Where do you buy your classical records?
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Music
Forum Name: Classical
Forum Description: Recommendations and Reviews of Classical recordings
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4672
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:15am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Where do you buy your classical records?
Posted By: Silence_Kit
Subject: Where do you buy your classical records?
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2019 at 2:27am
|
I enjoyed seeing everyone's recommendations of great classical records in another thread. I'd like to start building a collection, but I haven't had much luck finding classical records in good condition at my local record stores. The shops I frequent specialize in rock and jazz. Classical tends to be an afterthought, and it shows, as most of the records are scratched-up copies in worn sleeves. Where do you all shop for classical music on vinyl? Have you had good luck on Discogs or eBay? I always prefer to shop local, but unless you live in a major city with a specialized record store for the genre, it seems hard to find much worth bringing home.
|
Replies:
Posted By: RichW
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2019 at 11:39am
|
Finding good classical records in local shops is very difficult as you say. Many of mine were family hand-downs, job-lots bought from hifi dealers and from forums. (Phil on this forum has supplied some very good ones). Charity shops also have the occasional gem. On-line dealers to look at are Diverse Vinyl & EIL. EIL's prices can be a bit high but all the records I've bought have been good quality. No doubt there are other on-line sources. Hi-Q records classical re-issues are worth looking for & are generally available. ------------- Majestic/Enigma, Accession MM & MC. |
Posted By: Richardl60
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2019 at 1:32pm
| I have used Diverse a few times and seem very helpful; have just tried ordering Bob's Jazz Jamaica Allstars on vinyl through them and whilst out of stock very helpful (albeit not classical). |
Posted By: patientot
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2019 at 4:48pm
|
@Silence_Kit, are you in the U.S.? In any case, I pretty much only dabble in classical music and have not had too much trouble finding it on vinyl. You are right that many shops won't stock it extensively because most customers want "rock" and such. One thing you might try is talking to the shop owner. IME sometimes they will hold back the nicer classical records and only sell them online, or only sell them to customers that ask for them. They might also know a shop that has a more extensive collection of classical vinyl. The other thing is that the audiophile reissue market offers classical records with higher quality pressings if you want to shell out the money. Usually these records start at $35 and up, with some labels pressing records that are quite limited and expensive. I know Analogue Productions did a bunch of Living Stereo reissues and some others and the general feedback I've read on those has been good but I've also heard of some buyers reporting quality control issues that we are all experiencing with a lot of new vinyl.
|
Posted By: Aussie Mick
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2019 at 7:53pm
|
Elusive Disc in the US. Postage can be a bit pricey if you’re in another country, but you just have to buy a big enough batch of records to bring down the cost per LP...
------------- Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2 |
Posted By: patientot
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2019 at 8:14pm
|
Elusive Disc is probably my favorite shop to buy audiophile vinyl from no matter the genre. I had some problems with some defective pressings and a situation where the postal service screwed up and they took care of me. Some shops are very squirrelly about providing good service when something goes wrong but they came through for me. |
Posted By: Pwog
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2019 at 5:05am
|
I have had good luck recently on Discogs. Other than that I use Music Direct, Elusive Disc and Acoustic Sounds. ------------- Paul Acoustic Research ES-1, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Ayre C-5xemp disc player, Dynaco SCA-35 (updated), Dynaco ST-70 (updated and modified), Revel performa M20, Accession M, CuSat 50 interconnects |
Posted By: tg [RIP]
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2019 at 4:46pm
|
I have used Musicstack, Discogs, ebay (though rarely these days), http://classicrecords.co.uk/ - http://classicrecords.co.uk/ http://www.hornet.hr/HRec.asp - http://www.hornet.hr/HRec.asp and recently Presto Classical. Have also bought bulk lots through the classifieds on a local audio forum. ------------- Tony G |
Posted By: LeviZ
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2020 at 11:42pm
| https://www.musicdirect.com/ - https://www.musicdirect.com/ in US, current listing for classical < 600, so heavily concentrated on audiophile collections. |
Posted By: Pushpaw
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2020 at 1:15am
|
In Canada, there's an online shop called The Diamond Groove that stocks quite a few Analogue Productions, ORG, Speaker's Corner etc classical records. I mostly get mine there. However, I just found out the owner is retiring, but he has stock left to sell. ------------- P******t Debut Carbon, Goldring 1042, GS Accession MM w/Enigma, GS Solo ULDE w/PSU1, Sennheiser HD6XX, Technics SU-800 IA, Castle Knight 1, PS Audio Ultimate Outlet, Lautus & CuSat50 |
Posted By: Nippithon
Date Posted: 27 May 2021 at 3:46am
|
Like patientot, I do not have trouble finding "classical" LPs at used record stores (and there are many stores in my area). Pretty much every shop I enter has more rock than anything else, and often stores are light on the classical (a bin or two), but these same stores might undervalue the classical stock they do have. Ex, I recently squatted on the floor of a shop to dig out - of a closed lower cabinet - a "Gotterdammerung," all 12 sides pristine, for $3. (Granted it's a 1972 reissue of a 1967 Decca recording but still, .25 per side.) And a great cast, and all the delicious liner notes.
