Where do you buy your vinyl?


Just getting in to this hobby and have a small collection some bought from garage sales and more inherited, but I am beginning to understand the immense difference between a great recording and one that is just ok and as I look to build my collection further, I am thinking of buying some new/unused records. I am not looking for collectibles, only for high quality sound and I am interested in where the best places are and how to figure out which pressing to get.

Here are the outlets I know of so far:

Acoustic Sounds    https://store.acousticsounds.com/
In the Groove    https://www.theingroove.com/
popmarket    https://www.popmarket.com
The Sound of Vinyl    https://thesoundofvinyl.us/

Are there other good places to look? How do I distinguish between versions? Do some stores have better quality s.t. I can rely on them to stock the best copies?

saulh

Showing 1 response by lewm

New vinyl from Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, Tone Poet, etc.

Used vinyl from vendors that appear annually at the Capital Audio Fest, where I can personally inspect the LP before purchase.  Never from eBay unless I am "feeling lucky".  Or when I am in Tokyo visiting our son.  The major LP and CD stores in Tokyo are 100% honorable and the one I use, Disc Union, has a grading system.  Their A grade used LPs are like new; no need even to inspect them.  B grade are likewise usually impeccable, but I do look at them before purchase. Prices were high in Tokyo last time I was there, a year before the pandemic. I thought it odd that some LPs that would be cheap here are expensive there, and vice-versa.  Like Julie London or Chris Connor for $25 seemed high.