When digital streaming sounds good, why do we pour money into the vinyl money pit?

[CageyH]

My vinyl set up is half decent, and my digital has cost me much less. However, today if I had to pick one or the other, I think it would be hard to argue that vinyl is worth the investment.

Does anybody else share this view?

I don’t think I could bin vinyl though, as there is something magical about spinning a bit of black plastic. I am just not sure it can go toe to toe with digital for the same expenditure.

[Lawrence001]

I guess I'm lucky I built my vinyl collection over my teens and early 20s when it was becoming eclipsed by CD and bargains were available. Not that it's all mint or quality pressings.

You can still pick them up if you're prepared to trail around charity shops outside the middle class/hipster areas and beat the other vinyl collectors to any decent collections handed in A good TT can still be bought for great prices, Sony DDs, Thorens and Lenco for example.

The convenience of digital can't be beaten but some like putting in the effort to build a nice collection of vinyl. I suspect I could tell you where I got most of my 4-500 odd records from. Not necessarily the exact charity shop in those cases, but rough location, all the record shop/market bought ones I do remember.

[struth]

Inclined to agree, especially with the budgets we mostly have. Im sure vinyl and tape done at somewhere near top end may well be better for some/many, but ate certainly my budget my files system is as good as i need it to be and at a fairly modest cost, as im using cans now(and not silly priced ones either).
That said, if i were a bit fitter i would have kept my TT. As is, I still have the vinyl, or most of it. If i ever find a nice auto that takes little room one day i might go for it. Otherwise the vinyl will eventually be sold.(as macca says, vinyl is still appreciating)

[Pigmy Pony]

I don't think vinyl (with its accompanying effort, storage and running costs) bears close scrutiny. Digital will win every time. I mean, if vinyl had never been invented, it certainly wouldn't happen now - anyone coming up with such a flawed and costly idea would be laughed out of the room.

But it was invented and became our only means of entertainment (no X-Box, no social media, no smartphones, just the telly with Top of the Pops and OGWT).

So our records have become arguably our only tangible link to our past, and it's a hard thing to let go of (not that I want to). It's something we do with our hearts rather than our heads.

That's my theory of why us oldies still stick with our LPs, why youngsters are getting into it I have no idea.

[bumpy]

Same reason they drink designer lagers.

[Pieoftheday]

I havnt used vinyl for a long time and I have never streamed anything, I have had to RIP my CDs to a hard drive due to space constraints and whilst the flac files sound great I'd go back to using physical discs anyday.i just prefer using something I can hold ,so for me I'd def go to the expense of vinyl or CD if I had the space

[Jimbo]

I love how the vinyl digital debate can be started by couching the question in so many different ways.

[Macca]

I love how the vinyl digital debate can be started by couching the question in so many different ways.

Is there really a debate worth having? Most people in our age group seem to use both. I'm always happy to listen to either. There's not really that much difference in a sorted system, providing the records are properly clean. Sometimes I have forgotten whether I am listening to CD or LP and been surprised by the clicking of the run-out groove.

In terms of enjoying music, which is the ultimate goal, I don't think it matters.

if a youngster asked me for advice I'd say just stick with streaming. But if he insisted on a physical format I'd tell him to buy LPs not CDs. If you're going to start collecting a physical format you might as well go for the interesting one that appreciates in value.

I sorted a friend out with a turntable earlier today, he wants to get into vinyl. He's 72.

[Jimbo]

Is there really a debate worth having? Most people in our age group seem to use both. I'm always happy to listen to either. There's not really that much difference in a sorted system, providing the records are properly clean. Sometimes I have forgotten whether I am listening to CD or LP and been surprised by the clicking of the run-out groove.

In terms of enjoying music, which is the ultimate goal, I don't think it matters.

if a youngster asked me for advice I'd say just stick with streaming. But if he insisted on a physical format I'd tell him to buy LPs not CDs. If you're going to start collecting a physical format you might as well go for the interesting one that appreciates in value.

I sorted a friend out with a turntable earlier today, he wants to get into vinyl. He's 72.

No the debate is not really worth having but unlike you I would not be happy listening to both. For me there is still an important difference but I agree with other parts of your post. If I was young and no one ever played any vinyl to me I would just stream.

I cant understand these folk who want to get back into vinyl after living with digital for so many years!

[Pigmy Pony]

I havnt used vinyl for a long time and I have never streamed anything, I have had to RIP my CDs to a hard drive due to space constraints and whilst the flac files sound great I'd go back to using physical discs anyday.i just prefer using something I can hold ,so for me I'd def go to the expense of vinyl or CD if I had the space

Unless your collection is really huge, I can't see storage space being that much of a problem for most people. My vinyl and CDs take up a lot less room than her clothes - that would be my defence if I was ever nagged about it. Even the granddaughter's toys take up more space, and she's only been around 3 years.