Maybe 110% counting those needing it twice.
What is the actual percentage of people exclusively listening to vinyl vs digital?
I well remember in the ‘80s when we were amazed and thrilled by CD.
Wow, no more pops and clicks and all the physical benefits.
Seems so many abandoned vinyl.
But now, with so much convenience, available content and high SQ seems even dedicated vinylholics have again abandoned vinyl and embraced digital. However, there is clearly a new resurgence in analog.
But I look at, for example, whitecamaro’s “List of amplifiers...” thread and no one seems interested in analog!
To me, it seems strange when auditioning “$100Kish gear, that vinyl doesn’t enter the picture or conversation.
Wow, no more pops and clicks and all the physical benefits.
Seems so many abandoned vinyl.
But now, with so much convenience, available content and high SQ seems even dedicated vinylholics have again abandoned vinyl and embraced digital. However, there is clearly a new resurgence in analog.
But I look at, for example, whitecamaro’s “List of amplifiers...” thread and no one seems interested in analog!
To me, it seems strange when auditioning “$100Kish gear, that vinyl doesn’t enter the picture or conversation.
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Howdy, @edcyn! I wouldn’t be surprised if we were familiar faces to each other (in the 90’s I looked a lot like Neil Young in the Buffalo Springfield days, complete with the sideburns). Working in the Classical Annex (which I frequented at least several times a month), you undoubtedly knew the Sunset Video store manager Jay Smith (Axl Rose worked in the Video store for a while, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer in the Pop store across the street). And regional sales manager Bob Fetryl, one of the most unpleasant sob’s I ever had to deal with in the record biz. I was offered the Panorama store to manage, but had heard about the drive-by-shootings they experienced sporadically. No thanks! When the Amoeba store opened on Sunset, it was all over for the Hollywood Tower down the street (across the street from the Classical Annex). Amoeba is an amazing record store! I also shopped at Book Soup, a coupla doors down from the Annex. Ringo showed up at the book signing event the shop hosted when Levon Helm’s autobiography was released. He took cuts in line. ;-) The singles buyer at the Tower Pop store was Jim Laspesa, who for a time was drumming in Dave Davies (The Kinks’ guitarist) band. When the live gig with Emitt Rhodes came up in ’97 (his first in a quarter century), Jim wanted it SO bad (all us Power Pop aficionados hold Emitt in very high regard). Sorry Jim (I got the gig ;-) . When I was searching for a house to buy in 2003, Pasadena was one place I looked (without luck). I love the town. Have you been to Brian Berdan’s shop yet? Very nice. Shelia Berdan asked me to put a band together to play at the 50th birthday party she threw for Brooks a few years before he died. Brooks was a drummer in High School, and he got up on my kit and played "Wipe Out" with the band. Happiest I ever saw the man! I knew he was suffering from Crohn’s Disease, but I don’t think anyone knew (or even thought) it was gonna kill him. I spent a lot of Saturdays in Brooks Berdan Ltd., soaking it all in. Brooks had some pretty flush customers, who thought nothing of buying a complete VTL or Jadis/big Wilson system. My woman and I accompanied Brooks and Sheila to a number of the Vegas CES’, where I got to take a look behind the curtain of the hi-fi biz. A real education. Brooks turned me on to Music Reference and Eminent Technology products, which I own to this day. |
the question was, what percentage of *people* (not audiophiles) who listen to music listen exclusively analog vs digital. As I said, folks as us are a very small percentage of all music listeners. But, I have no idea what that percentage is. You? I have no idea, but audiophiles are definitely in minority, there are “normal people” at the records shops, not audiophiles, and definitely not older people, so the question on this forum is a joke (as always), I know for sure that percentage of older people on this forum is 90% and this is the only reason CD even mentioned as a media, nobody use CDs (streaming and digital files - yes, but not CDs). CD is expired format supported by older generation only. Asking question on forum like this has nothing to do with reality. Everyone can go to the recordshop trying to catch someone over 40 y.o. (Normally buyers are much younger). I can’t remember any recordshop that sells CDs nowadays. If the question was about USA only, then I’m talking about another country. The world is not the same. At the recordshops in my neighborhood they sell Vinyl and Tapes (and all cassette tapes are new releases from independent young artists). Andwering the OP’s question if it was so simple: I do NOT listen to any form of digital in my system at all and I don’t have TV at all. Digital is on my is iPhone and it’s enough. |
Yeah... vinyl 95% of the time. CD when it is the only copy readily available and Tidal, only when I can devote my entire session to it. Currently, my best vinyl sounds better than my streamed digital and I like "the process". It lends itself to listening to an entire side (or album) more easily. I believe in Albums over Songs.... My main "Audio Friends" are 99% vinyl, so some peer pressure involved, but it comes from a good place. We (the three of us) have all reduced, refined and concentrated our collections. Mine is the smallest (about 1500 listed on Discogs) by a substantial amount. Much of the material we listen to is only available on vinyl, not on streaming services (and CD is limited in selection also). It is ALL GOOD... but we all have our preferences . |
