andyman wrote:The majority of people here seem to buy Vinyl when possible - obviously it's the format to buy music in. I'm curious about whether people download the mp3s as well for when they're not at home. Notably, their viewpoint on whether they should pay for both versions or just pay for one with the rest being game?
I couldn't find a lot of information on the legality of downloading music in format A when you've purchased it in format B.
To me it seems like once you are at a point in life when you can afford a nice turntable, needle, amp, pre-amp and a decent set of speakers you could probably double down on both formats without it really feeling a sting financially. But you shouldn't have to.
When I was younger I had this crappy record player that played records fine but I never found the sound superior to CD's at all. In fact vinyl seemed very, very inferior. So I was primarily a CD consumer. These days have been kinder to me financially and I've pieced together a decent system that allows me to appreciate LP's. However, I've discovered that I never really have time for what Brinkman calls "critical listening" with the ol' Rega planar turntable and that most of my listening occurs on the CTA, or some dungeon during work hours, walking, or on my spaceship. So the old fancy MP3 player comes in handy.
I usually test things out as legal downloads if possible, if it makes the grade I end up purhchasing it again on Vinyl if available ( I have a shitload of excellent albums on CD that seem not to exsist on vinyl. i.e. Frenetic records and it really grinds my chaps). If it's a T&G release, I'll buy the vinyl, got the mp3 right in there. Matador records I don't think has put out anything I like.