Vinyl outsells CD AGAIN! Has the world gone insane?

[@LapsangTe]

I who prefer CD to vinyl can now buy second hand CDs at a very low price, since those vinyl-lovers sell their old CDs. It's great for me!

[@donjohnstone3707]

Yes, vinyl has been a tremendous boon for those who prefer CD's and get them very cheaply.

[@prowlingfrost5588]

Everyone saying this but all the CD's I need are top dollar (metal) or at least reasonable priced 5-10, but still cheap compared to vinyl of today. The thing is, with the vinyl back in the 90's/early 2000's you had plentiful of heavy metal records for cheap, because metal was the 80s music and not trendy in the 90s/2000s neither was the vinyl. Heavy Metal (all styles included) was not selling too much on CD back in the 80s so the 1st/early presses are rare today, unlike the 80s metal vinyl which was huge. Good luck to find early Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden CDs for 1-2 bucks at thrift stores anymore. The amount of those CDs were small compared to amount of vinyl which was and the best years of CD hunting are already over, yet, not finished hence the prices. Yep, common pop music, classical etc titles on CD are still cheap, but people should not expect miracles for their buck or two. People are began to know their Cure or Ramoness CD's are not worthless Those people who picked up the CDs quietly 2-10 years ago did get all the best stuff (got some, but was too late in the game).

[@fandeguycarlier5914]

same mate ! what's better than a 1/2 euro cd that will last forever !

[@DorianPaige00]

@@prowlingfrost5588 And some of that stuff on disc of out of print.

[@schubertuk]

2nd-hand CDs are my favourite medium too!

[@terrygj]

Implicit in the stats is that CDs and LPs sold roughly the same number of units, its just that pricing of each means revenue from CD is a third of that from LP. No wonder the companies are pushing vinyl. The great dumbing-down continues.

[@GregMoore-g2o]

As a retired vinyl mastering engineer I have always wondered why people still buy vinyl and insist it is the superior sounding format, aside from the issues vinyl has with diameter loss distortion, inability to reproduce the same frequency range as CD and not being able to handle stereo bass, a hell of a lot of vinyl is cut from the same digital masters as used for CD.

[@Sunshine_Superman]

Love this comment!

[@joesmith4443]

Yea and as a retired vinyl mastering engineer, you probably can remember when the CD came out and the noise floor was nonexistent. The sad part of digital is how it’s being produced and mastered. Vinyl isn’t better but what it’s limitation may be master better because if it’s for instance too loud the needle will most definitely skip

[@johnrus7661]

@@joesmith4443 The loudness wars have come and gone and even today for modern music, they aren't taking it to the extreme like they did. And it was not for every type of music. Mostly pop songs that were on the loud side in the first place and hitting the top charts. Songs that were not headbangers were not subject to the same fate especially if it was a well recorded acoustic number. Like classical or Jazz.

[@joesmith4443]

@@johnrus7661They use true peak limiters for streaming. The slammed masters don’t have impact in transients, what they do have is the immediate in-your-face impact in volume. Moreover, when they used endless plugins it creates a lot of distortion and digital clipping which is harsh. They push the production so much that it doesn’t sound natural anymore. I can tell always. All Dolby Atmos mixes have strict standards for Apple Music is pushing that really great -18 LUFs and -1 dBTP but with a caveat Apple wants to push more Airpod pro sales with “spatial audio” with a proprietary format. Classical music is being used for this very format that’s why it’s mastered better.

[@based_circuit]

I still collect, listen and dj with vinyl. I have no delusions about it having superior sound quality, but know too many that do. It's just a stylistic, ownership and aesthetic thing for me. Digital is objectively better, so I maintain high quality wavs for most records I have when I feel that type of mood.

[@scottlowell493]

I’ve observed a lot of buyers are hipsters with rudimentary usb tables with super basic cartridge not exactly getting the best playback. Vinyl made from a digital file no less.

[@dtz1000]

They are now made from DSD files which are far superior to CD.

[@johnorourke1636]

It does baffle me that people are claiming that vinyl has a better, richer sound while playing it on really crappy equipment.

[@bubbleg312]

Why are people doing it? Because I don't think it's the question of superiority or inferiority, at least not in the sense of audio quality. Nothing currently beats digital audio, but digital audio is missing that element of physical relationship and fun you get from older analog formats, which therefore creates a demand for it. There are also interesting contexts that come into play when playing vinyl. It's pretty cool to play a record that's for example from the 50's or 60's, you get to experience a piece of something that was made so long ago. Doesn't have any practical value but it's still pretty cool. So it's more about the art, experience and contexts that come from vinyl or many other older formats. But I do understand that it could be easy to fall for the myth that vinyl is a more superior format in terms of audio quality and yes it does suffer from being overvalued or overpriced a lot of times especially for new releases.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

There are NO current artists that I remotely consider listening to, so my vast CD collection contains everything I need. It's good being 65!

[@LetsRideIllinois]

Ok Boomer

[@SPAZZOID100]

Stay off the radio. Lots of great music being made, specifically funk, dance, electronic. (Rock is dead)

[@davidwho7847]

Amen Bro!

[@tbrobison]

Boomer here, au contraire, there are some fantastic artists creating great music now. I know, because I listen to Radio Paradise, have a subscription to Qobuz, & Roon, & Apple Music. Open up your listening venues and you might be surprised.

[@edwinhurwitz6792]

I'm 63 and am always perplexed why people think there's no current music worth listening to. We are in a golden age of music. As always, the major label releases don't always reflect that, but it's not hard to find it. As far as vinyl goes, it's definitely inferior, but it's fun! I'm a musician and audio engineer, so I'm well aware of all of the issues, but I enjoy it. I don't invest a lot into it (compared to the vast majority of "audiophiles"), at least compared to what I spend on making music (which is tax deductible and pays for itself and more). When I think of how crappy music playback systems were back in the day, it's almost laughable.

[@mathumphreys]

My mate in New Zealand said they will be getting CDs soon. He's pretty excited.

[@earl007]

Yea and you can buy black plastic for $60 to $90.

[@atoptip6193]

A commenter says, “…vinyl manufacturing is a constant frustrating pain of poor quality control and battles to get an adequate product…” This is so true. I see pictures of “vinyl” cutting, in an unprotected environment, with people smoking cigs and who knows what else. Why? We live in an age - as we know from chip production - things could be made to perfection, probably also on a material less dodgy then “vinyl.” So why? I guess because it really is not the medium of the perfectionist. Buyers are hipsters, some of whom, as you say, just hang them on the wall. I suspect there are even dumber things people spend $1.7 billion on, like almond milk. Let us move on.

[@JanPatrickLucas]

Very enlightening Sir. You are bang on! I want vinyl to win. I want it to sound better than cd, but it does not! Yes, sound "better" is subjective. From an audiophile's perspective who is seeking the highest fidelity, cd is supereior. I've uprgraded phono preamps, cartridges, styluses, and entire tables etc., several times over trying desperrately for records to surpass my Marantz sa-10 cd player. At times certain audiophile pressings, generally 2lp versions, have perhaps sounded marginally "better" but we're talking way less than 1%. This is based on my own experience of course. I still buy vinyl, and very often both cd and Lp's for artists I'm big on. If I want to enjoy vinyl and lie to myself that it's better, I'll set up my Wharfedale Linton's rather tham my higher end spearkers. The Lintons marvel with vinyl. So then it's the spearkers not vinyl right? Well with those I tend to want to listen to vinyl more. Something about the combination. Some higher findelity speakers I have, simply don't sound good with vinyl... Bottom line is I'm tired of hearing undeducated, inexperienced people claim that vinyl is the ultimate in sonic playback. I'm an audiophile, music lover, and have purchased physical media forever. I do not stream. I've bought and listened to all formats, and can confidently claim that cd is the highet quality, most reliable, purest and most consistent. I've witnessed the little girls and parents in the record stores gushing and rushing over Taylor Swift Lp's, to run home and play it on their Crosley junk table...I shake my head and think how mislead they are, and how ridiculous it is. I'm not a Taylor Swift fan either. I don't get what all the fuss is about. I don't think she's that talented, nor do I think the music is all that good. I'm 53 though, so I suppose I'm just getting to be, or am an old geezer lol. I'm just as foolish and guilty though, I guess, becasue I'm still buying vinyl myself. I keep thinking I'll make an adjustment to my system which will finally bring the vinyl to new heights... I suppose it's not just about the sound quality, though, either as discussed here. Yes, there's definitely something attractive about it aside from it's sonic property. I just can't quite put my fingert on it...? Ha that's it! I'll correct myself and say that I can put my finger on it! Nice to have those big covers and records in the hands... Cheers!

