Old CDs and records

Yes, this is a deplorable situation.

More and more people are dying these days with substantial collections of books, records, paraphernalia left behind in the hands of those who cannot see anything beyond a financial return for them.

Ok it’s not Citizen Kane, but it’s an issue nevertheless.

What to do?

At the very least everyone should leave clear instructions of what to do in case of their unexpected demise.

It is vital to appoint someone with the legal power to do so.

Not a pleasant task but as far as we know, we will all have to die one day.

This might mean sorting out legal papers in advance.

The more prudent might want to downsize their collections by choice beforehand, before someone else will have to do it.

Recently a very close friend of mine died unexpectedly. He lived alone and had no close family. Now I’m facing the prospect of watching his carefully collated records and journals being ’cleared’ by his housing agency.

He lived his life through his ’archives’ and the thought of what might now happen would have appalled him.

He did once say that I would have to sort his stuff in case anything happened but there was never any paperwork. I didn’t even want to consider such a possibility, and now see what’s happened.

This leaves me wondering about my books, records, comics too.

Should I sell them or should I keep them for nostalgia’s sake?

The music side seems to be heading for ripped MP3s but I don’t particularly like digital books.

Now I'm really confused:

You hear it said a lot on Audiogon,  that LPs are better and more desirable as a musical source than CDs.  I disagree, but many audiophiles hold this view.  They trash CD at every opportunity.   They even 'apologize' if they inadvertently admit to listening to a CD. :)

Then along comes Streaming.  Now audiophiles seem to be saying, the standard for great streaming is, if it equals CD in sound quality.  Am I missing something?

Cheers

Re the "extinction" of vinyl - maybe tell Michael Fremer , moving from Stereophile to the Absolute Sound, and starting up the following as well

Michael Fremer Launches TrackingAngle.com

New site and exciting YouTube channel to bring outstanding reviews, articles, and interviews to global online audiences

Wyckoff, NJ—June 16th, 2022—Veteran audio journalist and music writer/critic Michael Fremer will launch the website TrackingAngle.com, the new online home of the pioneering 90s- era print magazine The Tracking Angle that will cover vinyl records and all things analog. The site is expected to go live in late Summer 2022. As this new venture begins, Fremer will move on from AnalogPlanet.com, the vinyl record-centric website he conceived and edited since its creation more than a decade ago.

“I am excited to create the most comprehensive online platform driven by my passion for analog playback,” said TrackingAngle founder Michael Fremer.“ Our content will focus on affordable gear, with an emphasis on turntables, phono cartridges, and phono preamps, reviews of recorded music, interviews with musicians and audio industry experts, and so much more.”

The TrackingAngle YouTube channel will resume immediately broadcasting Fremer’s unique brand of analog-centric knowledge, insight, and humor that attracted over 50,000 subscribers to his previous channel, featuring videos that have received more than a half-million views.
Joining Fremer on the website will be over a dozen writers who helped make his previous site a “must visit” for vinyl record devotees and music lovers. Also teaming with Fremer are former TTA partners Nick Despotopoulos and David L’Heureux (Groovy Collectibles LLC) who will run all aspects of website operation and handle advertising sales.

Additionally, “Tracking Angle” was Fremer’s first audiophile music review column, published in the late ‘80s in The Absolute Sound magazine, to which Fremer is returning as Senior Editor. The new website will feature “vintage content” from his TAS column and The Tracking
Angle magazine. Following The Beatles’ late-career admonition, Fremer says he is “getting back to where he once belonged.”

For more information and to register for the mailing list to receive launch notifications, please visit www.trackingangle.com.
Media contact:
Michael Fremer
michael@trackingangle.com

 I don't think streamers are amongst those who've trashed cd sound quality, most have long incorporated digital in their systems. Its just once we discovered streaming and cd rips sound quality could equal or surpass playing cd's over transport that cd physical media became obsolete.

@rvpiano

I have 90% classical CDs and records. Maybe rock and pop are desirable, but I don’t think my collection is that viable.

I participate regularly on the Talk Classical Forum, in the ‘current listening’ thread of the forum, many are posting CD’s, and quite expensive CD sets at that. I would say it is at least 50/50 CD vs streaming, perhaps CD’s more.

Now, I am one of the very few who post LP’s regularly, but the members seem to enjoy seeing the LP’s I listen to daily.

I would say classical is played on my rig at least 85% of the time. My vinyl simply satisfies like no other. That said, yes, I still have a nice CD collection and stream as well.

(One of) My problem with streaming, and perhaps it’s just me, but I find myself easily switching to another selection mid-performance. With an LP, or even CD, I stick with what I pulled and listen throughout. I never pull an LP off the turntable, or remove a CD in the middle of a performance, but do find myself doing that with streaming. Perhaps that says more to how I view streaming vs physical media. Also, with my new CD transport, my CD’s often sound better than streaming…..again.