Cheap music in the home.

mmakshak · « **on:** 20 Apr 2006, 01:11 am »

I believe the cheapest, the for-sure, way to get music in the home is analog-specifically 1981 or earlier lp's. I'm not interested in an argument, although I will listen. I have, at least, a Stereophile class C cd player. The cheap turntable would be a Rega-Planar(please do some research here. The Planar 3 with straight tonearm may be the minimum). Music Hall's turntables(which are similiar to Project) has been mentioned. Albums cost a buck or two.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 04:01 am »

Want even cheaper...try this......or else you could just ..."sing"....

eric the red · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 04:31 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Want even cheaper...try this......or else you could just ..."sing"....

Oat box radio:
http://www.midnightscience.com/kits.html

Folsom · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 02:29 pm »

Computer is the other option.... You need CD's but you can borrow them from friends too (just to rip). You already have a computer, then you just need a DAC or decent sound card, what ever it may be.

Yeah LP's area cheap but... You have to sort through them to find ones not to badly scratched or with any sort of stuff stuck on them. You have to clean them.... and even so used ones will break down the needle faster

. Yes I have a Music Hall and listen to cheap LP's and they sound amazing.....

Pancho Urbano · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 03:45 pm »

This isn't necessarily cheaper, but most indie rock and underground hip-hop are released on vinyl, often for cheaper than the CD and with bonus tracks. No need to limit yourself to pre-1995.

-pu

samplesj · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 04:55 pm »

Quote from: Destroyer of Smiles.

Computer is the other option.... You need CD's but you can borrow them from friends too (just to rip).

A computer based system user still needs to own all CDs he/she has ripped. Lets try and not get the board in hot water with the studios by suggesting illegal methods since they are so aggressive right now.

mjosef · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 05:57 pm »

I can see a computer based system as the cheapest, especially if you have a broadband connection and give up personally choosing the specific tracks, I am thinking streaming radio signals...heck you can get stations from all over the world, you don't need to own the music to enjoy it.

jonwb · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 06:01 pm »

www.allofmp3.com

mjosef · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 06:08 pm »

502 Bad Gateway
-------------------
nginx/0.3.29

PhilNYC · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 06:11 pm »

Quote from: mjosef

I can see a computer based system as the cheapest

This assumes that you can get a computer for cheaper than a portable AM radio...

Levi · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 06:18 pm »

Learn to play instruments and have friends over. Priceless.

philipp · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 06:28 pm »

When I was unemployed, I discovered one of the benefits of living in a city with a killer library!

mjosef · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Apr 2006, 11:18 pm »

If he is posting here, he must have a computer.

OTL · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Apr 2006, 03:00 am »

As for me (and it's always about me isn't it?), you can't beat digging through the dreck at Goodwill. Both vinyl and CD's. If you leave with a couple or three choices you're only out $6 bucks max.

Looking quickly, here's some of the "cream" I've pulled from Goodwill in the last few years.....all on vinyl and VERY clean...

Miles - Milestones orig mono $1
Louis Armstrong plays WC Handy orig mono $1
Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay $1
The Best of Blue Note box set $6
James Cotton - 100% Cotton $1

And the list goes on with Zepplin, The Who, Joe Cocker, The Rascals, War, Paul Simon, Average White Band, CSNY, Grand Funk, Etta James, Robben Ford, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and etc, etc...including a couple of Riverside mono's, a few Nautilus, Crystal Clear, Shaded dogs and a Dinah Washington Mercury to die for.

If you want "new music" it's $10 - $20 bucks a CD. If you like the old stuff it's almost free at your local Goodwill. YMMV, but my mileage in this regard rocks!

Listen, share and enjoy.

OTL

Thump553 · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Apr 2006, 05:18 pm »

What's the deal with pre-1981? I'm not a big vinyl junkie (my large record collection is in storage) but i recall vinyl records taking a huge hit in quality after the first oil embargo in the 70s. There was a lot more defective albums produced with a lot more surface noise after the embargo. I remember taking frequently taking albums back to the store two or three times for replacement, and I wasn't overally anal about record quality.

philipp · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Apr 2006, 06:16 pm »

Hey Thump553, maybe all that defective vinyl got scrapped in the intervening years because I'm having pretty good luck with the quality of the old vinyl I'm finding used. On the other hand, I recently bought a lousy pressing of Bloc Party's Silent Alarm. The stores around here won't take vinyl back, no matter what! Good thing the CD was available on yourmusic for six bucks.