LP sales surpass CDs!
(Credit:
Steve Guttenberg)
It was bound to happen. After years of decline and the steadily rising tide of iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, et al--CD numbers are now in free fall--and the LP has finally regained its position as the world's most popular physical music format! Boosted by sales of Radiohead's "In Rainbows," and Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black," LP sales edged past the CD a few weeks ago. Elvis Costello's upcoming release, "Momofuku," will only be offered as a hi-fi LP or low-fi download. The CD is on its way out.
The Compact Disc was introduced in 1983, and three years later CD sales outstripped LPs, but since CDs sold for $15 to $17, twice the price of an LP at the time, a lot of buyers resisted the changeover from analog to digital. Some preferred the sound of vinyl over the cold, hard shriek of first generation digital, and early CD players were many times more expensive than a good turntable. Sony's first CD player, the CDP-101, sold for close to $1,000 in 1983, which would probably be over $2,000 in 2008 dollars. But the music retailers, seduced by the CD's greater profits cut space devoted to vinyl, accelerating the transition from analog to digital. If there was no vinyl to buy, you had to get the CD. We didn't have the internet back then, so free wasn't an option.
Today's vinyl surge is fueled by a greater awareness of sound quality by music fans and artists, who have grown tired of hearing the power of their music thwarted by low-bit digital. After all, the iTunes version isn't actually cheaper to buy than vinyl, and the fans are aware of the new reality: if it costs the same, why not buy the best sounding version? Some vinyl fans get the best of both formats and transfer the vinyl's music to digital for their iPods.
The six decade old LP format has finally regained its position as the music format of choice.
I wish.
Have a great April Fool's Day!
Steve Guttenberg is a frequent contributor to magazines and Web sites including Home Entertainment, Playback, and Ultimate AV. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. 
On a slightly more serious note, what with nanotech and all, wouldn't it be interesting if someone reinvented the LP for the 21st century? I mean, vinyl sounds great and all, but think how fragile and easily scratched it is. I'm sure there must be a material which would suit the purpose. Something extremely durable, and yet cut with a super-fine edge. Think of the detail that might be recorded! We could use tiny, multi-faceted needles to read the music. It could always be the same size and shape as a traditional LP, if it's the aesthetics we're after.... Any thoughts?
Just keep in mind nanotech is not some wonder technology ... its more of a catchphrase at this point.
"I mean, vinyl sounds great and all, but think how fragile and easily scratched it is. I'm sure there must be a material which would suit the purpose. Something extremely durable, and yet cut with a super-fine edge."
Its called metal. It is more expensive to cut than vinyl.
"Think of the detail that might be recorded! We could use tiny, multi-faceted needles to read the music."
We already have microscale machines, which would be a better choice than nanotechnology. Nano is in the stages of trying to grow pillars of carbon in a repeatable and inexpensive manner.
I think that it is great to see people romanticizing a mechanical technology (I'm a mechanical engineer). But the truth is, it would like of be like trying to reinvent the piston engine to replace an already existing, albeit prohibitively expense, technology such as ramjet.
Piston engines sound cool, but honestly, would you rather fly one over the ocean than a turboprop? Vinyl is now an expensive toy, I'm sorry. It is a very cool, but it also an old, crude technology that is great for sucking money out many old white guys with disposable incomes.
April Fool's.
Acoustic Sounds at http://store.acousticsounds.com
Mobile Fidelity at http://www.mofi.com/productcart/pc/home.asp
There are plenty of others.
And http://www.audiogon.com/
I have invested a lot in digital playback (SACD player, media server, outboard dacs, etc.) and my inexpensive setup consisting of a vintage Thorens/TD125/SME3009/Grado Platinum Reference gives my digital a very good run for the money and in many (most) instances betters it.
But honestly, I wouldn't wanna race a 2008 Z06 Corvette in anything vintage. There is a time and place for nostalgia and the same goes for all out performance. But hey, as long as people want to spend their money on mechanical systems, I am all for it, cause as a fellow MechE it makes more work for me! :-)
But seriously, a well built turntable, a good quality stylus and cartridge, and proper alignment to the LP will really surprise you with the sound quality.
- by jcorkrum April 15, 2008 12:27 PM PDT
- PS - I did love the Direct-to-Disk records.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(18 Comments)