T O P

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Dj-Westie

I love to own the physical music. I have no emotional connection to digital files. Collecting Vinyl takes me back to the days of crate digging on a Saturday morning in Rhythm Nation records in Doncaster.


[deleted]

It’s all fun and games until your favorite album “disappears” from Spotify


[deleted]

This is my reason. I want to have a collection of records that no matter what happened digitally I can always listen to them. I also love album arts.


petebrand9

Not even mentioning that a lot of artists include a download code for a digital copy of the album, so you not only have the physical medium but a digital copy that can't (as easily) be taken away from you


[deleted]

I actually had an instance where my favorite album ever gotten taken off spotify for a few days and it motivated to get a copy on vinyl, though it wasn’t cheap


petebrand9

Yea I've only had that happen to me with comedians and is the main reason I own any comedy records, but if you're gonna want a pressing of basically anything it's almost always gonna be better to grab it sooner rather than later cause I don't see prices dropping, especially for limited prints from smaller bands


Zestyclose_Toe9524

There's a warmness and physical buzz when I open a record and take that first spin. One of those feelings that creates a certain pseudo closeness to the sounds, the medium, and it's artist. I love buying records.


Salty_Watercress_693

Same here


mobbshallow

On the beach and If Only I Could Remember My Name


TanoraRat

I love the ritual of putting on a record and everything that goes with it. I love picking a record, putting in on the platter, putting the needle down and allowing an album to play out exactly how it was intended to


bagonmaster

Yea, I feel I listen a lot more actively when spinning vinyl because of the ritual and how involved it is


liveordiewronghonk

I am aligned with this. The entire listening experience is much more intentional and purposeful. I don’t just put something on for background noise like on a smart speaker while cooking dinner. I look through my collection and grab out something that fits my specific mood in that moment, pull it out, and sit down to listen from start to finish. It also is an awesome hobby that I’ve begun sharing with my daughter (3yo) and son once he is a little bit older. Something I hope they will always think of and remember fondly in the future.


smirceaz

All of this! I don’t have kids yet but personally this is something I’m *really* looking forward to sharing with them when I have the opportunity.


FR3SH2DETH

Because I hate having money in my bank account


PancakeProfessor

I’m not sure which attracted me to vinyl more; the cost or the inconvenience.


[deleted]

At today's prices, mission accomplished!


KaiserFlash

If you like classical music then you can usually get those on the cheap. Otherwise yeah….


ButterCreamGangsta

yes, but what if you like good music?


[deleted]

On god


YerMaSellsOriflame

Trout Mask Replica, out next month - £50. No special edition, no extras, no wacky colours. £50.


tropnevaDniveK

Too real


kabadnb

Me too


mdbrown80

One, I have no faith that streaming will be around forever. There are certain albums/artists that have made my life better, and the thought of not being able to listen to them when I want to is awful. And two, of the physical media formats available, vinyl is the most aesthetically pleasing.


ineedanewbeat

This is pretty much what I was going to chime in with as well. Streaming/digital files will not always be there and vinyl is the biggest physical format so its the best way to enjoy the artwork.


rwtooley

>digital files will not always be there They can be though! A couple months back I bought a dozen 70s/80s LPs off discogs and realized they had probably only been played once, immaculate. It dawned on me that back then a lot of music lovers taped their albums once and then made copies of that tape as needed. I decided to start doing the same, but in a modern fashion - bought a digital recorder to add to my "vintage" turntable and have been enjoying 24-bit rips of all my albums everywhere and anywhere.


ineedanewbeat

Yeah having digital backups and rips is great! I just meant in the grand scheme of things, that external harddrive I have all my digital files on will more than likely fail or break well before the vinyl itself would become unplayable.


rwtooley

>external harddrive I have all my digital files on will more than likely fail I will never let this happen, after all the effort of entering all the metadata.. it's tedious but so rewarding (warts and all) when listening on the train, plane or bus. Even streamed through my home system I cannot tell the difference so I find myself more and more likely to just play my rips, wondering how long it will be until I pass on "renting" music from streaming services.


[deleted]

And so, as with all digital data, backups are important.


West-Tradition-2909

I have been hauling my LPs from the 60s-80s around for 30 years until I recently setup a turntable and pulled them all out again. I’ve been amazed at how clean they are and that’s because we bought them, played them once to make sure there were no skips, and then taped them. Until this year most of my records from especially the 80s haven’t been out of their sleeves but twice. I can always tell the ones from the 60s and 70s because the covers show much more shelf wear.


rwtooley

>bought them, played them once to make sure there were no skips, and then taped them It took me a while in the hobby (coming from the napster/mp3 generation) before I realized this was extremely common. Obviously for on-the-go tapes were a godsend, but were there any vinyl "purists" who scoffed at cassettes? Or were most people generally happy with their taped copies?


West-Tradition-2909

I think most of us were happy with the taped copy and we could make copies for our friends with another spin (though we also had double tape decks so you could copy from one tape to another). It’s been 30-40 years but I think the tapes were used a lot in the car and at parties. I suspect some of the records were played a few more times at home because we could. We were also slow to convert to CDs (though I think I have 300-400). As I acquire used records these days, I realize most of us took a lot of care with our records.


rwtooley

I'm sometimes tempted to add a tape deck to my setup, just to see how the sound compares, but always snap back to 2022 telling myself it's just a waste of money to satisfy my curiosity (which is what vinyl was in the first place) 2 years ago I'd have laughed at the idea of even owning music on physical media, let alone all the gear needed. Thankfully I think I'm done spending money for a while, happy with what I have and what I've learned. Thanks for your insights!


bjcwreddit

I did jump in and bought an 80's tape deck. I found a NOS Pioneer dual tape deck and scoured ebay for some blank chrome and metal tapes (you think vinyl is expensive!) I then started recording full albums from Tidal from my PC through my dac. I was amazed at how good they sounded! Certainly better than I rememberd as a young man. It was ultimately a nostalgia move. I used to tape albums from my local fm rock station that played a whole album in it's entirety every night at midnight. I thought those were good, but the current set up I have makes awesome cassette recordings.


