How I Started My Vinyl Collection

Hey everyone! I hope you are staying safe and having a good day 🙂

I love vinyl records. There’s something romantic about them: the way they look, the feeling of dropping the needle down in just the right spot, and listening to a record for the first time. I just love it. 

I’ve had a vinyl record player for around five years now, and I’m still adding to my collection.

Since I’ve been feeling super nostalgic this past week, I thought I’d share the story of how I started my collection. I’d also love to do a post about the records I have, so stay tuned for that!

WHY I WANTED A VINYL RECORD PLAYER

I don’t remember exactly when my fascination with vinyl records began. But I remember wanting to own them. At that time, vinyl records were making a comeback, and I started seeing posts about records and the best players for your money. My mom, dad, and grandparents would talk about their first records, how it worked, and the stories revolving around them. And my music teacher told me about how the sound worked. 

I think what really sold me on it was a story my dad told me. When he was younger, he was given a record player, and it had a record that came with it. The group ended up becoming one of his favorites. The hopeless romantic in me thought there was something so cool and fascinating about that. I started to get really curious, wondering if they were really worth all the hype. I was definitely intrigued, and decided to start looking into getting a vinyl record player.

HOW I FOUND MY VINYL RECORD PLAYER

So I did my research. I wanted something that would be easy to use, have a good sound quality, and fit within my budget. I browsed the internet, looking for reviews on the subject. And after weeks of research, I decided on the Crosley Cruiser player. 

One day, I decided to go to the mall, just to window shop and get out of the house for a bit. I wasn’t planning on actually purchasing anything, but as I walked by one of the stores, I saw the exact record player I wanted in the window. I was hesitant at first, because I knew that I was on a budget. But I had been really wanting one, and knew that I had enough to pay for it. So I made a decision to go inside and make an impulse purchase. What’s great about it though is that they were having a 20% off sale, so I ended up saving a bit of money. And then when I got to the register, I got into a cool conversation with the guy about vinyls and which ones I wanted to get, and he gave me an additional 5% off. I’m still baffled as to why, but hey, I’ll take it. 

After I had purchased it, I went over to Barnes and Noble to look for a notebook. But what’s a record player without any records to play? So I went over to the vinyl section and searched for my first vinyl. I was so excited, and ended up spending twenty minutes searching for just the right pick. It had to be a classic, an album I loved. It took a while, but I finally made a decision, and purchased my first vinyl. 

I couldn’t wait to get home and listen to the album “Parachutes” by Coldplay. I thought it was a good choice, since they are one of my all time favorite bands. And it’s even more fitting since this was their first album. I love the album cover as well, with the reddish orange moon in the background.

WHAT A VINYL RECORD SOUNDS LIKE

Well, after I had set it up, it sounded fantastic. I was thrilled to hear the album in full, and to hear it better than before.

So when people say that the vinyl sounds better, you’re probably thinking how that’s possible. How can a piece of vinyl material sound better than a full out digital recording? Well, here’s how I like to explain it.

When you listen to a digital recording, you are hearing pieces of a song or album that have been stitched together. You aren’t hearing the recording in full. With vinyls, you are. The choppiness you sometimes experience with a digital recording isn’t present. Because it’s the album in full. 

Think of it this way: Suppose you are trying to record a moment with your camera. You can either take a bunch of photos in a row, or you can take a single video that leaves nothing out. The vinyl is like that video. Pretty cool, huh?

Of course, vinyl’s aren’t perfect. If a vinyl gets scratched, it will effect the quality of the song where the scratch is. And because vinyls are double sided, it also effects the song on the other side. There’s also the problem of getting a messed up vinyl- VIVA LA VIDA I’M LOOKING AT YOU. Yeah, that vinyl had an issue with not playing past the first song. And then, after I had returned it for another, that vinyl wouldn’t play past the second song. And lastly, if they get dusty. Yesterday I decided to listen to my “Fearless” vinyl. It’s the platinum edition too, which has my favorite song on it- “The Other Side Of The Door”. But last year I had left that vinyl open out on the player, where it collected a lot of dust. As I go to listen to it, you could hear the dust on the album that had stuck to it. The album was still top quality though, just with an added layer of sound. 

I personally love the little scratches and skips that come with vinyl. I think it adds to the charm, because it’s an experience all in it’s self. You get to hear music in a different, yet beautiful way. Those added features to me are what make vinyls what they are- timeless. Well all of them except the Viva La Vida case.

ABOUT MY VINYL RECORD PLAYER

So the record player I have is the Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Turntable. I’m actually looking at their website to make sure I got the title right, and wow are they cheaper then when I purchased it. Anyways, the player’s color is black on the outside, with a red interior. It’s portable, and kind of looks like an old vintage suitcase. It supports both the larger and the smaller vinyls, I’m sorry I can’t remember the terminology. There’s a headphone jack, AUX output, and a bluetooth receiver. It’s super easy to use, and has great sound quality. The portability is a nice feature as well, since we’ve moved twice during the time I’ve had it. I was able to transport it easily (The vinyls were a bit trickier). If you are wanting to start your vinyl collection and want a good quality player that won’t break the bank, I recommend the Crosley Cruiser. This isn’t sponsored, I just really love my record player, and think it’s a great product and worth the money.

I hope you enjoyed the story of how I started my vinyl record collection! I can’t wait to share more about my vinyls, especially the albums I currently have and the ones I want to get.

Also, don’t forget to keep entering the giveaway I’m hosting on my Instagram. I’ll be giving away a free notebook from either my Society6 or Redbubble shop. Click here for more details and to enter to win. I’ll announce the winner this Friday!

What are your favorite albums to listen to? And do you have a vinyl collection? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time 🙂