Is vinyl dead ?

Vinyl is dead as a mainstream commercial product. 95% of the market, or more, really doesn't care if the Lp sounds better than CD. I have given dozens of demos in my home over the years and the Lp continues to shock people who previously assumed CD was superior. But, not one of them went out and bought a turntable. To them CD sounds good enough and they can play it in their car, which is where most people listen anyway.

While there are exceptions to every rule, I seriously doubt vinyl will come back. In fifty years, after all the people like me who have collected records for decades are gone, vinyl will have disappeared to the same extent 78's have. I wish it wasn't so. Now is the time to buy a turntable that will last you the rest of your life and does not require the support of a local shop.

Rockinroni,

You misunderstood my point about getting a turntable now. I agree that there are more good turntables available now than ever before. I'm not maintaining the supply of tables is about to drop. But, unless you live in or near a major City there aren't many shops that support analog. How many Linn dealers service LP 12's today as opposed to 1985? My point is to get a turntable that doesn't require much dealer support. I sold my LP 12 as the local shop bit the dust and I lost my set up tech. I selected a Basis/Graham because it sounds great and needs no adjusting once it's set up, which is easy. I would be very wary of buying a turntable today that is tempermental.