Record players almost became extinct, except now almost every millennial owns one (and, of course, we still have the record-lovers and collectors out there too).
Did you grow up with a record player in your house? Do you have any vivid memories of what you, your parents or guardians used to play? Is there a song from a record that sounds like “home” to you? Please leave a comment.
If you’re interested in reading about the history of the record player, click here.
Please vote in the poll below and tell us if you own a record player, either in your RV or your sticks-and-bricks home.
It sits on top of a display case which houses an old working reel to reel tape player along with figurines of lighthouses and Hammerhead sharks. Yea, I know…
Bloom 144 …..outstanding collection…..!
I’m searching for one now. Just paid $400 on tubes and cleaning my grandfather’s radio. Now looking for the record player to match. I’ve got the records from the 40s and 50s. My wife calls these toys dust collectors. I call them revenge on my daughters as they will have to sell it when I’m gone. Already they ask why I buy stuff I’ll never use and never sell.
I even have some records.
We have a “modern” one we never use. We also have a restored 1920 Edison player that is wireless (hand crank). It works!
We no longer own a record player because… all those records…all that weight! But, our 24-year-old son does. He recently bought one and started buying records. I had to laugh because when he was around 10 or 11 I was playing records on the one I owned and he and some friends were fascinated. They wanted to know how the music came out. I told him if he could explain to me how the sound came out of a tiny i-Pod I’d explain records. He could (he’s a technie and has been writing code since he was 10) and then I had to scramble to remember how the sound came out of records!
I have a Turn Table hooked up to the computer and I am SLOWLY transferring my records to the Hard Drive. Maybe one record every few months.
First a 78 (RPM), then 45 with auto changer, then a 33 (high fidelity) – (WOW) !
Yep. Now only a single platter turntable with a finely balanced arm and diamond needle.
Only problem is that I no longer have any vinyl to play on it. They all went down the stream in a flood years ago.
Dave , where do you live , I am in central Florida, jimcc51@yahoo.com
Yes, mainly because I have vinyl going all the way back to the 40’s and a few 78’s
I just traded up for a lightly used 4 track player.
So I guess your next upgrade is to double the number of tracks and go to an 8-track cassette player. 🙂
I like to play my record player when I’m doing a puzzle. My 16-year-old son just bought me a record (Lord Huron) for my birthday. Such a sweet surprise.
We have a USB turn table to convert all our old records to mp3
And I’ve also got a cassette player and a 5 disc CD player,an old beta player and a whole lot of vhs tapes and at least 3 vhs players. I got a Sony Walkman but never an Apple I pod or mp3.
I love my vinyl collection and use my turntable every day.
I gave away my parents records to a former Boy Scout leader.
l still have my 70’s Technics turntable. Years ago I went through my massive album collection and dumped all those that I wondered why I bought in the first place. I still have my faves but haven’t hooked up the turntable in YEARS (maybe decades!). However, my Sansui 9090 is hooked up and working daily in my backyard shop.
I bought my Technics SL 3300 in 1978.
Still have it.
had one but sold it during our downsizing, along with records, all to a very interesting young man.
I’ll stick with my Spotify and Bose Soundlink Revolve. Always forward…never back.
had a turntable and a cassette deck but as we hadn’t used it in forever we sold both and many of the LPs, 45’s and csssette tapes. those that didn’t sell we gave to Goodwill.
After finally getting walls and flooring in the basement, I have my turntable and records out. Just have to hook it all up now. Over in the corner is the floor model Victrola that my mother’s batchelor uncle bought for his nieces in the 1930s. It is packed with 78s and I have new needles.
Yes, I still have my turntable, cassette deck, and reel to reel. Love the sound of analog music. Digital doesn’t sound right yet, but it’s getting close.
Album sales have surpassed digital for the first time since 1985.
