[rob80b]

Curious to know if Bryston has noticed an increase in customers requesting phono stages for their preamps?
Reason I ask is that is that I took a little time off from my shop yesterday (I seem to never have time to get away) and was visiting a number of used book and record shops here in Toronto.
Quite a few shops here have gone completely vinyl or have shoved the diminishing CD racks at the back, is this a cross country trend or new fad?; either way it goes against the grain of compiling ones music on a central server.
My own conclusions are that true music lovers may want an actual physical testimony of the artist and not just digital bits and numbers, vinyl is vinyl but digital can be on a CD, hard drive, memory stick etc.
Not to dig up the on going debate as I enjoy both formats but it was an eye opener non-the less to see the current “popular” trend, the shops had rows of new releases and were doing brisk business at that.
Hard core vinyl lovers never left and have kept the analogue pursuit alive since the inception of digital formats; but the question is, is the proliferation of new collectors of vinyl pursuing the analogue sound, nostalgia, an alternative to downloads and as I mentioned a physical testimony of the artist in order to create a tangible library of musical works of their favorite artists or all of the above?
Or a quite revolution against the "Machine"?

Robert

[Napalm]

[...]Quite a few shops here have gone completely vinyl or have shoved the diminishing CD racks at the back, is this a cross country trend or new fad?; either way it goes against the grain of compiling ones music on a central server.[...]

Nah. The bulk of former CD customers went iTunes, so there's little need for the physical media. You cannot download vinyl, so the stores will stock it.

Nap. 

[rob80b]

Nah. The bulk of former CD customers went iTunes, so there's little need for the physical media. You cannot download vinyl, so the stores will stock it.

Nap. 

Good point, so would you'd say CD is dying but vinyl has proved itself as a viable lasting medium for the music collector.

Robert
 

[kingdeezie]

Its a shame to think that all of these stores that we have come to love will eventually completely disappear.

The writing has been on the wall for a while now, considering the growth of places like amazon.com. But, its going to hit the music market, especially those that actually spend a lot of money on equipment to enjoy music, a lot harder then most other facets of retail.

With CD sales slowly declining, and Itunes leading music retail (God Help Us); there is going to be less and less ways for these music shops to stay in business.

Which means for those of us that are into vinyl, less local places to purchase media. Not that there is anything wrong with ordering on line, but there is something to be said for a nice Saturday trip to the record store to pick up some spontaneous music.

There is a local shop near me which used to have every CD you could possibly need, and thousands upon thousands of used CDs for very very low prices. I went there the other day and they have next to nothing anymore. The only CDs they had in stock where the new releases for that week. Lame sauce.

There vinyl selection was also pretty poor.

[doorman]

You can't download vinyl, true, but the vinyl content is usually available on cd anyway.
My friend has a local bricks & mortar store, vinyl is an increasing component of his business.
It's mostly young folks buying, not collectors.
Don

[rob80b]

Its a shame to think that all of these stores that we have come to love will eventually completely disappear.

The writing has been on the wall for a while now, considering the growth of places like amazon.com. But, its going to hit the music market, especially those that actually spend a lot of money on equipment to enjoy music, a lot harder then most other facets of retail.

With CD sales slowly declining, and Itunes leading music retail (God Help Us); there is going to be less and less ways for these music shops to stay in business.

Which means for those of us that are into vinyl, less local places to purchase media. Not that there is anything wrong with ordering on line, but there is something to be said for a nice Saturday trip to the record store to pick up some spontaneous music.

There is a local shop near me which used to have every CD you could possibly need, and thousands upon thousands of used CDs for very very low prices. I went there the other day and they have next to nothing anymore. The only CDs they had in stock where the new releases for that week. Lame sauce.

There vinyl selection was also pretty poor.

My original point is that these “Record” shops appear to be thriving, at least here in Toronto and that there appears to be a renaissance. The larger chains are obviously in peril of CD’s demise but the grassroots stores are doing ok, which is fine by me.
And yes I’ve seen a number of shops reduce the average price of used CDs down to $4.99 and that’s not the junk pile, while LPs are any where from 4.99 to $25 a pop and more.
What I think I’m getting at is that the numbers of consumers who want a real physical recording with packaging and linear notes and not just a digital download is increasing.
I’ve always when been weary of the ipod and download generation where at least to me music was becoming way too disposable, like blowing ones nose with Kleenex, digital photos have the same fate.
I know I’m old school but maybe the new generation are waking up to the fact a physical library is testament to our own personal existence.

