Its been about 2 years since I last visited this forum - I wonder if there is still anyone on here that I know.

Anyway - just a few things to add to the discussion that may be of interest to some:

1. "i have a few at 500+ kbps which is phenominal considering 320 is the max from cds" Actually the figure is 150 for original CD's and it is in kilobytes per second not kilobits. There are 8 bits to a byte - assume 1200 kilobits per second for normal CD.

2. MP3 / IPod etc. There is a lot of talk of quality when refering to digital music - or the lack thereof - most of it is really irrelevent. The point of all these digtial formats is that they are portable formats. Portable music in all its forms has never been very good. Was a Transistor radio hifi? How about a Walkman (tape or CD)? A boombox? I would say not. Some MP3 players are capable as being every bit as good as these items that preceded them. No - it is not as good as my vinyl rig (but that cost a lot of money relatively), nor are they as good as my CD player (again rather more expensive).

When I bought a new mobile phone I got one that was basically a computer. It plays videos and music (MP3 and WMA / WMV). Relative to my Walkman cassette player the sound it great - and holds a lot more music (about 18 albums on a 2 gig card).

3. Vinyl. I am a vinyl lover through and through. I have about 1500 records and will never be parted from them. Unlike others I have not worn through them - there are some that are noisier now than when I bought them but not enough to make listening a chore.

When at home and listening properly (i.e. just listening - not as background) I listen to vinyl. When listening as background I can happily have a CD playing, or a decent MP3 or even the radio.

In the car I listen to CD mainly and radio ocasionally.

On foot I listen to MP3's on my phone.

In other words - however dedicated you are to one format or another a music lover will listen to what is avaiable at the location and that is the deciding factor.

4. Buying vinyl. I live in Athens, Greece. Maybe things are different here. I know of 25 shops that sell vinyl records within driving distance of my house (not DJ shops - they are separate) and 12 within walking distance of my wife's office. There are now more shops selling vinyl than CD in the centre of Athens (not counting the flea market - there are innumberable stores there too). Most of the vinyl is second hand. Pricing varies more with the contents of the records than the condition. Classical music (my main love) is typcially 1 euro per record (about $1.28) and all the shops I use have a TT to test a record out prior to purchase.

5. The younger crowd. In Greece at least it appears they have not yet discovered vinyl. In the shops I frequent I am usually one of the younger buyers - and I am 41. Does it really matter much? On the odd ocasion a younger person comes to the house and expresses an interest I will play them a record. The response it always positive - but I do not see them rushing out to get their own TT's - maybe they do - I have no idea.