I hate the cardboard packaging in both digipacks and those CD's that looked like they come from newspapers in thin cardboard.

Willie Nelson and Neil Young comes to mind with the latter.

They are still expensive.

CDs are going to be the default physical format for music, as vinyl is too expensive to produce. £20-£30 for an album is outrageous. It is believed that something like 40% of people that buy vinyl don't have anything to play it on. Why not just put CDs in a Vinyl Sized cover, then people will have the artwork and also a music format that is digital and better quality than vinyl. I don't know why mini-discs didn't take off, I quite liked them, much more compact than CDS.

robbiex wrote:
CDs are going to be the default physical format for music, as vinyl is too expensive to produce. £20-£30 for an album is outrageous. It is believed that something like 40% of people that buy vinyl don't have anything to play it on. Why not just put CDs in a Vinyl Sized cover, then people will have the artwork and also a music format that is digital and better quality than vinyl. I don't know why mini-discs didn't take off, I quite liked them, much more compact than CDS.

I do see a lot of students buying new vinyl. According to collectors weight has nothing to do with the quality of the vinyl but the pressing.
If you want re-releases check Cherry Red, they put things on box set with a lot bonus stuff on and it's still cheaper than getting a brand new LP. New music is done on things like Protools. Record players are dirt cheap now.
I also think grandparents tell grandchildren that vinyl is "magical" not telling them about the storage space. Yes, looking at the larger artwork is cool and sometimes you might have found hidden freebies in the record sleeves. However, for the price they are paying, they could get a few CDs for the same price and the same albums.

There are a lot of complaints about the Mind Games box set, that they are pressed poorly and despite being shrinkwrapped, they still arrived scratched and they skip. It's not a cheap box set. It could be a pressing plant issue but for a few hundred quid, you want pristine records. Marillion recalled their vinyl releases when there was a problem, they discovered there was an issue with the grooves.
A friend spent a lot of money on a Rubber Soul 180-gram reissue, I was there when he bought and played it for the first time, it has 2 very bad jumps on both sides. He tried to get an exchange but the shop said he did it. Now, he just sticks to CDs. I can't say I blame him unless it's cheap he might buy the odd vinyl from a second-hand shop.

I do buy new music when I go to places like HMV (CD only) for anything else I go to charity shops or second hand record shops. I do love a lot of Americana music, so charity shops are my first choice for looking.

However, seeing vinyl in charity shops is becoming rare now. Unless you want classical, Jim Reeves, some unknown house band stuff on the Music For Pleasure label, novelty or Top of The Tops and other soundalikes rubbish.

MP3 is awful but I do remember didn't mind downloading from Napster or Pirate Bay for free music to burn on to blank CDs or on to other devices.

People were happy with CDs because of when CD burning was still a thing, that's what killed off the Mini Disc. Not forgetting they were pricey, MD came out when there was still portable/pocket tape players and they were a lot of cheaper.

It was like the battle of the Betamax and VHS. Betamax was much more sharper but more expensive. VHS was low on quality but you could re-use the same tape to record from the TV.

Talking about silly vinyl prices. I have just seen the George Strait - Cowboys and Dreamers CD for £13.99, it's £43.99 on vinyl. I will get the CD next weekend when I go to HMV.

Another one that made me laugh when I saw Bryan Ferry - These Foolish Things on Blue Vinyl. For £44.99. A lot of record shops have the original version for a few quid. Picture Disc's looked cool but they never sounded that great, I think it's why people just framed them. Including me.

I had to check about people buying vinyl, but don't own a record player. A while back, I did buy an LP on ebay the seller messaged me if I had a Crosley and wanted a picture of my set up.
If I had a Crosley he wouldn't post the LP. Either he had buyers say the records don't play right or Crosley ruins LPs, which I have heard several times. I have no idea if that is true or not.

There is nothing with sapphire stylus but they do wear down quickly, however you do get about 50-100 hours, you get what you pay for. 45's ware down the stylus quickly than LPs. You can a job lot of about 8 of sapphire stylus needles on ebay for a few quid. I get about 50 hours per stylus. When I am on the last 2 or so, I just re-order another batch.

www.nme.com/news/music/study-finds-50-pe...ecord-player-3437301

Interesting article.

I hate digital formats and streaming, there is a thing sounding too clean or polished. I wish HMV bring back listening booths, it was a way listen to new music and try before you buy.

I just hope we don't see the revival of 24k gold CDs, which were a waste of good money, the key was in the mastering not the CD. I have the orginal CCR CDs from the 80s, according to fans are the best mixes apart from the very expensive Steve Hoffman mixes.

If new albums are recorded digitally wouldn't sound the same on both CD and vinyl? Audiophiles are a pain to be honest.

www.musicradar.com/music-industry/cds-up...very-physical-format