[woodsyi]

It seems like everyone is coming out with one.  Is the vinyl market really growing big enough to support all these new offers?  Of course, the announcements are all coming right after I got what I think is my reference unit.   

[TONEPUB]

It seems like everyone is coming out with one.  Is the vinyl market really growing big enough to support all these new offers?  Of course, the announcements are all coming right after I got what I think is my reference unit.   

Probably not...

Vinyl sales went from about 900 thousand units to 1.3 million from 06 to 07.  We'll see where it goes this year.

[lazydays]

It seems like everyone is coming out with one.  Is the vinyl market really growing big enough to support all these new offers?  Of course, the announcements are all coming right after I got what I think is my reference unit.   

Probably not...

Vinyl sales went from about 900 thousand units to 1.3 million from 06 to 07.  We'll see where it goes this year.

two things have occured in the last few years that are kind of astounding. Kids (teenagers and younger adults) have discovered that just maybe they are hearing things on an LP that can't get out of a CD. When I go to the used record places I now have to rub elbows with young people. This is showing an interest that can't be denied.
   In the past we've always had trouble buying new vinyl as dealers were too cheap to stock it. Then along comes Circut City and Best Buys doing the mail order thing. But now we are even hearing strong rumors that Best Buys and maybe even Circut City will actually start to have them in stock. This is especially true with the quality reissues of stuff from Led Zepplin and the Doors as the demand for them has been very strong. I long for the old days when we would rumage thru hundreds and hundreds of fresh LP's in racks.
gary

[Wayner]

It seems like everyone is coming out with one.  Is the vinyl market really growing big enough to support all these new offers?  Of course, the announcements are all coming right after I got what I think is my reference unit.   

Probably not...

Vinyl sales went from about 900 thousand units to 1.3 million from 06 to 07.  We'll see where it goes this year.

Those retail figures do not account for used record sales, which I think is enormous. With new LP's at $30, a good used lp for 4-5 dollars is a great buy, especially if it's in minty condition.

Wayner

[Christof]

two things have occured in the last few years that are kind of astounding. Kids (teenagers and younger adults) have discovered that just maybe they are hearing things on an LP that can't get out of a CD. When I go to the used record places I now have to rub elbows with young people. This is showing an interest that can't be denied.

I am quite new to vinyl and could probably just fit into the "kid" class so I'll throw in my $.02.  The vinyl experience for me is not unlike a great meal.  Digital is like fast food, it's cheap and easy (often free).   As a budding audiophile I've found it all too easy to become wrapped up in the digital gizmo(d) and technology of the day, this is not just true of the audio experience but life in general....take time to blink and the world has passed you by.  I have come to a point where, through the vinyl experience or ritual, I enjoy the experience associated with the music just as much as the music itself.  The ritual associated with vinyl listening forces me to take a step back, slow down and enjoy the moment.  I hear more detail in vinyl than I do in digital but that is probably because when vinyl is spinning I'm listening  

[sbrtoy]

Market trends are dictating much of this, analog equipment is still hot despite the economy as many people are getting back into it after being out for a very long time. 

In addition, for manufacturers it is a safe bet, no changes on the horizon for vinyl...digital gear on the other hand, what was state of the art a couple years back is facing stiff competition from newer cheaper models. 

[2bigears]

   it seems cheap analog gear not set perfect is not going to do much,music wise over good digital.i sure would love to hear a well set-up $25000.00 deck with a good arm and cart.those tt makers say you will have a whole new record collection to listen to....could this be true....hummmm    [ lota good used ones fs now on the Gon ]

[TONEPUB]

It seems like everyone is coming out with one.  Is the vinyl market really growing big enough to support all these new offers?  Of course, the announcements are all coming right after I got what I think is my reference unit.   

Probably not...

Vinyl sales went from about 900 thousand units to 1.3 million from 06 to 07.  We'll see where it goes this year.

Those retail figures do not account for used record sales, which I think is enormous. With new LP's at $30, a good used lp for 4-5 dollars is a great buy, especially if it's in minty condition.

Wayner

Excellent point...

However the mint 4 dollar records are getting harder to find depending on where you live.
Now that everyone is crazy about vinyl, records that used to be 2-5 bucks are now 10-20
used!  Ugh.  Sometimes I liked it better when you were a weirdo for listening to vinyl....

But there are still some deals to be had!

[Wayner]

Jeff,

My little "antique store" has about 10,000 albums give or take a few. I used to be able to pluck out treasures for a dollar, like a sealed Eagles, Hotel California (unwarped)! Now they are all at least 5, most about 7 and beyond.

And Jeff, we still are weirdo's  aa

[lazydays]

  it seems cheap analog gear not set perfect is not going to do much,music wise over good digital.i sure would love to hear a well set-up $25000.00 deck with a good arm and cart.those tt makers say you will have a whole new record collection to listen to....could this be true....hummmm    [ lota good used ones fs now on the Gon ]

A good mid line turntable assembly will usually smoke just about and SACD player out there. All you need is a good Denon D103 cartridge and a half way decient arm on a good table. Rest comes easy. I'd go so far as to say the Marantz table that's built by Clearaudio will do the samething for about $1600. Let alone picking uo a nice little Rega P-25 and then adding a good cartridge for less than $1200.
   We all speak of this table and that table, but we often forget that there's a lot more to the puzzel than than a turntable. You need a good phonostage (I know I've been thru my share, and have a new one on the way). These days I like to consider the Wrights tobe the minimum and go up from there. And I find IC's to be a very important piece to this quagmire.
   I'd like to hear a $25K setup myself!! Only guy I've heard of that uses that stuff is Freemer, and you and I both know it's just borrowed for a long long while. I have two good upper end tables, and see very little difference between them and the $10K+ tables, but the tonearms are another story in itself. So I'm just gonna stay with what I'm currently using these days till I finally croak (I know at least one of the ex's will jump for joy). May make a tonearm change (probably not but will add a second one), and for sure do the cartridge investigation
gary

[hifitommy]

new releases are reasonable at circuitcity.com when they are there, i see some at costco (though not all are doing it) and even some  stores have them at good prices.

i rebel at the higher prices because i know they could be sold for less and because of volume, more money could be made for those sellers.  mofi and the like are ripping us good.  some things i can do without. 

[Bill Baker]

We started the development of our Bella phono stage due to consumer request. While I don't think vinyl will ever be what it was, it sure has made a comeback the last several years.

 Vinyl sales will go up and down in the forthcoming years but I think it will continue to grow in the eyes and ears of the younger generation. At least I hope so.