[@Ni5ei]

Many people only buy vinyl to collect. They keep it in the shrinkwrap and listen to music on Spotify. CD buyers buy CD's to listen to them and/or rip them to their computer. I love Taylor Swift and have all her CD's but not a single vinyl record. I don't like vinyl 😎 (gen X by the way)

[@joelcarson9514]

I'm old and retired. Which means economically, I have to be quite judicious about both money and time. A system for getting the most out of vinyl records is expensive, involving not just speakers and an amplifier, but a quality turntable, a proper cartridge and stylus that must be replaced periodically and a RIAA phono preamp to match the quality of the other items. Then there's the vinyl discs themselves, not exactly a bargain, but instead a boutique item. And the third problem, the care and feeding of the vinyl every time you want to play one. Clean the record, often with more boutique and specialty gadgets, handling the discs as though they were Steuben Crystal and making certain the the stylus is free of the debris from the last record. This is the time element. I may be retired, but I am quite aware that at some unknown time in the future, I have an expiration date. The less time I spend in a tiresome ritual, the more time I do have to enjoy playing either my CD's or their contents on my NAS. Also, a number of my current batch of CD's have arrived second hand, so, less expense. According to the use of several online hearing tests through two different sets of headphones, my hearing is approximately that of someone about fifteen years my junior, up to around 12 KHZ then zippo. Realistically, Spotify is good enough for my hearing anyway. This is not to say I'm not nostalgic about things, I am, but though with age not always coming with wisdom, it does come with a certain appreciation for utility and convenience. You kids get off my lawn.

[@donjohnstone3707]

We who are old in years know life is too short and doing what we can to avoid wasting time is important. Making the most of what time we have left means finding more interesting, effective and adventurous ways to enjoy what we like, without the fuss and bother of doing things the old fashioned way that we had become habituated to repeating. The old ways can be too fiddly, expensive, not supported, lower quality and unnecessary. As they say; "it's out with old and in with new". Those who fail to keep up with the times, risk being buried in the dust of a redundant, no longer relevant past from a bygone era. Experiencing renewal, by upgrading our lifestyle, can give us a new invigorating boost to our tired ideas and outlooks, giving our lives more energy and positive motivation going forward.

[@tbrobison]

One more thing, vinyl albums are heavy, take up more space than CD's, and therefore, have a much larger carbon footprint than CD's. Whereas digital downloads weigh nothing accept the electricity it costs to send them. A fraction of a penny, probably.

[@regularnimnule9715]

For me it's not only about the audio quality. I enjoy a lot of the physical ritual of vinyl and have a lot of favourite albums in multi-formats. Listening to a classic LP whilst holding and admiring the artwork is a joy.

[@jazzydog5635]

We need to split out sales by volume from sales by revenue and it makes more sense In the UK at least , based on the BPI figures for 2023 and covered in an article by John Darko, Brits bought 5.9 million units of vinyl in 2023. That’s up 11.7% on last year, which is a larger increase than the year before: 2.9%. However from the the BPI provisional report the CD market has sustained its smallest annual decline in nearly a decade this year as it moves closer to plateauing at nearly 11 million CDs. So in volume terms 11 million CDs vs 5.9 million vinyl units. That´s a 2.:1 ratio approx in favour of CDs. Revenue from vinyl is greater that CDs because vinyl sells for more on average per unit. For example, Taylor Swift 1899 album can retail at 14 pounds on CD compared to its vinyl equivalent at 34 pounds. A headline of CDs continue to outsell vinyl in sheer volume doesn´t sound sexy enough for the articles written.

[@AudioMasterclass]

You're not wrong, but I chose the more fun approach.

[@joesmith4443]

You had me at Taylor Swift’s “1889” lol. Her album is 1989 her birth year. Millennials are so self referential. Her songs are either about her love life or teen life. Nice Freudian slip… had me in stitches 🤣

[@jazzydog5635]

@@joesmith4443 Ah yes ...its the limited edition victoriana steampunk version😊

[@joesmith4443]

@@jazzydog5635 After making 1989, Taylor Swift was inspired by the Back to the Future Part II and made the 1889 Taylor’s version.

[@AudioMasterclass]

@@joesmith4443 Did I say that? I must be showing my age.

[@michaelb9664]

In the UK in 2023 CDs outsold vinyl at a ratio of 2:1.

[@Sunshine_Superman]

Glad to hear that. I like to think I contribute healthily to that figure. I'm about a 5 to 1 ratio in CD's favour.

[@richardhancock6235]

Despite Miss Swift being one of the richest people in the world her record label will not include any of her martial in discount or sales. I listen to Vinyl and lossless streaming. The sound quality of lossless streaming is of course vastly superior to vinyl, however what it doesn't supply is the ritual. Going into a record store with it particular smell and look. Spending an hour flicking through creates in the hope of finding some treasure, then taking the album home pouring a good single malt, removing it from the sleeve cleaning it, firing up the turntable and then siting back listen to the music, admire the album art, reading the sleeve notes an sipping the whiskey. Then when finished putting the album in a transparent sleeve and filing alphabetically or by genre on dedicated shelves knowing you now physically own a little bit of music history. That's why I still buy and listen to vinyl.

[@dischiesoda6955]

One can do the same with CDS. I do, and I reaily enjoy doing it.

[@steven2809]

Some of us did all that in the 60's and 70's....because there was no alternative ! The enlightened have now moved on......

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

I would call myself a multi format man. Download to try an album and for convenience, CD for its lower cost and when I really want to enjoy an album it’s got to be vinyl. I have to admit though you need a good system to get the best out of vinyl.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I'm crushing it with cds. But I have 5000 and keep buying. But I have serious kit to enjoy them with.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

Same for me.

[@Sunshine_Superman]

And me.

[@jasonhoffer9017]

I recently opened a record store, I consider myself an audiophile and see all the formats (including streaming, cassettes, 8-tracks, 78s, etc.) all valid and have there strengths and weakness. I love vinyl for the sound (I would argue, all things equal, currently, the best sounding format), large artwork, the starting point (original format) of a lot of music I listen to. Compact Disks also have their strengths like better storage (than vinyl but worse than streaming), the bonus material only available on CD (bonus tracks are much more prevalent on cd than vinyl) and DACs are constantly improving. Streaming has convenience and no commitment - some of it's weaknesses are it's impermanence (modified, reduced and/or taken away at any moment). I also dislike that you are tied to "being connected" and that it is similar to having a gym membership in that it drains your finances at a consistent rate with zero returns in physical ownership for that investment. For me the biggest short coming is, I dislike looking at screens all day and night, I dislike having to deal with computer updates, apps, reboots, bitrates, advertising, pop ups, blue light, constant surveillance (and all the major trappings with that including letting algorithms serve/ probably manipulating for their own good, dictating my tastes and my mental and artistic direction). The worst thing about streaming is that I find because I have so many options immediately on a whim, I am less engaged in the music and it adds rather than subtracts to my scatter brain (lack of attention) modern life drains me of. I spend most of my time engaged in what I am going to play next or what music is "perfect" for how I am feeling at this moment rather than just listening to music. Great video and thanks for taking the time to make it,

[@dtz1000]

Don't sing his praises too much as he thinks you are not intelligent if you prefer vinyl. He said as much in the comments.

[@edwinhurwitz6792]

I would agree in general, except for 8 tracks (and with your streaming analysis. Qobuz sounds great, is not crazy expensive, you can purchase the music, and has turned me on to a ton of music which I would have not otherwise heard. It also allows me to listen to the music I have on 45+ year old vinyl in much better quality.). They are an abomination that never should have gone to market.

[@jasonhoffer9017]

@@edwinhurwitz6792 8-Tracks are cool only as curiosity/nostalgic items. Does Qobuz have a large catalog of Classical?

[@rubellanremasters3888]

I'll give you a real-world example that the vinyl revival is overhyped nonsense that is only impacted by large artists and not the format in general. I am a third-party reissue label and have been doing releases for six years. I started reissuing vinyl in 2021. Aside from one band, which sells about the same amount on CD as vinyl, the majority of other titles sell 3-4 times more copies on CD than on vinyl. I can struggle to move a few hundred copies of a vinyl title that has sold over 1000 copies on CD. Last year, the main major label I license from quietly cancelled all of my outstanding CD reissue requests. When I finally got a response from them, they said they want to focus more on vinyl licenses. After a few months of frustration because vinyl manufacturing is a constant frustrating pain of poor quality control and battles to get an adequate product, I told the major label that if CDs are going to remain no longer an option then I would need them to cancel all of my vinyl requests as well because I had no interest in being a vinyl-only label, and was planning to start shutting down. They came back and said CD reissues will resume being an option. While I have yet to see any proof of that, if it isn't a modern day hit maker or dinosaur classic rock veteran, you aren't going to move all that much on vinyl. CDs have accounted for 2/3-3/4 of my overall sales since 2018.

[@AudioMasterclass]

Thank you for your contribution. Very interesting.

