Downsizing your music collection

Posted by: Haim Ronen on 08 February 2014

My music collection consists of around 1200 CDs and 450 LPs. With my listening habits of averaging  three albums a day, if I made a point of going through the entire collection it would take me longer than eighteen months to do so. Of course that never happens and I end up with recordings which haven't been touched for many years.

 

I am gradually reaching a stage of appreciating essentials, trying to minimize the 'stuff' and clutter around me, feeling guilty of keeping hardly used items. Examining my music library with a consideration of shrinking it I reached the conclusion that I could easily live happily with just a quarter of what I have, keeping 250 classical plus 200 jazz and world music albums.

 

My question is by how much could you downsize your music collection without putting a dent in your pleasure nor feeling musically poor?

 

 

Posted on: 09 February 2014 by DrMark

I like keeping my CDs as backups of course and I still have my CD5X; because every now & again my NAS reminds me that it is still a computer, and subject to doing those strange things that computers do.  I have been able to do what it takes to get past it (reboots, re-establishing network connectivity, etc) each time, but on the odd chance that it defeats me (and of course some day it will crap the bed for good as does every computer) having my CDs readily available means I need never fear being without tunes.

Posted on: 09 February 2014 by Jay Coleman
Eighteen months! Ha hah ha ha!

More like the rest of my life.

But that's not the point really. It's more like a library -- having things there when you want to listen to them.
Posted on: 09 February 2014 by Geofiz

I have about 1200 CD's and 1200 LP's.  Most of the CD's (over 95%) are ripped and stored on the HDX and assorted hard drives, haven't even attempted to transfer the LP's to digital yet (nor will I in all probability). 

I made the mistake when I was younger to transfer about 300 albums to cassette tape and then sold off the albums.  The cassette tapes have since gone but the desire for the albums has resulted in what has now been a search  for replacements for almost 20 years.  Most of the albums were never re-released on CD and it has been a real challenge to locate the vinyl.

Based on that experience, I only sell off the inevitable doubles that one acquires (surprisingly this has mostly occurred with CDs and only once with LPs.  I probably have less than 50 CDs and LPs of the same recording. 

Keeping the LP's is not an issue with my wife, keeping the CD's is somewhat, especially if she can access them from the HDX.  But to date, still have all the CD's and probably will eventually put them into storage bins but there are times when they are still needed (for the car/truck CD player for long road trips when there is nothing else) but even those occasions are becoming less. Still are some times when it is easier and quicker to just put the CD on the player rather than search through the screens on the HDX.

Will keep them as the ultimate backup should all else fail.

Posted on: 10 February 2014 by Dozey

I don't see why I would want to downsize my music collection. Seems like a daft idea. I have just ripped all the CDs and put them in the cellar.

 

I have about 12 linear feet of LPs which look good in the sitting room. I did not fall for the CD marketing and kept all my old LPs. As the LPs sound better to me than CDs they are not going anywhere!

 

In theory I could just join Qobuz and never buy another CD, but at the moment I can listen to everything I already have for free.

Posted on: 10 February 2014 by Loki

The cassette tapes have since gone but the desire for the albums has resulted in what has now been a search  for replacements for almost 20 years. 

 

I'm wearing the T shirt Still acquiring LPs of albums I 'demoed' on tape to see if I liked them enough to own. Sad as I am, I still love the 80s. 

Posted on: 12 February 2014 by ChrisH

I do like Pixies does, rip my CDs (to Unitiserve), back up to NAS plus another copy to an external HD.

Then insert CD and artwork into Fleecepack wallets and store away as the ultimate back up.

Cant be doing with all those plastic CD cases.....

Thats my way of downsizing, but downsizing space rather my collection.

Still have my old vinyl stored away even though I don't have a turntable anymore.

Couldnt sell them off, too many memories, and one day, I might change my system to give me the possibility to play them. I can't see it where I am sitting today with a Superuniti/US combo, but Iwon't want to rule it out for good by selling them off.