Would I be wasting my money to get a turntable?

I had an fairly inexpensive audio setup when I decided to get rid of my 100 or so albums and inexpensive turntable. An article by Michael Fraemer made me decide to take another look at analogue. The first thing I did was buy a better cable from the turntable to the preamp. It helped a bit, but I'd be lying if I said it sounded better than CD. Then I bought a used Rega 3 for about $500. (This was mid-nineties.) Also a Sumiko Blue Point Special. I began to hear a bit of difference, especially in the Rega's speed as a result of its glass platter. 

Fast forward through buying about a thousand albums and upgrading eventually to a VPI Prime Signature and Audio Research PH-7 with an EMT HD 006 cartridge, about $2,500 worth of gear. Now the main difference I hear with records is air. Even digital through my streamer at 192 resolution, which is damned good, lacks the air and warmth of a good analogue setup. 

My main point is whether you feel committed to investing in analogue even though it might take a long while to upgrade your system, and even when you have upgraded, to be able to hear the difference. I guess my suggestion would be to visit an audio store or a friend who could demo a good streaming system versus a decent analogue rig. See what your ears tell you. Can you hear enough difference to invest time and money?

yes

Whether to buy a turntable or not depends on the value you put on "the analog magic".  The simple answer is no, but that doesn't mean you should not buy a turntable, it is more complicated than that.  In my personal set-up, I have about $25,000 in my turntable, arm, cartridge and phono section and that doesn't include buying records.  To have a decent amount of records is another $25,000.  If you get enjoyment and you have the disposable income and you are not depriving your family or the charitable causes you support, then go ahead.

A lot of good advice here - which pretty much adds up to "The Cartoon" above - "Don’t Waste Your Money" - unless:

1. You have a pretty decent collection of vinyl albums... and/or...

2. Lots of money to invest in acquiring such a collection of "high quality" vinyl... and... the time and patience / tolerance for frustrating detail (cleaning and de-ionizing your vinyl, filtering the pops and scratches without loss of signal quality,, never-ending upgrades of all the turntable, turntable components, and phono pre-amp, etc., etc.)......

3. Are single, without children and other family obligations...

4. Have such a bad case of OCD, that you are compelled to read threads like this... and... to invest lots of your money, time and patience into very, very small refinements in your sound quality... regardless of family obligations...

and...

5. Are prepared to extend your OCD case to SET tube amps, tubes and high efficiency OB speakers to accommodate the tube amps (ala DecWare, etc.)...

Did I mention... "LOT"S OF MONEY!"

Prolly less expensive to find a good analyst to help you recover from your OCD!

rhg3 and ozzy62, thanks for the thoughts, I appreciate it. Not trying to hijack this thread at all. It’s been a tough couple of months. To the OP. I had been thinking to myself, as many of us do, where should my money go? For any audiophiles out there with pressing issues and needed to put money on necessities for the family or oneself, I would not buy a turntable. For anyone battling inner demons and possibly a drug or alcohol problem I would not place throwing money at albums or a turntable before counseling or just tackling those issues first. I have often heard the word “fun” associated with record albums and playing them. More often than with any other audio device. It’s probably true that many young people were instrumental and factored into the vinyl revival movement. So there is a part of me that says, if my issues are not too serious maybe I should through caution to the wind and get into vinyl a second time in my life. Just for the fun of it. It’s something that often we overlook… maybe because we take care of granny, or put our kids schooling first, soccer games and other people. In some cases, not all, it’s ok I think to treat ourselves and relax and enjoy our indulgences. Just a thought …