A vinyl record is an analog recording whereas CD's and DVD's are digital recordings. A digital recording takes “snapshots” of the analog signal at a certain rate. That means that a digital recording IS NOT capturing the complete sound wave, it is approximating it in a series of “steps”. Some sounds that have very quick transitions, such as drum beats or a trumpet's tone, will be distorted because they change too quickly for the sample rate.

Digital audio equipment takes the digital recording and converts it to an analog signal which is sent to an amplifier, then raises the voltage to a level powerful enough to drive your speakers. On the other side of the coin a vinyl record has a groove carved into it that mirrors the original sound's waveform. This means that during playback NO information is lost. The quality of vinyl is as close as you can get to the way the artist intended you to hear it.

Over the last several years modern artists have released their 'new' albums on vinyl. The evidence of vinyl's comeback is hard to ignore. The last three years have each set successive records for vinyl sales in the CD era. In 2010, 2.8 million new LP's were sold; up 14% from 2009. Combine that with the sound quality of vinyl records and you’ll find music fans scavenging through the remaining record stores to find their favorites before the good stuff disappears forever.

In addition to the sound quality we here at Records Etc believe that vinyl albums have more interesting package designs including gate folds, zippers, rotating wheels, colored vinyl and larger artwork; and in the past they have included 8x10 photographs, stickers, posters and all sorts of other hard to find memorabilia. All these things are not available in the CD format.

Go get yourself a turntable, a pair of headphones and a lazy boy. Let the music take you away instead of technology taking the music away from you. Most of all ENJOY THE SEARCH!