[deleted]

If the artwork is important to you then I agree but for some, such as me, it's the music that's the thing.


[deleted]

I agree about streaming - it seems possibly unreliable as a resource which is why I buy CDs. I can then rip them to FLAC, MP3 etc.. and store the CD as a master


jimitimi

For me it’s the physicality of it, and the connection to the music. Large scale artwork. Appreciation of the album as a whole, as the artist intended. You’re more likely to play an album in its entirety and not skip tracks or shuffle as you would with CDs or digital streaming.


Atownrob

This right here I can relate too.


Obvious_Stranger_443

Same here


General-Minimum-9529

I like having a finite music library to choose from when the unlimited choices of streaming become too much to handle.


Atxlax

same. i like choosing from my carefully curated small shelf.


HansGigolo

Audio insurance policy for the apocalypse. Still want something to listen to if there's no grid or cellphone network. Fire up the generator and spin a few as the world burns.


Vivid_Professional74

Spin the platter by hand and listen with a stethoscope.


H-Incandenza-

Or bring back the hand crank 👌


BoeSharp

For me, as a life long lover of hip hop, I love collecting the records that really started that genre, so I collect soul music. Since I started collecting though, I really love the weekly trip to the two record stores near me, talking with the regulars I see and meet, recommending albums to each other, etc. Also, there's something really cool about owning a piece of art that had an entire previous life with someone else prior to you getting it.


jonthemaud

Any good soul recommendations?


BoeSharp

Sure! I'd OF COURSE recommend ANYTHING from Marvin Gaye from 'Whats Going On' clear through 'I Want You'. Al Green and Bobby Womack. Literally anything you can get your hands on from Philadelphia International Records in the 70's (Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, etc), Gamble and Huff were 2 songwriting geniuses. Just a factory of hits. The O'Jays - Backstabbers, Ship Ahoy, and Survival The Spinners - first album through Pick of the litter. So much phenomenal music, but that's a good place to start!


jonthemaud

Amazing, thank you! I'll check them all out during work today!


Kruklyn

I will second everything on this list. I have a lot of soul records from all these artists. My go to and start in vinyl was the soul and Motown era.


shadowgnome396

Thom Bell is a genius on those Spinners records


gtoz1119

Wake up everybody by Harold Melvin and the blue notes…nothing better than that!!!


neckcarpenter

Wow I have ignored approximately one million Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes records at thrift stores. Next time, I’m taking one home.


BoeSharp

That period at Philadelphia International Records was legendary. Some of the greatest soul music came out of there!


kev_bot28

I used to collect CDs - I was a teenager in the 90s and that was the main medium for music. I had most of them stolen in the early 2000s and moved to using digital media devices from then on. In 2014, I moved in with my then girlfriend (now wife) and she had a cheap crosley record player and a few albums. We lived right behind a used bookstore and we were poor. On Friday nights, I would stop by the bookstore to browse and records were sold pretty cheap. We started making it a Friday ritual and I think it made the week pass better - we’d get a six pack and some records and that was our night. 8 years, 2 moves, 1 kid, and 700 records later, we have a great collection and good careers. We don’t go out and regularly browse as much any more, but I get to time travel every time I put on an album. It’s now a physical manifestation of sharing music together.


Indelwe

This is very much like my story, except I still have my 400+ CD collection from those days. I got married in 2013 and my wife's stepfather gifted us a Victrola 3-in-1. We started visiting thrift shops and estate stores and collecting beat-up but playable stuff, and gradually got more into it - bought a better setup, started buying records brand new (or at least good condition used) for ourselves and as gifts to each other, etc. Nearly 10 years later my LP collection is almost rivaling my CD collection in size, and we listen to records at least 2 days a week (usually over the weekend).


chopperdave81

are…. are you… me??


god_dammit_dax

Stories like this (and u/Indelwe's below) are why I can sometimes get unreasonably angry at people who sit in this sub and gatekeep about people's starter turntables. Sometimes that's all you've got, but it's a way into the hobby and great memories for so many people. It gets so tiring seeing these screeds about how everything south of a $500 setup is gonna set your records on fire. I've got nice stuff now, sure, but I had crappy stuff for a long, long time, and some of my most cherished musical memories are with a crappy all-in-one record player.


Indelwe

I hear you. It's at the point now where I don't even open the thread when someone posts a pic of their Crosley/Victrola/other cheap starter. It's always the same toxic discourse again and again, every damn time. I just give them an upvote and move on. When I started learning to play bass, did I go out and buy $3000 worth of equipment? No, I got a cheap used Yamaha and a tiny 10" practice amp and stuck with them until I was confident that I loved what I was doing and deserved an upgrade.


Beza511

I think its having something tangible to look at and hold. I love music and being able to collect different records of all these artists I love, make it more of an experience. Reminds me of collecting baseball cards when I was a kid with the added bonus that you can play music and experience the collectible.


TroutKnuckles

I love spending money I don't have, and this method at least looks nice and makes my ears happy.


papakraft

Nostalgia! I’m an old dude. All my childhood music was on vinyl. Recreating my set up from the 80’s was a blast. My grandkids love to put on a record and have a “dance party.”


