Vikram Sinha

How long it has been since you are a record collector?
I've been buying vinyl for a little less than a year. I have fond memories of listening to records growing up in the 80s -- my parents had a Phillips turntable, but when that got busted, they didn't couldn't find replacement parts, so that was that. Started feeling the itch to get back to vinyl last year, and there was always the temptation of digging up my parents' old record collection. Finally gave in this year.



How large is your vinyl collection?
I own about 60 LPs. That includes a handful from my parents' collection; unfortunately, most of their records hadn't survived in good enough shape to be rescued.

Which is the most valuable record in your collection?
That's a tough one. I'll cheat and go with two. Van Morrison's Moondance is a lovely album to begin with. Vinyl really brings out how lush it is. And Hoodoo Man Blues by Junior Wells is as good as Chicago blues gets. Great for a weekend afternoon.
Tell us about your turntable setup.
I run a Rega Planar 1 with a Nagaoka MP110 cartridge, feeding into a Marantz PM6006 amp and Dali Zensor 3 speakers.

Any advice to people that are about to start their collection?
To avoid future frustration, be prepared for the fact that it's a little more money and time-consuming than other forms of music listening. Build your collection slowly, there's no rush. Trawl used LP bins wherever you find them, you can get some steals. Invest in basic vinyl and stylus cleaning supplies.