[@kaycordingly2437]

I’m a Gen-Xer and I collect vinyl over cds now for a few reasons. I grew up with cassettes and later compact discs. But I miss having sides A & B from the cassette days. This also makes records just a little more hands-on, which is why I prefer interacting with vinyl over cds. I also like having bigger artwork to display above the record player when I’m listening to an album. I appreciate the better dynamic range records offer, as modern cds can often sound grating to my ears (I’m not an audiophile though so I don’t have an expensive setup). I’m sure there are more reasons that I haven’t thought of. Oh! And also it's a great way to support independent artists. I do have a couple of Taylor Swift records but probably 80% of my vinyl comes from Bandcamp.

[@bananaskin7527]

I gave up my vinyl and went to CDs. I do not wish to switch again. Maybe if Verve and CTI come back.

[@MrGhostown81]

I prefer my music recorded from a cheap off-brand radio onto an old chewed up ferric cassette tape. The only true way to enjoy "1989 (Taylor's Version)" is with a lot of hiss and a ton of wow and flutter. 😆

[@suekennedy8917]

Chrome tape!😃🥰❤💯👍

[@davidspendlove5900]

Yeah it was more fun then.

[@MrDiamondFlyer]

@@suekennedy8917 Not true !!! Real Audio Cassette fans will tell you that you must record a bit hot on a type I tape without Dolby NR to experience the warm analogue feeling... For me, indeed, it was XL-IIs, SA-X, UX-S and Dolby, but I guess I was on a different mission. Anyway, I'll never miss those unreliable volume or bias level potentiometers, the azimuth problems etc...

[@Jeff-wb3hh]

I bought classical vinyl records from 1972 to about 1983, when CDs came out. I immediately moved to CDs because they sounded so much better and there were no ticks and pops, or cleaning required. I fell in love with the quiet background and brilliant undistorted sound. I continued to buy vinyl until about 1985 when I just gave up on all those tick and pops even after cleaning the records very well. I still buy CDs, but I mostly buy classical SACD multi-channel now because I love the surround sound concert like experience. BEAUTIFUL.

[@dtz1000]

SACD > Vinyl > CD

[@Jeff-wb3hh]

@@dtz1000 I don't understand what you are trying to say.

[@dtz1000]

@@Jeff-wb3hh I'll translate. SACD is better than vinyl which is better than the CD.

[@Jeff-wb3hh]

@@dtz1000 Ah, That is what I thought, but I respectfully disagree. In my opinion it's this: SACD (multi-channel only) > CD > Vinyl. To my ears CDs (44.1kH/16-bit) is far superior to vinyl and I determined that by double blind comparison back in the 1980's by comparing my vinyl records to the same remastered ADD and AAD recordings on CD, as well as DDD recordings released on vinyl as well as CD. SACD is superior only because I can now hear the music in surround sound which gives a depth perspective with the 5.0 channels. However, when listening to the 2-channel SACD layer and comparing it to the CD layer there is no difference to my ears.🙂

[@EricB256]

It's a community thing, I suppose. Over here in Europe, fashionable people definitely believe the hype about LPs. They can also hunt them down in physical stores and at record fairs, which is fun. People are less likely to want to do that with a medium that is (sadly) looked down upon for no apparent reason other than some bad mastering jobs which some hit albums have received in the medium's prime, and have given the medium a bad rep that oddly persists to this day. In a way, the image of CD is like that of ELO to post-punk journalism. Looks like snobbery and psychological disconnect can sell inferior product in droves.

[@ValentinDona]

The reason of this madness is simple. Many CD-s are worst mastered as the vinyl versions. Dynamic compression at 9 LUFS, instead of 16-19 LUFS on vinyl, clipping, and so on.

[@Anybloke]

I'm 62 and have been collecting since the 70s. I bought records up until about the turn of the millennium when it was still possible to get LPs cheap at record fairs as no-one wanted them. Nowadays I tend to buy CDs or downloads from Bandcamp as they sound better and are cheaper. And I can't stand Taylor sodding Swift.

[@usswia]

Haven't bought a Vinyl since Iron Maiden's The Number of The Beast picture disc in 1982. I still enjoy looking at it but haven't played it in 30 years.

[@9Dunk]

As long as they keep making CDs, I'll go along with the LP resurgence. Why? It makes the CDs cheap. As for why LPs are popular again? Most likely, it's marketing. CDs became popular because they were marketed as superior. Smaller, better sounding, more durable, etc. LPs are marketed in just about the opposite way. A nice, big album cover to look at, this "ritual" that enthusiasts talk about, and "warm" sounding with all the little crackles and pops (some even go a step further and talk about rounded sound waves instead of digital squared off ones... then my eyes glaze over). I've also read a few things online (anecdotal) saying that labels are pushing for LP releases over CD. The $40 vs $13 price tag is why. PLUS, copying an LP is more difficult than copying a CD, both in terms of quality and time required. Therefore, copying is discouraged by practical means rather than just saying "DON'T DO IT!" PLUS, LPs can degrade each time you play it and can be damaged via regular use (bumping the turntable while playing, being careless and dropping the needle in the middle of a track, burping too aggressively, etc.). So, people would have to buy a new one if their first one is ruined somehow. Companies are out to make a profit, and they will do whatever they can to maximize that profit. LPs seem to be the latest push by record companies to maximize their profit.

[@obsprisma]

I have around 50 vinyl albums that are not on any streaming service nor on CD. And it's growing. So i keep my collection because vinyl is lasting longer than CD ( CD rot) with a good record player and an associated cartridge.

[@firststspeedway-hotwheelsr3545]

I have not seen cd rot yet, although I've heard some talk about it. I have around 600 CDs, about 20% from the mid to late 80's ..... haven't seen CD rot of any of my CDs yet ..... can't say that my albums have stayed in as good of condition, but then again they're a dozen years older than those 80's Cds

[@lozu8947]

I think this cd rot issue is way overblown; I have never had an issue with cd rot and I have many many many CDs from the 80’s - still sound great.

[@analogueman5364]

I think CD rot relates to blank discs. Had plenty of those go off over the years. But never an original disc.

[@davidspendlove5900]

I think this applies to early cds.

[@bubble-and-scrape]

I’m not willing to pay more than 15 euros for a vinyl album. Luckily i can still find many fine albums in the sale section of my local record store within that price range, both new and second hand. I guess my luck is i’m not into mainstream popular music, because those vinyl releases will cost you way more. But the amount of amazing cds in deluxe or special boxed version you can currently find for 15 euros max is as exciting. And the second hand cd market offers so many treasures for dirt cheap. Depending on my budget i decide to go for a cd or vinyl release. Both give me the same enjoyment.

[@keithspillett5298]

You ask for comments regarding favourite listening 'mediums'. I worked as a recording engineer and live sound reinforcement engineer until retiring recently. I have a vast collection of vinyl AND CDs, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to both. I totally appreciate that CD wipes the floor with vinyl, but there's still something rather enjoyable about placing a 12" diameter piece of plastic on a turntable and 'dropping' a stylus on it. 'Back in the day', prior to digital recording being widely available, I used to enjoy recording on tape running at 15ips using Dolby SR. That used to sound pretty darned good, but the necessary equipment required careful maintenance to keep it operating at the peak of its abilities. I continued to use this equipment for a while AFTER the introduction of CD, because finally a medium existed that could reproduce accurately what my masters really sounded like.

[@AudioMasterclass]

Somewhere out there is an audiophile who uses 15 ips tape with Dolby SR for their personal listening. And they can afford it.

[@jntdad]

I have no idea regards better medium - I was raised with Vinyl and I have an affinity with the medium of my formative years. I am a male rural married retiree who grows veg as a hobby. Funnily the supermarket pre-washed and flawless veg is cheaper and better looking too, but I prefer to dig, sow, plant grow, tend, water, weed, harvest and wash. The cost of pots, tools, bagged compost, fertiliser and insecticides (organic of course) makes the home grown veg cost similar or more and the product looks - well - wonky. But I want to grow more and buy less because the end product has more of me in it and I enjoy it more for that fact. Vinyl records are more demanding to play and cost more but the engagement and effort appears to fall into the more you put in the more you get out category perhaps?. As an aside I would like to ask a question that I hope someone may be able to shed light on. Why oh why are new LPs being made so poorly in a lot of cases (not all). I have a new version (fresh 180 gram collectors version) of the Moody Blues "Threshold of a Dream" I purchased it to save my original purchased in the late sixties - but blow me, my 1969 version with 55 years of life and usage sounds better - how - why? when will someone do something about this. I guess I would buy more vinyl if I had confidence in the current vinyl offerings.

[@FinnleysAudioAdventures]

I echo a lot of the points you made where it is nostalgia mostly. I have fond memories of listening to records with my dad. But it is also being able to physically hold something in my hands, look at the detail of the art work, and the record sleeves. A lot of that is lost on the CD releases. Except for being able to hold a CD in your hands. There is also the kinetic aspect of a record I enjoy. Being able to watch it reproduce the music in a purely mechanical means is more magical to me than converting a bunch of bits into audio through a CD, which for the most part we can’t see moving, or pulling from, the ether in a streaming service. Lastly, if I do what a physical copy of the music I listen to, the bands I like will often release them to record over CD. Some are even going to more niche formats like mini disc and record before CD.

