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Is it all worth it?

Do you ever get the feeling when you start to question whether playing records is really worth it all?
You know with everything involved with great record playback.
The setup, the cleaning regime, the $1000 plus cartridges that start their finite lifespan as soon as stylus first touches vinyl and spirals into less and less value with every play.
All the tweaks involved, cables, mats, isolation etc.
Then the media itself with it's inevitable disapointments.

Don't you just like to push a couple buttons on your phone app and be listening to great sound with a worldwide catalogue at your fingertips.

Or is it that when all of it lines up and the sounds are just sublime, then yes you sit back with a wry smile and say...

Yep, it's all worth it!
128x128uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Hickamore.
Pretty easy really unless you buy all new.
Aurender n100 at $1300 used.
mhdt orchid DAC at $1160 new.
Grannyring double barrel usb cable at $250

Nicely under $3000
wolfie62
352 posts
 
Better than 80% of my music on LPs is not available digitally. 

And, unless you’ve heard it, how would you even know to search for it?

i enjoy the great discoveries in lesser known music only available by picking up an obscure LP and playing it.

Cables, $1000+ cartridges, etc? Not for me. All vintage cartridges here. I’m not into the cable game, either. 
alucard19
362 posts
 
YES IT"S WORTH IT!!Just bought a 2nd arm for my rig and now have MM and MC on my main system, also have a 2nd system and yes a 3rd system all have TT thousands of records and I just ordered 3 more yet to be released  albums, i have had a TT for 50+ years and will spin vinyl until I take my last breath, vinyl will always be with us, THANK GOD!
aewarren
641 posts
 
It's all worth it to me and that's all that matters.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,309 posts
 
my reel to reel player/tapes are my best source. tape has never gone silent for so long as during my TT upgrade project. Finished. Until something breaks I'm done, listening to LP's more than ever. 

New to me: Large Plinth Dual Arm JVC-Victor TT81; 9" acos lustre 801 arm in rear for Grado ME+ mono cartridge; 12.5" russian blackbird arm at side for Shure V15/Jico SAS tip; audio technica auto safety lift; ortofon phono cable; many miscellaneous tools and small parts to move my setup skills up a notch; manual record cleaning/drying rack.

Cost recap today: $4,270 complete.

Into tube tuner/preamp McIntosh mx110z and tube integrated amp, Cayin A88T, bought last year (sold SS preamp and amp). 

Now, re-discover around 2,500 lp's, washing in batches of 10, may take a while, I'm retired. I said I was done buying lp's at around 2,000 and put them in alphabetical order for the first time (categories before). Alas, kept buying, people give you lps, so around 500 wanting to get squished in alphabetical order, don't fit so weeding must occur.

I've also been cleaning lps to sell on eBay after a farewell listen, not gonna be much free money for people to buy for quite a while now. I'll start em low, see if I can make some room which is my main need.

CD's, got over 5K, alphabetically in special oversized binders (left lots of blank spaces, add new pages if needed (jewel cases tossed) they are aging silently now. R2R, I had about 500 pre-recorded tapes, sold over 100 on eBay, gotta play some, keep the two active machine's parts loose, sell some more R2R tapes, need room for more lp's!
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