Today, he got in a first printing Dark Side of the Moon with the original poster. That will be mine by the weekend.

J

Yes, and how can you say they sound awesome compared to today's technology? I was a kid when records were still around, then the cassette pretty much made them obsolete... then along came the CD, which was the end of the line... until MP3 technology arrived.

I have over 200 CD's that get no play since I put them all on my laptop/iPod/iPhone. Any current music I like I just download.

I understand the "collectible" factor, though.

MACS - did the same, although I think some songs don't playback or burn at the right rate. Some of my Van Morrison and Clint Black songs feel slightly too fast. You?

The sound produced on vinyl has long been understood to be a far better capture of music. There is a "warmth" and richness that a digital recording just doesn't have.

Having said that, I rarely listen to my vinyl anymore out of laziness and portability. Although, I do know a guy who had a portable turntable he carried in his car...skip....car....skip...car...skip...

I have an iPod and use it to listen to music in the car. I used to rip all my files at 320 kps, and they are okay for listening in the factory system in my car. I tried listening to them through some headphones last week while we were on vacation, and found them to be unlistenable. I have since been ripping songs in the Apple lossless format, and that is slightly better. For the most part for me, digital files at anything less than WAV quality sound like a**.

In my home systems, I would not even consider playing them. CD's played in my home system sound pretty good. SACD's played through my upstairs system sound really good. But vinyl sounds better. My good turntable is a Kenwood 5070 with a Shure M97 cartridge. This is a mid quality setup, but sounds really good together. With the right records, it sounds very good.

If you are looking for absolutely no hiss, or clicks or pops and think that that equates to good sound quality, then mp3 or cd is the way for you to go. If you are looking for frequency extension, then cd is the way to go. If you are looking for natural, warm sound with good soundstaging and imaging, then vinyl or sacd is the way you should go.

At home I prefer vinyl, because I like the whole ritual that goes along with it.

J

I myself prefer character, history and memory.

CDs, lossless files and iPods may have a better quality of sound, restored and improved, but the sound of a vinyl record is irreplaceable. The cracks, pops and rugged feel is what takes me back to my childhood. The feel of the vinyl, the age and error it was created, the raw audio it was produced with. Sterio recording is unique and the bulkiness of a vinyl lp is not for everyone, but in my home we spin vinyl. Vinyl, much like cigars has found a new following, current artist are producing new material on vinyl and including a free mp3 download card with the vinyl as a thank you, so your getting 2 for the price of 1, digital and a collectors piece. Vinyl is a hobby on its own.

My collection is edging near 1000 now. Started collecting last year. Used to mainly collect cd's, but then I realized that I preferred records. I still do both though. Also have some tapes, 8 tracks and sacd's.

J

Very cool, mine are limited to the R&R i listened to back in the day, all bought and used only on my tables and cartridges. 68-78 are the years i was buying. NO DISCO! All my current buys are CD's.

My first purchase was the White Album, do you recall yours?

Crap I'm a FOG!