An easier answer to this question might be: Ask people if they have only one job, no kids or other responsibilities. You need to have ample time on your hands to listen to records. First you need to get it out of the sleeve, clean it. Put whatever your choice of cleaner on your stylus. Man! I just don't have the time for all that. Maybe when I'm retired and the kids no longer want or need anything from me, I'll join the vinyl group of listeners. Joe |
Hey chakster I'm 68 and play CD's exclusively but thank god my favorite amp has no remote and I'm not too lazy to get up and adjust the volume. I hope you can give me a pass. |
I recently sold all my vinyl gear and albums and have gone completely digital. I could not justify having 2 formats anymore. My vinyl setup was worth about $12,000, yet my digital setup that I had only 1/3 of that amount invested in was for the most part just as satisfying. The real kicker for me was when I began to stream Tidal. No, it’s not the MQA that made the difference. It was that I could now, in many cases access current better masterings of the music I loved. Many of these sounded superior to the initial digital masterings which produced the CDs I had in my collection for some time. Also, the best sounding vinyl were the few pieces I owned that were quite old and produced from analog masters. The vast majority of the vinyl produced today, comes from a digitized master anyways and sounds pretty darn similar to a digital source. The only vinyl that was truly worth it were some of the special pressings that are analog all the way and really pricey. I got tired of buying vinyl that I didn't want because it sounded the same as digital, or I didn't like the music. And how many of us had to deal with the accidental breakage a stylus of an expensive MC cartridge. No more for me! Lastly, I like to explore new music. With a streaming service I can access a world of music and listen to what I like. In the days before you could preview music online,, how many times did you buy a CD/Vinyl that you didn’t like or that was poorly recorded and you just wasted your money? I will admit, vinyl is such an engaging thing for audiophiles. So much to tweek, cartridge alignment, turntable set up, phono stages and loading, record cleaning, stylus cleaning, cueing up and down and so on. For many that process is fun, it was for me. But digital, when it’s done right (which it often is not) can sound just as good IMHO |
Haven’t entered the music streaming venue. Vinyl, CD’s and recently cassettes have been added to my listening experience. Vinyl is my evening listening. The time is dedicated to enjoy music. During the day CD’s are my main source. Fine sound and the convenience drives these hours. Recently returned to the cassette medium. Purchased a fine player and pulled my stored cassette collection. Enjoy the sound as well. CD’s - 50 % Vinyl - 25 % Cassette - 25 % Mike B |
According to this article from RIAA (Recording Industry of America Association) https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mid-Year-2020-RIAA-Revenue-Statistics.pdf, from the mid-year 2020 statistics,
streaming accounts for 85% of sales, 7% physical, 6% digital downloads. Physical took a 23% hit from the prior year likely due to COVID and most record stores being closed. Surprising thing is for the first time since the 80s, vinyl sales outdid CD sales. The sobering part is, vinyl only accounted for 4% of total recorded music sales. Granted, this only answers part of the OP question about who is listening to what format. But it gives a clue of a general trend no matter what the age of the listener. Personally, I never gave up vinyl/cassettes from the 80s. When one listens to a lot of indie music, the release format varies depending on the budget the band has for releasing their music. Plus, being a 60 something "old fart" means keeping a working turntable and cassette machine alive. Therefore, my listening breaks down to 50% vinyl, 45% CD and 5% cassette. I do not partake in streaming. Not a lot of what I listen to is available on any of the streaming services. |
I only use wood for heat and power and I don’t have indoor plumbing at all. Not bad, eh? ;-) @hilde45 I use 45 tubes for heating (and those Globe RCA made nearly 100 years ago), my First Watt F2J solid state amp is also very hot which is very nice during the cold winter :) Here is my system. Now please tell me why do I need digital or stupid TV between the speakers? Digital is on my iPhone to discover music and to buy what I like on original vinyl, very simple. I also can play digital from my iPhone via bluetooth anytime I want to share new discoveries when I visit friends (which is great). But I want my music on vinyl and digital in whatever quality can’t replace original vinyl (or a habit to buy vintage vinyl every month). I have massive collection of rare records (45s and LPs). Digital is nothing, everyone can copy many terabytes of music immediately from hard drive, it’s free. If this is what you want then go digital. Record collecting is something else. |
I have been on a forced vinyl holiday going on 4 months now. I ordered a new turntable directly from the manufacturer, sold the old one and to have Covid hysteria slow turntable production down to a crawl. I have been listening to a hard drive and the few assorted discs, maybe three hundred I have left. There are almost 4000 albums on the hard drive so it is not like I am starved for music. But, I am starting to develop withdrawal symptoms. Looking back I do not think I have gone this long without playing a record since I got my first record player in 1958 for my 4th birthday. I just want to play a record. I do not think it is because of any sonic difference either, more like the intractability of old habits. This argument over formats is getting rather old. The digital formats are unquestionably more accurate by any and all measurable parameters, playing records a measurable disaster. What can't be measured is what they sound like. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is why I personally do not care what people think anything sounds like. Unless you know the person and their tastes very well there is no way to control for it. So, what we have is an argument over what color is best in an unknown décor. Seems sort of silly doesn't it? |