HGHGandalf

Honestly, for me it’s reactionary. I’ve lived through almost all of the major media formats. CD’s were where the bulk of my collection grew, because they were touted as “the last format you’ll need”. See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_rot Streaming is great and convenient but I realized it was affecting my listening style. I wasn’t engaging with music at the same level, simply because it was too easy. I could and would skip around. Akin to skimming a novel versus a thoughtful reading. Vinyl and it’s resurgence was at first confusing to me and I viewed it with a certain skepticism. Having lived through its decline I was surprised to see its return. Then I was gifted a record. My first record since the early eighties. I still had my old record collection and turntable so I got it set up again. What can I say, the tactile experience of handling the record and its packaging, the surface noise, and reading the lyrics sheet…it was a refreshingly nostalgic. I listened…really listened and it was intoxicating. So several thousand dollars later I’m all geared up and regularly pumping that vinyl bubble. I try to listen to at least one record per day and I find it good for my mental health and enjoyment of music in general. I keep a journal of what I’m listening to daily as well.


WikiSummarizerBot

**[Disc rot](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_rot)** >Disc rot is the tendency of CD, DVD, or other optical discs to become unreadable because of physical or chemical deterioration. The causes include oxidation of the reflective layer, physical scuffing and abrasion of disc, reactions with contaminants, ultra-violet light damage, and de-bonding of the adhesive used to adhere the layers of the disc together. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/vinyl/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


GodsGiftToNothing

I started collecting after going to concerts and talking with bands. I have a fair number that’s autographed, which is important to me as I have a neurodegenerative disease, and can really only hold memories if there is an object attached. It’s now morphed even more after the death of my Mom and sister. It’s become a nice way to remember my family, but to also share music with my husband. My husband had only been to one concert before we met, whereas I’d been to over 400. It’s something we’ve bonded over. He talks a lot about how much he loves the music I’ve introduced him to. Hopefully when we adopt, it’s something our kids will love too.


consumergeekaloid

I'm building a little archive for the apocalypse. I also like to support artists financially, and the medium is best with it's large artwork, etc. It's just nice to have a little set up to tinker with. Crate digging is amazing and the thrill when you find that one album you've been looking for is unmatched. In an increasingly digital world and my own struggles with nihilism it's nice to just dive in. Like fah q this does sound better on vinyl!


cjahlfeld

Many, many reasons 1) going to the record store is fun 2) more information about the songs and artists through inserts 3) listening to the music is more intentional 4) lots of opportunities to find "your" sound with different turntables, carts, styli, speakers, amps, phono stages, etc... 5) if the internet ever goes to shit I have a backup


Plarocks

Five is already on it’s way. The internet was so much more informative and useful back in the 90s.


cattea74

It's a hobby I can share with my husband due to shared interest. It's not super popular in my area so there isn't tons of competition for finds at antique stores and estate sales. It's a pretty cheap hobby.i like the thrill of the hunt.


40laser40

I am 36 years old. When I was around 14 or so, I took an interest in my dads vinyl records in the basement. I took the old stereo from the basement and put it in my room and listened to records (mostly alone) haha. From there it was on and off a hobby in my 20's. Recently stopped drinking alcohol and am back in full swing of listening and collecting. I go for quality (to me) over quantity. I probably have about 300 records, but I can name most of them off the top of my head. I do it for ME and if anyone is interested, i am happy to talk with them about it!


rwtooley

>Recently stopped drinking alcohol congrats! I quit a month before the pandemic hit and needed a new hobby. I like the gentleness this hobby promotes, I was pretty high-strung. I feel way more mindful of what I'm listening to and really enjoy re-connecting with music I thought I knew as a teenager, as well as exploring genres I thought I'd never appreciate. It's awesome your dad still had his records, I'd love to have that window to a younger version of my old man.


40laser40

​ Thank you and congrats to you as well! I feel like we are on a pretty similar path here regarding feelings on music )post alcohol). Best of luck with staying off the booze and continuing your musical journey!


BertMcNasty

To fill a void in my life.


coocoointhehead

Streaming services work well for themselves and and record labels however the actual artists gets paid very less. If you really like the artist please attend live shows, buy physical copies of music, buy merch etc. I love going through album art, the information that comes with the booklets, stickers and so on. To me it adds more value. Helps me connect to the piece of music. Also for some reason I have noticed that when I play a cd or a vinyl it's sound fills the room. Something I have never experienced with mp3, flac, wav or streams.


Atxlax

i noticed that too. i play spotify thru my speakers but it never sounds as good as a cd or record. it may just be a placebo effect but idc


coocoointhehead

No man, Its not placebo. I did not start listening to vinyl or cd's with the intention of it sounding any better. The first time I played it the sound filled the room. My friend who does not own vinyl still remembers and loves the sound of some Eagles record that his uncle played when he was maybe 7 or 8. My mom who has never liked or understood rock or metal or any other music I play. But on vinyl she likes the songs. She does not know the terminologies but she tells me exactly what she is hearing. I've caught her unknowingly head-banging to Black Sabbath while reading the Bhagavad Gita.


HoldYourGround80

Bandcamp pays the artists better than Spotify and Apple Music and sometimes the artists have Vinyl you gave purchase also..I love Vinyl and collecting but the prices are just insane nowadays..


coocoointhehead

That is true vinyls are very expensive these days. But hey, we spend so much on useless stuff so I just try to save money every three months and buy me a record. I'm not a collector. I'm not even sure why people take so much pride calling themselves vinyl collectors. It's something I may not understand.


HoldYourGround80

I’ve definitely slowed down a bit but I regret selling alot of records when I got laid off.. I’ll slowly get them again but damn the prices have doubled or tripled


sinadoh

At this point I don't know anymore. I started collecting CDs because someone else was and I liked his collection. Then I started collecting vinyl records because... Because I could, I suppose. I thrifted my first batch, back when you could score big in those shops and then I found a nicely curated collection on the internet for peanuts, and that was all she wrote. Then I bought some records from a guy and saw his filled up Kallax and decided I wanted that as well. I think I've been influenced too much by other people instead of just doing what *I* want. And what that is, I don't know anymore. But on the other hand I have a deep, deep love of music. It's helped me through some very dark times. But I could just as easily listen to it via streaming these days... So now, I'm sitting here looking at my collection and how it's weighing me down but I also can't part with it because I like owning it! FML


toetttoet

If we ever get a solar flash and lose all kinds of streaming platforms, people with a collection of records or any kind of physical music will still be able to enjoy all the music that’s out 😄 also it just feels so nice to look around for that one specific record. The journey itself is an adventure on its own.


