Like many music lovers, I like to collect vinyl records. Also like a lot of music lovers, I also listen to music using Spotify. Even though I love the large artwork of vinyl as well as the vinyl listening experience, I find myself often reaching for Spotify instead of digging out an LP when I need a music fix. Here are several reasons why.
I Can Listen From Anywhere With Spotify
It’s fun to pull out an LP, open up the gatefold cover, put the record onto the turntable, and relax, but a lot of times, Spotify is just easier.
If I’m working or surfing the web, I would rather pull up a piece of music to listen to or use one of Spotify’s radio feeds or other features if I need some background music.
The same applies when I’m on the go. All I need to do is plug my earbuds into my phone and boot the Spotify app.
And while “portable” record players have been around for a long time, it’s impractical to actually take my vinyl collection anywhere.
Spotify Is Cheaper Than Vinyl
I like collecting vinyl records, but sometimes, the biggest challenge is buying them in the first place.
While it’s fun to build up a physical record collection, it is not as friendly to your wallet as Spotify is, even with the latter’s recent rate increases.
Most new albums cost at least $25, and that’s the minimum. Because vinyl has had a comeback in recent years, there often aren’t enough copies of a record to go around. This means smaller production runs from backlogged pressing plants. This drives up the asking price of records on places like Amazon or Discogs.
If you think you can save money by buying used copies, you might want to think twice. While you can find some bargains on Discogs or eBay, a highly sought-after release can be just as expensive or even more expensive as a new copy. Contrast this with the all-you-can-eat approach to Spotify, where you can listen as much as you want for less than the cost of an album a month, depending on what Spotify plan you select.
Spotify Sounds Better Than Vinyl
Spotify also often just sounds better. There’s no surface noise, which applies to any digital audio format. Even though Spotify audio is compressed, digital audio also has more dynamic range than vinyl records.
While analog diehards say that you can just clean your records to improve the sound quality, these efforts will only go so far. A lot of the analog “warmth” is due to the imperfections inherent in the format, but if you’re looking for sound quality, streaming services like Spotify are a better bet. There are also services that specifically cater to audiophiles like Tidal.
I Can Find the Music I Want on Spotify
The main thing that Spotify has going for it for me is the selection of music available compared to vinyl. Sure, the treasure hunt aspect of finding a record you’ve always wanted is thrilling, but a lot of times, I have something specific I want to listen to.
For instant gratification, Spotify tops vinyl. I can just call up a song or album and have it play immediately.
My taste in music tends to veer sharply from the Top 40, so a lot of music I like is just plain unavailable on vinyl, at least at a reasonable price.
For these reasons, I’m finding that Spotify and vinyl complement each other. With Spotify, I can listen to music wherever, whenever, and whatever I want while building up a curated collection of all-time favorites on vinyl.
Despite Spotify’s obvious advantages, I enjoy seeing records on the shelf. And if a favorite album disappears from Spotify, as has happened to me several times, I’ll always have a copy I can listen to offline.