My son (a college kid) and some of his friends buy LPs. They buy many LPs from new artists that many of Agoners may have never heard of. Some of them cost A LOT, over $50, or even over $100. We are not talking about 1st press Beatles or 50/60s jazz albums. Do you imagine listening to Kanye West’s music in LPs? An interesting thing is, those new LPs sound just like CDs or even streaming, and I ask my son why he buys LPs. He says, it is cool to play vinyls, and maybe for investment. For me, about 60% vinyl and 40% CD/streaming. |
I listen to vinyl exclusively. I don`t have the will and the money to buy any DAC or CD player what would be comperable to my TT and cartridge (Ikeda 9TT). I rather choose one format than dealing with the additional problems (cables, space, rack etc). Budget purist only option is vinyl. R2R would be even better but I don`t have that kind of money. But I envy people would settle with less. If convinience would have the priority I would only stream. D-class integrated amps are pretty good nowadays and a pair of Voxativ speakers with subs would do excellent job. A really good vinyl setup with selected LPs would always beat every other format than R2R. Does it worth those 1000s of hours and money? The other one is just plug and play. Even the room correction is done. I am tempted too, but it just doesn`t sounds that good and I have the will and the passion to chase the magic dragon. |
@buck66 “I listen to CD exclusively. I just bought my retirement system, several years early. I figure I can enjoy it while I wait to retire. This is the best sounding system I have ever owned....” I did exactly the same thing. Bought my retirement system a few years before retiring. It was wonderful. Then I retired. I upgraded my headphone system... that led to upgrading my main system. So over the last year I went through the largest upgrade I have ever done. Post retirement system. My streamer plays at a minimum Red book sound quality... but much of the hundreds of thousand of albums on Qubuz are of higher quality. My vinyl playback is even better. More time... more audio... at least for me. |
@chakster Younger generation have different attitude about vinyl culture and have so much enthusiasm about it. They appreciate the nature of vinyl and don’t want to make vinyl sound like their father’s or grandfather’s CD. Some of them don’t know what is CD, because they have streaming since they are born (in the digital world).:) you definitely too optimistic about those young vinyl lovers. I did perform my research on them. The first one is my own daughter, she bought a TT for her college dorm room and another guy is neighbour high schooler. Both of them went to vinyl only because “it’s cool” they definitely don’t care about SQ and act so just because it’s trendy this days. The guy also mentioned that visual movement of platter is the main thing what’s attracting in vinyl music :)))) they also don’t give a clue what is analog vs digital. When I tried to explain the difference both of them made tired faces and tried to switch subject right away. |
@surfmuz my nephew also asked me to help him with his first analog rig, he tried to scratch my records since he was born :)) Now he’s got a Micro Seiki DD with Empire MI cartridge from me, he ordered Trends TA-1 (tripath amp) next step is phono stage, and then a pair of high efficient speakers like small vintage Tannoy. Vinyl is definitely very cool and this is most important when you are young. |
I listen almost exclusively to vinyl. Maybe a couple times per year I listen to CDs. I also have cassettes. Digital is an awful format. The background is quiet, yes. But the audio portion is just abysmal. millercarbon8,794 posts04-18-2021 8:17pmThis took a lot of research. Cross-referenced and weighted by country, with statistical certainty of six-sigma, the answer is, zero. Zero percent listen exclusively to vinyl. So now you know. Next? |
MC fuzztone, You can not be equivocal about zero.One lone person hearing digital is NOT absolutely exclusively listening to vinyl. The whole point of the joke is the way the question is worded it can only be anwsered one way: zero. |
I should have stated this thread as “percentage that prefer vinyl vs digital” but most got my drift. Truth be told, I really totally listen to vinyl. When I spin my 1 CD a day in my office headphone system I am half listening while working. So, I actually really listen exclusively to vinyl. And Jay of “My list of amplifiers... “ clearly exclusively listens to digital. He seemingly does not own or want a TT. And most participants in that thread are seemingly like. There is a cool factor in the younger set choosing vinyl but most, or all, also hear the sonic benefits. I did business with a successful record store in Santa Cruz, CA and know this for a fact. The majority of the customers in this college town were young. |
So, what we have is an argument over what color is best in an unknown décor. Seems sort of silly doesn't it? It is silly, but you still have people arguing unequivocally that their color is best, not even knowing the decor (music). I listen to both. I say real audiophiles understand the recording far more defines the outcome than the format. |
