All of the above. Except you're wrong. There is nothing wrong with your system. It doesn't playback rock any better than jazz and so forth. Add a couple of Cerwin-Vega and you can play what every you want and not have to think about being stuck in one genre. Don't break the bank. You're still young and I dare you to blow up a pair of CVs.

Advice about what?

berezina-

Cerin-Vega is a frat-party speaker for people that like it loud.

As far as turntable vs. CD player it's hard for one of us to tell you which path to choose. It would kind of be like asking us to choose a religion or political party for you. It's a personal choice. With all of that being said the performance of a CD player is much more consistent than that of the turntable. That isn't a slam against 'tables there are simply a TON more variables to worry about and thus the chance of them all to fall into place is lower. In particular I'm talking about turntable set up/adjustment, turntable maintenance, and the quality of record pressings. But if you enjoy the journey and the learning process that is vinyl go for it. If you want set it and forget it then CD might be the better path. Just some thoughts.

Quote:
... and the question was whether to invest in cd's or records.

invest in music that you LIKE A LOT. CD v. LP should be a distant second place to that.

Quote:
So my question is whether I should buy cd's to do with what I have right now, or records for when I turn 16 and ask for that shiny new Rega instead of my mom's minivan.

As a dad, let me advise you - ask for both.

best,

Scott A.

Unfortunately you seem to have ears for audio, so that's a blessing or a curse. When I was young I fell for the unclean needle to.

First on that subject look at carbon fiber brushes and maybe even record cleaning solutions, suggest something for future parental gifts.

There are basic (Craig's list) ways to get cheap good gear, you can get to mid-fi (at least) looking to see what 20-40 somethings want to dump.

Buy what you want to hear, particularly in jazz - it's the only way your taste will grow (though you father may have great taste, it's not your taste). So I agree with the above, CD or LP doesn't matter. But since you asked - I say - stock up on records. CDs are going the way of the passenger pigeon (or polar bear). I'm looking forward to building a collection once the manufacturers panic to get the last penny out of their stock. Another point with so much online chances are you will be able to catch up on digitally recorded music later on when you can get a music server. I don't have one, nor am I likely to soon, but eventually they will be the standard for home audio.

Gregg

Buy music you like. Even though your taste may (will?) change over the years, you'll find the stuff you liked before always has a place.

Your taste may change radically, but don't toss the stuff, keep it, because taste changes, and changes again. I have the first album I bought, for instance, with my own money. (That would be "Machine Head" by Deep Purple) I still play it and the OM version, as well as, sometimes, the pejoritively made CD rebas.... er remaster.