[@anonamouse5917]

Thanks a lot, loudness war. An entire generation now has CDPTSD.

[@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510]

Very interesting, I don’t want get into the vinyl versus digital debate, each to their own, but I think one aspect driving the new vinyl market is maybe overlooked. In the town where I live, we recently had a (Vinyl) Record Fair, which was enthusiastically promoted and reported in the local newspaper. I didn’t attend but from the newspaper report and photos therein, it looked well attended, more power to them. I did, however, read a quote in the newspaper that highlighted an aspect of this wave of popularity that had not occurred to me. A young gentleman who attended was quoted as saying that he is buying vinyl because when you play it, (presumably through his newly acquired sound system), it sounds so much better than streamed music played through his phone and listened to with earbuds. Well, blow me down, who’d have thought - really!!? I’d think anything, anything at all, shellacs, vinyl, cassette tapes, reel to reel tapes, CDs, digital streams and digital downloads of all specifications would sound better even on an average sound system compared to what you hear through your earbuds from your phone. So, I’d think to be fair when making any comparison judgement that it’s always good to compare apples to apples, so to speak, (not that Apple!). My point being that probably a large part of this new market, certainly of the younger market, has never owned a sound system, stereo or hi-fi system and at best may have blue-toothed the streamed data from their phone to some portable single speaker system for non-earbud listening, so they have never heard any of the formats played by decent gear in a reasonable stereo listening environment. So now of course the vinyl sounds better relative to their previous experience and apart from how cool it is to get on the bandwagon, they may now be actually experiencing listening to some music played on real speakers, without the distraction of being on the train, in traffic, jogging or whatever, and begin to appreciate just how wonderful it is.

[@Music2Die4]

People prefer what they prefer...... I personally get good results from both vinyl and CD..... The problem with vinyl is that CD will outperform it if the vinyl rig is not set up with the alignments fine tuned for optimal performance (tracking force, tracking angle, anti-skate, azimuth, level patter etc.)..... The problem with CD is that most playback rigs don't sound particularly good. (And the ones that do sound good don't seem to have a price correlation.) Although I prefer vinyl over CD if the vinyl rig is set up to exacting alignments, such set up requires a learning curve and a working knowledge of the physics behind those alignments. And without the set up to exacting tolerances, or the experience to fine tune these alignments, then good CD playback will outperform vinyl playback.

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

Why buy that inferior vinyl format when you can have the superior format of CD!! 😆👍

[@mansurkhan2764]

Vinyl costs about 3 times as much probably on average as a CD, lol. So there you have the price difference. In other words, if you do the simple math roughly as many LPs (Vinyl) were sold as CDs in the USA, in 2022, according to the RIIA (maybe I got the acronym wrong that you cited). Problem solved !!!

[@nickdryad]

Another thing ruined by the man. Buying records. There’s no way I’m paying A$80 for a record. Technically I’m a boomer who didn’t sell their vinyl in the 80’s but continued collecting up until the Vinyl reissue mania when you could get vinyl for reasonable money. I bought Beatles Live at the BBC in the 1990’s for $40. The average price for a second hand record was between $5-15. Even rare ones were only about $50. Point is they are overpriced and the market is for cashed up millennials and boomers. Not me. I’m retired and have limited budget. The music is important. I buy op shop CDs and believe me they are often even free. As a reference point a Big Mac in the 1990’s cost about A$3.00. Piracy is on the rise again for the reasons outlined here. Everything is too expensive, too many streaming services, too many subscription business models. Stop listening to the recording and start listening to the music. A shellac recording in good condition gives me as much pleasure as a Mobile fidelity record.

[@JohnHoranzy]

I think it more about how the end product is engineered.Just because it was published on CD does not mean it was properly engineered. In the 90s, some republished vinyl to CD albums were done very poorly.

[@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510]

Completely agree, the 1990's was the start of the "loudness wars" where the dynamic range was squashed out of everything in an attempt to make it so much louder Many "remastered" albums and "greatest hits" collections had their life squeezed right out of them to the detriment of the original material.

[@donjohnstone3707]

As we know, anyone can make CD's if they have the equipment and consequently the results run the gamut of quality from excellent to terrible. I try to stick with the labels which consistently produce high quality CD's of the music I like, although some little known labels make very good quality CD's as well.

[@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510]

@@donjohnstone3707 Agreed, I've heard some absolute shockers. However, by the same token, not every vinyl record released featured immaculate sound, and not just independent releases either. Back in the 70s when I could hear a far wider frequency range than now in my early dotage, I bought some LP's that, no matter how much I played with the sliders on my parametric graphic equalizer, I still couldn't decipher the vocals or hear the rhythm guitar and other instruments from within the rather dense mix. I also encountered some pressings that were inherently noisy and substandard.

[@tonynew3047]

Yes - when buying music ( cd or vinyl ) you need to do your homework regarding the better pressings etc. Not all music is mastered to the same standard. Some are absolute shockers.

[@joesmith4443]

@@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510 unfortunately we are in the minority 😞

[@oijans]

I have only recently discovered your channel and have listened to a handful of your audio contemplation videos. I love having someone professional confirming my perception of the quality of audio equipment, production, transmission and listening experience. There's no need for people who don't have plenty of money to waste too much on too expensive devices that don't really produce better sound we are able to hear. It's very much like computer science, crap in - crap out or shit in - shit out. What you like when listening to your music is what is the most important. Fake marketing to boost prices is a scam in every field of technology. The best challenge to me is to find the best sound I like for as little money as I can care to pay. But we all get suckered into spending a little more than planned sometimes because feelings trumps technical knowledge once in a while.

[@OrdinaryWorld]

I'm still buying CDs whenever I can, even for UK based bands where I need to get them imported to the US. Although I instantly rip to MP3, the CDs are my backup. I still have a lot of vinyl from the old days but don't buy anything new on vinyl as it doesn't make practical sense.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

for sound quality and ease of use CDs win hands down every time. But for the whole listening "experience" (i.e the artwork, sleeve notes, liner art, etc) then a 12" vinyl LP is a superior format. Ultimate sound quality doesn't really bother me. I'm no audiophile and as long as it sounds nce and gets my foot a-appin' then I'm a happy boy 🙂

[@martynanstis1620]

You beat me to it. I’ve just recommissioned my 80s amp and speakers after a bit of fettling with a speaker binding post. The sound from my new Eversolo DMP A6 sounds fine to me. I didn’t recommission my systemdek IIX as my album collection is depleted through theft from the same era and I can’t be bothered with the expense and the fiddle faddle of purchasing a medium that will not sound as good as my now extensive CD collection. I understand those who do, artwork liner notes etc and the joy of sitting down with the sleeve as you listen. Not for me now. Tidal and my ripped CD’s is good enough.

[@dtz1000]

I can't believe we are still talking as if CD is a decent format. CD is a terrible format. It cuts out the ultrasonics emitted by musical instruments. These problems of CDs were being discussed back in the 1980s, but here we are over 30 years later and we still haven't moved on to vastly superior formats such as DSD or SACD. It's a real shame.

[@Gamez4eveR]

Vinyl is a fun format. It is quite simply fun. I think there's a portion of people who are starting to value art beyond the immediate - album art, tangibility, ownership and thus access, artist's notes and whatnot. A personal collection of music on a shelf, dare I say, at least for some, will be more engaging than a glorified file picker And, after all, the mixing producer's work is king. I'd wager good money that a good mix with an HF cutoff at 10kHz will be an infinitely more pleasant listen than a poor mix on a completely acoustically transparent medium. Same really goes for all physical media formats. They are just more fun. Specialised equipment for music (record player, cd player, etc) also offer no distractions during a listening session! Not quite something you can say about a phone or a computer (please, no mental gymnastics about 'exercising self control').

[@EgoShredder]

I agree although physical media like LPs require a lot of storage space, especially when your collection reaches 2000 albums or more.

[@IndigoDavei]

I rarely buy music on vinyl or CD these days - but I do make the occasional purchase in one or other of those formats. Mostly I buy downloads (and I stream to audition). IF I had a strong preference for vinyl, it would because of the format's inability to handle excessive compression/limitation - that flaw in the format benefits the music. I also have a lingering memory of the bodily tension I used to experience with CDs back in the '80s - they sounded great, but it was too exhausting to have a long listening session (that situation improved somewhat in the '90s with a new player). So, yes, I am fairly well disposed towards vinyl - but not well enough disposed for it make much of an impact. It's not exactly a convenient format (though it's a bit quicker to get a record on the turntable than it is to thread a tape on a vertical reel-to-reel machine). Anyway, I'm not sure I belong to a demographic that interests the industry (though I don't think those Welsh-language labels begrudge getting an occasional sale in England).