I say real audiophiles understand the recording far more defines the outcome than the format.You are right....But half right.... The recording technology are for more important than the format.... Yes... But without acoustical right controls of your room , nothing sound the way it should... Then acoustical controls and recording technology complement each other and impact way more than the taste for a format.... My best to you.... |
I will never commit to one or the other. I just like music anyway I can get it. Yes on my main system there is one delivery that sounds better than the others but again I will never “limit” my choices. I have vinyl, cd, cassette, and stream quobuz alone with local radio stations. Is listening to vinyl an inconvenience? Some days more than others. It is nice to put on a station and just listen for hours without having to attend to it other than volume up or down. I also think some artist’s sound better on different media. For example I like soundgarden in my car and can’t listen to them on my reference system. in the end it is access to music anyway I can get it. |
@chakster unfortunately, when it’s based on trend but not on the true meaning it will not last long..trends are more important for youngsters than true meanings...all of them was on Facebook first and look what happened now... all switched to Instagram then to tiktok :) I’m not saying that Facebook is real meaning... just an example how trendy youngsters are. |
I remember a trend for CD format in the 90’s, this trend almost destroyed the industry of cartridge manufacturing, turntables, vinyl pressing etc ... but it will never happen again. Now analog is a part of this digital world and stronger than ever compared to 90’s. I see enough interest for vinyl around me in my town and worldwide. I was 20 y.o. when vinyl became my obsession in the mid 90’s and I can’t stop 25 years later. The difference between 90’s and present time is my sound system, not my vinyl. Some of these new youngsters will definitely become record collectors, nothing can replace a real music media like vinyl. I think it’s a good trend, at least it’s harmless for the music industry. As for the sonic difference I think spending too much on analog sound system is not for everyone, "analog people" prefer to spend on vinyl, except for audiophiles. And what is good in digital is internet and online record shops. |
@chakster Now analog is a part of this digital world and stronger than ever compared to 90’s. I see enough interest for vinyl around me in my town and worldwide. Quite plz... :) if you’ll keep sharing this secret good people will suffer... we already struggling getting good NOS presses of LPs. The thing just getting more and more expensive. https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mid-Year-2020-RIAA-Revenue-Statistics.pdf |
@chakster , The reason you have a big screen (TV?) between your speakers is to watch/listen to your favorite music concert video's like NIN'S With Teeth or RTF's Return or the Stones in 78 or Zappa's Roxy and a hundred others. When the low end comes around and the whole house swells in the dark the screen comes alive and you get that kick inside. Close to being there, very close. I can get closer yet. |
The reason you have a big screen (TV?) between your speakers is to watch/listen to your favorite music concert video’s like NIN’S With Teeth or RTF’s Return or the Stones in 78 or Zappa’s Roxy and a hundred others. When the low end comes around and the whole house swells in the dark the screen comes alive and you get that kick inside. Close to being there, very close. I can get closer yet. No way, black TV screen is so ugly in any interior, also it shouldn’t be even close to audio equipment if it’s not a separate home theater room. But that’s just my opinion. Too much computer screens in our life anyway. TV between your speakers isn’t a problem at all. You could use it to elevate heights if needed. At some setups it could bring more air to the scene and make sound more atmospheric. Actually, even a window (glass) is pure evil for room acoustic and must be covered if possible by absorbers or diffusers. Glass (or tv screen) act like a mirror for sound, on side or rear wall is even more evil than behind the speakers. In the living room (if it’s also a listening room) it’s impossible to get rid of the windows, so it’s a compromise like in my room. But if you can get rid of the TV between the speakers and put acoustic panels instead then it’s a huge benefit. I ordered acoustic analysis of my room and I use acoustic panels instead of TV screens :) |
Extremely maximalistic approach. All depends on effect you want to reach. Mirrors could be very helpful at some situations. @surfmuz Watch this if you want to know how it works. Even bare wall is bad for the sound. I use acoustic panels on my ceiling and on my walls. TV screens, pictures in the frames with glass surface - this is all must be removed from the walls in the listening room. Before people start talking about sonic difference between different media format they must prepare their room, it much more important for the sound. chakster, you are in a good company. @glupson I’d like to recommend Samsung The Serif to my mom, she’s watching TV (I don’t watch TV at all, but this is the only one affordable tv design I like). |
chakster, That The Serif to me looks just like Frame (both Samsung) to me. Maybe it is the same with different name for different market. It is as good as it gets for a TV. Otherwise, probably the best solution is ultra-short-throw projector. No screen whatsoever, as long as you have a decent wall. Unfortunately, those good ones are still a bit expensive for an average buyer. Just one example... 4K SXRD™ Home Theater Projector | VPL-VZ1000ES | Sony US |