I don’t understand why people are good with lesser quality music, MP3s have all but killed great bands, new bands who have greatness. People now choose cheap, or mostly free shit sounding MP3, instead of physical media, albums and tapes, bands no longer make the money they used to, now relying on tours and t-shirt sales for income, which in turn makes it much more difficult to keep a band together, so everything suffers as a result. Myself and a shrinking number of people would rather have audio systems that allows the music to sound as good as it can ! Less and less people care about the sound quality of their music, I’ve met a few people who have said they could easily live without music completely ! What ? I just don’t understand, I miss looking forward to my favorite bands new album coming out, so I can throw it on my awesome stereo and crank it up !!! To be fair, I am happy to see bands are finally beginning to put their music out on vinyl . I hope it continues to grow…
Some of my earliest memories of looking through my parents records and digging the covers. Especially Meatloaf Bat out of hell! The bright red with all the other cool images that make you wonder what the record would sound like. I do remember playing it and loving the whole thing. I was probably 5 or 6 years old. I’m now 44 and own a turntable older that me.
Here is a funny. My daughter when she was in kindergarten she took to school for show and tell a portable record player. The ones with the handle and you plug in. She brought a record and a book and showed them how it worked. We as parents wanted our daughter to have a childhood like ours. Well one child spoke up and said wow so that is what CD player looked like before it got smaller. They were huge. I never forgot that one.
I’m in my 60s and I’ve still got records I bought in my pre-teens. Since then I’ve acquired a few thousand more, mostly 45s. About 30 years ago I picked up several BSR automatic turntables at yard sales for next to nothing. Try finding one now. Ah, the memories of the good old days while listening to a stack of records. As for a favorite, each song brings back a memory.
Same here, I have every album I have ever bought since my first, George Harrisons All things must pass. I still play albums all the time, mostly rock from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I recently had my trusty old technics SL-1800 lubed and a new Ortofon red 2M cartridge installed. The newer records I’ve bought sound a lot better than my old ones, much higher output, cleaner and clearer, I’m not sure if my old albums are worn out or they just make them better these days. I was 1st in line when CDs came out and marveled at the clarity, but you cant beat the album experience, the sound and the artwork are much better IMHO. I listen to everything from The Carpenters to Sons of Apollo on my turntable. The Beatles have always been my favorite, hands down !!!
Also, if you haven’t heard, DVD surround sound discs are awesome ! I was a fan of the old quadraphonic tapes, and never understood why they went away, but now that type of experience is back with a vengeance! The old quad albums are back along with a treasuretrove of other albums, almost everything you can think of. The Beatles “Love” is a favorite, Hotel California, Rush’s “Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves”, loads to choose from. Now if they would make 3D video with surround sound audio albums !!!
Most of my records are 45s. I have some albums from Kiss, Janis Joplins Pearl album, to even one by Johnny Carson. A friend has a Sgt, Peppers lonely hearts club band album that’s never been played and still has the cellophane wrap on it. Eve have some 78s, a few made by the Edison recording company.
I can remember an old hand-crank Victrola we had when I was a child. One of my first purchases in high school was a portable record player. Time marches on, and as recordings switched over to CDs, we got rid of our high-tech turntables (mainly I thought I was going to start full-timing — I didn’t). We still had some old vinyls left, so a couple of years back I bought a turntable that connects with the computer. Now I occasionally convert an old record to an MP3 file which I can copy onto a CD, or simply add to my iPod, which I keep hooked up to the radio in the motorhome. Best of both worlds?
I use my record player weekly and randomly select an old LP to play to revive memories…Humble Pie, Spooky Tooth, Procol Harum.
I still love to search for records of my youth!
Donations cheerfully accepted!
Have a record player for 45s and 78s, don’t have a huge collection of records. I Had a friend transfer some 78s for my in-laws to CD. Usually have player playing a few times a month.
I have two turntables. One is for my pristine collection of vinyl, the other is for everything else including 78s. I have a dual cassette player/recorder and a 6 pack CD player. I also have an eight track player/recorder and a four track player. I have a Betamax unit, a VHS player and a Laserdisc. I even have a European VHS to play PAL tapes. Yes, I am a tech junkie and they all work perfectly. I also have an old wire recorder that needs some work(I will get around to it one of these days).
