I haven't counted them in years, but I think it is around 600. Been collecting since age 11. I have some 45s too. About 25 of those. About 250 CDs. And I still have about 75 cassette tapes, and a great tape player. I have about 6 or 7 tapes with Dead shows recorded on them.
I can hear a difference. Always have been able too. But then my ears are different than most others. I seem to be able to hear things other folks can not.
But for me, it is much more than the music. Each album has it's own story. Where I bought it, what I was doing when I first heard it, or how I felt when I first heard something new or different.
I am also a very sentimental kind of person. So they contain stories and memories of most of my life.
Plus there is some kick *** rock and roll in there!