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Anyone into collecting Vinyl LPs?

888

Member
I started doing it mostly for wall art and decoration. Well as I do with everything I fall down the rabbit hole. I just got 6 albums in from Mondo, one from Waxwork Records, one from FYE, one from Walmart and one from Best Buy today.

I just got a turntable today and I’ll say this stuff sounds great on Klipsch speakers.

I do have some questions tho. I ordered a cleaning kit after finding out even new records can have crud on them that could damage them. Some of these that I bought are color and very neat looking. My tricolor back to the future soundtrack I couldn’t see the grooves very well. After listening to it I can see them now. Flipped to the other side and I don’t see them that much. I suppose this is the nature of having a needle rubbing on them.

One thing that’s killing me is the static my dogs stray hairs are zipping right to the vinyl and it’s a pain to get off.

Anyone got any tips for this stuff?
 

888

Member
Yes. I love vinyl.

What TT did you get?

For static and dog hair, get an anti-static brush:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GE1ZOPY/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Grabbed an audio technica LP60. Basically all they had at Best Buy today.

Already gone thru the BTTF soundtrack and And Justice For All twice. I have a pretty high end system and I can’t believe how rich the sound is compared to some of the compressed stuff I’ve been listening to music wise for a while.



Slide to the second image for the good stuff.
 
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Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
Grabbed an audio technica LP60. Basically all they had at Best Buy today.

Already gone thru the BTTF soundtrack and And Justice For All twice. I have a pretty high end system and I can’t believe how rich the sound is compared to some of the compressed stuff I’ve been listening to music wise for a while.



Slide to the second image for the good stuff.


I picked up the AT LP120 a few years ago. I upgraded the cartridge and got a new cork & rubber slip mat so far. I do want the heavier counterweight at some point.

Record are so cool when they are color variants. One of my favorites is a bubblegum pink version of Adrenaline by Deftones. Brother Ali's All the Beautiful Things... is great looking too.

If you haven't yet, check out Discogs. You can keep track of your collection, wishlist, and buy/sell vinyl there.
 
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888

Member
I’ll check out that site. I’ve seen the name but haven’t really done anything on it yet.

I don’t know if there is an upgraded Cartridge for mine yet but they seem cheap enough from what I’ve seen.

Below are some of the ones I got, really cool looking vinyl, matter of fact the only black vinyl I have is Metallica.









 
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Evangelion Unit-01

Master Chief
I have a handful of albums. Actually in storage at the moment. Just don't have the space to really dedicate towards collecting. I was going for a smaller curated selection. Hoping to get everything pulled back out and set up soon.

One thing I would suggest is finding some nicer anti-static inner sleeves, the paper sleeves that records come in are garbage. Also dust around your set up regularly.

Make sure you have a good cartridge that isn't chiseling into your albums like mount rushmore.

Edit: One more suggestion-for classic albums sometimes its better to track down a used copy. A lot of the "reprints" today are pressed using digital sources rather than the original analog master tapes. In many cases the originals sound better since you have analog->analog, rather than analog->digital->analog.
 
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teezzy

Banned
I used to. Got super particular with my equipment and everything, literally down to the getting 'audiophile' wiring etc.

Eventually, I realized that I was moreso going out of my way just to make my records sound like... not records. Turntables were wrecked in a flood and i ended up selling off my record collections. All kinds of old Skinny Puppy and Sonic Youth too... it was super legit - I even had an OG pressing of Limp Bizkit's Significant Other!

These days, I just stream Spotify through my hifi speakers and call it a day. Sounds good as hell to me. I don't need no GIANT CD's.

Anywho - pour one out for my long lost Nagaoka MP-110.

qnWLtVV.jpg



F
 

-MD-

Member
I started buying vinyls because it's the least boring way to throw money at music I like. My girlfriend bought me a nice ass record player and speakers for christmas too so that's been pretty cool.
 