Mitch |
Posted By: fluddite
Date Posted: 31 May 2021 at 12:10am
|
There are some fantastic sellers of classical stuff (however loosely defined) at bargain prices on Discogs. From my recent experience, I'd recommend (at least) these: http://https://www.discogs.com/user/london-classical - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/london-classical
http://https://www.discogs.com/user/MainlyClassical - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/MainlyClassical http://https://www.discogs.com/user/INROCKUK - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/INROCKUK http://https://www.discogs.com/user/24hour2post - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/24hour2post http://https://www.discogs.com/user/MEVABOB - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/MEVABOB http://https://www.discogs.com/user/puresoul-records - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/puresoul-records All have delivered multiple LP titles in quality at least as good as listings, often better - and sometimes at frankly silly prices...  And an extra nod for this charity seller, where I've picked up some particularly great stuff in a very worthy cause: http://https://www.discogs.com/user/hospiceofstfrancis - http://https://www.discogs.com/user/hospiceofstfrancis FYO - I mostly buy baroque and 20thC stuff, with a particular emphasis on chamber music (esp. string quartets). The combination of Discogs prices and a decent RCM is unbeatable IMLTHO - oh, and an Accession helps as well... The other factor to bear in mind is that (at least until the "triumph" of digital recording and CD from the mid-1980s onwards), all classical vinyl was almost invariably better manufactured and looked after than its equivalents in other genres. If I could find 50s and 60s jazz LPs that were as well cared for as their classical equivalents, I'd be an even happier bunny... |
Posted By: kgilroy
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2021 at 4:46pm
|
Lots of great suggestions. Believe it or not you can also find plenty of reissues and newer releases on Amazon. ------------- Keith Marantz TT-15S1, Maestro V2, Accession MM, Icon Audio Stereo 40 Mk lll, Wharfedale Jade 3. Mac Mini, BitPerfect, Dynaudio Xeo2 Marantz SA-15S1, Apple TV, Cambridge CXA60, B&W DM2000, REL Sub |
Posted By: Bags
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2021 at 9:36pm
|
I tend to use discogs for analogue recorded classical but stick to CD for digital recordings. I guess newer High Res formats might transfer well onto analogue but I struggle to see how a recording that was made for CD is going to sound better on vinyl. Am I missing something? I'm certainly finding a lot of classical CDs at peanuts prices on eBay etc. |
Posted By: kgilroy
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2021 at 9:51pm
A lot depends on your view of Hi Res music. Even if it was recorded for CD it may have been done at 24 bit and then compressed to 16 bit for the CD. The quality of the CD is influenced by how well this is done. If the original 24 bit recording is transferred to vinyl and mastered well by someone who understands the medium it may sound better. BTW Presto Music is a great source for HiRes classical and jazz ------------- Keith Marantz TT-15S1, Maestro V2, Accession MM, Icon Audio Stereo 40 Mk lll, Wharfedale Jade 3. Mac Mini, BitPerfect, Dynaudio Xeo2 Marantz SA-15S1, Apple TV, Cambridge CXA60, B&W DM2000, REL Sub |
Bags wrote:Posted By: Bags
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2021 at 10:08pm
| Thanks. I'll take a look. |
Posted By: Bi-wire
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2021 at 4:30pm
|
I'm lucky enough to live near Bishops Castle in Shropshire, UK, where there is a book and record shop called Yarborough House. They do have a website http://www.yarboroughhouse.com - http://www.yarboroughhouse.com which seems to concentrate on CDs but, in fact, they also sell a fair few vinyl records too, all previously owned. I don't know how much use this might be as I don't know if they supply by post but I can vouch for their stuff on the whole. Their prices are very good and I've picked up a few gems there, including a couple of records that looked as if they'd never been out of their sleeves. If you're ever in the area they are well worth a visit, and they sell good coffee and cake too! ------------- Peter Satisfied user of: Revelation M, PSU1-Enigma, Solo SRGII and lots of CuSat50 |
Posted By: jwatson
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2021 at 1:15pm
I'd second Presto, I've spent a lot of money there over the years. All of my purchases have been downloads but these have the advantage of often being available in hi-res formats so there's no risk of losing any fidelity in the transfer to CD (or any other media). ------------- "I bought some more old vinyl today 'cos old vinyl won't ever let you down" Majestic DAC -> {Proprius -> Tannoy Stirling | Solo UL -> HD820} |
Posted By: vz691f
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2021 at 4:32pm
|
I don't have many choices of physical stores in Shanghai, China. It is easy to buy new and used vinyl from taobao where there are hundreds of merchants selling vinyl. Unlike Discogs, every used disc has pictures of sleeves and labels on taobao, so that the version/release is always correct as seen. The media status is not always as described (usually NM unless very bad). I have to buy from trusted sellers only, after a few trials. Thanks to so many courier companies, the shipping fee is as low as £1 I have to pay very expensive shipping fee on discogs due to most of the sellers are in Europe and US. But sometimes, if I'm looking at a particular release that I can't find on taobao, I will buy it from discogs. I will first try to find sellers from East Europe. The shipping fee is relatively cheaper. If you buy from a 100% positive seller, most of the time, the media status is as described and the shipping is fast and well packaged. I also buy new ones from AcousticSounds, Testament. For digital downloads, there are many choices. There's no country boundary unless the album is not permitted to sell in China. Here are my list (not all but these are my favorites) Presto, Hyperion, HDTT, Channel, eClassical, Chandos, L*nn, NativeDSD Lang
|