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The Great Vinyl Debate

Vinyl record prices are out of control. Their quality is also lacking: Too many poor pressings and cheap packaging (paper sleeves and cheap card stock outer sleeves) don't justify the price. My question is why is this happening?

I refuse to buy re-issues when used originals can still be had cut from the original analog sources to those that love to search for them (I get that some folks don't care for hunting/waiting) and ultimatly find them.

The trouble I have is with the price of "new vinyl." It varies of course, but both indie and major label vinyl records are grossly over priced IMO. I have no qualms about supported an artist whatsoever, however the average price for LPs both single and double and box sets are outragous.

Labels, distributors et. al. appear to be taking advantage of an inflated/exaggerated supply and demand equilibrium more so these days than ever before. Why is this? Even tho I've been hearing and reading about the vinyl resurgance since 2007 and the plethora of other documents stating that it's on the rise - even that vinyl is killing the compact disc - only 3 people where I work have turntables (that includes me) but I'm the only one that actually listens to, and buys records. In my world, I don't see the resurgance at all. But I do see inflated record prices along the lines of $46 for double LPs and $35 dollars for single LPs! These aren't re-issue inflated prices either - these are new music prices. And most if not all don't include "free MP3 downloads" (who wants MP3's anyway?)

Perhaps the recording industry believes that if they have a customer base that will pay $2000 for one foot of power cord or $10K+ for turntables (sans tonearm and cartridge) - we won't balk at $30 150 gram records or multi-hundred dollar box sets.

I'm a music lover not a sucka. Hey music industry mad men I'm on to you - the revolution is now....
notec

Showing 4 responses by has2be

has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
Its supply and demand. Simple economics of manufacturing. The more you produce the more you can discount by volume. The smaller the production the higher the costs. Boutique is a good way to describe what was once a massive market.
As far as price in the very early seventies wages averaged around a dollar an hour and albums were 4.99 for current releases. So even 55 for a double 45 reissue at todays wages is still less then they were then.
Quality is an inherit problem but even in the heyday those same issues were present.
Have to agree with Macdadtexas on the Japanese pressings. I have been buying them from Japan for over 20 years and have over 250 japenese pressings shipped EMS from Japan and not one dud.
Two reasons for it, they use FAR superior virgin vynil and albums in Japan were ridiculously pricey for the Japanese to buy so they looked after them with greater care than we North Americans did in general.
Cheers
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
"is there any manufacturer who makes a pivoting cartridge joint
to offset the decreasing groove circumference ?"
Garn 509, yes there is! The Sakura RS 1 has just that feature. Have heard one and it sounded incredible all the way through the album side. But at 1400 bucks for an arm that is not fastened in place ,has no adjustment and wires more delicate than an 85 year old womans bones, is a pain to install a cartridge on and just does not look worth the price. Although not for the squeamish or the fiddling tweaker its abilities heard with ones ears defies what ones eyes see. Myself personally I just could not bring myself to put out 1400 bucks for it.
Maybe audiofeil could chime in here as he may have more insight and knowledge of this arm through his experience. Put down the bong Bill!
Cheers
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
The cartridge is mounted to a small bracket for lack of a better term . The bracket swivels as it is mounted at one spot or a pivot if you will to the arm. I still cant beleive how good it sounded or how well it tracked,but as I said before I just could not see 1400 bucks worth of product and quite fragile wiring by its design.It is not mounted either it literally is just set in place. The actual arm wand is very strong and stiff as it is actually a small I beam to eliminate flexing leaving that to the swivel. However if I was wealthy enough that 1400 was nothing to me I would undoubtabley buy one. I have a freind who uses it while his 4000 dollar arm now sits idle. He has had to rewire it twice at 250 a pop yet it does not deter him. Its kind of eclectic, and cheap in appearnce, big on price in my opinion anyway ,but it sure sounds like its worth more. Google Sakura RS1 and you can see it and read a review on it.
Cheers
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
Garn 509, the model is actually RS A1. I missed the A in the model # ! Cheers
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