Record collecting versus hoarding

@lewm - if I can't get a record within 5 seconds, it is a major problem. Since I go through a series of rotations by music type and section, it never happens. I recently updated my rotation (I had to get another stackable bin due to expansion) to make it easier for me to equitably play the artists I only have single records from, so that will make it take the full 5 seconds. I know I am nuts... I do still listen to something that I just feel like listening to or vary the rotation a bit, but the point is I listen to all my 97% rotation records at least every 3-4 months or so. If someone wants to say once a year, that would make the max number of records that seem reasonable to me is about 1000. I think your disorganization or not knowing exactly where a record is or having to go down the basement to get a records would be unsettling for me, but if you're OK with it, that's great. Maybe you like some records better on one of the two systems for some reason.

@torojano  - time to throw out the 25 cent records, but at least you're not scalping.

@mijostyn - Mike - I didn't mean singing in the shower.... Anyhow, I think you moving your duplicate records of inferior sound quality into storage is problematic. Why not sell them to a record store and let someone who doesn't own that title enjoy them of maybe if they are really good 2nd best copies, others may want to upgrade their copy to your number 2. Plus, put a few bucks in your pocket to pay for new records. I'm with you on CDSs - don't have my player hooked up to my stereo and play them in my garage or car. The ones I like best out of my 150-200 or so have been rebought on vinyl if available. I was forced into them like a lot of others in the late 80s/early 90s when vinyl was not being produced in any quantities in the US. I resisted as long as I could. I hear SACDs are damn good, but a high quality SACD transport, DAC and power supply would probably cost more than an excellent turntable/cartridge/phono stage. 

can't speak for anyone else, but i will never stop buying records. at any given time i have between 2-5k on hand, but i trade and/or sell by the hundred or so - so my collection is always in flux. the most i've ever had at once was around 10,000 - i sold about half of those when it came time to move, and went on a nice vacation. 

there are around 1500 12"s and 250 or so 45s that i will probably never get rid of, but beyond that it really depends on what type of digging and listening i'm doing. there are periods where i listen for 7, 8 hours a day, and then other periods where i only want to play a single album or two late at night. sometimes i'll go to 2 or 3 stores in a day and come home with 100, other times i won't buy a record for months and just dig through what i have, pulling out 'must keep' and 'must sell' and 'give away' as i go.

i do replace things from time to time, but rarely have doubles of anything - i keep the one that sounds better and usually give the other away (unless the version i'm selling costs a lot). 

@SOKOGEAR I would say 50% of the 25-cent records are in VG+ condition or better... About a third of those have been sonically and vacuum cleaned to be part of the collection. But I want to get rid of or sell the rest (not scalping), just sell them all at once. I have never done that so maybe @d-dayton can give me a tip or two?

@td_dayton - sounds like you are a dealer. There must be hundreds of records you never listen to. Would you or would others consider an audiophile?

@sokogear i am not a dealer - i just listen to a lot of music and enjoy the hunt. i work from home which helps - probably listen to more music than most people for that reason. i sell and trade because space is limited, and my tastes and interests are constantly evolving. 

as far as not listening to hundreds, it really depends. much of what i buy is singles, so it's not a 40 minute commitment every time. other times i scan through albums i'm unfamiliar with and decide whether they merit a proper listen. 

as to whether i'm an audiophile - i care a lot about getting the most out of my records, and i appreciate great sound, and i enjoy trying different equipment. so i'd say yes