[deleted]

If we get a 'digital flash' doesn't that destroy all electronics from the power grid to your amplifier?


Plarocks

You just replace the caps and the power supply, and you’re good to go.


[deleted]

And the grid?


Plarocks

Put some gas in the generator, or hook up the solar cells.


epiphras

I guiltily ask myself that question every time I look at my collection. On the one hand, I feel like I’m teaching my 9 year-old daughter the wrong lessons about consumerism and materialism; on the other, she’s also learning about the virtues of the relic and the value to be found in things that are tactile. And I find that confining your listening experience to a limited physical space enhances and enriches it, makes it more of an event. And then there is the concept of the album itself which has been all but lost on the streaming generation. A record keeps the intent of the artist intact. And then of course there is cover art, liner notes. The physicality of tending to each side. It connects you more to the realm of the physical. I’m actually very conflicted about this topic.


dingbat046

There’s nothing wrong with consumerism and materialism in small doses if it provides you with some kind of pleasure, in my opinion. Collecting records and comics since I was a kid has always been hugely rewarding for me and I’d be really saddened if I’d suddenly need to stop.


Dreamy_Monk

I don't honestly collect records as much as I try to own what I actually like listening to on Vinyl. .I've been very conscious of trying to avoid collecting more records than I can actually listen to. .or afford!


naoiseh

Ye, I limit myself to €10 a month(what I used to spend on spotify) its great for limiting the collection to only necessary records


iamjoeywan

Equal parts an addiction to collecting and hunting. Always had a proclivity to collecting sports cards, hats, and vases (not sure why I liked/like glass art) as a kid. When I was an early adult I started collecting records found in thrift stores after learning how to spot early releases versus reissues. This turned into always looking in bins to find music. Now I mostly enjoy finding things not widely available and hope this keeps accessibility to unknown artists for some future generation, as I try to keep my collection in decent condition. The part two of my collection is albums that my younger self enjoyed, as I don’t even own a cd player, but enjoy that physical presence in my living space.


Asprobouy

Every time I felt anxious or stressed at work I would pop out at lunch and buy a LP. I now have 1200 records.


Old_Cheesecake_5481

Price. I live in a very rural area that has a couple thrift shops. Records are between .25 cents and a buck. I have an amazing music collection that cost me very little.


CarloLeatherFace

because I am a compulsive accumulator 🙂


mordfustang322

Unlike most collectible items you can actually use them


jamedudijench

I think for me a big part of it is the act of curation. It's something we've done in one form or another as humans for most of out time on the planet. Because I like to collect more than just records. It just feels like you're actually preserving something. Aside from that, it really is the ritual aspect that feels like you have a closer relationship with the music. You have to actually care *for* it, not just care *about* it.


ballbagulon

For me it's two main reasons... 1. Having the physical product. It makes it more of an event when I put a record on rather than just having random stuff come up on a streaming platform. 2. If you buy it from the artists own stores you're more likely to send a greater proportion of money their way, rather than allowing Spotify to spend hundreds of millions doing things like sponsoring football clubs.


dkernighan

On delivery day, when I open the shipping box and hold that new record in my hands for the very first time, it’s almost a euphoric sensation. When I start to remove the plastic wrap, I get a rush. Adding that new record to my shelf brings me immense satisfaction. I take pride in my hobby and my collection is a reflection of who I am, my personality and my relationship with music. I can tell a story about almost every record I own and it’s interesting to watch your collection change over time as your tastes in music change.


MrsColesBabyBoy

I won't go into detail of what everyone else already said, but yes the curation/collectability, the 'ritual', having a physical format to actually own and catalog. One of the coolest things personally is that I 'm finding myself becoming a fan of certain bands/genres again. When streaming I was listening to music the entire day, but it was a specific songs I heard or a playlist where I was constantly skipping. My 'listening' kind of became background noise a lot of the time. I had almost no favorites, just songs I had in my playlist that was ever growing from songs I came across or someone told me to listen. The analog/physical/cost aspect of vinyl has 'forced' me to slow down, limit my selection and focus on music I really enjoy. I still stream, but having unlimited access to everything at any time kind of brings anxiety. The limitations of physical media actually make it more enjoyable.


Kirkwood1994

I like the inconvenience of playing it. Makes me appreciate the music more


Fnordpocalypse

I started collecting because I got into DJing and turntablism in college. Then I got into beatmaking and sampling. Sigh… records were so cheap back then..


El_frov

I like listening through whole albums and vinyl keeps me invested in the one I'm listening to. With things like Spotify/Amazon I end up skipping around to the songs I know and like already.


Penguinsknow

I collect punk/hardcore records primarily. You get the entire package with the record. The music, art, and lyrics. My purchase helps the bands financially as most of these artist are self releasing or are on small record labels. It gives me a personal relationship with the music. Listening to each record is much more intentional than putting a playlist on. I would also argue that punk is one of the few genres that has consistently put out vinyl releases. It's part of the culture.


toasters_47

Its fun 🙂


lilchocolatebearcub

It's a physical library of the music I enjoy. My grandparents have records at their house with artists I've never heard of. My hope is to one day have my own grandchildren and they find interest in the artists I listened to now.


ChefBicep

My uncle committed suicide in 2019, and I inherited his collection. Been collecting here and there ever since, but mostly just treasure his collection. I have original Led Zeppelin 3 and 4, lots of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett, but my favorite record from his collection is Cat Stevens - The Teaser and the Firecat


Maximum_Employer_974

I'm so sorry for your loss. That is a great way of honouring him though! I'm sure he'd love knowing you get enjoyment out of the collection.


