Why do hipsters prefer analog?


Hipsters started with vinyl records, then cassettes, then 8-tracks, then R2R.  Where will they stop?

chris_g

Well, a topic such as this, is there truly much to be learned, larry5729?  Maybe the progression might read:  tubed radios, wire recorder, reel-to-reel,  Victrola w/turntable, 8-track, cassette, stand-alone-turntables & receiver, separates...then, true madness ensuing.  Pin

I intervened when hipsters at Newbury Comics had the $50 DSOTM in one hand and a $69 Crosley in the other.

@noromance That’s funny.  That’s like putting fresh oysters in the microwave.

The charge of, “y’all just a bunch of curmudgeons yelling, ‘get off my lawn!” I reject.

People say, “easy now, these people keep the format alive.”  Do they?  For whom?  Affluent people who can afford ridiculous prices?  People who can afford a $50 vinyl record to take home and slap down on a $100 TT? (because they don’t care to understand how vinyl playback actually works)

What about the people that “kept the format alive” in the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s?  How integral were they to the format’s survival?  How grateful should they be for people exponentially jacking up the price of their beloved commodities, so those people may enjoy the cachet vinyl affords them, only for them to ultimately carve the grooves to smithereens with garbage gear?  I would say asking those people to, “be grateful for hipsters” is a bit much.

Making fun of hipsters is fun.  Everyone loves it.  No harm, no foul, as I see it. 
 

@tylermunns The intervention was a reasoned explanation of why this was not the best investment they could make. They put the Crosley back and seemed to vibe with the argument. They also assured me their initial purchase decision wasn't based on affordability but simply that they had no clue about turntables or hi-fi.

@noromance That seems like a good deed you did.

You probably contributed to that person’s improved quality of life.

My friend had enjoyed listening to vinyl on my system.  He started asking about what he should get, gear-wise.  I wanted him to neither be intimidated by the price/inconvenience of vinyl playback nor end up with gear that would cause him to miss out on what vinyl is.  I had some disposable income at the time, consider him a dear friend, so I bought him a $500 AT-LP140XP for his b-day.  It’s a tough thing to care about music playback but also not be rich.  I don’t have a lot of experience with turntables in the $200-$400 range, there may well be some gems, but I feel something hardy is best to start with for a music fan.  That purchase may have been I’ll-informed, but I had a friend who listened to an extremely modest system with the cheapest TT in the AT-LP line (about $150) and was surprised how decent the sound was.  I figured the 140XP would be a good place for a discerning music fan to start without breaking the bank or settling for something inadequate.

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why do old audiophiles like such terrible music?  Ya mean why do MOST people like such terrible music

This times 1,000.

is vintage the same as hipster in audio? These days I mean. I am sure they will move onto the next iPod, Beat headphones and finger tattoos next year

Well, as long as hipsters don't get into CDs, SACDs, DVD-A or Blu-Ray audio, that's all I care about.  Hipsters can keep their analog trash. 

@chris_g  You mention hipsters in another post too. Seems like something's up. Everything okay? 

Because they have extraordinary taste. BTW, what's wrong with finger tattoos?