[@mondoenterprises6710]

Um, I just ultrasonically cleaned my 1975 self purchased original 1st press RCA lp of Bowie's Station to Station. I've played it on a suitcase and rack systems over the years prolly 100's times. Plays like I bought it yesterday with minimal basic Disc Washer cleaning thru the 50! years and puts the 1999 cd remaster to shame.

[@MC-jv6fs]

YEs. This is another fact which u can observe, when u have the old pressings, comparing it to the "remasterd" plastic sound.

[@piynubbunyip]

As you probably know Stylus shapes cause wear on different parts of the groove wall depending on how they sit. Perhaps your current setup is sitting nicely on an unworn section. On the other hand you may just look after your records and track at the right weight.

[@suekennedy8917]

Vinyl power!🥰😍💘💝💯👍💪

[@Wuppie62]

The difference you hear is probably in the mastering, not the medium. About analog vs digital: most modern LP's are mastered digital.. With the right equipment, both mediums can sound great, bith having their own challenges. For me convenience and costs are big factors as well, so I don't buy any solid mediums at all. I download occasionally and stream mostly.

[@robertjbelenger]

Vinyl has mutated from its original utilitarian purpose into a pure ''collectors item''. Many people buy vinyl records for the hell of having the closest thing to the original format, or just as an investment tool. Many collectors don't even play those things, it's like investing in gold and silver for them (I have known a few of these types myself :-). 'Nostalgia Is The Drug'. Thanks for the video.

[@lakerfan2874]

I wanted to collect Cassettes, but I couldn't find any at thrift stores after moving. I then went to CDs as a more cheaper format at any store. Plus, I can still get new releases if I want, like Hackney Diamonds and Invincible Shield. I also have a vast selection from other decades from the 50s to 00s. Vinyl is expensive, especially new records at stores. CDs are cheaper. I could get one record at Walmart for 20-30 bucks, where I could get 2-3 CDs for around the same price give or take prices.

[@earl007]

The reason vinyl outsells cd is they keep remastering old vinyl and re packaging it. You got one step, 45 rpm, 180 g vinyl, one with analog productions one with mo fi etc. Watch any KZbin album review and the chance is it is a new re release of an album that already has five different releases. And this satisfies the vinyl heads who love the original right through the tenth re release. People like analog productions have cottoned on to a weak link that rich vinyl collectors have and are smiling from ear to ear. Still can’t get away from the true fact that vinyl has down side with its hiss and pop.

[@edwinhurwitz6792]

I don't think vinyl sounds better, but it's fun, especially for the inferior sound quality, extra maintenance, and expense, but I buy new music on vinyl. I already have the old stuff, some of which I have bought on CD or as hi res files.

[@elektrolad]

I bought my 17 year old daughter the cd last year. Don't think she's ever played it even though she does have a cd player (mothballed). I stopped buying her records when she started hanging them on the walls. As for myself, I'm a Gen Xer missing out being a Boomer by three months. Records were the first media I owned from an early age. When cds arrived it was a revelation, in many ways. And I really haven't looked back much. Sure I have a very large vinyl collection but that is overshadowed by my love for the diminutive mirror discs, that yes, I can still play in my car. I have no idea why people are still buying records...

[@AudioMasterclass]

Three months? I suspect you have more than a few boomer genes.

[@dtz1000]

I explained why in other videos, but this youtuber likes to ignore what i say. One possible reason why vinyl is still popular is because it can reproduce the ultrasonic frequencies that most musical instruments emit. CD cannot reproduce those frequencies. People can tell something is not quite right with CDs even though they don't quite know what it is. It's the missing frequencies.

[@LetsRideIllinois]

​​@@dtz1000that's not true. Most vinyl players and turn tables have to roll off the extreme high and low frequencies because of cartridge limitations. CD can reproduce frequencies up to 22.05khz.

[@dtz1000]

​@@LetsRideIllinois There's a youtube video where someone measured the frequency response of vinyl at 50khz. The proof is there for anyone that is interested.

[@LetsRideIllinois]

@@dtz1000 I think I know who you are talking about. I saw that video, he even acknowledged that's possibly noise and not anything musical. His setup also costs thousands of dollars. That's what you have to spend to get that frequency response off vinyl. With CD , all you need is to spend at most $50 in some cases.

[@JeffHopkins76]

when i introduced my great nephew to sound of a record, he got it immediately. then he understood what the difference was. while with streaming or cd, he would listen to a song, but with a record, it required more, like a whole side. then he realized that he got into the music deeper and listened to the lyrics. today he has his own system, records and love of music. yes he still listens to cd's and streaming, but knows that the quality isn't the same. btw, i have had more than a few cd's that quit playing, desegrated or just started skipping on their own. unless a record is broken or terribly warped, they will still play. i have albums over 80 years old and still play just fine.

[@steven2809]

BS.....😖

[@rabit818]

I still buy CDs because it sounds good with little fuss. I thought my Rega or Technics 1200 would solve my audiophile kick, nah. Still have my LP collection gathering dust. Vinyl is doing well because it is desirable and trendy for young people who never experienced shopping at Tower, HMV or Virgin. Living vicariously through boomers and gen x.

[@analogueman5364]

And popular with the grey pound.

[@Dr23rippa]

I think most people who prefer Vinyl, its not because it sounds better but they grew up with that sound. Much like for me was CD i caught the last part of tape but rewinding that took ages and CD solved that issue...Then mp3 came right in and solved all sorts...

[@TheYuhasz01]

These revenue figures are from new item sales, not used items. CD market is a used item market overwhelmingly.

[@MohsinWadee]

Wrong, the sales figures are for new units of vinyl and CD.

[@johnbrentford5513]

@@MohsinWadee CD market is a used item market overwhelmingly.

[@martineyles]

The used CD market appears to be shrinking, at least compared to the used DVD market. Just go to any CEX over the last few years and you would have seen the ratios change. However, CEX doesn't appear to stock any vinyl, so that comparison is harder to make. I personally buy more new CDs than 2nd hand, though less than I used to.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@johnbrentford5513 It is now!

[@MyouKyuubi]

@@johnbrentford5513 CD's lifespan is too small for it to be viable as a used market, so... no... you're wrong.

[@marxman00]

Unless its 8track cartridge im not playing

[@joesmith4443]

I had one custom made for my car system, it goes up to 11 and no one is allowed to look at it!

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

can I touch it?@@joesmith4443

[@davidspendlove5900]

I wouldn’t listen to Taylor Swift on anything.

[@howpow]

Your loss.

[@briansmith5046]

Don't think so !!!!!

[@ArunPaul-Malaysia]

Thank you.

[@joesmith4443]

She writes about her love life, her experiences in the “industry”, teen life and being a “lady boss” if none of those things interest you, you’re not missing much

[@magnificentTVchannel]

I think Cardigan is one of the best pop songs I've ever heard and the lyrics are top notch.

[@daleboylen6427]

No, just Us "audiophiles" are just nuts. Not the rest of the world. We spend the big bucks on turntables, tone arms, cartridges and records because we love the inferior to digital sound quality. Seems odd that so many the world over have switched from easy peasy streaming, to easy cd's and SACD's back to vinyl. Pain in the ass vinyl. 45 rpm vinyl too. Flipping the record every few songs vinyl. I wonder why we do it? Insanity. Can't be sound quality, can it? Yo McCartney looking dude, maybe you could star a 12 step program for us insane people who have vinyl addictions.

[@MichaelLisk]

I'm sitting out the vinyl revival mainly because it's overpriced. It's hard to buy a record at $30 when I can remember buying them at $3.99 in the 70s and 80s. I switched over to cds in the late 80s. As my impending demise approaches, I have plenty of records and cds to enjoy. For new music I stream (less clean-up for after I croak). Why are people doing it? It's trendy.

[@jamesw5584]

I recently bought a deck and a load of 60-70s vinyl. Mainly because most of the music i like is from that era and I wanted to hear what it would have sounded like back then, so I also built a class a amp for full effect and hooked it up to some 70s wharfdales. I decided to build my own phono pre-amp using the RIAA standards having bought one or two online an wasn't impressed and quickly came to realise that these filter stages have a huge impact on the sound. Since they are working like a tone control, changing the resistance values and capacitor values even slightly massively alters the filter response. I am now convinced that this is why people like vinyl, because the riaa filter stage used to reproduce the sound and the recording process combined makes it sound almost like turning up the bass and the treble and that is the case even when using the riaa standards and component values matched to meet those standards, i modelled it first and built the perfect riaa filter in sim but it still sounds to me like there is an EQ effect, its an appealing affect and i quite like the sound.

[@B0BHW]

I worked for several UK major record companies through the '70s, '80s and '90s. During those 30 years I collected thousands of LPs (vinyl albums) then progressively added CD versions of each title to my collection as they became available. Mainly because the CDs sounded better and it was more difficult to damage them. Stupidly, I'm now buying LPs again. Memory lane. I just like LPs. More than I like CDs. Yep, give me the gift of vinyl. As my wife will tell you, it'll also get me sit still for 20 minutes... because I can't be assed to get up and lift the stylus off until the side finishes.