I own 2 record players. I own 15 thousand records
Amazing
I use almost always my well tempered turntable with van den Hul Grasshopper and tube pre phono with Acoustat X loudspeakers and I’m very satisfied with my listening!
Expected to copy all our old albums to CDs….Maybe now should go to PlayLists. Still have an old stereo that also uses cassettes. Maybe time to upgrade. We should have time now, ya think.
I have some 8 tracks and a few players
Love to listen to my albums 60s 70s 80s on my turntable
When growing up, Dad owned a HiFi. We listened to his jazz records Dave Bruebeck, Jimmy Smith, John Coltrane. On Christmas Mario Lanza and Mahalia Jackson. In the 60s it was Mowtown and James Brown. My sister got a portable record player for her 16th birthday and that’s when we started purchasing records ourselves, 45s. I bought my first turntable in the 70’s and that’s when I started my record collection. I did make the transition to digital but never got rid of my collection or equipment. I’ve started collecting again picking up copies of records that received “teen care“ and new music of artists I dismissed. After all, vinyl makes everything sound good. Almost.
I still have record player from when I was 5 years old. It still plays today thanks to me being mechanically skilled and electronically engaged. I enjoy turntables as well. I also have some reel to reels and enjoy them as well. Memories!!
My folks listened to classical music as well as more current composers like Gershwin. They listened to music frequently and there are certain compositions of which I have specific memories. For example, Gershwin’s classic “An American in Paris” takes me right back to my childhood.
I have owned a top quality turntable my entire life & have never stopped listening to vinyl. That goes all the way back to HiFi sound before there was stereo. The depth of field, presence, warmth of sound & the way it fills a room is sooooo much better than any digital format. It wasn’t until I had sold off a portion of my vinyl collection that I realized just how FLAT cd’s sound in comparison. I regret ever selling the vinyl copies. I have replaced a majority of them but there are a few I’ll never get back. Granted, you have to take extra care of vinyl to maintain the sound quality but when it was the way you were raised those old habits continue to pay dividends. It’s amazing how great my original 33 Lp’s & 45’s from the 50’s & 60’s sound as good as when purchased. I thank my parents for instilling those good habits. That goes for just about anything we hold dear. Treated with proper care & maintenance they can last a lifetime. The last time I purchased a turntable was in 1973 with a couple extra stylist replacements & it continues to perform as good as the day I got it. Here are a set of rules I was taught to care for vinyl:
1. Never touch the playing surface!
2. Invest in a good brush product to safely remove dust.
3. Never stack records on top of one another.
4. Promptly return records to the sleeve & cover.
5. Sit back & enjoy the tunes!
I continue to purchase some music on vinyl but am selective due to the current prices & my lack of funds to keep the collection growing. There are a few worth the getting. Thank God for recycled record stores. Enjoy the silence, even if there are a few crackles & hiss.
I was told the lp records have the raised label area and the lip on the edge to allow for safe stacking on a changer. Also, I know on my Garrard changer the record dropping creates a cushion of air between the falling record and the one below.
I have several, 2 table tops a Panasonic in a zenith. They also have several turntables one mic record, one Elac 1 pioneer, two techniics, a Mitsubishi and a accutrac
I own like 10. I have a vintage denon dp755 player . I love listening to records. Great sound
I can’t get bass! Why?
No, not currently – but I have had several in the past and would like to get one at some point. I still have a few LPs stashed away. If anybody has a record player for the yard sale/Goodwill, let me know!
Yes I grew up listening to music 8-tracks, records and cassettes. Still have my collection of albums and 45s. Til the caskets drops.