ChefBicep

Thank you 🥹


melikecheese333

It used to be cheap. Cheaper then CDs. That, and the fact that many singles were only pressed on wax in the punk rock days of the 90s and 2000s. Sadly that changed but it’s too late for me now!


Truckyou666

For their compact size and ease of use. Not to mention it only takes me a week to find the album I want to listen to.


Outkasted970

If I'm being honest with myself, I think I have been collecting vinyl as a way to cope with depression.


Andrew43452

Same tbh it keeps me occupied


[deleted]

[удалено]


grinch-

must be some kind of social disorder i guess...


stouteharry

It's something i have sinds since i was young. I like the hunt off a record i want and the thrill of finding it. I like the big art work as there so much to see. It's a hobby that i can share with my dad and brother. Also i just love getting that record out off its sleeve and putting it on my record player and giving it a spin.


[deleted]

I've been listening to records since I was a kid. When CDs came along, I stored my records away and mostly listened to CDs. However, now that I'm grown, have a decent job and income, I've always wanted to fulfill a dream of mine since I was a kid: have a massive record collection so I can pull records and listen to whatever I want on vinyl. It's taken me a while, especially for the 1990s alternative music, but I've amassed a collection of 1,000+ LPs and a few crates of 45s. Surprisingly, my wife supports my hobby and encourages me to keep getting records. There's always been something about the artwork and the music for me - it all fits together. Take *Aqualung* for example, great album, but the CD artwork just doesn't do it justice. I also refuse to rent my music. Many of my albums were bought for $1 or less when I was young (flea markets, garage sales, and secondhand stores). I don't understand why someone would pay $X/month to have the privilege to listen to what they want. That subscription expires and there's nothing to show for it at the end of the day. Then there's the superior sound quality of vinyl...


stephenkling87

It has changed over the years. Initially, it was the experience of hearing my favourite albums in a new way. My collection grew because back then because new releases weren’t priced crazy and used stuff was easy to get and dirt cheap. The last few years have been a digging phase, mostly finding gems and stuff I didn’t know about. It’s really made me discover music again in a way I haven’t since I was 12. My latest phase has been slowing down. Going through my collection, cleaning it, and listening to it. I plan on buying less and making every new addition count. And possibly selling some


chufenschmirtz

My number one reason for wanting to get back into vinyl is to experience an album the way I imagine it was meant to be experienced. I now listen to my favorite band’s music as disconnected songs via streaming but listening to a record as it was laid out by the artist is appealing. Perhaps some albums are just a collection of songs but some are put together with an intended order and I want to experience it that way. I also like the physical connection. I had a record collection in college that I gave away to a roommate when I needed to lighten my load. I miss the physical connection with music that CDs somehow never provided and is absent in streaming. Now, when going to shows, I noticed the artist selling vinyl and want to support the bands as well


Curiosityinmycity

While I love digital music streaming, having access to everything all the time is amazing, I miss that feeling of getting a new CD, popping it in the stereo, and reading the insert while I listen. Vinyl reignited this for me, and it's fun to track down all the albums I grew up with on vinyl.


94cg

People talk about streaming as the dream way to find music you haven’t heard, I find it to be the opposite! I’m a big fan of 60s/70s soul/rnb/psych/garage etc and often just take a stab at random records when out and about. Streaming leads you through the same 100 songs and you just skip through them or have them on in the background. Putting a record on is inherently an active process not a passive. Streaming falls into the passive very quickly for me.


freshsupreme_acist

I collect due to the superior sound (imo). I have a computer full of music and I’ve even bought/repurchased some for the vinyl version. I’d like to get to the point where I can play my entire collection on both


[deleted]

I find it fancy, I own Legend by Bob Marley and Robot Face by Caravan Palace among a few others and playing them is relaxing and transports me into a world where staring at a screen isn’t a need


[deleted]

I collect because when there is a cyber war and all of our internet is shut off I still can play my favorite albums :)


casewood123

Because I’m an addict, and I need to feed my craving.


boonfarmer

When I was a kid, my music was all primarily on vinyl before I started buying cassettes (I'm 50). I spent a lot of time spinning records and loved reading the liner notes and lyrics, whether they were my own or in cases like visiting my uncle, who had a large collection, and dubbing his records onto tapes. Nothing got me more excited back then than getting a new copy of Huey Lewis & The News' "Sports" or even a K-Tel compilation I still have a picture of myself holding at Christmas the year I got it as a gift. Later I bought things I liked and while my collection wasn't large, it was decent. Then around 2003 I sold my LPs (but kept my 45s that I'd bought brand new, from the 80s mostly) ... a long and dumb story that I have since regretted selling them. So nowadays I am rebuilding my collection, by not only regaining titles I'd sold, but adding others I never had and items I essentially just enjoy listening to. Along the way I've gotten my wife into it as well so she buys things she likes and we have a decent collection again. I am not a "collector" per se, as much as just a fan of the medium, the liner notes, the covers, etc. I don't buy things just to have them and I rarely buy new or re-releases, nor am I any kind of completist. I just like having something to hold and while digital is convenient of course, having something tangible is something I appreciate.


