Topic: Vinyl records spin back into vogue

[Clive]

According to recent Nielsen SoundScan numbers, vinyl was the fastest-growing musical format in 2010, with 2.8 million units sold, the format's best year since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.


LINK

[Simon]

I haven't even got a record player any more.   

[Rik]

Now there's a blast from the past.

[Simon]

I still think vinyl can sound wonderful.  The trouble was, with LPs, the sound deteriorated the nearer the stylus got to the centre of the disc. 

[Rik]

And the more often you played a disc...

[daveeb]

I still think vinyl can sound wonderful.  The trouble was, with LPs, the sound deteriorated the nearer the stylus got to the centre of the disc.  

Yes that problem could spoil a really good 78.  

[Rik]

I always used thorn needles for them, Dave.

[Simon]

Can't remember what it was, but I once had a 16rpm LP.  Apparently, they were quite uncommon. 

[Rik]

They were most commonly seen as 'cover discs' with comics and papers. Pressed from a very thin vinyl sheet, the quality was about good enough for speech and little else. It was the frequency equivalent of the 1⁷/₈" tape speed.

[Simon]

It was definitely a 12" disc, but I can't remember what was on it, as I was about 6 at the time. 

[Rik]

I thought they'd gone out of use by then.

[Simon]

Well, I don't know how old it was!

[Rik]

Ask Clive, it was probably one of his. 

[Simon]

[daveeb]

I always used thorn needles for them, Dave.

You're a Hi-Fi perfectionist Rik.
I also find the constant winding of the handle a real chore, someone should invent an automatic version.