I do, I had several as a youth, but cassette became the norm into my teens. I being a metalhead, who rarely isn’t listening to music, & with everything on stream decided to get a new record player, mostly for the fun. I read 2 months of reviews, & became more educated with what would satisfy my needs. Now I absolutely would not want to not have one. As a kid I never appreciated the sound quality, or maybe didn’t possess similar quality as to what I have now. Blown away by how much better it sounds, just more alive. If you haven’t got a turntable, & enjoy music, one needn’t get the very best of; but, an upgradable mid level, at least or better. Absolutely worth it.
I have stereo systems.they are crissoey entertainment center.i love using them both.i have one in the bedroom and one in the living room.i have cassettes recirds and 45s and CDs.play them often.
I have been fortunate to be at thrift stores and swapmeets at the right time just before the comeback of turntables and vinyle. .Started up listening to vinyl again 6 years ago.Currently I have eight.Bought a few more than that and sold them.Its fun to get and old table new to me and listen to all my records and find nuances I have never heard before.My collection has idler wheel drive ,belt drive ,liner tracking and Direct Drive.Manuel ,semi automatic to fully automatic. THORENS ,TECHNICS. SONY.CONCEPT,Elac Miracord.Linco.It has been a great hobby collecting turntables and vinyl especially classic rock late 60s through 70s.
Have a few… JVC QL-A7, SANSUI FR-5800 are a couple. Also have a R to R deck that sounds remarkably clear.
During my pre-teen years in the 1950s, my parents had a radio/record player console in the living room. They played 78 rpm big band (swing and jazz) recordings. In 1960, they bought me a TV and record player/changer in a console. I played mostly 45 rpm R&B/Motown/Doo Wop records. By 1965, I became a music enthusiast and purchased audiophile equipment that consisted of separate components that included a turntable, a tuner, a pre-amp, and power amplifier. I had Fisher, JBL, Sony, and Infinity speakers throughout the 1960s that I used to listen to my 45 and 33 rpm records, most of which I still own to this day…all in working condition and excellent condition. I own an Empire Troubadour turntable as well as a Sony 1200 turntable, and a Techics (for my 45s).
I am the original owner of my vintage gear and still enjoy the warmth and power of the equipment while playing vinyl records. Most of my friends are taken aback by the realistic sound my vintage equipment recreates from vinyl and compact discs. Several have gone to eBay in search of finding vintage turntables to play the vinyl records they’ve stored away in the garage. I always knew vinyl would return as well as tape recorders and tape players. I still use my Teac reel to reel to transfer vinyl recordings to long playing reels for social functions.
I’ve passed my love of vintage equipment and vinyl recordings to my 45 year old son. He has state-of-the-art Yamaha separates and uses his vintage equipment to play vinyl and digital recordings. Long live vinyl!
Yes I so happy I went out and bought a new one love it
Very happy to own a new turntable my old one just broke down
Look at rega a wonderful product built in England
My husband and I still own every 45, 78, cassette tape, and eight track tape we ever owned. We have all the equipment to play them, too. We’re in our 60s.
I bought a Garrard turntable while stationed in England 1958-61 that still works perfectly. Also bought close to 500 33-1/3 Lps at the same time. A few years ago I bought a turntable that will play though the stereo receiver plus has USB outputs to my computer. Now, I can take my old Lps and convert them to CDs. Using the MP3 recording format, I can put up to 10 Lps on a single CD with excellent sound quality. Now, new cars aren’t available with CD players anymore so that’s a bummer. Have several Receiver/ tuners along with surround sound speakers and a 12″ powered sub woofer that will shake the house if you turn up the Bass. Have a 6 disk changer and dual cassette recorder that still gets used on occasion.
While in England, I developed a taste for classical music. I managed to get into London to see and hear the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Had a seat about six feet behind the conductor and it cost 10 shillings ($1.40). Oh how times have changed. I am 80 now and still love classical music.
