Coaching wanted on how to get back into vinyl

To answer your question about the preamp, your current preamp is fine. Simply get an external phono stage and hook it to one of the inputs of your BP20. There are numerous external preamps that range the spectrum in price, quality, and configurability. The advantage to this method (using an external phono preamp) is that you'll have a lot more flexibility than being stuck with the one integrated into a full-function (ie, line level + phono) preamp.

You can search the archives for external phono preamps in the price range that you're looking.

Michael

What I did was get myself a Music Hall 5.1 and play with it for a bit, just to see if I really wanted to get involved. I bought new records from Acoustic Sounds and a carbon fiber brush to sweep off the surface dust prior to playing. The table worked great and with no fuss. I also bought a Bellari phono preamp, which was fine too.

After collecting some good records and deciding I wanted to continue on this path, I hooked up with a dealer and purchased a high-end table and a record cleaning machine, which I believe is mandatory if you are serious about vinyl. So is a dealer with analog expertise, unless you know a private person who can set stuff up for you.

So that's how I would suggest you go about it. Vinyl can be very rewarding, but it does require more of an investment of your time and energy than CDs to sound its best. BTW, I sold the Music Hall at very little loss.

Once you get the equipment issues settled - phono preamp, turntable and cartridge, pull out your absolute all time favorite records from your archives if you still have them, or go and buy the cleanest used copies of them. If hearing them gets you excited then keep going as I think part of your interest is to recapture some memories of great performances and to hear greater audio glory given the current state of electronics (and your access to it). In short, this trip is part nostalgia and part audiophidom.

I would avoid jumping into buying any of your old favorite recordings in the revitalized vinyl market of overpriced reissues as they are of questionable dollar value. Better, IMHO, to find very clean original issues at a used record store to start with. E.G., I always loved the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers lp in my teen youth when it first came out in the early 70's and when I got back into vinyl a few years ago I bought an overpriced reissue and it was nothing as I remembered the original to be as the reissue was dull, highs muffled, with no snap - like listening to a bad vhs tape. When I found an original 70's first pressing (and paid a little more for it), it sounded glorious and it satisfied my original memories and expecatations of this favorite classic. Furthermore, in my random purchases of other classic reissues, I've not had much luck and not impressed to justify buying more. Others may disagree and I'm sure others here will rave about particular reissues. Nonetheless, if you're "getting back to vinyl after an hiatus" I suggest you listen/buy some old favorites to hear if it's worth it to you before you get on that slippery slope of better equipment for better analog sound. Laughingly, many an Audion'er have lost their souls to these black disks, or at least thinned out their pocket book because of them.

Welcome back and see you at the Vinyl Seven Step Meetings.

I agree with the above post to the extent that you should be aware that not all records, new or used, sound good. I've had great reissues and horrible ones. Same with new or mint copies of original pressings. There's an illusion to some people that all vinyl sounds great. Far, far from it, IMO.

Unless you were a meticulous audiphile back in the day, many of your old records are probably going to be damaged. Also, as I understand it, apart from sounding bad, playing damaged vinyl can damage or accelerate wear on your new stylus.

I've bought a lot of very nice records from Better Records. He has certain records for hundreds of dollars, but plenty of reasonably-priced stuff as well.

I'm in favor of the outboard phono as well. If you enjoy the analog experience, you will find in some cases phono stages get swapped often, almost as much as cartridges. Everything needs to work together (table, cart, & stage) and then match your components downstream. With a few exceptions, this usually doesn't happen on the first try. Everyone hears things differently. If you choose a SS stage you can save some $ there, go used. They generally never have problems. You have nice gear behind it and it should be fun. I have always been fond of those 103.2's. Let members know your budget and you'll get plenty of advise.