Some questions for the Vinyl-philes

Another cool reason to collect old vinyl is the inner sleeves. Good reading!


This one is HUGE.... and in Spanish, but there looks to be some cool albums on there:

1. What turntable(s) do you use?
Pyle Pro PL-TTB1, I'll probably buy a more expensive/more awesome one within the year.

2. Do you rip vinyl to a digital format? If so, what program do you use and how do you like it?
No, but my next TT will have that capability.

3. How do you store your LPs? - shelves? crates? something else?
boxes, etc...


4. How do you clean your LPs? - both new and used.
swiffer refills work awesome (unscented free of everything). 70% alcohol on the truly dirty ones.

5. Have you ever cleaned an LP using wood glue? If so, did it work?
um, no.

6. Do you store your LPs in outer poly sleeves?
some here and there.

7. Do you have special inner sleeves for your LPs? - Poly? Paper? Poly-lined paper?
whatever it came in.

8. Do you collect picture discs? If so, how do you find the sound?
I have a few. They sound crappy.

9. Do you buy vinyl of new albums? If so, how do you find the sound?
I have a few new ones, can't tell if they're better ot worse than old ones.

10. Do you think vinyl sounds "better" than digital? If so, what do you mean by that?
I prefer the original vinyl over the original cd's of the mid to late 80's. The newer remastered cd's sound clear and crisp but too overly compressed. The more I listen to vinyl, the more I am starting to dislike the digital sound of cd's. A clean sounding vinyl LP kicks the crap out of a cd to me.

11. What artist do you have the most vinyl from?
(including albums I have more than one of) Beatles, Rush, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Styx, Black Sabbath.

12. Why do you collect vinyl - artwork? sound? nostalgia? something else?
all of the above.

this sums it all up:
I gave away all of my vinyl in 1993. What was I thinkng???

stepcousin wrote:

I prefer the original vinyl over the original cd's of the mid to late 80's. The newer remastered cd's sound clear and crisp but too overly compressed. The more I listen to vinyl, the more I am starting to dislike the digital sound of cd's. A clean sounding vinyl LP kicks the crap out of a cd to me.

Compression (or more accurately "Digital Limiting") has been ridiculously out of hand since the late 90s, once the "loudness wars" started I knew my days of collecting CDs were numbered. Thankfully some artists have re-discovered the joys of dynamic range and insist on minimal compression on their CD releases, but they aren't nearly common enough.

I know I'm late to the party but this looks like fun.

1. What turntable(s) do you use?
AT USB120, based on several recommendations here on HOM. I pipe it through a middle-of-the-road 200 watt RCA receiver with phono ins. Speakers are vintage Sharps, 10 cones and a tweeter.

2. Do you rip vinyl to a digital format? If so, what program do you use and how do you like it?
I plan on it for some things. For instance my recently deceased father in law had given us a vinyl copy of his high school wind ensemble back in the 60's with him on trumpet. Obviously this needs to be immortalized.

3. How do you store your LPs? - shelves? crates? something else?
Currently trying to work this out. Right now my turntable and receiver sit on a kitchen server in the dining room with all the vinyl stored underneath! Now that I'm running out of room and my small children like to play with them, I have to work out a new solution.

4. How do you clean your LPs? - both new and used.
I don't. Time is very limited in my life and I am rather undisciplined in keeping my records or CDs in top shape. However, most of my records are spotless, so the need to clean them really isn't there. If I get a dusty one from a swap meet or Goodwill, I simply use a microfiber cloth, dry.

6. Do you store your LPs in outer poly sleeves?
Only the ones with mint covers.

7. Do you have special inner sleeves for your LPs? - Poly? Paper? Poly-lined paper?
I prefer poly-lined paper, and am going to order some from Amazon soon. Records sitting in an empty sleeve (no liner) make me cringe, and I have quite a few of those.

8. Do you collect picture discs? If so, how do you find the sound?
Overpriced, inferior sound, meant to hang on wall with appropriate framing, so no. Now, if I was a bachelor...

9. Do you buy vinyl of new albums? If so, how do you find the sound?
I don't notice a difference; then again I have few new albums and I don't even listen to those much. Older is so much more affordable at this point. I did pick up Death Magnetic to avoid the compression (night and day difference, too).

10. Do you think vinyl sounds "better" than digital? If so, what do you mean by that?
For me, personally, yes. It's warmer and sounds so great when turned up as opposed to CD's. But I understand those with an opposite reaction. As S.D. said, it's a matter of personal taste.

11. What artist do you have the most vinyl from?
Neil Young, Van Halen.

12. Why do you collect vinyl - artwork? sound? nostalgia? something else?
a. the smell. There's no greater high than a deep inhalation of old 70's albums.

b. nostalgia. If I had my way we would own everything manufactured before 1980, right down to the can opener.

c. sound, as I stated.

d. cost. A cheaper hobby than CD collecting.

e. album artwork. Love being able to look at an artist's renderings at a greater resolution than what a CD offers.

f. family fun! During mealtime the kids and wife enjoy picking out different albums and playing them. My youngest likes to dance in front of the speaker cabs. 