I was in the Air force in england got alot of my records at bx in upper heyford bought a receiver there also
I have 2 technics sl1200 which i use on a regular base to make mixes for Facebook or soundcloud
I not only have one and use it almost daily, I have my entire mixed stereo system from the 80s. It had been in storage for 15 years. Took it out a month ago. Had to replace some belts on the Teac reel to reel and the stylus on the Technics linear tracking turntable but after that it sounds as good as it did when I bought it.
I have two record players, one is of ceramic & other magnetic cartridge holder. I play them regularly
There’s more of a feeling of collecting when buying vinyl, which I’ve been doing since 1965
Record player : Technics SL-B2 K.
Amplifier /tuner and speakers : Technics SU-7700K / ST-7300K and JBL LX66.
Number of records: 772. Made between 1954 and 1995. Listen daily to vinyl and radio, just like in The 70 s, although I am 38.
Wow a true fan
I like to buy a record player, maybe next month, a rega planar2
I have one connectedto each of three vintage systems. HK T 60 , Thorens and the Technics. Still love vinyl and vintage gear Accuphase P300 C200, Accuphase E 250 and Onkyo Rs 506.It will chande your view on sound.
I am 59 have my stereo from the 80s still hooked up and working . Never not had a turntable .
Playing records is great, however, avoid these new fake vintage Crosley, Victrola, Polaroid brands. They’re junk, and ruin records. Spend more and get better. Your records deserve it.
I own 2 turntables. Been playing records from 12years old I’m 55
Can’t remember how to set up audio Jack’s. Pioneer early 80s beautiful.
Mine is Bluetooth and I love it….
I never gave up on records i am 71 years have close to 100 albums
Vinyl is much warmer analog to analog sound than digital companded compressed signals. Your ears are analog and know the difference ! Just watch out for digit remasters sold like they were the original releases. 1/2 speed is a bonus.
I’m 69, have over 1,000 albums and have had a turntable since I was 10 years old. Over the last several years, I’ve upgraded my current turntable (Linn LP-12) spending a ton of money to make it even better.
I own 10,000+ jazz LPs. No other format comes close to creating the sensory rewards inherent in holding, playing, and hearing well-recorded music on vinyl.
It was Bob Newhart who, when asked if button-down collars would ever come back, allegedly responded,, “I didn’t know they left.” So too turntables and the analog systems they anchor.
I’d love it, if you would share a list of your 25 favorite Jazz records?? One of my favorites is Manhattan Transfer “Birdland”!!!
I’ve been transferring vinyl to digital
“Analog” is the whole sound wave, cracles and all. Digital is a staircase. I can “feel” thw difference, but I am a musician. I also have Kilpsch speakers that some recording studios use, so that helps. Less convenient and than digital, and certainly morw bulky, so I only kept my favorite 70 lps. Reel-to-reel is the best analog – in my opinion.
you’re right, Reel to reel, two channel half track, is the closest approach to live sound. The rebuilt realy good tape machines today, cost 10 to15 thousand. Steep price. I love FM as well, and have both CD, and vinyl playback.
I had cheap ones growing up in the ‘80s but I soon saved up for a good one and that changed everything. I became a musician and an audio engineer which spurred me on to get a good playback system which I’ve upgraded over the years. I now own over 1000 records. My main system consists of a VPI Classic 4 turntable with two 12” arms (one unipivot, one gimbal), handmade Soundsmith cartridges, Modwright PH 150 phono stage, Schiit Yggdrasil DAC, Pass Laboratories INT-60 integrated amplifier, and Harbeth M40.1 monitors. I also have a Kirmuss cleaning system. I fully enjoy both digital and analog but records are certainly something special and I dedicate time every week to listen to them. Records are not going anywhere.
I’m transferring records to cd. I remember using a cactus needle on 78 rpm
I have a Garrard m# 301 , which I purchased for $ 50.00 in 1967 . I rewired it for stereo shortly thereafter . I have refurbed it several times since , as needed . My early recollection was listening to my Grandma playing her Tennessee Ernie Ford , Johnny Cash and Andrews Sisters records , among many others . I have prolly 1,000 records , including some from my parents and then those which I bought from my teen years and on . I would never get rid of them , nor have I seen any reason to dump my turntable .
