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Prices of Records/Vinyl in 2025

Is it me or have prices of vinyl recently surged to an average of $35 or more ? Just a couple of months ago the average seemed to be around $30. I bought around 30 records to play on my exorbitantly expensive turntable and its multi thousand dollar cartridge, its hundred of dollars of cables, the $1000  phono preamp etc and immediately had 7k invested before buying any records. After buying 50 albums or so and finding about half to be shitty recordings I had $1500 invested in realistically 25 playable, great quality recordings. I just went back online to look for a few more and I'm certain prices have jumped from $30 average to close to $40. WTF ??? More gouging I assume. Is this industry truly sustainable when people are expected to have close to 10k invested to play some records? Insane. I protest, with my wallet. Let's see, hmmm....stream a million tracks for $20 a month with perfect sound, no cleaning, snaps, pop or crackle and hiss and- jump tracks and artists the second I don't like what I hear- or- invest $40 in a crappy recording on vinyl, suffer through it or toss it in the trash because the recording or the music suck. I could literally light two $20 bills on fire instead of bothering to gamble on ordering a record online. 

 

speedthrills
garebear
1,268 posts
 

…….hmmmm sounds like you have the money to buy vinyl at these prices so , not sure what your issue is or the reason for this read . I just spent $22 on a Smash Burger at a nice Bistro and $8.00 for a tube of caulk . Welcome to this new world . 

bojack
703 posts
 

Exactly why I sold my turntable and small collection of LPs years ago. I realized that for the same price, I could either gamble on one LP and listen to 12 songs or subscribe to Qobuz and listen to 3 million, all with great sound and zero hassle. And yes, albums now (like everything) are an outright ripoff. I get gas, groceries, and haircuts...that's it.

mahler123
3,994 posts
 

The OP is a pretty succinct indictment of vinyl as a preferred playback medium.  It’s expensive, inconvenient, and noisy compared with digital.  This won’t dissuade any of the true believers.  However I do notice that there are many like the OP who come to this realization after spending a lot of dosh.

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,132 posts
 

In the mid 1960's, I'd go to the record shop and buy a mono album for $3.50 or a stereo version for a dollar more. I don't know the answer, but maybe somebody else can say what that might amount to in 2025 dollars; records are not the only things that have gotten significantly more expensive over the last 60 years. 

billstevenson
1,172 posts
 

I just calculated, $4.50 in 1965 is worth $46.28 today.  As a record collector who was buying records then with his paper route money and who still has those records in his collection today it is my opinion that without doubt the records today are of higher quality overall than the ones from back in the "good old days."  As for streaming, for me it is like a kiss on the telephone, you can't feel it.  Furthermore, for those of you who think that is your best option just think of all the memories it will provide as you age into your dotage, just keep your receipts handy because that will be your only vestige of the experience.  I think I'll play Swing Low Sweet Cadillac now and remind myself with Dizzy of my youth.  One other thought, if you really think about it, the best option at this time is neither streaming or vinyl, it is CDs.  

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