aragorn723
New member
Hi,
Is $25 a good price for a new record? The album is Ed Sheeran's X on amazon. Thanks,
Dave
Is $25 a good price for a new record? The album is Ed Sheeran's X on amazon. Thanks,
Dave
record prices
- Thread starter aragorn723
- Start date
aragorn723
New member
Wow, i'm surprised they're so much! I'll have to stock up at garage sales, then buy a record player, then this album..
Dave
Dave
Grainger49
New member
New LPs are seldom less than $20. Depending on whether it is a remastering 33/45, 180g/200g the prices rise from there.
Most current music releases I have seen are about $20.
Most current music releases I have seen are about $20.
It was 20 years ago that you found great titles for 35 cents in the Goodwill bins and nobody looking at them. Nowadays you find a lot of Millenials digging thru the bins and naturally they are picked over. Hey, you guys wanted vinyl to make a comeback ;^)>
Natural Sound
New member
Timing is everything when it comes to a rewarding Goodwill experience. If someone just did some spring cleaning, donated their collection and you got there first.... Over the years I've gotten lucky that way walking out with a shopping cart full. Not lately though. 
I scored at Goodwill last week for some quality LP's. They were well taken care of, visually. IMO the music leave a lot to be desired. I'll keep a few just for the occasional 80 year old visitor. 3 Tommy Dorsey lp's, Mike + The Mechanic+?????,Jody Watley,Scott Joplin. Anyhow, good condition LP are out there.
aragorn723 said:
In 1970, give or take a couple of years, the list price of an LP was $12.99. Granted, one rarely paid that amount and you could get factory cutouts for $2.99-$4.99. But, today that $12.99 price tag would be listed at about $80.00. So in relative terms, I would say "hell yes, $25 is a good price for a new record." Besides, most of the new LPs come in at 180 grams or more. I still have some 1970 LPs that must weigh 90 grams and move in the wind like a piece of paper. The few new LPs that I have purchased in the last few years, I have found to be superior in quality to the ones we purchased in the 60's and 70's..though there is the rare exception on both sides. Also, LPs manufactured during the 70s energy crisis are of inferior quality, since a lot of the vinyl was of inferior quality and often made from recycled material due to the "oil crisis." I actually purchased about six copies of the "Sunfighter" LP, because it would start hissing after about 24 plays. Consequently, when buying used vinyl I avoid these years.
I do agree with trying to buy at Goodwill, ARC, etc. Though as mentioned, they have gone up considerably in price in the last two years. In fact, I can get quality used vinyl at a used record store for a cheaper or slightly higher price than Goodwill and the rest. I know the used record shop only sells vinyl of VG or better quality, and so that is where I target most of my purchases now days. If one is diligent, then it is possible to "stumble" into a great deal at Goodwill. My wife went in right after they had priced a persons record collection. All of the LPs had protective covers, were labeled for his library, and in like new condition. Given that is was "discount" day, she ended up buying about 50 like new LPs for $100...Elton John, Cat Stevens, Steely Dan, etc.
aragorn723
New member
cool! Wish they would have a whole bunch of Pink Floyd albums like that. The more I think about it, the idea of inexpensive records at garage sales, etc sounds good, though that means it's hit or miss.. That's one thing I don't like. Of course, you can buy stuff online too, but that seems kinda hit or miss too if you buy used, because it might not work right (like if you bought on ebay).. The one saving grace is the rating scales.. It just seems like the only way to be sure to get good records is to buy them new online. Am I missing something? Thanks.
Dave
Dave
Grainger49
New member
Some Bottleheads got in on my LP giveaway. I charged under $3 for the first 2-3 LPs. They were all duplicates I don't need. Ask Chris.
aragorn723 said:
Hi Dave,
IMHO, the best place to buy new records is your local record store (if you have one). There you have the ability to check the record, & listen to used records usually, or return new records should there be an issue. And most record stores don't sell poor records, it's just not worth their while.
On-line is fine too, just be a smart shopper: check ratings, feedback, etc
There are some new 'not so good' pressings, just as there has always been, but by far, the vast majority are fine.
It seems a little silly to buy a record that originated as a modern, compressed digital recording. This is one of those cases where the CD is very likely to sound a lot better, cost a lot less, last longer, and take up less space.aragorn723 said:
There is no high res. copy of this album, which provides a reasonable basis to infer that there's nothing to be gained by trying (and paying for) the LP.
aragorn723
New member
I hadn't thought of it that way. So the benefit of records from a technical perspective is that they are uncompressed? When did digital compression start on recordings?
Dave
Dave
The benefit of records is that the original material has never been converted from analog to digital. The recent trends in compression just make modern recordings less listenable.aragorn723 said:
I'm sure it was present in some capacity on the very first ones. Analog recordings use it too, but if you go back in time, it is used more judiciously.aragorn723 said:
Paul Joppa
Moderator
On compression, the early (analogue, tube) tape recorders would saturate the tape, typically about 14dB above the maximum VU-meter level. (The VU meter does some short-term averaging so it reflects the perceived loudness but not the instantaneous peaks.)
A little later, compressors were developed to do a smoother job - especially useful for radio broadcasts which exhibit hard clipping. Gradually over the years better compressors were developed so that the perceived loudness came closer and closer to the instantaneous peak level, allowing radio stations to play music that sounded louder and thus appeared to increase the distance range of the station without increasing transmitter power. Also, the louder-sounding station was more attractive to listeners spinning the know across the dial. This gradual slide into mediocrity has continued to this day - that 14dB is now about 1.5dB for much of pop music. :^(
A little later, compressors were developed to do a smoother job - especially useful for radio broadcasts which exhibit hard clipping. Gradually over the years better compressors were developed so that the perceived loudness came closer and closer to the instantaneous peak level, allowing radio stations to play music that sounded louder and thus appeared to increase the distance range of the station without increasing transmitter power. Also, the louder-sounding station was more attractive to listeners spinning the know across the dial. This gradual slide into mediocrity has continued to this day - that 14dB is now about 1.5dB for much of pop music. :^(
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