in purely transactional terms like "asset currently worth $1300", what's wrong with holding onto an asset? Especially one that's likely to appreciate, not depreciate, as long as you look after it carefully. And in the meantime, you get to enjoy owning it.
      - axus 3mo ago
        This is the psychological basis of capitalism: we enjoy owning things.
emsign 3mo ago
I prefer to buy original releases of CDs second hand on Discogs. I then digitize them with Exact Audio Copy. I never bought into the recent vinyl hype. Though I really like the beautiful design of many new vinyl releases, I don't think they are for being played. But I used to buy new and used vinyl as a teenager to actually listen to them, and occasionally I still buy used vinyl. Vinyl records from the flea market were as cheap as 1€, so that was an efficient way to grow my music collection before file sharing was a thing. But now I prefer CDs because what really interests me is the music itself and I simply prefer the version with the best mastering. That's often CD releases from the early 1980s to mid 1990s. And yes, I still buy music because I don't trust music streaming to be around forever. At least I think there is a real chance CDs will outlast individual services for sure. And in case the internet gets shut down because of war, at least I still have music as long as I have power.
- encom 3mo ago
  >I never bought into the recent vinyl hype. For me, it's the expense and the inconvenience... as the meme goes. But anyway - I just like it; when I put on a record it's like "I'm doing this now and nothing else". Sitting on the couch and listening to Dark Side with a glass of wine. Remembering when my dad used to play records and I wasn't allowed to touch it because the stylus was expensive and fragile. It's a vibe, as the kids say.
- sombragris 3mo ago
  > I never bought into the recent vinyl hype. This. I'm 55. My teenage years were in the 1980s, where CDs started to appear but vinyl was still mainstream. I remember Dad having a significant vinyl library and I also got my own collection. But I hated caring for that thing. The medium is finicky, prone to scratches and whatnot, and CDs had more length and also more range and better sound. So as soon as I was able to get CDs, I got rid of my vinyl collection faster than one does it with a hot potato in their hands. I used vinyl daily, hated the whole burden of caring for it; and against CDs, I really found them wanting. Too bad the medium got degraded with idiots who used dynamic compression, but inherently CDs and lossless digital audio in general is way much better. I never understood the vinyl resurgence, until some people explained it as being something more performative and also a way to get better artwork and physical mementos of the music. Understandable, but I still feel it's weird.
mauriciolange 3mo ago
Tech radar article links to the article mentioned by this post.

by sneela 3mo ago

soupfordummies 3mo ago

I prefer original pressings whenever possible. It's still sometimes cheaper, but that is quickly going the other way.