Robert

[Laundrew]

I know I’m old school but maybe the new generation are waking up to the fact a physical library is testament to our own personal existence.

Robert

Great point Robert, I am perhaps somewhat nostalgic. I want to be able to hold the CD or record in my hands and also enjoy the album art.

Be well…

[Mag]

We have a music store in our city that has several rows of cds and vinyl at the back. The cds are priced about $10/20, if its rare or hard to find it can be as much as $50.
I've purchased a few hard to find albums and currently have the Box set of Deep Purple Japan tour in '72 on hold for $55.
They also have a bin of crap cds where you can buy several cds for like $10.

At one time you could download hard to find songs off the internet for free. I think this store survives because it stocks imports and hard to find albums and charges accordingly if they have it.

[vegasdave]

I want to be able to hold the CD or record in my hands and also enjoy the album art.

Be well…

I agree 100 percent.

[Stu Pitt]

While having and holding physical media is great, my main concern is sond quality.  If downloads are going to increase sound quality, I'm all for it.  After the first or second time I listen to an album, I rarely read the notes or anything else.

There's a vinyl shop near my old hometown.  There's a big college (U Albany) about 10 blocks or so away.  The owner has a ton of college students as customers.   They're not spinning the vinyl on anything too elaborate - TT and amplification wise.  I think it's a combination of used vinyl is cheap enough, and the guy sells used TTs, new carts, accessories, and even some vintage receivers speakers.  He sells everything for a rice that seems very reasonable.  Combine that with retroness, coolness, and better sond than iPods, mp3s, and computer speakers.   

[vegasdave]

Well, I may try downloads if in fact the sound quality is 100 percent.

[jimdgoulding]

Nah. The bulk of former CD customers went iTunes, so there's little need for the physical media. You cannot download vinyl, so the stores will stock it.

Nap. 

Seems to me, book stores would be good places to stock albums.  Customers of used books are collectors, also.  Part of vinyl's renaissance, besides the sound, is that you can collect, display, and handle them.  I think you've nailed the reasons pretty good.

[vegasdave]

Book stores do stock albums!

[math-geek]

I am one of the ipod set.  I hate what the ipod has done to music quality and its expectations.  I grew up with a father and brother that still gave a crap though.

The people that I cohabitate with want blu ray quality video but can seem to care less if the sound is less than 1940's quality!!!  WTF!  Yet, these are the same morons that swear that I am "hiding" speakers somewhere to make my system sound better.   They are supposedly educated yet cannot comprehend that 1400+kbs CD is better sounding than 128 kbs recordings, let alone blu ray audio!  I wish that I could find the quote on kbs of LPs again.  I cannot but I remember being astonished by the number.  Analog misses nothing!  Look at the best film photography compared to digital.  The film misses nothing!

I have been able to convert some to the vinyl with direct comparisons to CD, let alone mp3.  Thank you Fleetwood Mac.

[95Dyna]

When I bought my new 7B's/BP26 last year I decided I was going to have 2 sources (not counting FM radio).  One had to be an SACD player due to a large CD collection and the desire to play SACD as a "near analog quality" alternative.  I then thought long and hard about the BDA-1 and some sort of digital music player (The BDP-1 was not revealed at this time) with an eye on hi rez downloads.  My brand new VPI classic, Benz Wood SL and Ray Samuels Audio F-117 Nighthawk arrived last week.  I'm not looking back .

[vegasdave]

I am one of the ipod set.  I hate what the ipod has done to music quality and its expectations.  I grew up with a father and brother that still gave a crap though.

The people that I cohabitate with want blu ray quality video but can seem to care less if the sound is less than 1940's quality!!!  WTF!  Yet, these are the same morons that swear that I am "hiding" speakers somewhere to make my system sound better.   They are supposedly educated yet cannot comprehend that 1400+kbs CD is better sounding than 128 kbs recordings, let alone blu ray audio!  I wish that I could find the quote on kbs of LPs again.  I cannot but I remember being astonished by the number.  Analog misses nothing!  Look at the best film photography compared to digital.  The film misses nothing!

I have been able to convert some to the vinyl with direct comparisons to CD, let alone mp3.  Thank you Fleetwood Mac.

Great post. 

[ricmon]

To stay on point.  Yes I have noticed this trend as a store in College Park, Md is called the "CD Depot" has been increasing their vinyl offers by a large margin.  You go in there a few years ago all CD's.  Now you have to navigate the vinyl to get to the CD's  And they have a VPI rcm to boot.

Ric

[vegasdave]

Cool! I like what I'm reading there.