Digital vs. Vinyl

Record players and vinyl records have started to emerge again, thanks to the presence of hipsters. Not many folks have them, but they were actually a hot commodity back in the day. I own a record player, have started my own record collection, and personally think vinyl is better than digital.

Photo Credit: Adam Fricke

There are definitely times when digital trumps vinyl. But lets take a look at  6 reasons why I think vinyl blows digital out of the water day of the week.

1. Vinyl can be cheaper: If you know what to look for, you can actually find some good deals. A lot of people don't realize that some vinyl is actually worth something and just want to get rid of their or their parent's old record collection. A local antique shop, flea market, or Craigslist are great places to start looking. Sometimes you can even work a deal and get a lower price.
2. Start a Collection: A record collection is a great conversation piece to have out in your house. It also shows the time and effort you've put into it over the years.

   

   Photo Credit: Adam Fricke

3. The Sound and Feel is Unbeatable: When you truly love the old school music feel, you know what I mean. When you listen to a record, it feels like you go back in time and relive what's going on at that point in history.
4. Record Players Look Awesome: Most big box retailers will sell record players and they're great because you know you're getting a working machine. Not to mention that some even come with all the bells and whistles like an AM/FM Radio, CD Player, Cassette Deck, Audio Port, etc. However, if you have some room in your house and know someone that does top notch restorations, you can find some pretty cool vintage record players on the internet. They can range from small end tables to big cabinets. Again, an antique shop, flea market, or Craigslist would be great starting points.
5. There's so Much History: When you buy an original issue of an album, you're not only getting the album, you're also getting the history. If you get an album from, say the 1970's, you're holding 40+ years of history in your hands. That album has seen one other owner or numerous other owners. If it's in rough condition, there's always the mystery of how it got that way. If it's in great condition, it makes you appreciate the previous owner(s) and the love that was given to that record to keep it so nice and pristine over all these years.
6. The Search: In order to find some of the original albums, you actually have to go on a record hunt. It can take days, weeks, months, and if it's extremely rare it can even take years to find that album that you've been looking for.

   

   Photo Credit: Adam Fricke