Considering going Vinyl--Please talk me out of it

if I can relay one more testimony,

Shook Up On Vinyl

'Twas the biggest decision
I've faced in a while
Warm up to vinyl?
Like a good audiophile

I called out my plea
And the stories were told
But doubt still lingers
What have I been sold?

It turns me to think
This is not black or white
Proponents are rearing
And lined for a fight

And it pains me to know
More than vinyl vs CD
There's lots to consider
Is vinyl right for me?

So the time had arrived
My heavy, weary head
A moment of respite
Put these thoughts to bed

And if I had visions
Of components and racks
There's a mouse in the corner
Sitting next to it's trap

Then late in the night
My ears did discern
A commanding declare
Just what would I learn

My dreams were blackened
Like a moonless sky
And down from the rafters
Fell this stirring cry

Yes detail, yes dynamic
Yes PRAT and unveiled
Yes coherence, yes clarity
Yes delivery and breathed

His warm voice was golden
Said I looked in bad shape
Then he offered me comfort
That bore his namesake

He was dressed real tight
And shook at the pelvis
The sequence was sparkling
His name, simply, "Elvis"

"These shiny black discs
Will magically sing!
Expansive bright covers
Are fit for a king!"

"This disc has no limits
To what you'll perceive
The music that flows
No work to believe"

"I speak from my heart
This isn't a ruse
And now that I've left
I live in these grooves"

"Years pass me by
But I still get around
This heavenly transport
Is where I am found"

Then quick as a blink
Doubt returned, shook my head
Everyone knows
That Elvis is ...............

My apologies to Santa himself.

I suspect that the fact that you're asking this question is simply because you want a new toy. If you really wanted to get into vinyl, you wouldn't be asking "if" you should get a turntable, you'd be asking WHICH one you should get in a given price range.

That said, vinyl is one heck of a toy...if you enjoy a hunt-and-discover type of shopping, there's nothing like vinyl. Everything from hardware, to cleaning materials, to used vinyl, to new vinyl...it's all fun to buy due to its scarcity. Every time I find what I want, be it online, in a store or at a flea market, there's a little victory dance going on in my head. And when I bring home new records, there's nothing like cleaning and spinning a new find for the first time.

Good luck with your decision, keep us in the loop...

OK, what do you like? Vinyl sound or digital? Vinyl is a complex thing comprising TT selection, arm selection, cartridge choice based in some part on the arm used, and phono preamp selected to match the choice of cartridge for gain and loading factor. If these criteria are not met, you will end up with an unsatisfactory vinyl playback system. Oh yes, you don't have any records? No problem, that will run you thousands of $$$. You would be better off buying a much better cd player than the one you currently own. I mean, you are looking at a lot of money to get into vinyl in a satisfactory way. Take the money and buy a really good cd player like the EMM Labs or an Esoteric.

Elinor, you're suggesting a $10,000 CD/Disc player vs. a $3000 vinyl front-end to get comparable quality levels. I don't think that's very close. There are several intergrated TT/arm/cartridge possibilities that compete with the excellent EMM player for 1/3 the cost.

Dave