[@jeremyaguilar3805]

I have an analogue set up in my home office and I love it. I mostly listen to 50’s - 70’s rock, old jazz and classical music and I have zero complaints!

[@martineyles]

You stated vinyl revenues are about 3 times CD revenues. You also give an example of a vinyl album that is about 3 times the price of the CD version. If this is typical, then it's very likely that the number of CD albums sold is quite similar to the number of vinyl albums sold. Of course this could be a large outlier and doesn't consider 12", 10" and 7" vinyl singles.

[@QuinnKallisti]

They have unit figures as well as total sales figures mate...

[@martineyles]

@@QuinnKallisti ok, but I have no idea what the unit numbers are or where they can be seen, so I'm going by the available information at the time of writing the comment - the information in the video.

[@QuinnKallisti]

@@martineyles No offense, but for you to continue to hold the opinion you do, relies on a fundamental personal misunderstanding of the information in the video... moreover, indicates you have no capacity to extrapolate from incomplete datasets, and are also entirely helpless in the face of such adversity, because the source of the information was revealed, it comes from the RIAA....

[@QuinnKallisti]

@@martineyles The percentage of sales of cd to vinyl is around 85.6% in favour of vinyl as a total figure, so it is not as you say, congruent, but I would say statistically insignificant as to give creedence to your original statements validity. Anyway, here is one of the top results after googling "RIAA cd sales versus vinyl" www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2023-Year-End-Revenue-Statistics.pdf You are already on the internet, why not take the two seconds to confirm your suppositions to illicit them with more authority.

[@martineyles]

@@QuinnKallisti OK, I have looked at the YEAR-END 2023 RIAA REVENUE STATISTICS, which show 37 million CD units vs 43.2 million LP/EP units, or expressed as a percentage, CDs selling 86% as well as vinyl in terms of units. I don't think, "quite similar" is a mischaracterization at all, especially as I had already noted that the estimate relied on this being a typical case rather than an outlier, and giving an example of a potential outlier. I think my credentials for extrapolating from incomplete data sets are intact - especially as you have to know and state that outliers may affect the results.

[@peterkutas1176]

I was so glad to ditch vinyl in favour of CD's. No rumble, scratches or distortion. Listening to CDs you could hear only the music without the inherent noises associated with vinyl...

[@ericdere]

In The Netherlands the sale of CDs rose by 5%, vinyl just by 3%

[@AudioMasterclass]

I always knew that the Dutch were intelligent people.

[@joesmith4443]

@@AudioMasterclassPhilips also invented the CD for commercial purposes 😉

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@joesmith4443 Exactly!!!

[@joesmith4443]

@@AudioMasterclassThere’s a cool Dutch website that’s devoted to its famed TDA1540 and TDA1541 dac chip and the compact disc. People still mods those dac chips today to run NOS (non over sampling)

[@joesmith4443]

@@theaustralianconundrum An American invented it though James Russell. It’s actually a pretty cool story

[@tones4073]

Vinyl is outselling CD almost 3 to 1. RIAA figures by format 2023. The sales volume for the CD format equalled 37.0M. The sales volume for the LP/EP format equalled 43.2M.

[@AndersEngerJensen]

I only have vinyl records for nostalgic reasons. Digital wav files, preferably masters at 24 bit 44.1kHz are my thing. And some odd CDs I have collected over the years. I did four of my own releases on vinyl records though, mostly to be able to provide a nice collectable for my fans, but also to try an get the best quality transfer as possible. Maybe you'd like a copy for your analysis and such? :)

[@lindab5235]

I'm approaching age 70. I'm familiar with 78s, vinyl, 8 track, cassettes, CDs . . . what have you. CDs are definitely the best. And I can buy them used at all sorts of thrift stores from $1.00 all the way down to 25 cents. I have a HUGE collection of CDs now.

[@DorianPaige00]

Companies are not putting some new titles on cd. The reverse happened in the early 90's where labels weren't putting Lps and 45's out there except for select markets.

[@ericberger6966]

Most of LP buyers are to young for CD but gullible enough for Vinyl.

[@dtz1000]

You and a lot of people here, including this old geezer youtuber, really do need to do some research because you are all spouting rubbish.

[@-vanveenjf7550]

love your ranting don't let the cat out of the CD case (bag) I'm enjoying also many great recordings on CD. mostly around $1 or 2 bucks a pop. only regret is I have sold my LP too early

[@jimc9823]

Taylor is missing her big demographic - the 8 track tape crowd. She needs an 8 track tape release like Dolly Parton did, a couple years back. At least Dolly can sing.

[@suekennedy8917]

Yes! 8 track forever!😃🥰😍😋🥲💖💪👍

[@radman8321]

Lots of young people buy vinyl because all they have to compare it to is the digital audio they were brought up with on crappy earbuds. They think vinyl sounds excellent. Many of them have never listened to CDs on a proper hi-fi.

[@davidspendlove5900]

Most have never listened to a proper hi fi and don’t want to.Most young people will look at my set up with puzzlement.

[@prowlingfrost5588]

@@davidspendlove5900 also proper/decent "hi fi" stereo system doesnt need to be expensive. but yes it seems mobile phone or one speaker is enough for most.

[@Mentski]

The only people who really needed vinyl over any digital format in the last 30+ years, and are probably solely responsible for keeping the vinyl market afloat for those years and kept the presses going before this current day boom - DJs/Turntablists - moved to digital years ago as soon as companies like Denon and Pioneer made hardware that allowed them to manipulate digital audio in realtime as required. I certainly wouldn't go back to lugging multiple heavy milkcrates now my entire setlist fits in my pocket on a usb stick.

[@LordWaterBottle]

With how cheap digital storage has become(there are 32BG SD cards sold directly by Amazon for $7 and 64GB cards from Best Buy for $11.), I would love to see a new chip-based physical audio format. It needs to play without an internet connection or DRM, needs to be at least as durable as an SD card (preferable more so), likely without moving parts for playback. It would ideally be small enough to be space efficient compared to CDs or Cassettes, but needs to be large enough to still feel like a "tea ceremony" like physical formats of the past, maybe about the size of a GameBoy Advance cartridge. It needs to cost the same or less than CDs, but have 24 bit .flac or .wav files that can be easily copy/pasted to any computer with a simple USB cable, no DRM. All it really needs to do to succeed is to market itself as a better way to support artists than streaming while actually owning your library. People want ownership again.

[@LetsRideIllinois]

Vinyl costs 1.5-2x as much as a CD so that's one reason the revenue is higher. The other reason is that vinyl is more widely available and prominent than CDs are. For example in my local FYE the new release vinyl section is vast and wide vs for CDs the new releases are just one easy to miss rack. Until this changes, vinyl will continue to outsell CDs.

[@JL-wr8gh]

I collect both CDs and vinyl. CDs are obviously better sound quality and a more versatile, and I collect them so that I am not a slave to the vagaries of streaming services… but vinyl is just *fun*. I can easily spend £40 in a pub in an evening, but it’s nothing like as much fun as browsing vinyl in a shop, getting it home, unsealing it, admiring the cover art, enjoying the way the disc slips out of the sleeve, placing the disk on the turntable, and placing the needle down. The £40 spent in the pub literally disappears down the drain the next day, where as the vinyl lasts decades. OK, so the sound is variable, especially with Taylor Swift records, where oftentimes the pressings are bad, but it’s the fun that counts. Yes, I have all of her stuff on vinyl and CD. As an aside, you missed another category of person who collects vinyl and CDs - teenagers who can’t afford streaming subscriptions and have purchased cheap audio equipment (maybe second hand) to be able to play their favourite artist at will and on repeat.

[@enricoself2256]

I'm a CD collectors, I gave up on LP's when prices went to the roof and I had to pay 25 EUR for a used 80's "economy series" reprint of a 70's album. But 99% of my CD acquisitions over the last 10 years are from flea markets. In the yearly statics of sold CD's or LP's I account for roughly 1 or 2 CD a year. I guess my contribution is pretty limited an would not pay anyone bills.

[@davidspendlove5900]

Vinyl’s ?

[@darrellabeyta]

who's got money to throw at vinyl?, I thought inflation was hitting most people. I prefer CD's for sure.

[@naturalverities]

For me as a USA teen in the '70s, LPs were the worst medium---except for all the others. Pops, ticks, static, end of side distortion, ski-jump warps, off-center holes, end-of-pressing blur, yukk! Commercially recorded (high speed duplicated) cassettes were even worse. So I took to buying import LPs (generally better quality) and immediately recording them onto Maxell UD cassettes, and eventually to reel-to-reel. Now I stream liberally, reveling in an unprecedented selection at my fingertips. I don't get vinylmania at all. Maybe it's generational rebellion, more likely healthy doses of tribal mythology and tribal conformity. That's for youngsters; audiophiles should know better, considering the many lossy medium conversion steps involved, including at least 2 otherwise unnecessary electromechanical transducers (cutting lathe head and phono cartridge), obvious sources of nonlinearity (which some honest audiophiles admit that they love). Recorded music is information, so modulation transfer function should rule. And don't get me started on RECORDING quality! Always a pleasure, sir!

