I'm really surprised that no one mentioned that many fine turntables that some people are hawking here for under a grand. Such examples include the VPI hw-19 (and hw-19jr) and Linn Sondek lp12 rigs that in some cases are being offered complete with tonearm and phono cartridge for in the $700-$1500 range. Considering that the Linn Sondek turntable alone originally went for well over $1000 (maybe even $2000) and has spent (and maybe still does) much time in Stereophile's class A, there's no package deal out there that represents a better value in pure musical terms. Resale value is another matter alltogether, but if they were easy to sell then they wouldn't be so easy to buy, would they?
Another example of how used analog rigs (when accurately condition graded by reputable sellers) are such a steal: I originally paid about $1500 for my entry-level VPI HW-19jr turntable package ($600 for table+$300 for Audioquest tonearm+$600-700 for Benz Micro Glider phono cartridge) and a year later another $200 for a Cardas Hexlink 5c tonearm cable (on clearance).
Now I see my table being offered for as little as $500-700, in some cases including the VPI upgraded, 6 lb lead ring impregnated, acrylic turntable platter - for that same price! Some would argue that being able to find such a deal is the result of such a rig no longer representing a good sonic value given how far digital has come, but I think that's hogwash! There's no used player out there for $500-700+$300 phono preamp (except for possibly a used sony dvd/sacd player playing *certain* sacds) that can reproduce jazz and rock as well as my Vpi hw-19jr rig even as it currently stands! Classical music may be a different matter, but I would argue that most redbook players in that range, while offering cleaner highs in chamber and orchestra than my vpi, still have the same jitter and otherwise derived harshness or lack of harmonic structure that converted or caused many to stay with analog in the first place. Sure there are tube solutions, and ways of masking the limitations of 16/44, but these usually come at the price of losing depth and detail so they're only deceptively more refined musically. I can only imagine how much better an originally $4000-5000 mostly (or fully) maxed VPI or Linn rig now selling for under $1500 used would sound playing my classical vinyl compared to even my originally $4000 MSRP Linn Ikemi redbook player!
(Dang. Now why, on the eve of sending my Sony 9000es to a modder, did I have to go and walk myself through an argument leading to the conclusion that SACD is *not* the best value right now?)
Ted
