Have you heard? We wouldn’t be surprised, if you have – we’ve been banging on about it for months now. But just in case you haven’t, vinyl is the most popular its been in decades. Sure, true hi-fi aficionados have continued to embrace vinyl long after its heyday, but its recent resurgence has seen it creeping back into the mainstream catalogues. That means, of course, that turntables have increased in popularity too, which is very good news. However, as is the case with any suddenly popular item, the temptation to buy cheap is everywhere. But what are the benefits of spending a little more vinyl on your set-up? And why is vinyl suddenly so popular in the first place?
Why Is Vinyl Back?
Okay, okay… vinyl never technically ‘left’. This is not cassettes we’re talking about here. Vinyl has consistently bubbled away in the background for the duration that its fallen out of favour with the masses – but its been a distinctly alternative source. But considering there was a sharp – almost terminal – decline in popularity from the early 80’s until the late 90s, but it wasn’t until 2006 that vinyl sales started to make any real progress.
But why is it back? Vinyl isn’t exactly the most practical source, and kids today are all about quantity over quantity – right? Well, that there is part of the reason why the great Vinyl Revival has occurred. It’s no coincidence that sales of vinyl suddenly soared around 2006 – the year that digital downloads surpassed the sales of physical CDs. As more and more turned to the quick and convenient digital source realms, just as many began to miss the feeling of ownership that a CD – or especially a vinyl – exudes. And this sensation of ownership bypassed CDs and went straight to vinyl – what some would consider the ultimate form of music ownership: the quality of sound, the craftsmanship, the artwork and the ritual of selecting and playing a vinyl record – all add to the experience of vinyl. And that’s what the lure of vinyl is all about: the experience. And the retro value plays a significant part too.
It wasn’t just a passing fad either, the sales of vinyl – and vinyl related paraphernalia – has been on a steady increase until this very day. 2014 alone has seen the sale of over a million vinyl records, which is predicted to climb as high as 1.2 million by the end of the year. In comparison to CD and especially digital sales, this is a relatively small figure. However, its the highest number since the mid-90s, and bodes well for the future of our favourite format.
And why is it our favourite format? It’s quite simple and quite obvious: it’s all about the sound quality. Forgo the ritual, the artwork and the physical presence and you have rich, natural and warm sound that any other format – even the highest quality SACDs – lack. Yes, vinyl can be a little fiddly and obsessive, but you are rewarded with phenomenal sound that can help you enjoy your favourite music in a completely new way. Especially considering most of your favourite music is probably now available on a freshly-pressed audiophile grade LP.
The Upside & The Downside
Anyone who truly loves hi-fi will welcome this revival, especially as it means there will be a continuous influx of newly pressed and mastered vinyl records. Vinyl is at that point of its popularity where, if a record company has released an album, you can almost guarantee there will be a vinyl release too. This means that vinyl is no longer the domain of the vintage collector – it can be acquired by anyone. It won’t be a scratched and dirty old one either – it can be shiny and new. As much as we love vintage records, the tiniest bit of dirt or misuse can seriously impact upon an LPs sound quality. And without the sound, what’s the point? A whole new generation experiencing vinyl – the most high fidelity source there is – is a significant upside too, and this continuing climb in popularity can only mean there is plenty more to come.
But there is a slight downside, of course, mainly being the tendency for non-hi-fi manufacturers to cotton on to this vinyl ‘trend’ and make sub-standard products to respond to consumer demand. These are fashionable and cost-effective and very cute looking one-box systems which will appeal to your average vinyl beginner’s sensibilities on a number of levels. But the one thing that suffers the most when you don’t buy from a trusted hi-fi brand is the sound quality. Sure, that cheap and cheerful turntable may look good and not leave too large a hole in your pocket – but without the warm, natural sound that makes vinyl so moreish… what’s the point?
Buying A Hi-Fi Brand
Most hi-fi products will have ‘lifestyle’ counterparts which are passable, but a turntable isn’t one of those things. If you buy a cheap ‘fashion’ turntable, cheap ‘fashion’ sound is what you’ll get in return. The only way you can guarantee that that beautiful record collection you’ve been amassing – or dreaming of amassing – is being played properly is by buying a hi-fi brand turntable. That’s the only way you will hear that warmth that makes us love vinyl as much as we do. Without that, vinyl is nothing more than a novelty.There is far more to it than that.
But that does not mean that the vinyl-game is just for the rich man – there are a few ways of forgoing the price tag associated with the hi-fi turntable. In fact, there are ways of getting an entire hi-fi set up without breaking the bank, helping you get the very most out of that collection.
If you want that true hi-fi quality analogue audio – but don’t want to spend a fortune the solution above may be the best best for you. All you really need are three key items: the turntable, the phono stage and the speakers. And we have you covered on all fronts.
- Pro-ject Elemental – £159. It may be cheap in price, but that’s as far as it goes. This uniquely shaped and extremely aesthetically pleasing little turntable managed to scoop a What HiFi? 5 Star Award for its incredible sound quality and overall value, and is one of our most popular turntables – certainly in this very low price bracket. This turntable costs pretty much the same amount as a fashion turntable will – but it will offer true hi-fi sound quality. You won’t find much better.
- Phono Stage: Tibo AMP410 Intergrated Amplifier – £112.50. Two amps for the price of one – an integrated amplifier with a built in phono stage means you can use this amp for several applications – including your trusty new turntable. As high quality phono stages go, the AMP410 is a good value bet. It compliments the vinyl sound beautifully.
- Speakers: Q Acoustics 2010i – £116.95. High-end sound quality for a value price tag, the 2010is come from a very reputable brand, and have been awarded the coveted 5 Star Award from What Hi-Fi? They won’t break the bank, and they’ll do your vinyl proud.
In the world of hi-fi, every penny you spend shows. But that doesn’t mean that the budget options aren’t real options – you just have to know where to look! We believe that everyone deserves a little slice of hi-fi in their lives, and we will always do our best to furnish our customers with the best options for them. We want this vinyl revival to continue for as long as possible, so that truly beautiful sound can live on. Yes, streaming and the like are always improving, and every year they move closer to the real thing, but it will never be the real thing. So get the real thing in your life… and enjoy.