[@AudioMasterclass]

In the 1970s we had the oil crisis so records a) became very thin, and b) a greater proportion of recycled vinyl was used. I love the 21st century.

[@peters7949]

@@AudioMasterclassthe 1974 explosion at the Flixborough chemical plant did not help either. Vinyl went from heavyweight to almost flexi-disk in a few months.

[@anonamouse5917]

Since you asked... All my CD's have been ripped using EAC I use Audacity to separate the tracks and correct the heads and tails of the tracks. Then I volume adjust all tracks to -24dB LUFS save as 24 bit with no dither, and compress with flac. Finally, they all go in my Strawberry jukebox.

[@nyquist5190]

Why do you have to separate the tracks? On my computer EAC rips the cds track by track by default.

[@anonamouse5917]

@@nyquist5190 You get better results if you do it manually. I've got Audacity keyboard shortcuts up the wazoo. I shorten/extend fadeouts if they effed up at the studio. It takes very little time. Sometimes I even fix indexing mistakes! One of my CDs (British 80's compilation) had 25 seconds of silence between 2 tracks!

[@harrybaque5502]

I have accumulated around 3.5tb of music in flac format most of which I also own the CD. I listen to the cd when critically listening and stream my library for parties and hanging out with the wife. She found Sonos to be the easiest to use so we installed it throughout the whole house and I maintain a listening space for myself.

[@wrongIQ]

Hi! Let me humbly share some of my thoughts: 1. I'm into vinyl since 2008. And I'm in it not for Taylor Swift but for the original records from 50-70's 2. I guess people who are buying vinyl are not rigorously listening to vinyl only. Most of them I guess are digital+vinyl (that also works for digital+CD, digital+cassetes etc). It means they listen to streaming/files AND vinyl (for specific music in specific occasions)

[@cedricboniface2081]

Most of my listening now, is done with FLAC via headphones. Beyer DT990. This is from a PC into a Pre-amp or from a tablet on the move. At home it's 99% CD but I can play vinyl, if it was only released on that format. Music is the important thing for me; I prefer to listen to it without mechanical noise. Therefore, I prefer digital over vinyl. My choice; everyone else can choose their own. 😇

[@donjohnstone3707]

If you find good quality CD's of the music you like, then that is all you will ever need, which you can own in the most cost effective, simple, long lasting format so far invented. I can put a CD on and relax knowing it will play perfectly well for up to 80 minutes in some cases, without having to attend to the CD player except to change the CD or switch off when I'm finished listening. Records and record players, by comparison, need a lot of attention for all the usual mechanical reasons and has me nervous and annoyed by all the noises they produce that are not the music. Everytime I play a record the grooves and the stylus tip are getting worn and some unwanted dust and grime gets on them. That problem, inherent to playing records, distracts me from just listening to and enjoying the music, which is why I prefer to play CD's. PS. As a bonus, CD's also save me money compared to records.

[@thornwithin6195]

I'm a cd lover and my collection is almost at 500! I almost got a turntable as the deluxe version of my favorite bands have picture disks as well as different colors [kinds cool as a collection]. Why I love cd. Main reason is cleaning. Vinyl attracts dust and that would drive me nuts. Cd's are really easy to keep clean and they sound great. Also wayyyy cheaper!

[@comicmania2008]

Each to their own, to me, it depends on how and where you like to listen to music. I buy second hand vinyl records only these days - average price eBay £7.99, I also buy 2nd hand cassettes - average price eBay £4.99, I haven't bought a CD for years! I sacked Spotify Apple iTunes and Amazon Prime, as the media dies when you die, and you don't get a song sheet or anything physical to own after you buy the media. Experimenting with my cassette recorders, I found I can get a decent enough quality sound, living with a slight hiss on playback. My records after cleaning them also sound pretty clean, albeit with clicks and the odd pop. After my boomer ears have 'developed' over the years, I can't detect many flaws like I used to anyway. Been listening to Blondie and Skorpions tapes this afternoon in the garden through a BOSE sound bar, sounds great to me, just as good or better than a portable radio in fact!

[@AudioMasterclass]

Bar me forever from the audiophile fraternity, but I've heard Bose systems that sound good. I'll shock everyone in a future video.

[@thegoldenbox]

Nailed it on the point where streaming mostly offers remastered versions. That is why as mentioned I often seek out CDs for specific versions. Also a lot of older used CDs sound great and are a bargain nowadays (as opposed to old good quality Vinyl)

[@MyouKyuubi]

Literally any version you're looking for on CD, can be found as an MP3, WAV or FLAC on the internet somewhere... :P And instead of CD's taking up space, you can just squish all MP3's, WAV's and FLAC's on a USB memory stick... it'll last decades longer than a CD's plastic would... And unlike a CD, a USB actually has repairable components, should the USB get worn down or whatever, you can just replace the parts with new parts, and keep the music already on the device... a USB memory stick also has way more memory capacity than a CD does. :P

[@thegoldenbox]

@@MyouKyuubi I do use rips of those CDs as lossless (such as FLAC) files. Some older versions are on digital stores such as Qobuz. Others only were released on a specific CD/DVD/SACD/BD. I know you can probably find these but I don’t want to pirate. Depending on your region, you still need to have the physical copy of ripped content. Also, there is some fun in collecting/physical similar to what people say about vinyl.

[@MyouKyuubi]

@@thegoldenbox Buying used CD's, is indistinguishable from piracy, from the perspective of those who created the music, as they get 0% of the money on the used market... So it is piracy, but unlike online piracy, you're spending money, giving it to random people, instead of the creators of the tracks you desire... Whereas with online piracy, you get what you want, for free, without giving your money to some random stranger selling a used-market product! I agree that you should buy when you can, but if you literally can't, then piracy is literally your only choice. :P The problem with CD's though is they wear down rather easily, they're made of flimsy plastic... So simply handling the CD's tends to wear them down over time... Of course you could always burn a copy of those CD's, but, the more copies you make of copies, the lower the quality the track becomes, as copying a track on an imperfect storage medium FROM an imperfect storage medium, tends to lessen/corrupt the quality of the track over time. So, to maintain the integrity of the quality, you have no choice but to store the tracks on some kind of digital device, like a USB flash drive, or a harddrive... And on that note, you can just play your music directly off of that device, instead of using a CD anyway... So CD's are a waste of money, and just an increase in plastic waste! : / CD's are profoundly obsolete as a digital storage medium... Vinyl is analog, so there's an argument to be made for vinyl and its analog qualities, that's why Vinyl outsells CD. :P CD is digital, and it is inferior to better digital alternatives.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

My daughter bought that Swift LP.....and she doesn't even own a stereo system with a turntable!!!! She asked me to make a digital transfer to mp3. LOL. She wanted this because there exists that one track that isn't available for download. I thought I'd raised her better.

[@AudioMasterclass]

I suppose it makes sense to transfer a nostalgia physical format to a nostalgia digital format. Maybe use the classic 128 kbits/second bit rate?

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@AudioMasterclass HAHA! My reaction, exactly. Well, she was most happy with the result. But I use a higher bitrate for mp3. Still, for pop music, you can't tell much difference.

[@dtz1000]

She can always upscale the MP3 file to make it better than CD quality.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@dtz1000 I made the highest quality mp3, but I don’t see that as better than CD quality.

[@AudioMasterclass]

@@dtz1000 Comment readers might like to note that this is humour. Probably.

[@BirdArvid]

The whole vinyl-thing is so laughable; buyers, many of whom were not around in LP's heyday, paying ridiculous prices for an inferior product.

[@dtz1000]

Is it inferior? Vinyl includes the ultrasonic frequencies emitted by most musical instruments. CD does not include those frequencies. It may be why many people find vinyl more engaging to listen to than CDs. I know I do.

[@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510]

@@dtz1000 Just a question, given ultrasonic frequencies are above 20 kHz, the upper range of human hearing how do you appreciate them?

[@dtz1000]

​@@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510 I do not know what the biological mechanism is for how these frequencies get to the brain, but there is a scientific study that shows that these ultrasonic frequencies when they are present in music have a positive effect on the human mind. I think some people subconsciously know there is something not quite right with CDs. I know I did when I first heard one. I went straight back to vinyl as i couldn't engage with the music on a CD like I could when it was on vinyl.

[@edwinhurwitz6792]

@@dtz1000 Please provide citations to the study as well as proof that the ultrasonic content makes it through the recording, mixing, mastering, and manufacturing stages of vinyl. I like vinyl a lot, but that sounds like snake oil to me. I like it because it's fun, not because it sounds better.

