Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine Vinyl

Anyone collecting the new recent surge of vinyl LP's? I have a box of old albums from my childhood I still need to dig out but for Valentine's Day I bought the girlfriend a new Crossley turntable with a couple of albums (Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding for her and Royal Blood for myself) and at Barnes and Noble today I discovered they now have a section for vinyl. I grabbed Taylor Swift's 1989 and Adele's 21 for far cheaper than I could have on Amazon where I just pre-ordered the new Awolnation.

So, anyone still into the old scratchy records? Do you have any favorites from growing up (if you grew up with them) and do you still own them?

I have Abbey Road by the Beatles and And Justice For All by Metallica. I hope to get more once I get my own space. I want to own all of the Misifts and Iron Maiden's discographies in vinyl if I ever can.

I've been wanting to get into vinyl but ... any recommendations for a player?

I've looked into it and it seems you've got to add speakers no matter what. Crosleys are everywhere but the reviews aren't great.

They have some that can hook into your computer to digitize the files but ... not sure if that's useful ha!

would be nice I guess to get one with bluetooth that can broadcast to a wireless speaker.

There's actually this little device that helps you convert older speakers into Bluetooth capable ones but it is currently out of stock.

Our Crosley has been good for what it is but there are plenty, more expensive turntables out there. Getting a USB one that can create MP3's out of the album is nearly redundant with today's LP issues since the majority of them either come with a code to download the MP3 version from the label or Amazon does their AutoRip if you buy from them.

I love vinyl, and if I ever have space/money I'll probably get heavily into it, but not yet...

Was visiting a buddy a couple weeks ago, and the music playing was so clear and clean. Then I realized he was using the Polk Audio speakers I'd given him about 20 years ago since I was going to be living overseas. grumble.

Still have the rest of that sweet set-up frozen in the garage. Panasonic with a shure needle, Nakamichi tape deck and Macintosh amps... Albums still sitting in the milk crates.

Use to have a frame hung on the wall that I could quickly drop an album into. Cover art still a great way to decorate a room and easy to change as the mood strikes.

My faithful Facebook friends know I have all my original vinyl to this day. Wasn't able to play it for years until recently.

The thought of having to "build" a system is what was turning me off to getting a turntable, but I found one at Best Buy.com with speakers built into the sides. It's shaped like a briefcase, and takes up little room. The sound has been quite satisfactory. I *did* have to tape a penny to the needle to keep some of my records from skipping but big whoop, I had to on my 70s system too.

$100. I'd highly recommend it to you guys wanting to get into vinyl. Here's a pic.

Thanks ... I will have to get one soon now!

I'm really enjoying the reissues of classic albums on 180g vinyl, mostly on the Rhino and Sundazed labels. Sundazed in particular goes to great lengths to reproduce the whole package, right down to the small print on the back cover explaining how today's stereophonic records can be played on any modern turntable without fear of obsolescence.

Personally, I'm still using my old Pioneer PL-600 (the infamous "plastic fantastic" model) that I bought back in the 90s for my home listening. It sounds decent enough through my 1976 Radio Shack speakers (I had to replace the receiver a while back, though).

What really sounds good, though, is the pair of Technics turntables at the radio station where I produce Stuck in the Psychedelic Era. They sell for around $2000 each and sound fantastic, especially with the high quality 180g vinyl pressings that have been coming out in the past few years.

One thing I gotta say, though, Lash. I cringed when you said you had to use a penny on the tone arm. That is one surefire way to destroy vinyl! There should be some way to adjust the tracking and/or the anti-skate force built into the tone arm.

Hermit, please assist with any advice you may have!! I'll also consult the book-guide-thingie.

I just became enraged when some of my vinyl skipped on the new turntable, knowing how well I've taken care of it all these years!

I think most store brand or lower end record players don't have way to adjust, not that I recall anyhow. Yes, I cringed too because I wouldn't want him to ruin his old albums.

A good player, let alone a good needle can set back though. Maybe there are cheaper options for finding a good player? Estate sales.....

Family? Might be the thing someone has tucked away somewhere, like mine is in the garage (for now).

This is sounding way too stressful for me ... next thing I know a record will be flying across the living room shattering lamps and starting a fire.

I think I'm at peace with the penny thing. After all, It's not like I will be playing these old albums and 45s THAT often.

And if I do purchase something new on vinyl (which I've considered), I'll remove the penny.