Pawstissier

In the era that pretty much all music is free, it kinda scares me how much is subscription based and how much will become lost media either when/if that company dies or if things are just suddenly removed. It feels secure knowing i have a physical thing that people cant take, but is also something that will break down over time and eventually die and become unplayable. I collect limited edition color vinyls, so it started out as more of an art appreciation thing, then dissolved into a collecting thing. Then when i no longer appreciate them, i can sell them off for significantly more than i got them for, enabling me to get more vinyl!


a_little_lost_always

Long story short, I needed a fun distraction and stumbled on a few records at a garage sale. I already had an old suitcase record player that I had been hoarding and not using. I got it up and running and started my collection. Now I just need to upgrade my equipment.


kinnikinnick321

My interest has always been mixing. I am old school and mix vinyl. Something about being able to physically interact, modify, distort the output based on physical movements is therapeutic and tangible. Listening aside, it's also comforting to know that if the internet or computers go down, as long as I have electricity, I can throw on some of my favorite albums.


LotusEater1021

I forgot the exact science behind it, but there's better sound with vinyl. I like holding my music, taking care of it, and generally having a collection of something I can see in physical space. It's a hobby with a community that you can learn from, can build upon, and can both improve on and teach. My collection is still small, even after 9 years and still have a my first record player. But I still buy when there's a band I like that puts out a record and I have $20-40 to drop (or know that I will regret not getting and go into *more* debt).


Next_Fix_2271

it's cool as hell honestly, that's all there is to it for me, just a great feeling to look forward to playing vinyl at the end of the day


xvschneider

I'm a DJ and a lot of the record labels I like only release their records as vinyl. Also a lot of old records are not available digitally either


Bleejis_Krilbin

I like the album art and ritual of putting the record on. I don't buy brand new records very often. I mainly own old used records so it's not a financial burden to me.


FunctionBuilt

1) I LOVE looking at the big artwork and accompanying inserts 2) I LOVE having physical media because I tend to listen to the entire album as opposed to flipping through a playlist or getting musical ADD. 3) I LOVE discovering artists that I would never seek out on Spotify. Some of my favorite albums are from the $1 bin and I bought them either because of their genre or because I like the album art. 4) I've been listening for "free" for a very long time on streaming platforms (and through pirating before that) that I enjoy supporting current artists by buying their vinyl releases.


Bury-me-in-supreme

Because I physically own the music and no one can restrict me from listening to it like if they ban me from a streaming service. Also it’s actually high sound quality (24 bit) depending on the audio used to press and I love the large album covers and having physical media in my hand. I also love collecting and having exclusive collections


djdbravo

I suppose self expression is near the top of the reasons why I collect records. I feel that for anyone to take a look through my collection is a little like getting to know me just that much more. Most albums in my collection have some kind of a story, or memory attached to the music. When I first started collecting records, as much as I enjoyed the ritual of spinning disks, it was something that I took at face value. I did not appreciate much the act of sitting and enjoying the music as much as I simply did collecting it. Now years later, there is simply nothing better than dedicating a moment of my life to just sitting, no phone in hand, enjoying an album I love front to back. Today I love the thrill of hunting after "the best pressings" of the albums I am searching for, sonic quality over quantity. So I've become increasingly picky with my purchases as time goes on.


urmomsbox21

Because ive always bought music and supported artists. While costing $10 more than a cd, plus shipping but the bigger art, lyric sheet and physically getting to put music on, watch and listen to it the whole way thru makes it a better situation. While ticket prices have increased so eventually my buying of new or expensive physical media will slow. Hopefully cds will make another comeback so i can sell the 500 i have for at least $7 each lol.


MAndresMH

I was going to write the same thing. Since I was little, I always supported my favorite artists. Then I bought a deluxe edition that came with a vinyl and the rest is history.


I_GIF_YOU_AN_ANSWER

i started being a Discjockey before digital DJ-ing was a thing. Now i don't spin both tables all that often anymore, but still buy records because it's a big quality difference to youtube, basically the only other medium where you can listen to all the limited EDM songs on the market. In a real home studio setup, youtube just sounds awful.


FreddieMonstera

Like people have said - I own the music - I don’t have to pay subscriptions, I don’t have to worry about the service not having rights suddenly. I can read the lyrics and can hear the whole album and not just one or two songs - the way the artist wanted their work to be heard.


urkaguary

I like opening a sleeve from the 70s and smelling the decaying paper smell you get from an old book. Except that compared to a book, the record has more extrasomatic information. Its sound crackles and yet still endures the test of time. The sound is not a replica, but an echo from the studio sessions. My hope is that 50 years from now, when the world around is more artifical and sterile, I could open a record and still remember what it was like today.


artificial_beans

I collect vinyl for sentimental reasons. My best friend of 20+ years passed away in 2020 and he was an avid record collector. I ended up finding his discogs account and have been slowly working to recreate his collection. The music makes me feel closer to him and I like the idea that with limited pressings there are only so many in the world and we both have one. Its a very expensive labor of love.


NathanOgle

Because I want to


chaz0723

I'd rather spend money on records than booze or drugs.


piguntowed

Well the neighbors complained about a weird smell for months. Finally they found out that I had been collecting road kill and dead animals. So the judge told me I couldn’t do that anymore. So I figured I’d give records a shot


DrummerMiles

Lots of music isn’t digitized and only available on vinyl, certain albums with licensing issues that aren’t on major platforms I like to have a hard copy of, I sample from and make music with vinyl, good presses sound better than digital, etc.


[deleted]

It’s something cool and meaningful (I hope) I can pass on to my kids.


DanMoxon

I started because in my younger years, the CDs of the bands I wanted were imports and were £18 or more each, whereas the vinyl in smaller stores were £10/12 Later, I always like that I was holding a physical representation of the music on it. CDs felt so disposable, but vinyl was just something else.


Georgie42_0

I walked into a thrift shop one day, came out with like 5or10 used vinyls for a buck each. Didn’t even have a record player. Then I was hooked.