[@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510]

@@dtz1000 Thanks for the reply, please don’t think any of my following reply is a criticism of you or your audio preferences. Firstly, I would like to read the scientific study that posits that these ultrasonic frequencies (which by their very nature cannot be heard and thus cannot enter our brain as other audible frequencies do), can still somehow enter our brain by other means? I know you firmly believe that vinyl sounds better than CD and would suggest that no amount of comparison testing would convince you otherwise. As to people subconsciously knowing there is something wrong with CDs, some people certainly believe that but every one of us suffers to some degree when attempting to make supposedly objective judgements on the quality of music from what’s known as “confirmation bias”, which basically means if we think something is better or sounds better we will believe it is so. This is the reason that blind testing, (as in the samples not being identified beforehand), is used when asking people to assess the comparative quality of digital music sampled at different rates, to remove their already preconceived bias. I don’t know when you first heard a CD but it’s fairly true to say the early ones were fairly terrible and one of the reasons was that the mastering to this new 20 to 20 kHz format was basically uncharted territory. Initially engineers were mastering the music in the same way they had been for vinyl which resulted in very tinny and overly accentuated treble frequencies which sounded terrible. Then in the 1990s the “loudness” wars began where record companies were pushing to make their music as loud as possible by using audio compression along with raising the volume to peak levels which dramatically reduced the Dynamic Range and increased the instances of clipping of the audio when the signal exceeded 0 Db and consequently the wave was cut off at the top which resulted in distortion. In many cases this resulted in a certain lack of engagement by the listener as the brain after a few minutes decided it needed to protect the ears and I for one became unusually fidgety and couldn’t comfortably listen to the whole CD. So yes there are some bad CDs out there and even though modern mastering still produces very “hot” recordings, things have improved and many are very good indeed. However, vinyl is not a perfect format, I bought many vinyl records in the 70’s that contained music that was very muddy and at times a wall of sound, not to mention some noisy and less than perfect pressings. I would recommend a very excellent book called “Perfecting Sound Forever” by Greg Milner, which is very illuminating indeed for people (like me) who are not audio experts. Anyway I think the main point of music is being missed in all this discussion about audio formats, and that is the music itself and the glorious experience of listening to it and enjoying it no matter what your format or audio gear preference, you obviously love listening to vinyl, more power to you and all the best.

[@DJStanSteel]

I’ve never stopped buying vinyl. For me its about the whole experience of opening cleaning and playing. The art work and inner sleeve notes. Yes it’s got expensive BUT only if your buying new reissues or new releases. I still buy cds. Streaming is fine but I find that back ground sound. I think is someone ask me to listen to Taylor swift id chop my ears off. (63 years and buying for over 50 years)

[@knockshinnoch1950]

It's all down to marketing and clever PR/Product placement in movies and TV dramas. The hipster detective playing his jazz albums on his cool turntable- dropping the stylus from 10 feet onto the poor vinyl record. Every time I see young kids buying vinyl to take home and play on their cheap portable record player- it's insane. Influencers also have a major role in promoting the vinyl con.

[@christophmartin5381]

Vinyl, CD ....who cares...Yes I care and I have to admit that I became a CD guy in the last 10 years more and more. Today I buy Vinyls only if CDs are not available from the artist, musician, bands etc..... But why CDs ? There are many reasons. First I hate hype, and Vinyls became a hype, in such a way that small artists are getting pushed down the line to wait month and month because old farts like Stones, Led Zeppelin etc... think they should offer their stuff on Vinyl again. This hype destroys all beauty that was once in that record collecting scene. Second and that is for me most important, sound quality, yes that what most vinyls enthusiasts claim for vinyl, but mostly I've found acoustic reproduction in best quality on CD, the possibility to reproduce the same quality again and again.... Anyway ... Most important thing is we should enjoy music, and nothing else.

[@JorgedeLumiarFerreira]

I do them all!!! No discrimination here, although with a rather weird and illogical approach. I listen to formats according to music genres and/or time periods: Classical and Electronica almost exclusively on CD or streaming; Jazz and guitar rock (from the 50's to the 80's) preferred on vinyl; 90´s stuff exclusively on CD (some of them impossible to find on streaming); Soul depends on the period, but mostly CD or streaming. I know it's weird but it works for me! Mastering is key, in any format (not that I know much about it). Truth is I've listened to spotless music (apart from the ocasional pops & clicks :) ) on vinyl, as much as I've listened to pretty horrible versions on CD, and vice versa. Spin it or click it... just listen to the music!!! Just a word on the possible explanations for the ressurgence of physical formats (especially vinyl)... I do believe that the very limited revenue provided to the artists via streaming (and the visibility this is getting in social media) is a possible reason for the fans to prefer buying vinyl and CD. Invest in the artists and you will get rewarded with more (and probably better) music.

[@richgrao]

I grew up with vinyl and was thrilled when cds came out. No more clicks, pops, skips, sticks, flipping sides, etc. at first I thought the resurgence of vinyl was a nostalgia thing, like mullets, but it keeps growing. I hear the usual “analog is better” BS. I put that up there with $1,000 cables. If your stats are right, it’s not Boomer nostalgia either. I just think it is hype. Audiophile reviewer hype extolling vinyl, and the artwork, and, well, whatever, other stuff they throw at the wall. Marketing hype by labels, as they have found a way to make more money of the same unit sale. I’ll stick with CDs and high quality streaming, thanks.

[@PrismApplied]

I play cds and vinyl and I stream. Some releases sound better on vinyl. Some don’t. Live a little, don’t be so rigid. You might surprise yourself.

[@jjcale2288]

Has the world gone insane? Yes!

[@johnorourke1636]

For me it’s definitely the compact disc even though I was reluctant to move over to it back in the early nineties. This was mainly due to relative cost at the time. I have been streaming for a couple of years now too and have been able to explore a lot of new music this way. I haven’t owned a vinyl player for about 15 years and it sat idle for a couple of years before that. I’m too accustomed to being able to hear bass lines easily and things like that. I did consider buying a turntable again just to play the small collection of LPs that I still have but decided against it. I would have been buying it for the wrong reasons and it would soon become a dust collector. I’m going to spend the money on a subwoofer and some CDs instead. 😊

[@stephanherschel5785]

Giving music as a gift. It's really a pity nowadays. Don't remember when my aunt gifted me a copy of Desire of Bob Dylan. Sometime in the eighties I suppose. I still have it - never listen to it anymore - and I'm forever thankful to my aunt for opening this musical space for me. And there's a lot of music I would like to give away as gift but how? Ok, I bug my friends and family with links to obscure youtube videos nowadays ... 🙃

[@davidwho7847]

Being a previous owner of a $10k audiophile system, I know the sound of vinyl. That has all been replaced with a NAD CD player hooked to a Denafrips Enyo dac. I'll never return to vinyl, it's too labor/cost intensive for me. If you think vinyl sounds better, buy a better dac.

[@stratocat9999]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video, as always! Lots of laughs, to be sure! And as a 'Boomer', it really was hilarious! Personally, being retired from 30 odd years as a mastering engineer, I trend toward buying Hi Res tracks (96 or 192 Khz 24bit) as opposed to either a CD or LP. But I do still buy the occasional LP as it may the only way to get a particular mix or album. No matter, any LP I buy is archived as 96 khz 24 bit (fully refurbed Technics SP15 wit the bog standard and vastly underrated Audio Technica ATP-12T). I often buy the CD quality version of an album if no HD version exists, as I do not necessarily need the hard copy. Then there is the 'legacy' of original pressings with 'that sound' which, again, I archive to Hi Res digital. I'm the exception and I know it. I do not have a streaming subscription and no desire to have one. My library is large enough and I own it. But for the rest, especially for new releases, to anyone that asks, I always suggest buying the CD over the over-priced LP if ownership is desired. I have bought perhaps 'one' new LP, and that was a re-issue, in last 5 years. But I have been gifted some as well. My thought is one day the younger vinyl/analog zealots may wake up one day and find they have been taken for a very expensive ride. Will CD come back? I think so. There is already a resurgence in interest, but mostly in the used market, for now.

[@AudioMasterclass]

As a mastering engineer of a mature vintage, real music lovers and audiophiles would probably wish you would teach the young whipper-snappers a thing or two.

[@stratocat9999]

@@AudioMasterclass 🤣

[@JJ-qs9hu]

Many stores in the US don't carry CDs anymore and the ones like Target and Walmart have about 10 to 20 titles to choose from and only get like 5 copies. Physical media isn't a huge thing to the youth so and those who do want it buy vinyl for the in thing of the moment. So I myself mainly buy Vinyl over CDs because I prefer the old sound and the big picture. I was an 80s kid and it's more of nostalgia. I do listen to my vinyl often. I still own around 450 CDs and maybe about 5 are from the last couple years. Because the artist or label never got it pressed on vinyl or couldn't because Swift had dibs that week . Buy whatever you like an stop criticizing the fact vinyl keeps outselling a format that died a decade ago. They might make a comeback like vinyl did, but I wouldn't hold my breath.