Vinyl questions

[ralph]

That's some serious vinyl porn going on...

[Mr. White]

My situation is this... My wife already gets a little upset whenever I buy more music. I usually don't tell her. It just appears in my collection, and I hope she doesn't say anything when she realizes I'm playing something she has never heard. When I do get new music (and related items), I try to make it a present from someone, or I do the shopping for myself for others. My parents gave me some money for a new record player a couple of Christmases ago. I got a pretty cheap Audio-Technica for around $120 or $130 at Ear X-Tacy in Louisville (They Be Gone Now). I went the cheap way and simply hooked it up to my 13 or 14 year old RCA Professional Series receiver/amplifier from Radio Shack. The only nice thing involved in my setup is the speakers. I got a set of the original Bose Acoustimass 5 cube speakers when my ship got back in port from the 1991 Persian Gulf War (It was a gift I gave myself with some of the hazardous duty and tax-free pay we got). They are getting close to 22 years old and still jam! I use them every day. (My TV is hooked up to this setup.) Now, I can play all of my old albums that I had saved and buy new stuff!

[Fully]

Headhunter, are those framed pictures from the under the overpass set I see? Also, it's not a record collection. It's a record library. Beautiful.

[Mr. White]

Jerry has us all beat!

OVER 2 MILLION RECORDS!.avi

[exist10z]

That's a nice setup headhunter.  Something to shoot for...

[headhunter]

Headhunter, are those framed pictures from the under the overpass set I see? Also, it's not a record collection. It's a record library. Beautiful.

Good eye Beth!  One of my favorites moments of 2012 ( or any year for that matter).

[LeanneP]

IMG_1110 by momcast, on Flickr

Here is our vinyl set up. There is about 800 pieces of vinyl. We've sorted through it all over the years to keep the collection under control, but there's more coming in weekly. It also shows off what a bloody mess everything is!

[exist10z]

When buying vinyl in person, say at a swap meet or yard sale or even used record store, what do you look for as far as condition?  Not so much the sleeve, but the actual disc.  Obvious scratches would be easy enough to see, but what about more minor 'scratches', is that death for the album?  How closely do you have to inspect?  Do albums appear perfect and then you find out later there was a flaw you didn't see, and how often?

This info would help a novice who might want to stat picking up some bargains.

[LeanneP]

You know what I used to love when I bought albums in the 80s (my teens)?  When albums had little inscriptions in the last groove. I loved finding some little inside joke or message from the band scribbled there.

[parkervb]

Buying my first turntable with some Xmas gift cards. Probably an Audio Technica LP60. Seems like a good value for a noob.

[headhunter]

Buying my first turntable with some Xmas gift cards. Probably an Audio Technica LP60. Seems like a good value for a noob.

Congratulations!  I'm sure you will be very happy with your new toy.

[johnnYYac]

Buying my first turntable with some Xmas gift cards. Probably an Audio Technica LP60. Seems like a good value for a noob.

That's what I have.  Does the trick. 

[TheThird]

Buying my first turntable with some Xmas gift cards. Probably an Audio Technica LP60. Seems like a good value for a noob.

That's what I have.  Does the trick.

I also have it and although I don't know much about turntables at all, I give it my stamp of approval.

[Mr. White]

Buying my first turntable with some Xmas gift cards. Probably an Audio Technica LP60. Seems like a good value for a noob.

That's what I have.  Does the trick.

I also have it and although I don't know much about turntables at all, I give it my stamp of approval.

That is my turntable too. It is the AT-LP60-USB (You can hook it up to your computer and save your albums that way.)

[davymac]

Headhunter, your collection is very inspiring!! I just started my collection this year but I've probably bought 75 vinyls this year (every major jacket album except okonokos and celebracion de la ciudad natal I believe).

Does anyone know if there is any quality difference between the 45 and 33?

[Fully]

You know what I used to love when I bought albums in the 80s (my teens)?  When albums had little inscriptions in the last groove. I loved finding some little inside joke or message from the band scribbled there.

I've bought several albums lately with those inscriptions on them. It is fun.

[TheThird]

Does anyone know if there is any quality difference between the 45 and 33?

This was posted about a week ago and I believe you'll find it informative:

Beth,
Any album cut at 45 rpm should sound much better than a 33 rpm lp.  Reason is basically that more information can be "read" from the grooves on an album when it is a) read at a slower speed and b) not as compacted on the album so that the music is not squeezed in as tightly.
Think of it like a book.  Much easier to read larger print (especially when you start getting old like me) than reading one of those books where the print is tiny.
The better your turntable, stereo and cartridge (needle) - the more you would be able to notice the difference.
Hope that helps.

[davymac]

Does anyone know if there is any quality difference between the 45 and 33?

This was posted about a week ago and I believe you'll find it informative:

Beth,
Any album cut at 45 rpm should sound much better than a 33 rpm lp.  Reason is basically that more information can be "read" from the grooves on an album when it is a) read at a slower speed and b) not as compacted on the album so that the music is not squeezed in as tightly.
Think of it like a book.  Much easier to read larger print (especially when you start getting old like me) than reading one of those books where the print is tiny.
The better your turntable, stereo and cartridge (needle) - the more you would be able to notice the difference.
Hope that helps.

Ah I over read that-thanks!

[Crispy]

Oh man, exist10z...wish I'd seen that last question he asked in this thread.

I finally finished my rather large recordshelf (82" high, 50" wide), and filled it up, and here it is:


Hooray, still room for more records!

[johnnYYac]

That's beautiful, Chris.  Well done!