Crate & Barrel jumps the hipster shark

Seen at my local store this afternoon:





Got to admit that's a cool little system and some pretty good LPs there.

 

Yeah, I noticed that in my local store recently as well. I wish the u turn had a queuing lever without having to buy it as an add on. Otherwise, I think it is pretty cool.

 

I think CB2 is selling these as well. Have we reached peak hipster yet?

 

The U-Turn is supposed to be a pretty decent turntable for the money.

Also, what's with the cynicism and the usual throwing around of the term "hipster" whenever someone spots records/turntables for sale outside of an electronics store or record store? I think it's refreshing in this day and age of digital music consumption.

 

They spent a little bit of money on the display - looks quite nice in the photo.

 

Yep, those titles are part of the Capitol Records 75th anniversary commemoration.

 

The Album frames look nice. Price shown is $49.95.

 

Much, much better than the crosley crap that record stores will put front and center.

 

Cool they're selling the U-turn. It's a cool little table.

 

Agreed. Nothing wrong with it. The benefit for me is that CD prices will stay low.

 

Can't simply note the encouraging news that a furniture/home decor chain has partnered with Capitol Records to promote affordable, high-quality U.S.-made vinyl playback.

Must liberally garnish with jokey putdown "jumps the hipster shark"/"peak hipster" cliche horses$hit.

This is why we can't have nice things.

 

They supposedly have a sound booth at the downtown Boston store as well - the suburban setup in Burlington, MA looks like your photo.

 

I find this somewhat encouraging. This is one way to get music and sound reproduction back in the public's eye (and ear!).

I accept any and all "bright spots" right now.

 

Keep sulking about "hipsters," as if a hipster has ever seen the inside of a Crate and Barrel, the store that defines middle-class suburbia. I'll just be over here enjoying my made-in-Massachusetts Orbit and having a fine old time.

 

Wow! I'll definitely be sticking with my ~$10 IKEA Gladsax frames.

 

Apparently this is horrible for some reason.

 

I totally agree. I don't do vinyl, and I'm shocked at the prices I see for albums !

 

Looks like a nice little system. Hipsters like nice and cool things. Good with me.

 

I think it is fabulous. There is a large segment of people who hardly ever step foot in a record store much less a stereo hi fi shop so if this brings them into buying and enjoying records, then I'm all for it. I would never look down on any shop or buyer who promotes the purchase of music in it's physical form.

 

I got mine at Ikea for $9.99.

 

I agree, when I was growing up there was a sound system of some form and various qualities in every home. Now with flat screen TV as part of decor and streaming Bluetooth you never see any sort of home entertainment system.

If a setup like this in a store such as this helps to re-establish that a home should have a sound system (especially a turntable) and you can build decor around it and incorporate into a home style then I am all for it.

 

Sorry I missed your post.

 

The guy that designs their furniture (or some of it) got into doing these retro style consoles in the last few years. His studio (not a retail store, more a design studio) is next to the gym I go to in NY. We've had several chats about audio, the market and hi-fi gear. The thing I dig about him most, I think, is that he is buying up mid-range driver's cars--cool, somewhat collectible, but not the Pebble Beach stuff.
I don't know if his designs are being sold at Crate and Barrel or he is marketing them through a separate channel. I know Tone Magazine reviewed one of the set ups a few years ago.

 

Nice. I like it. Will any of their customers buy it though?

 

The news release for the Capitol 75th anniversary reissues included a segment on a partnership with Crate & Barrel. Some of the albums in the photos bear the commemorative hype sticker. There are so few dedicated record stores any more, it's a good way to get vinyl releases some mainstream awareness. I also say it's cool to see an indie startup like U-Turn get a break in a big national chain. Display is very tastefully done too.