buildsjets 3mo ago
I keep 3 pressings of Led Zep II out so I can demonstrate the difference to people who don’t believe that there is one. A first-week Robert Ludwig mastered version, a second-week pressing of the Ahmet Ertegun disaster, and 1977 remaster that really sounds just as good as the 1969 RL mix and is a lot cheaper. $20 for a VG+ copy compared to $1300. I am not insane so I did not spend $1300 on a used vinyl record, I found mine for $2 at Goodwill. https://www.therevolverclub.com/blogs/the-revolver-club/the-hot-mix-of-the-led-zeppelin-ii1969-by-robert-ludwig?srsltid=AfmBOop86zJ6gnWNKLnbAr-q8_uHGPKkTUwAQGz4jS6XxHeVEC-cd0u1 https://www.therevolverclub.com/blogs/the-revolver-club/the-...
- lmm 3mo ago
  > I am not insane so I did not spend $1300 on a used vinyl record, I found mine for $2 at Goodwill. How is holding onto it instead of selling it for $1300 any less insane than buying it for $1300 in the first place?
  - bravura 3mo ago
    Who taught you this? And why do you think this way?
    - thaumasiotes 3mo ago
      He thinks that way because it's the only correct way to think. Try raising the value of the record and see what you think about it.
      - prollings 3mo ago
        Why? We know the price was $1300. Doesn't mean anyone would buy it for that much. So try lowering the number and see what you think? The value is what someone is willing to pay for it.
      - embedding-shape 3mo ago
        > He thinks that way because it's the only correct way to think. I typed up something, but ended up almost antagonistic. I realize I just feel sad that for some people money is literally the single goal in their life, seemingly nothing else matters.
        Dylan16807 3mo ago
        What are you talking about? They didn't say anything about what decision is correct. They just said that the two decisions are equivalent. Please note the use of the word "insane" is specifically because buildsjets said it was insane.
      - NikolaNovak 3mo ago
        Mathematically that's absolutely true. Emotionally, it feels different. It's fascinating to see downright angry gut reactions! A few years ago my friend was selling his expensive camera on Kijiji. I asked him to sell it to me for slightly less as a friendly discount. He told me that's the same as just randomly one day giving me a wad of cash, so why would he do that?? I thought he's crazy and was a little bit offended. Actually maybe a fair bit offended! It took me YEARS to realize that 1. He's absolutely completely Inarguably correct, and 2. People would find me no less crazy if I adopted same perspective. Buy for $x, have and not sell for $x, same mathematically. But oh boy will people get instantly riled up emotionally :).
  - williamdclt 3mo ago
    If they don't need $1300 cash, they don't have any real reason to sell it
  - mrweasel 3mo ago
    The logic is a little broken for me... If he really wanted the record, and got it for $2, why would he then sell it and then not have it? Replacing it would cost at least $1300. You're logic is why so much in this world if fucking broken. Everything is a grift, a hustle, an opportunity for profit.
    - NikolaNovak 3mo ago
      People are getting angry at the math here. I'm Not the OP and have no moral judgement here, but from strict bank account balance perspective it's the same. Persuade me otherwise through addition and subtraction, not moral appeals. 1. I have 10,000 in my bank account. 2. I see a 1,300 record I like 3. I buy it 4. My bank account now has 8700 5. There's 1,300 difference if I choose to buy it or not 1. I have 10,000 in my bank account 2. I have a 1,300 record 3. If I sell it my bank account will have 11,300 4. 1,300 difference if I choose to sell it or not No "end of the world, this is what's wrong with everybody" gross hyperboles please, I don't care one iota about whether anybody buys or sells expensive records, I don't make any moral judgement whatsoever and would appreciate people in turn not making extreme assumptions about what I think about expensive records. But economically, buying an expensive item or selling expensive item is the same - Prove it wrong with numbers not appeals to emotion please.
      - mrweasel 3mo ago
        > Prove it wrong with numbers not appeals to emotion please But my point is that I don't care about the numbers. If fact my complaint was that it was made into a financial decision, just because the record happens to be worth $1300. If it was a $10 record, bought used at $2, then few would argue that you should sell it and make $8. My argument is that it doesn't matter if you could make $8 or $1298, not if you enjoy the record and wish keep it. It's the defaulting to "You could make money" in so many of aspects of life that's starting to annoy me.
        Dylan16807 3mo ago
        It's fine if you want to own and use an expensive thing. The argument is not "you could make money", the argument is that if you got the expensive thing for free and choose not to sell then you're roughly as "insane" as the person that paid full price. Go ahead and splurge but try not to be a hypocrite about it. It's not lmm that was passing judgement, it was the person that owns the record passing judgement.
  - hidroto 3mo ago
    all right let me buy one of your kidneys, after all you only need one.
  - iainmerrick 3mo ago
    Even if you think in purely transactional terms like "asset currently worth $1300", what's wrong with holding onto an asset? Especially one that's likely to appreciate, not depreciate, as long as you look after it carefully. And in the meantime, you get to enjoy owning it.
    - axus 3mo ago
      This is the psychological basis of capitalism: we enjoy owning things.

emsign 3mo ago

I prefer to buy original releases of CDs second hand on Discogs. I then digitize them with Exact Audio Copy. I never bought into the recent vinyl hype. Though I really like the beautiful design of many new vinyl releases, I don't think they are for being played. But I used to buy new and used vinyl as a teenager to actually listen to them, and occasionally I still buy used vinyl. Vinyl records from the flea market were as cheap as 1€, so that was an efficient way to grow my music collection before file sharing was a thing. But now I prefer CDs because what really interests me is the music itself and I simply prefer the version with the best mastering. That's often CD releases from the early 1980s to mid 1990s. And yes, I still buy music because I don't trust music streaming to be around forever. At least I think there is a real chance CDs will outlast individual services for sure. And in case the internet gets shut down because of war, at least I still have music as long as I have power.

encom 3mo ago
>I never bought into the recent vinyl hype. For me, it's the expense and the inconvenience... as the meme goes. But anyway - I just like it; when I put on a record it's like "I'm doing this now and nothing else". Sitting on the couch and listening to Dark Side with a glass of wine. Remembering when my dad used to play records and I wasn't allowed to touch it because the stylus was expensive and fragile. It's a vibe, as the kids say.
sombragris 3mo ago
> I never bought into the recent vinyl hype. This. I'm 55. My teenage years were in the 1980s, where CDs started to appear but vinyl was still mainstream. I remember Dad having a significant vinyl library and I also got my own collection. But I hated caring for that thing. The medium is finicky, prone to scratches and whatnot, and CDs had more length and also more range and better sound. So as soon as I was able to get CDs, I got rid of my vinyl collection faster than one does it with a hot potato in their hands. I used vinyl daily, hated the whole burden of caring for it; and against CDs, I really found them wanting. Too bad the medium got degraded with idiots who used dynamic compression, but inherently CDs and lossless digital audio in general is way much better. I never understood the vinyl resurgence, until some people explained it as being something more performative and also a way to get better artwork and physical mementos of the music. Understandable, but I still feel it's weird.

mauriciolange 3mo ago

Tech radar article links to the article mentioned by this post.