Vinyl, should I take the plunge?


I've assembled my dream system over the last 10 years, a nice mark levinson system with b&w n802 speakers. I've been contemplating the next step, vinyl, sacd, dvd audio. I've heard good vinyl and know how good it is, but have lingering questions...

1) What are some web sites that sell vinyl. I'd really like to see what I can buy. New releases? My old classics? I need to really see what's available and what peoples opinions are for the future. I tend to classic rock, jazz, blues, classical, and some new age music.

2) I have a 15 month old and am planning at least one more. Am I nuts for even considering vinyl (wife speaking)? I haven't had many problems so far, but my little guy just started walking a month ago. Have others successfully raised kids w/o major repairs to their vinyl or dream audio system? Or do I just need to accept that some bad things are bound to happen and start saving :( ?

I'm not convinced sacd/dvd audio are all that they are cracked up to be. Both from software that is available (limited) and the fact that so much of the software available is a crap shoot depending on how it was mixed/sampled. Comments for those w/ sacd?

Thanks in advance...

JJ
jjurich
Vinyl is a huge commitment and for some there is no substitute. My biggest problem with vinyl is getting the very latest pop and rock releases. A percentage of these are great and available as CD only.

Only you know what type of music makes you happy and a search should help you decide if there's enough to build a collection.

Most of us that are vinyl junkies have digital as well. For myself, I went cheap on digital and expensive on turntable because my library is almost 100% LP.

Vinyl links:

http://www.towerrecords.com/music/default.aspx

http://www.towerrecords.com/music/default.aspx

http://www.musicselection.com/vinyl.htm

http://www.redtrumpet.com/search/advanced.php?sid=1150818472

http://userpages.chorus.net/ajthejj/

http://www.gemm.com/

http://www.amusicdirect.com/

http://www.duffelbag.com/

http://www.bopshop.com/

http://www.platterpus.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.main

http://www.recordsbymail.com/home.php

http://www.diversevinyl.com/htm/home.php

http://www.vinyl.com/

http://www.4ad.com/

http://music.listings.ebay.com/Records_W0QQfromZR4QQsacategoryZ306QQsocmdZListingItemList

http://store.acousticsounds.com/

http://www.vinylrecords.co.uk/

http://www.simplyvinyl.com/

These are personal links are from Internet Exploder saved favorites.

Try Google search "LP records" and "Vinyl records." Probably get another hundred hits.

Dont forget your favorite site :^).

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?softvnyl
For people who are already in, it makes sense to tread water. In your situation, I wouldn't "take the plunge". The money and effort needed is better expended elsewhere.
Great list Albert, thanks. Getting into vinyl is a really personal decision; it's a lot more work, especially the cleaning. But i have never had so much fun with CDs, and I enjoy listening more than i have in the past...

And there there is a lot more stuff on new vinyl than you probably think...
Here we go again...go vinyl! It doesn't have to be a difficult experience, get yourself a 'table that is good at Prat, forget about ultimate detail, get yourself a good carbon-fibre brush, haunt the used stores, Salvation Army outlets and garage sales, spend little money and have fun. Afterwards having spent only a little, see if you're hooked. Then see if it warrants a "huge commitment". A friend of mine raised his kids with a Maplenoll in the house, and lost one cartridge to his cat. It happens, even from ham-fistedness (I once knocked off the stylus to my Fidelity Research MC, a classic, I cried for three days). He also has SACD, and we never listen to it, being distinctly unimpressed (his vinyl rig has "magic", his SACD player, a Sony 9000 or some number like that, quite high up the ladder, is pedestrian). So, start slow, concentrate on Prat (to start at least), buy cheap (to start), have fun, and be philosophical about disasters. Like AlbertPorter, I have a CD/Sacd player, a cheap one, which I keep strictly to buy releases not available on vinyl. I don't mind listening to it, but for real musical experineces, I listen to my analog rigs. Personally, I find flea markets and garage sales fun, as you also interact with all sorts of people, and end up with a serious collection of lamps!
I like the fact that I can go to my local music store and buy used vinyl for $3 each. I have bought many great albums this way. Just my 2 cents..