Why do you listen to records?

 

rvpiano OP

2,875 posts

10-17-2025 at 12:32pm 

@newton_john 

As I remember it now, what originally prompted me to write this post was that when I listen to records I tend to listen more for the sound than the music, and was wondering if others did the same thing.

listening to music or listening to sounds…

is it possible that because you listen to vinyl so infrequently compared to digital that your brain automatically tunes to differences between the two formats? I remember this being a problem for me especially when playing a record of an album that I’m very familiar with from streaming. It’s why I dropped vinyl for a while. I’m making a second attempt at it now. Let’s see how it goes. 

I'm old fashion I like listening to vinyl lps and  cds.I have Different setups. 

@audphile1 

I think you’re right.

What cartridge are you using @rvpiano? Is it still Hana ML?

I grew up with cassettes and then CDs. I wasn’t a Napster guy, but I bought MP3s and switched over to Spotify as soon as I was aware of it. I’m an audiophile neophyte and I’ve only recently started buying vinyl records regularly. I have the “collector” gene, so it was inevitable in one sense. Streaming services don’t scratch that itch. On the other hand, I have a low tolerance for vinyl idiosyncrasies (pops, buzzes, and the like). I’ve had a couple experiences now where I’m happier with the sound quality of a vinyl record than I am with the digital copy of the same recording. They’ve all been new records and most of them have been of the “special edition” variety (e.g., Mofi’s recent release of Van Halen’s “Diver Down.”). I’m thinking that I may limit my collection accordingly.