- Wednesday November 4, 2009
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Sound Investments
By Carl Winfield
Despite the compact disc's ubiquity, sales of vinyl LPs are staging a bit of a resurgence as they enter their seventh decade in the recorded music market. U.S. sales increased 36.6% in 2007 over the previous year, according to data from the Recording Industry Association of America. No matter how many audio and video formats jostle in the marketplace, audiophiles have never lost their affection for the long-play album, described by many as the ideal medium for sonic warmth, richness, and dynamic range—and the most faithful means to reproduce a live music performance. In the 26 years since Abba’s The Visitors was produced on the first CD, LP collectors have constantly pressed on in their pursuit of the finest vinyl playback experience. In turn, the zeal and focus around this effort, coupled with technological advances, have helped drive the cost of classic and audiophile-grade vinyl pressings, turntables, pickup arms, and needles to astronomic heights in the never-ending pursuit of acoustic greatness. In this slide show, take a tour of some of the more lavish products and LPs on the market.