Witchfinder wrote:

I have some questions for the vinyl lovers of the HOTM and was hoping to take a little "survey" of your thoughts.

1.   What turntable(s) do you use?
Audio Technica LP120 USB
2.   Do you rip vinyl to a digital format? If so, what program do you use and how do you like it?
All the time, use Audacity or Cool Edit Pro. I adjust the volume with MP3Gain, a free program that brings up the db levels (unless I am saving in wav format then I just use the Amplify feature in Audacity).
3.   How do you store your LPs? - shelves? crates? something else?
Milk Crates
4.   How do you clean your LPs? - both new and used.
3 parts distilled water, 1 part 91 % alcohol, with a drop of clear soap. Micro-fiber towel
5.   Have you ever cleaned an LP using wood glue? If so, did it work?
No by my nephew does it and swears it did wonders to his William Shatner "The Transformed Man" LP (not that you can do wonders to a Shatner LP anway).
6.   Do you store your LPs in outer poly sleeves?  Yes, 4 mil.
7.   Do you have special inner sleeves for your LPs?  - Poly? Paper? Poly-lined paper?
Yes, Poly or paper with poly lined but NEVER just paper. I throw 90% of the paper ones away unless they have lyrics or something. Just ordered some poly sleeves from http://www.sleevecityusa.com go here and check them out, they claim to be anti-static. http://www.sleevecityusa.com/Diskeeper-2-0-Antistatic-Record-Sleeves-p/9235.htm and they are cheap! I like em but the dont know if they reduce static or not.
8.   Do you collect picture discs? If so, how do you find the sound?
No, I only have one, Buddy Holly and since the music itself is very old I don't know if it sounds great or not, it does sound OK.
9.   Do you buy vinyl of new albums? If so, how do you find the sound? Yes, I love 180 gram vinyl but it is expensive. Sounds good to me!
10. Do you think vinyl sounds "better" than digital? If so, what do you mean by that? Yes, it seems to have more bottom end to my ears.
11. What artist do you have the most vinyl from? Beatles
12. Why do you collect vinyl - artwork? sound? nostalgia? something else? All of those.

Thanks guys.  I have recently started building back up a vinyl collection and I was just wondering about some of these questions.  

Here is my Audio Technica LP120 and a little demonstration on the recording software.

1. What turntable(s) do you use?
NEXXTECH LAB1100 TURNTABLE into the computer via RCA plugs into 1/8th"jack.
Not the best turntable but the best for being on sale from The Source (ex-Radio Shack)(worth $100 I guess).

2. Do you rip vinyl to a digital format? If so, what program do you use and how do you like it?
STEINBERG WAVLAB. It's ok.Worked with it long enough first by ripping tapes to know the basics.
Everyone says Audacity is easy to use and I say they are full of baloney.

3. How do you store your LPs? - shelves? crates? something else?
Ikea Expedit shelves.
Used to be in milk crates and cardboard boxes, then bookshelves.
The bookshelves were not strong enough and one collapsed eventually.

4. How do you clean your LPs? - both new and used.
while vinyl is on the turntable at 45rpm,
first - with a velvet brush.
if still gritty, then get more thorough with an eyeglass cloth sprayed on by eyeglass cleaner.

5. Have you ever cleaned an LP using wood glue? If so, did it work?
no, but will try it someday on the really filthy used LP's bought for cheap.

6. Do you store your LPs in outer poly sleeves?
yes

7. Do you have special inner sleeves for your LPs? - Poly? Paper? Poly-lined paper?
no, just what is included, but I should buy spares and replace the paper sleeves probably.

8. Do you collect picture discs? If so, how do you find the sound?
not usually. My RAVEN "Born to Be Wild" 7" sounds good to me, but admit it has some snaps,crackles and pops that would annoy others, but the new Tourniquet aqua-green coloured LP for Psychosurgey (ltd.100 copies) probably sounds clearer and sharper than any CD.

9. Do you buy vinyl of new albums? If so, how do you find the sound?
Yes, mostly new LP's and 7"s. Almost never go looking for $1 albums anymore.
Takes more than 2 or 3 hours to look through a store's cheapie bins to find only one or two in good playing condition and with inserts.
Usually the sound is okay, but most do not sound dynamic enough like 1970s/1980s albums.

10. Do you think vinyl sounds "better" than digital? If so, what do you mean by that?
usually buy underground metal, and admit, sometimes the CD's of the same LP's I also buy sound "clearer" but they lack warmth of bass and drums that i want, the closer to 1970s rock albums recorded analog

11. What artist do you have the most vinyl from?
new - Antediluvian, Behemoth re-issues, Throneum, Toyko Blade re-issues
old - tied between many--attempting to get complete discogs for cheap - Osmonds/Partridge Family/David Cassidy/Olivia Newton John/Prism/Linda Ronstadt/Split Enz/Warren Zevon

12. Why do you collect vinyl - artwork? sound? nostalgia? something else?
larger artwork to view, larger printed lyrics, yes, nostalgia of my youth, and probably will hold more monetary value than a CD in the future. I regret selling and giving away most of my 1980s collection.