I have 2 technics sl1200s and will never let them go, absolute gems
Great memories of peeking in on my sister’s 45 RPM single record parties in the late 60s have a large collection of vinyl I listen to you constantly. I also worked in the rock ‘n’ roll industry most of my early adulthood and all the bands that I worked with always put records out from Spooner in Madison Wisconsin to world-famous garbage who has an incredible collection of vinyl art I have everyone of them they are old friends of mine from college so I try to support my friends also records just have that perfect sound that a CD player can’t give you thanks a lot Kent Martell in Minneapolis
My use of a traditional Sony record player is a truly joyful experience. What better way to listen to my vintage Elvis Presley , British Invasion era records, Motown, and other vinyls than on an original player from the 60′ s or 70′ s??
I bought a new Pro-ject analog turntable last year to replace my 1981 Rotel turntable. I can’t live without one. I kept a third of my LP collection when CDs became popular. I kept my Brazilian imports and other records that are irreplaceable.
Almost 8,000 records right now but been collecting for over 50 years
I own a Rega and use it often. Import vinyl to my iTunes library
Music sounds better on original vinyl. The album cover artwork and inserts is amazing and takes you back in time. Listening to a record, you tend to listen to every track front to back. Find some great tracks that rarely get radio play. 🤟🏻
I own 2 record player Sony PS-LX310T and Audio Technica LP3 in white. My new hobby . I buy 70’s and 80’s album. I used to listen to my Dad’s quadrosonic stereo . This big baffle speakers like a furniture .He assembled tube amplifiers when I was a kid in the Philippines. Our neighbors throw rocks at our house. Because it’s too loud to listen too.
I’m part of the older generation. I grew up with records and still have two. One is a changer, it’s fun to watch young people as the record drops down the arm swings over and the record starts to play. My other player is a transcription, a single play higher end model.
Have quite a few. From a large late 40’s GE console with an early magnetic cartridge to a custom job with Mayware IV arm and Shure V15-IV cart. Also a not too often seen H.H.Scott 710 and SME 3009 and a ReK-O-Kut with original arm and a GE VR-1 . These are all ready to doin. There’s a few others waiting in queue.
First turntable was a portable to play 45s as a 12 yr old in early 60s. Now I have a VPI Classic with kleos cart and a pro-ject debut with ortofon cart. Nearly 2,000 LPs and counting. To celebrate my retirement just built a separate building adjacent to house as my music room.
Nothing beats analog with the correct rig in the right environment. Long live vinyl.
Turntable, not record player. Record players are just toys, cheap self contained units that don’t do records justice and can actually harm your records.
Agree. You can still buy a good turn table at a reasonable price. Records have a certain warmth that cd’s do not. Cassettes aren’t bad either. I have made mix tapes of my favorite 45’s and LPs. In my RV travels I have found many desirable or collectible records at thrift shops, church sales, etc. I have a cassette player in my RV and enjoy my records that way. Yes, I have CDs and the music channels on Dish network, but like anyone who is a collector, I can’t resist a good record that I don’t have.
I still have a turntable, but it has been packed up and put away, along with the vinyl albums. I still have and use CD’s sometime, but they have been replaced by MP3’s, I have these made into personalized playlists, like we used to do with reel to reel and cassette tapes. There are audiophiles who feel that the pops and clicks you hear produced by vinyl records is the holy grail I always and still do want the music, flawless as it was when the performer recorded it. That is why my turntable is packed up..
I even have a complete collection of Woody Woodbury, party records , also some Frankie Carle78’s, and my favorite Glenn Miller albums, no 45’s though
I still have the Thorens TD160 with Pickering XV cartridge that I bought in high school. Also have a Technics.
Recently acquired a Denon Cassettamatic 12. It’s just like the one I remember having in high school. It will play up to 12 cassettes consecutively.