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888

Member
Ok so maybe it’s my OCD but is this normal? Look at the two pics one is side one with more visible grooves and side two which I haven’t played yet. It may just be the normal wear on a color vinyl but one is nearly mirror smooth and the other looks like say my black Metallica LPs grooves.

 
Me, but I’m entering the late phase of my collecting habit now where I am being more selective and activist selling off the items I don’t really really need.
 

HF2014

Member
Grabbed an audio technica LP60. Basically all they had at Best Buy today.

Already gone thru the BTTF soundtrack and And Justice For All twice. I have a pretty high end system and I can’t believe how rich the sound is compared to some of the compressed stuff I’ve been listening to music wise for a while.



Slide to the second image for the good stuff.


Wow. This sound coming out of my ipad pro is amazing. I just can imagine how well it must do with this syteme in a house. Crazy thing, got a trip back about nostalgia and decide to make myself collection my best CDs from when i was young, collection now back up to over 30 cds, and i start regretting not going vinyl.
 
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Cutty Flam

Banned
Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.
 

Prison Mike

Banned
Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

KFmqi7p.gif
 
My wife and I have a few crates. We don't buy CDs anymore so if we wanna have a physical copy (plus the free digital copy) we go vinyl and have done so since about 2011. She's more into music collecting than I am, so credit goes to her.
 

pauljeremiah

Gold Member
Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
Ok so maybe it’s my OCD but is this normal? Look at the two pics one is side one with more visible grooves and side two which I haven’t played yet. It may just be the normal wear on a color vinyl but one is nearly mirror smooth and the other looks like say my black Metallica LPs grooves.



Hard to tell in the picture exactly. Could be a poor pressing. Is there an audible difference between the quality in sound on the two sides?
 

Pol Pot

Banned
Love vinyl. The cartoon above is accurate though. It is expensive and inconvient compared to digital, but, for me it's a tactile and almost ritualistic way of connecting with the music. So... Worth it.
 
1). Color pressings are a sonic shitshow. Some of them sound kinda great, a lot of them sound mediocre. I've yet to come across a demo-worthy color disc that isn't white or clear.

2). If you come about any old dirty LP's, This mixed with This will fix them right up. For regular stray dust that will fall onto the disc when taking it out of the sleeve, all you need is a pass from a carbon fiber brush before play.

3). When it comes to needles, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are your friend.

4). You'll fall further down the rabbit hole and get rid of that LP60 in the next six months. You'll go with either the LP120 or a used Denon or Technics on eBay. You'll also look for an inexpensive solid state pre-amp before splurging on tube technology in a few years.
 

888

Member
Hard to tell in the picture exactly. Could be a poor pressing. Is there an audible difference between the quality in sound on the two sides?

I’ve only played a little of the second side. I ended up returning the AT LP60X because I remember when I unboxed it the cartridge popped off and the needle got pushed around. I got a new one and I listened to the two albums I did yesterday and they are not as noisy. I’m gonna play the full side two of bttf and see if it looks like side one. I’m figuring it may because of the gloss of the vinyl may just get worn in on first play.



Here’s a comparison between the two sides. You can see side one is reflecting the light on the grooves easier than side two.
 

888

Member
1). Color pressings are a sonic shitshow. Some of them sound kinda great, a lot of them sound mediocre. I've yet to come across a demo-worthy color disc that isn't white or clear.

2). If you come about any old dirty LP's, This mixed with This will fix them right up. For regular stray dust that will fall onto the disc when taking it out of the sleeve, all you need is a pass from a carbon fiber brush before play.

3). When it comes to needles, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are your friend.

4). You'll fall further down the rabbit hole and get rid of that LP60 in the next six months. You'll go with either the LP120 or a used Denon or Technics on eBay. You'll also look for an inexpensive solid state pre-amp before splurging on tube technology in a few years.

