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getting into vinyl

Like the title says, I’m thinking I should get into vinyl what do I need to know? I’ve been looking at some used Music Hall MFM and Ikura turntables in the 500 range over kill for 1st TT?
jfondell
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
jfondel ...

What ever vinyl rig you end up with, remember ... its all about the music. Instead of spending your money on quality reissues at $25 per pop, start shopping at the local thrift stores and garage sales for your records. Always check the records in direct sunlight before buying anything as it will brutally expose the flaws in the vinyl. Find a good used record store that will allow you to trade in your rejects for store credit. Remember that all records of the same recordings sound different from each other. One record of Steely Dan may sound dull and rolled off ... and the duplicate may have him in the room right in front of you.  Lastly, be sure to buy a quality record cleaning machine ... something like the VPI 16.5. Record collectors NEED the record cleaning machine ... even for brand new records.

Frank
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bdp24
9,897 posts
 
Frank just said it, but let me emphasize his advice by repeating it: The VERY first thing you should do is buy a good record cleaner. Once an LP groove (each side of an LP is one long continuous groove, from beginning to end) has been damaged, there is no way to repair it. Franks recommendation of the VPI HW-16.5 is a good one.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Jfondell 
I have Krell system with Tyler Acoustic Decade speakers which is very revealing so I'd have to get a run of the mill TT and be disappointed so I'll just save more and look into a 1200-1800 budget. As far as a phono stage what do you guys recommend?

I’m thinking I should get into vinyl what do I need to know?


(OP) Jfondell

one thing to consider.

Which Krell are you using ?

they typically use a lot of power - high wattage at idle. With high power amps you will need to have a good grounding system in place, and a high quality phono stage to match the Krell. Vinyl does not amplify a high level signal like digital. If your phono stage is not up to par you will hear hum/noise/pops/clicks. Also if a Single Ended phono stage, you will need to be extra careful; the type that is anal with your cables/wires arrangement.

For this reason alone, I do not see your budget leaving much for a table after you buy a good phono stage. fwiw - One of the amps I own is a Krell 600 - it uses 430 watts at idle. 

Good luck.

richmon
248 posts
 

I cautiously re-entered the vinyl world, read lots of posts both pro and con, so I just bought a cheap B+O turntable for starters, was encouraged enough to buy a used Music Hall MMF7. Pla;ying that through a Supratek Chenin preamp and Connie J MMF2250 amp and Revel Performa bookshelf speakers.

All I can say is I haven't turned my CD player on since then, rather than analyze the sound of my system, I'm getting foot tapping head nodding joy from the sound, something about the natural warmness of LP's, using a tubed preamp is part of the rightness.

I just got a cheap Spin Clean ($80) and a vintage discwasher brush for the cleaning duties.

One of the better suggestions I got regarding re-entering the LP world was having access to lots of cheap vinyl ups the fun factor.

 I have that in spades, here in Baltimore, be sure to inspect any used lps, you can see quickly the beat up stuff, I usually pass on it, but most of what I'm finding is in surprisingly good shape, just needs some spring cleaning. 


gwalt
162 posts
 
Hi Jfondell:

I recently re-purchased an analog front end to have access to my 500-600 LP's in storage. I got tired of tweaking and the work of analog and only because of the idle music did i get back.
I am having decent luck with the Clearaudio Concept table with Verify ARM with the Concept MC cartridge. This table is kindly represented as plug and play package.
There are certainly things that would improve the table but it does not embarrass itself in the least. There is a new one with MC cartridge on Ebay right now for $1669 shipped. Normal pricing is $2200 for the package.
This table is a clear winner from my perspective as a good starting point but the cartridge is low output that will require some serious gain from a phono stage.
Once again, after selling my Linn years ago and doing strong digital I only re-entered to listen to my idle LP collection. 
Digital front ends have come a long way and a poorly recorded LP along with the same on CD will deem the work of analog as a tiring event.
Best of Luck with your adventure.

Regards,
Gwalt
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