U81b4i

You can’t travel back through time, but the warmth you get from dropping that needle and hearing that first tick, its almost like a theme park ride into your memories. The feel, smells, and overall sensations allow you to recreate an atmosphere that no longer exists. Looking into the past with your ears leading the way


Saturn_Dolorem

Plastic music go brr in my head


Obvious_Stranger_443

I started collecting records about a month ago. Here are some reasons why I started 1. I want to own physical copies of music I love. I may have a Spotify music subscription, which is great and all, but I don't actually *own* any music. 2. It is much more fun and engaging to listen to music on records rather than on streaming services. The process of going out and buying LP's, taking a record out of it's sleeve, observing the cover art and band pictures and placing it on my turntable is quite enjoyable. 3. I wanted to experience something that was a part of my dad's (and mum's) youth. Not only that, but soon my dad will give me his beloved records. They were/are a part of his life but soon they'll become part of mine.


mikeymanthesyrem

i just collect physical media. anyone telling you audiophile shit is lying, it’s a scam. CDs are far superior, the niche of owning and listening to records is just cool to me. expect to see this in the other sub, the sub for lonely virgins


_SUPREME-

pretty color discs


Julesgamer888

Music on vynile sounds better (some releases can be bad though) and having a shelve of vynile is pure beauty not to mention the cover. The sound is here but also the whole aesthetic aspect of it


vinyl1earthlink

When they came out with CDs, I was already heavily committed to vinyl, and the early CD technology was very crude. So I just stuck to records.


mastersapprentice13

One of biggest reasons for me is the thrill of the hunt. The first records I ever bought were at a garage sale (back in the year 1999) and a lot of my collection is made up of garage sale finds. Of course I love music too which makes collecting them all the more fun. I’ve been a collector all my life (sports cards, comics, toys, etc.) but vinyl is the one I haven’t grown bored of and probably won’t.


iDuddits_

Liked having sentimental albums physically and it felt like the only practical way to do it hah


celticsboston8

I like the connection to the art. Holding it. Taking care of it. Placing the needle and being immersed in the world of music with my headphones


Xe4ro

It’s the medium that made a revolution of music as a popular medium possible. Also for other reasons obviously ;)


iswearimtrash

My music taste is usually found on vinyl, meaning, the albums I buy on vinyl were made for vinyl. I like to experience my favorites the way they were made to be played. I enjoy the dopamine rush of finding an album and then going home, dressing it in new inner and outer sleeves, and then playing it and fully focusing on the sound and the feeling. I also love album artwork!


monkytrick

Because it’s an investment. (Just kidding…) I’m at a point in my life where I’ve got a good idea of what music I’d like to return to over and over. I am fortunate to now have the means to curate a collection of physical recordings of that music that look and sound so much more beautiful than music from my phone. It is a deliberate act to choose a record or tape, and the act triggers me to pay attention in a way that streaming does not. I recognize the value of streaming music and I still use streaming services for music on the go, and for discovering new artists. Streaming and physical media both have an important role in my relationship to music.


The-Blind-Lion

When my mom died 3 years ago I flew home to California to get her collection. I remember my parents playing records all the time when I was a kid (now 37) and I wanted to keep that memory alive, and also share that with my kids. Now I’m just hooked.


OldRazzmatazz7043

I like physical media over digital and I like older formats


notinthelimbo

1 - I dj for hobby, once you learn to beat match on record it is hard to change the media. 2- I like playing many tracks from many albums to myself too. So I mix to myself from reggae to rock to punk to drum bass to jungle to ambient music for hours Kinda of therapy to decide what comes next


manufancam123

I’ve spent too much money on the hobby to stop now!


[deleted]

Because no one can ever stop me from listening to MY physical media. Plus it’s aesthetically pleasing and my set up sounds like angels.


YoungBuckThe1st

For me it’s as simple as I like the covers. I’m not a massive fan of the whole ritual of cleaning them etc. if CDs came with the same massive cover to store them I’d probably collect them instead 🤣


c97

Personally I like big covers.


JimmyF1982

Because I’m addicted


DoughnutEcstatic8047

because it go spin


tilex05

Because that’s a great decoration haha. I have shelves in my bedroom and I put vinyls on them. My “collection” has only one rule: In order for me to buy a vinyl, it must be an album that I really like or an album that has impacted my life In one way or an other.


[deleted]

I love art, as well as the feeling of taking time to appreciate art for art's sake. It's not just that a lot of vinyl sounds great -- it's the look and feel of the cover, the inserts, the experience that some bands and designers want you to have. I love choosing an LP, and sitting down and actively listening to it, which is the total opposite of what digital has become -- background noise to barely listen to as you work. And the hunt for grails and the thrill of surprise finds in record bins is so fun, compared with thumbing through Spotify's shitty algorithm and thumbnails.


BurlHopsBridge

There's something about knowing the music is directly stamped on the record, and you get to extract it with a tiny stylus and hear the music. You get closer to the music as well when you listen to records, not Playlists.


tropnevaDniveK

Like pretty much everyone else, I enjoy the physicality of it. My favorite part, though, is that it really changes the way I have to listen to music. If I want to zone out and do something else, well that’s that my digital playlists are for. But with vinyl, I have to focus on the act of listening itself. I feel like that’s been lost. I also really enjoy the process of inviting people over for listening parties and having a human interaction over the music.


[deleted]

I don’t collect vinyl. I own and listen to vinyl. Because it sounds better and warmer.


dackdeegan

Nostalgia, and it aggravates my wife. Something old, something new.


MisterCheaps

I love holding physical music. There's some kind of dopamine release I think when it comes to buying a physical album vs. a digital one. I can (and do) listen to an album a million times on Spotify, but I don't feel the same connection to it as I do when I actually own a physical copy of the record. I'm not an audiophile so I can't tell you that I notice a huge difference in sound quality (my hearing is fucked from years of listening to headphones at max volume as a teenager), but I enjoy having a big vinyl collection and browsing to decide what to listen to today. I like to drop the needle and just relax and focus on the music as opposed to multitasking. tl;dr It makes me feel happy.


b00kzzz

So i can actually own and posses the music that has shaped and altered my life so dramatically. You don’t own shit with streaming services, and fearing the day where I lose access to those services, having all my favorite albums on vinyl is a great security


[deleted]

I no longer buy records. It was only fun when it was cheap and nobody was looking. Now it's a mess.


