The vinyl revival seems to be very rosetinted and people only seem to remember how great the very best records sounded when played on top quality decks. But IMO that rosetinted memory isn't representative of the mean average of either the records nor the record players most people owned. The real truth is, many records were in fact mediocre, especially the cheapy various-artist compilation LPs on labels like Hallmark, K-Tel, Chevron and Ronco, and so were most of the record players they were played on.
For those under 35 who have no real memory of records, but they've bought into the hype and got a record player, there must be a bit of a gulf between their overhyped expectations and reality when they first drop their Crosley's needle on the record and find that their £18 copy of Foo Fighters Greatest Hits sounds far worse than the MP3s on their phone. Perhaps it doesn't matter though; if recent research is to be believed, nearly half of the people who buy new records never play them.
For those under 35 who have no real memory of records, but they've bought into the hype and got a record player, there must be a bit of a gulf between their overhyped expectations and reality when they first drop their Crosley's needle on the record and find that their £18 copy of Foo Fighters Greatest Hits sounds far worse than the MP3s on their phone. Perhaps it doesn't matter though; if recent research is to be believed, nearly half of the people who buy new records never play them.