I got my record player for Christmas back in 2018 and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. My first record that I bought was the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack as I went through a huge hyperfixation with Queen back when I was in high school. Plus, the movie had just come out and I was in love with it.
It’s been a good few years since I’ve started collecting records and my collection has grown exponentially. What started with one has now become around 20-30 and given how expensive records are in today’s market, I’m happy with my collection. I only purchase records when I like the whole album, or I’m a fan of the artist and can afford to take a small gamble. For example, I had barely listened to the entirety of Harry’s House when I had bought the vinyl, but I knew that I liked his two previous albums – and based on that I felt confident that I’d like this one so I chose to buy this album as well.
I’m highly doubtful that vinyl is going away anytime soon and I’m confident that I will have plenty more time to grow my collection to the extent that I’d like. There are very select few albums that I want to add, but I struggle with finding new albums that I want for my collection. I have songs, but not albums. If anyone has any suggestions for indie pop and rock artists, or albums, please let me know!
For those that are wanting to start a vinyl collection but are hesitant, here are some things you should consider before starting.
The Pros
The sound quality is like no other. The best way I can describe it is it’s like you’re sitting in an empty arena, it’s just you and the band/artist, and they’re performing their set just for you. When listening to vinyl, it literally transports you into that headspace where it’s like you’re having a concert in the comfort of your own home. This is due to vinyl using wav files compared to streaming services using mp3. The sound produced from mp3 files have been compressed which in turn loses data whereas sound coming from wav files are still raw and therefore have more data.
It’s a collector’s item. Most records, when bought new, come with a poster that’s exclusive to the vinyl. You can’t buy it anywhere else unless someone who owns the vinyl is sending it to you. There’s also special artwork that you can find on the record itself that you wouldn’t be seeing on CDs and digital copies of the album. For example, in my Harry’s House album there’s a postcard with a photo. I wouldn’t have that if I hadn’t bought the album as you can’t purchase this postcard on its own.
Aesthetics. Record players and vinyl in general are very trendy and aesthetic. If you want vinyl for room décor, I suggest buying used. You can also go to a local record store and ask for warped records – these are records that aren’t able to play due to damage (i.e. the music won’t sound the same) – so they’re perfect for those who want to use records as room décor. You’ll probably be able to purchase these records at a discounted price, it will just depend on the store. But TLDR; Don’t buy new ones if all you’re going to do is hang them on your walls.
Record players can also act as sort of a statement piece. I have mine in my bedroom currently but when I eventually get a place of my own, I’m putting it in my living room.
You can also find a bunch of old records from thrift and antique stores. However, I don’t recommend going this route if you want the album covers on display as most second hand stores won’t have the album covers – if they do, they’re guaranteed to be scuffed into oblivion. This is a great way to get records for room décor.
The Cons
They’re hella expensive. I started my record collection when I was fifteen and stopped buying around seventeen when COVID hit. Within those two years though, I managed to get the value of my collection to accumulate to easily over $1,000 CAD. And this is without the cost of my record player. I think I had around maybe 15-20 albums at the time and each one was probably ~$50 on average. My point is, the cost adds up very quickly over time. If you don’t have the money to drop $60 on a record, that’s completely okay – especially if you pay for Spotify or Apple Music where you can listen to literally any album at your finger tips.
The selection is limited. The albums that get produced onto vinyl today are very limited. Back in the day when vinyl was the go-to way to listen to music, you could find just about any album possible, regardless of popularity. But now, that’s not necessarily the case. There are so many indie artists that I would love to have on vinyl but they just don’t have their albums available on vinyl, or they’re very hard to find and/or are really expensive. If you have a super niche taste in music, I don’t recommend starting a record collection unless you know for sure that you’re able to purchase albums that you like.
Vinyl isn’t convenient. You’re the one that has to change the album or flip the record when the one side is done playing. You have to sit and wait for the music to be done. Personally it’s worth it when I have the time to sit and listen to an album. But when you know you won’t have enough time to listen, I recommend just listening from your phone or other music player.
Other things to consider
Environmental impact. Vinyls are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is described as the most environmentally damaging plastic. This is why it’s important that you seriously think long and hard before starting a vinyl collection as well as research your options for record players. If you buy a cheap record player (such as Crosley’s and Victorola’s), it destroys the longevity of your records and in turn, you’re essentially just wasting your money along with the materials to make the record too. Vinyls are made to last a super long time but only when taken care of properly.
Space. Vinyls are a tangible item, they take up space within the 3-D. They aren’t something that can be stored in the cloud. I have my albums stored in what looks like an old milk crate. I’ve seen others store theirs in bookshelves. Just make sure you do have room for all your records and that they can be stored vertically – storing them horizontally can warp your records.
Takeaways
Only start a record collection if you’re financially able to. Vinyl is an investment that will last a lifetime. Budget for records if you have to – don’t feel pressured to purchase something immediately if you’re unable.
Are you able to afford the upfront cost of a good quality record player? Are you able to afford to keep up with your music interests if they change frequently? Ask yourself why you want a records or a record player – is this something you actually want or do you only want one because its trendy.
Buy used or warped records if you want to hang them on your wall. Don’t waste your money if you aren’t going to actually play them. You absolutely do not need to spend $60+ on a singular piece of room décor.
Buying vinyl was seriously such an amazing decision I made, I love throwing a record on while I’m blogging or doing my homework, or when I don’t want to listen to music with earbuds. It’s great too because I know I can take them with me throughout my life and that they’ll always be there whenever I want them.
Thank you for reading.
julzy 
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