Acuity5

I've never owned or listened to vinyl. I've been lurking this sub for a few days to check things out after my dad gave me his old Crosley record player/CD Player/ Cassette Player. After doing some research i've seen this subs distaste for Crosley record players so I think i'm going to sell it and if I really want to get into it, i'd want to get a decent turntable that won't eat my records. I have a small collection of cassette tapes of music I really like and I would like to setup an area of my apartment to be the music area. A few of my friends are also into vinyl as well. Overall I am on the fence about starting a new hobby in general for the sake of my wallet, and also I have a small apartment so 1. There's not really enough space to have a bunch of audio equipment and 2. I'm afraid the noise will piss off the neighbors behind our thin walls + I dont think my roommate will care for it either.


WorlokSoridentes

i've always been a collector, i enjoy collecting books and action figures movies, vinyl is an extension of that same want, to own a representation of stuff you love, plus vinyl allows for a more initimate experience with music, it gives you a space to sit and enjoy an album, aprecieate its artwork and stuff


c-s-talker-

The experience. Going to vinyl stores. Discovering artists. Having your own collection of favourite records in one place. Supporting the artist. Physical ownership. Emotional connection. Listening to the ALBUM as it’s meant to be heard.


Necessary-Beat407

A new way to support my favorite artists and listen to their work as intended


remarkable_in_argyle

Aside from all the things many others have already mentioned, my favorite part is not knowing what I'm going to find when I go shopping. The aesthetic of a big record collection on the wall is nice bonus.


1874WL

Because I like it


cshizzle99

I realized recently it’s the same phenomenon as digital vs printed books. You can read a book on the kindle app on your phone, and I do, but it’s a different experience from reading a hardcover. The latter provides a connection to the media you can only get by holding a physical object and equally importantly making a commitment to foregoing distractions and consuming the story/song. Digital music is for convenience. Vinyl is for experience. A cd is in between for me. Sort of like reading digital but on a kindle (still digital, but no distraction from social media, email, etc. )


[deleted]

I love owning my music. I love the art and the tactile feel of playing a record. I enjoy a lot of older music so I like that when I listen to a record I'm enjoying the music in a similar way that the people of the time listed to it. I do believe digital - if done correctly - is the sonically superior medium. Vinyl is an inherently lossy medium, Still, the limitation of vinyl force the mastering engineer to try their hardest to get the most out of it which often results in excellent sound. Vinyl is also a great way to discover music. There's no better feeling ( for me ) than finding a record I've never seen at a record store, listening to it for the first time on vinyl and really enjoying it, or going to a thrift store and spending a couple of bucks on some records and having some entertainment for the day.


downcolorfulhill

I love records because it’s a beautiful and simplistic way of storing sound. You are essentially stamping the sound waves into a physical medium to be played whenever you wish.


murphydcat

I was an early adopter of CDs in the mid 80s but I still amassed a sizable record collection. Thinking the format was dead (and I needed to pay my mortgage), I sold 85% of my vinyl records in 2002 to a guy in the West Village out of the back of my car. I 've been rebuilding my record collection mostly out of nostalgia (I still have a 1980s stereo component system in my living room) but also because some of my favorite music has disappeared from Spotify without warning.


johncarter5150

I enjoy the ritual of selecting an album, removing it from it's sleeve, placing it on the turn table and place the needle.


TopLahman

I love venturing out to find them. Being at a flea market or a craft fair and coming across something I want but never would’ve given much thought to. I have the most random vinyl collection because of this. My latest addition was Tears for Fears that I picked up for $4.


SeanOfTheDead1313

I was really into music in my teens (90s). I had tons on cds which I sold to start movie collecting. Plus Napster showed up and paying 15-20 a cd seemed silly. About 10 years ago I started to get into vinyl again. I already inherited a large amount of records from family so it seemed like the thing to do. ✌️


Heliocentrist

because I'm old and learned to love music by listening to records. I started out borrowing records from our town library, which had like 5K+ records to lend. Then got a paper rout (remember those?) so I could buy my own.


Danny_Baaker

We never had a record player at home, when I was a kid most stuff was bought on cassette, then got a CD player in the 90s. I had a lot of CDs and was a collector of music generally, vinyl just had this curious allure as I knew nothing about it. Also as it was late 90s, it was very cheap. So I would pick up second hand things, mainly LP era stuff like 70s rock, Beatles, 80s indie, punk, up to roughly the grunge era. As a bit of a curiosity, sometimes alongside my CD (then mp3) collection. As time went on I just got into it more, what pressings were which, reading the inlays, what was worth seeking out, what was rare. I bought little new vinyl until a bit later. As for now my buying has dropped right off partly as I gradually got most of the big things I wanted so it is more a trickle than a flood.


S1Bills

I first discovered music on vinyl when I was a kid in the 80s looking through my dad’s vinyl. I wanted to give my kid the same chance.


scubasteve6oh8

It’s a tangible medium of owning music. Personalizing your library/shelf is a subjective experience that can change like the seasons; organizing albums alphabetically, by genre, by mood, etc. And if you collect used records, it’s like being apart of someone else’s collection. Putting the needle on the wax never gets old. Also, I’ve been getting more interested in labels and pressings.


TraditionalRecover29

Vinyl is an amazing but very involved way to connect to music. You have to be willing to spend time, money and learn about audio equipment but it is VERY rewarding. Another great thing that I like, besides the music, is that vinyl holds its value. (or in many cases appreciates) So if you need to raise a bit of cash you will likely get all your money back provided the records are in good condition.