Admitting my error…


Admitting my error of some years ago, when downsizing residences I sold my 1500 lps (my father’s, uncle’s and my collection :) because, of course nearly everything is available digitally, I am considering getting back into vinyl. Kit-wise I’m looking at Dr. Feikert Venti/J Sikora Initial TT level - full kit approx $15k including phonostage.

The Joseph Audio/Doshi/Aurender/J Sikora room at AXPONA simply blew me away. Switching between amazing digital and uber-rich and detailed analog, I kept returning to the room like the sweets table at a Bar Mitzvah. I understand that at $250K the rig was 2x’s mine (Pathos Heritage/Tannoy Kensignton/Innuous MK3/Phoenix USB/NET/Chord HSM/DAVE w/ SJ DC4 ARC6 lpsu. But still the character of the vinyl sound was utterly entrancing.

My question: If I go this route, I’d like to "restock" my collection to some extent by purchasing a reasonably sized vinyl lot, then add selectively over time. Any recommendations as to lot purchasing? ("Don’t do it!" is an acceptable recommendation.)

TIA

 

 
 
 

128x128cantorgale

I'm sure I've said all this a dozen times, but occasional cracks and pops are fine with me. Gentle warps are fine, too. It's fun watching the tonearm rise and fall. It's off-center pressings, spitty sibilants, and outright distortion in voices & strings that get my goat. Then there are the warps that are sharp enough to bounce the cartridge into the air. Yeah, the record clamp usually mitigates this, but not if the warp is at the proverbial edge.

Why take a step backwards in both sound quality and convenience?  It’s really as simple as that, stay with streaming.

If I had to start over I would go all digital and streaming.  The odd CD can be transferred to online storage (or a hard drive if you must).
If you really want to go vinyl, why not get something reasonable like a Rega P-8 or a Technics SL1200 GR.  You can have enormous fun with these, change out cartridges, fiddle with actual media, read the covers and inserts, compete with hipsters chasing down rare records, and show off to friends. Anything more expensive will have a limited return on investment in terms of sound quality.  Sort of like buying a Rolex (a cheap Timex keeps better time).
Of course, if you're loaded go where your heart leads you, but remember those expensive vinyl rigs are tedious and can be frustrating – the fastest way to audio nervosa!

I initially got into records because they quite frankly sound better than digital when you are listening to all analog record (no digital steps), mastered by a top shelf engineer, and pressed by an audiophile label (Analog Productions, Blue Note etc.). I got to say, the more I have gotten better (and more analog sounding) DACs, the smaller the gap in sound quality has gotten. It has gotten to the point, I’m now very reluctant to pay premium prices for out of print records (something I used to do without much thought).

Getting well pressed reissues is expensive business, and used records are a crapshoot. Before delving into vinyl solely for the sound quality, I would suggest thinking about getting a DAC that has the timbre and resolution that aligns more with your taste. To get a vinyl rig that matches sound quality of your Dave, you probably looking at spending $15-20K; it might make more sense to put that money towards getting a higher end DAC. Finally, if you mostly listen to music recorded from the early 80s onwards, I wouldn’t bother with vinyl because you are simply listening to a digital file pressed on plastic; my rule of thumb is, if it’s recorded digitally then listen to it digitally.

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