
Grooves may be more worn and there may be creasing or scuffs visible on the sleeve. Near Mint vinyl records will still show no damage to the disc or the sleeve or cover, but may show some signs of having been handled.Very Good and Very Good Plus vinyl records will show wear, although they have still been stored and used carefully. They will never have been played and the disc and sleeve will display no damage. Mint records are those that are in perfect condition and have been stored very carefully. These are rated on a common scale, although there is some subjectivity involved. How do I assess the condition of records?Ī vinyl record's condition is of huge importance to collectors, so they often look for graded records.

Since digital formats became the main medium for music, record companies have tended to treat vinyl records as special editions, so albums often come with unique artwork and other bonuses. Collectability isn't limited to classic releases, either. Original pressings of albums from classic bands like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd can have real historic value. Many records from the time when vinyl ruled are now rare. Many new records and remasters are actually pressed from digital master files.Vinyl records are collectible, too. This isn't necessarily true of modern album releases, though. As long as you have a good turntable, you can hear the recording exactly as it was played. The grooves of a record are continuous and lossless. The sound on a digital album is a series of snapshots, and the music is often compressed afterwards to reduce the file size. The quality of a digital music recording like a CD is limited by its bitrate, or the rate at which it records information. Why choose vinyl?įor audiophiles, the answer is quite simple. Browse the offerings on eBay and start a new yearly tradition among your family. You can find records of all genres including rock, indie, hip-hop, and even film soundtracks. Whether you are shopping for a long-time listener with an impressive vinyl collection or someone just looking to take the first step into analog music, the revival of vinyl means that there is a huge range of classic albums and new releases to choose from and machines to play them on. Think of what albums your collector may be dreaming of, a lost favorite or a rare gem. Despite the popularity of digital music and CDs, vinyl is still a hit with listeners of all ages.
