The old technology is making a comeback ...

[dogtag]

I figured I was on to a good thing when discs chased VCRs
into the thrift shops. I visited those thrift shops and bought
up new Sonys and Hitachis for $5 with their remotes.
Seeing as how I had a big collection of movies on VHS, it
seemed like a good idea. Same thing with vinyl records and
the turntables. The guest bedroom has piles of turntables and VCRs.
I find DVDs a pain in the butt as some just won't play on any of
my decks. Or if they do, some either freeze or turn into annoying
little pixies. Now the tape decks are coming back - I have only
one of those, but one's enough.
Now if only the horn phonographs would make a comeback, I could
play my one sided acoustic records of Caruso which is the only
way to hear his voice as it really sounded.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/23/cassette-tape-music-revival-retro-chic-rewind

[dryheat]

VHS tends to melt down. I used to tape the CMAS (country music awards show). I could program a VHS to record while I was gone and then I could speed through the ads(lots of truck ads. Country ya know). All of my tapes got to be un-listenable. I had a half dozen turntables here for a while. Thing is; they are driven with a rubber band. They dry out and it was a pain to look for those. I finally did buy a brand new turntable but I hardly listen to music in the house anymore. I have a great system out in the work shop but the hundred fifteen degree summers wrecks equipment and Cassette tapes. I've put a half dozen units out there. The one I have out there now is so good I might actually bring it inside for the rest of the summer. That's what I do with all the glue and tape. The CD's seem to hold up OK in the heat. I never thought CD's would become antiques. Now everyone gets their music from a cloud or something.

[Art]

We have every format that doesn't require Wi-Fi in our house, Vinyl, tape, CD, DVD and Blue Ray, though our Subaru does have Wi-Fi and its a huge convenience there. It's just because we've lived long enough to have stuff in all of those mediums some of which isn't available on newer formats.

The ultimate old technology is the vinyl record which is making a huge comeback. We're really talking a development of 19th century analog technology here. I have no real idea why other than so many people buy their music "through the air" now that when folks want a tangible format they want something bigger than a C.D. I've heard people say the sound is better on a vinyl record but like all analog systems if true, it isn't forever. Every time the needle runs down that groove there is a bit of degradation no matter how well you care for them.

Dryheat: you can get direct drive turntables but they are pricey. My old Magnavox turn table (belt drive) still gets some use but not enough to hurt it.

[lyman]

VHS tends to melt down. I used to tape the CMAS (country music awards show). I could program a VHS to record while I was gone and then I could speed through the ads(lots of truck ads. Country ya know). All of my tapes got to be un-listenable. I had a half dozen turntables here for a while. Thing is; they are driven with a rubber band. They dry out and it was a pain to look for those. I finally did buy a brand new turntable but I hardly listen to music in the house anymore. I have a great system out in the work shop but the hundred fifteen degree summers wrecks equipment and Cassette tapes. I've put a half dozen units out there. The one I have out there now is so good I might actually bring it inside for the rest of the summer. That's what I do with all the glue and tape. The CD's seem to hold up OK in the heat. I never thought CD's would become antiques. Now everyone gets their music from a cloud or something.

I got caught up in the direct drive (no belt) vs belt drive (rubber band as you mention) turntable debate back in the 80's,

so I bought one of each,,


both still work fine

[M1Tommy]

I recently got an old Onkyo turntable with a nice cartridge. Listening to some albums, first time in 30+ years... has been pretty nice.
Tommy

[dogtag]

I have VHS tapes from the 80s which still play fine.
Secret is to clean your recorder regularly.

The best sound comes from vinyl records played on a tube amp/tuner/receiver.

[bdm]

I have a friend who has and collects all of the older tapes records everything he has a collection of old 45 records that is amazing and he has the really old stuff from the 30 and 40s Art you are correct the vinyl records are making a huge comeback