2022 Vinyl Record FAQs Summary | AngelsHorn®

What Is Vinyl Album?

The LP (from "long-playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of 33+1⁄3 rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a vinyl (a copolymer of vinyl chloride acetate) composition disk. Introduced by Columbia in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry. Apart from a few relatively minor refinements and the important later addition of stereophonic sound, it remained the standard format for record albums (during a period in popular music known as the album era) until its gradual replacement from the 1980s to the early 2000s, first by cassettes, then by compact discs, and finally by digital music distribution.
Beginning in the late 2000s, the LP has experienced a resurgence in popularity.

wikipedia.org

If you are interested in classic music and need to know the history of vinyl records, click for more.

Vinyl Album History:（click for more）

Unlike conventional records, the groove started at the inside of the recorded area near the label and proceeded outward toward the edge. Like 78s, early soundtrack discs were pressed in an abrasive shellac compound and played with a single-use steel needle held in a massive electromagnetic pickup with a tracking force of five ounces (1.4 N).

By mid-1931 all motion picture studios were recording on optical soundtracks, but sets of soundtrack discs, mastered by dubbing from the optical tracks and scaled down to 12 inches to cut costs, were made as late as 1936 for distribution to theaters still equipped with disc-only sound projectors.

History of Phonographs：（click for more）

On November 21, 1877, Thomas Edison first recited the nursery rhyme “Mary had a little lamb” into his phonograph machine. The recording was captured onto tinfoil around the edge of a spinning cylinder. Today, many people believe that this event marked the birth of recorded sound. However, it wasn’t the first time that the human voice had been recorded. For thousands of years, people had experimented with capturing sounds for later playback.

1920 Record Players vs 2020 Record Players：（click for more）

Last but not least, today’s modern era of the 2020s, where vintage is a niche of the collection, has a sure-shot demand of record players coming to rise again with the demands of vintage music lovers. Besides, quality isn’t all that matters when you get to re-live the soulful melodies that record players were popular for creating. Yet, we can’t deny the fact that even with vintage performance and outlook, what makes the record players more demanded and used today is the massive improvement in their connectivity, sound quality, size, appearance, and overall portability. It’s more like a combination of vintage appearance and looks with modern technology all rolled into one.

Are Vinyl Albums Worth Anything? What Are The Most Valuable Vinyl Albums?

When it comes to a vinyl record's value, the condition is paramount, and worn copies of a record usually sell for modest amounts of money except in the cases of items that are rare to the point of being unique.

Valuable LPs are varied and cover a wide range of genres. In terms of how much they're worth, some have an evergreen value, while other valuable vinyl records fluctuate in price depending on buying trends, band anniversaries, and other notable events, including the death of an artist.

Read more:
For example, this blog written by the best players in the retro record player industry:

10 of the world's most valuable vinyl records and collectible vinyl: do you own any of these Beatles, Queen, and Nirvana LPs?

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What Albums Should I Buy On Vinyl?

First of all, we have to make sure that what we like is of course the best album for us to buy.

Of course, if we're new to vinyl, I'd try to recommend a blog post that details the various genres and the reasons for recommending different styles of vinyl：

52 Essential Albums to Own on Vinyl：

Below is a list of 52 albums we consider essential to own on vinyl due to a variety of factors to include: sound, production, mastering, album artwork, special features, etc.

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How To Clean Vinyl Record Albums：

Directions:

1. Wipe gently. Remove all dust and static using a microfiber cloth, using very little pressure to avoid driving any particles further into the grooves in the vinyl. Your goal is to pick up larger dust and dirt particles on the record without damaging the surface.
2. Rinse. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with water (distilled water is preferred), and lightly wipe the entire surface of the record in a circular motion with the grooves of the record, being careful to avoid the center label.
3. Cleaner for vinyl records: Buy some vinyl record cleaning agents online to protect the vinyl record and remove the little trouble of attaching the turntable
4. Damp-wipe clean. Wipe clean using the same process as in #2, making sure to remove all of the cleaning solutions.
5. Dry. Use a dry microfiber cloth to completely dry the record. Use a can of compressed air to remove any stubborn moisture remaining in deep grooves.
6. Spin and store properly. Enjoy your clean vinyl! Before playing your record, make sure your needle is free of dust and in good condition Store vinyl records properly to prevent dust accumulation and future problems.

-How To Clean A Record Player | Angels Horn®（click for more）

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If you happen to read this article, and if you happen to be looking for the evolution history and trend of record players, I believe this organized column can be helpful to you.

AngelsHorn offers a variety of record players, each with an elegant, retro style designed to provide a high-quality music experience.

Our record players are decorative, functional, and environmentally friendly, a perfect combination of classic record players and modern audio technology. Choose the AngelsHorn record player to make your life more colorful!

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