Ive already started looking at nicer tables. Gonna make sure I stick with it first. Picked up two more LPs today at Best Buy. So far I’ve really only played two, Metallica on a black vinyl and the bttf. You can tell a major sound difference on the black LP for sure. Could be the source that it was pressed from. But the Metallica vinyl sounds amazing. I’ve heard that some color vinyl sounds better after a few plays but not sure how solid that info is.
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
I’ve only played a little of the second side. I ended up returning the AT LP60X because I remember when I unboxed it the cartridge popped off and the needle got pushed around. I got a new one and I listened to the two albums I did yesterday and they are not as noisy. I’m gonna play the full side two of bttf and see if it looks like side one. I’m figuring it may because of the gloss of the vinyl may just get worn in on first play.



Here’s a comparison between the two sides. You can see side one is reflecting the light on the grooves easier than side two.


Looks fine to my eyes. As long as it sounds good to you, that's all that matters my friend.

If you're uber paranoid, look up the code on Discogs or on audiophile forums to see if any users are reporting issues. You could also rip the playback on your Mac or Windows device and inspect the files that way.
 
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888

Member
Looks fine to my eyes. As long as it sounds good to you, that's all that matters my friend.

If you're uber paranoid, look up the code on Discogs or on audiophile forums to see if any users are reporting issues. You could also rip the playback on your Mac or Windows device and inspect the files that way.

I literally just finished the second side and I think the front and back just look different. Generally both sides sound good. Some surface noise but it’s got a ton of static on it and I don’t have a brush yet to try to kill some of it. It’s super bad and yanks lint from everywhere.

I’m super particular about keeping things in good shape and that record is already sold out. May get a second one just because I love BTTF so much :)
 

DrJohnGalt

Banned
I started DJing in the late 90s and still have most of the records I've collected since then.I'd say 80% is house music, but a lot of it is stuff that wasn't re-released to digital so it's kinda unique now.

Not really actively seeking out stuff any more but when I do see some cheap pop (I'm an 80s nerd!) or rock at yard sales I snap 'em up. Most recent find was the Around the World with Three Dog Night (Live) triple gatefold for .25c. Love those voices!

Oh and found this one when I was moving one of my shelves recently. One of the best stand-up routines ever!

89779421_2594679344186307_4136492602029506560_o.jpg
 

#Phonepunk#

Banned
ordered a cleaning kit after finding out even new records can have crud on them that could damage them
there are many ways to safely clean records. you can wash them in the sink with soap and water if you want. you can just wipe them down with a rag or old t-shirt. also if you want to you can cover the record in glue and let it sit and dry and later peel off the dirt that way.

been collecting for 20+ years. i recommend thrift stores. used records can be in great shape, and even if they look scratchy, you may be able to play them all the way through regardless. records are a wonderful investment that can last decades if given proper care. back in the day i used to go to Goodwill and get 3 for $1 and you would find all kinds of great stuff, because everyone had gotten rid of their collections for CDs. i still go to Goodwill and Value Village, and while prices are a little higher, it still only costs a couple bucks to buy a 12" album. i've found some really rare and special stuff this way. but you have to really go to a lot of thrift stores. when i was in college, we used to hit up 6 or more in a weekend.

nowadays with Ebay it's a little difficult. easier for someone to look it up and find out it is worth money and just sell it on there. often i will go to an antique store and see a beat up Beatles record that should be $5 or $10 and it is marked at $25 or more. antique stores and flea markets are a little pricey for used vinyl. but they don't sort through them like that in thrift stores. it is possible to find good stuff and still only pay $1.99.

you can also look for a brick and mortar record store. there is one in my town that i can walk to in 10 mins. they have a back room filled with bargain 12" sold at $5 and under. at Christmas time i usually drop $100 or so and walk out with a dozen or more albums for gifts. usually record/CD shops will have used vinyl bins.
 
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888 888 What cartridge have you got? Can recommend the audia technica AT-VM95 range (AT VM95 range), the 95e model is a good cheap start (£45) and you can then buy better stylus' for it, e.g. eliptical nude or micro line. I got the 95e on my planar 1, when its time to replace mine I'll be looking at an upgraded stylus.
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
888 888 What cartridge have you got? Can recommend the audia technica AT-VM95 range (AT VM95 range), the 95e model is a good cheap start (£45) and you can then buy better stylus' for it, e.g. eliptical nude or micro line. I got the 95e on my planar 1, when its time to replace mine I'll be looking at an upgraded stylus.

