Vinyl – the melody of time

Records are enjoyed for that hard-to-define analogue warmth, their personality and addictive collectability. 

"As vinyl has a very good sound, the higher the volume is, the better the music quality. For example, when you listen to an orchestra, you can hear separately the sounds of violin, cello and other instruments. You don’t find that with CDs. Most record collectors are choosy listeners. They have their own styles, their own ways to play music, and their own soulmates. Collecting the records can sometimes be more important than the entertainment they bring", Tran Tho Lam - a record collector - said.

In recent time, records have attracted more young people. Nguyen Anh Tuan is one of a few young people who is cottoning on to this increasingly popular audio format in Hanoi. After work, he usually spends time in a coffee shop and immerses himself in an analogue world.

"I still remember how happy I was in the first time I played a vinyl record. This was a glamorous sound, which I had been seeking for a long time. When playing digital music, I couldn’t find the musicality of music. However, I found it in vinyl", Nguyen Anh Tuan said.

Record collecting is seen as a precious hobby. This is evident in the way collectors remove thevinyl from the protective sleeve, lay it down gently in the turntable or repair the cartridge and stylus. For some professional audiophiles, how to choose a suitable stylus is the most concern.

"There are 2 types of stylus: moving magnet and moving coil. MC styluses are more sophisticated. It is used for remix, classical and chamber music. As for MM, it predated MC and suitable for jazz, rock and vocal genres. Players have to know how to use it right to ensure the quality of sound", Tran Tho Lam added.

Some people are happy enough keeping their record collections to themselves. Some gather in a forum with both old and young people. No matter what music they play, they still enjoy their feeling of exclusivity.