I picked up the Audio-Technica VM540ML for my TT earlier this year. Huge upgrade in comparison to the default cartridge on the AT LP120. I was tempted originally to go with the Ortofon 2M blue but ultimately went with the VM540ML based on feedback on the Steve Hoffman forums. Seemed to be a better fit for my music tastes.

If you guys haven't already, feel free to stop in on the audiophile thread. :)

888 888 another thing you can do to help combat static is replacing your slip mat. This was the exact reason I swapped out the default felt for a cork/rubber hybrid mat.
 
I picked up the Audio-Technica VM540ML for my TT earlier this year. Huge upgrade in comparison to the default cartridge on the AT LP120. I was tempted originally to go with the Ortofon 2M blue but ultimately went with the VM540ML based on feedback on the Steve Hoffman forums. Seemed to be a better fit for my music tastes.

If you guys haven't already, feel free to stop in on the audiophile thread. :)

888 888 another thing you can do to help combat static is replacing your slip mat. This was the exact reason I swapped out the default felt for a cork/rubber hybrid mat.
Already part of it :)

I swapped mine for a nice white acrylic one. Although I want to get an acrylic or glass platter and a nice shiny metal sub platter.
 
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T TheHighFlyingBirds I have the cartridge that came with the LP60 which from what I gather is pretty low end.

Maiden Voyage Maiden Voyage I was actually looking at slip mats last night. I was wondering if those would help because more often than not, I’ll pick up a record off the TT and the mat is stuck to it.
Looking at specs, looks like the cartridge cant be swapped out, only the stylus.

Yes change of slip mat will help, my stock one would stick to the records when removing one.
 

GeorgPrime

Banned
I started doing it mostly for wall art and decoration. Well as I do with everything I fall down the rabbit hole. I just got 6 albums in from Mondo, one from Waxwork Records, one from FYE, one from Walmart and one from Best Buy today.

I just got a turntable today and I’ll say this stuff sounds great on Klipsch speakers.

I do have some questions tho. I ordered a cleaning kit after finding out even new records can have crud on them that could damage them. Some of these that I bought are color and very neat looking. My tricolor back to the future soundtrack I couldn’t see the grooves very well. After listening to it I can see them now. Flipped to the other side and I don’t see them that much. I suppose this is the nature of having a needle rubbing on them.

One thing that’s killing me is the static my dogs stray hairs are zipping right to the vinyl and it’s a pain to get off.

Anyone got any tips for this stuff?

I started doing it just for fun:

Got a LP from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Lana Del Rey - Born to Die, a LP with Electro Swing and now a vinyl with the orchestral soundtrack of Eiyuden Chronicle.
 

888

Member
I started doing it just for fun:

Got a LP from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Lana Del Rey - Born to Die, a LP with Electro Swing and now a vinyl with the orchestral soundtrack of Eiyuden Chronicle.

I have the GOTG deluxe set framed. I’m about to pull it down and give it a listen.

 
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Old Retro

Member
I do love the vinyl media! I have many hundreds of albums from the late 70s to roughly after Y2K. Got a few hundred 33 1/3 singles from late 70s to about 1987 ranging from rock to new wave to pop. Started getting into rap also in 87, have tons of those. I used to produce, write, record, and have a few pressings of my own stuff on wax. Pretty fuckin cool to hear your own voice mixed and scratched on a physical format. That was a lifetime ago, can't imagine doing anything musical nowadays. I'll still go into record shops from time to time.

Back in the day I was inspired by Salt N Pepa, producers like Premier, Pete Rock, the Shocklee's, D-Nice, and RZA.

 

MetalAlien

Banned
I wasn't into to LPs when all we had was LPs and tapes. I only bought tapes. I loved CDs for what they were but MP3 players are really great. I love carrying all my music and movie soundtracks with me.
 
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