This question has been around since the arrival of the first CD players in 1983! And that was the Hitachi vertical loader - $1000! I was at Audiocom (Old Greenwich, CT) and listened to it with the few discs then available. It did not sound good! No contest against the TOTL Denon DD TT/arm/cartridge! And I didn't buy my first CD player until 1992 - a Technics with a Bit-Stream DAC! Now I have seven or more players of varying pedigrees - and 2000+ CDs. But I still collect, clean and play LPs, even with all their hassles! And prefer that vinyl sound over the the silent backgrounds and convenience of digital! Apples and pears. I guess! And the TT collection has grown to 20 or so! OCD! Not to mention my guitar collection!
Will a $700 turntable outperform a CD player?
I’m looking into getting a second source as I don’t want to be tied down to internet and a streaming service as my only source. Will a $700 turntable and inexpensive phono preamp out perform a Cambridge CXC transport / Schiit Gungir Multibit?
The Schiit Sol / mani preamp look enticing but I know nothing about turntables.
I used to dj and always used technics Sl1200’s and really liked them. I can pick up a nice SL1200 mk3 used for $600...
I figure that before I start spending hundreds, possibly thousands, on cd’s or vinyl, I should be sure which format I want!
Thanks for any advice / input regarding this 😁
Best Regards,
Bruce
The Schiit Sol / mani preamp look enticing but I know nothing about turntables.
I used to dj and always used technics Sl1200’s and really liked them. I can pick up a nice SL1200 mk3 used for $600...
I figure that before I start spending hundreds, possibly thousands, on cd’s or vinyl, I should be sure which format I want!
Thanks for any advice / input regarding this 😁
Best Regards,
Bruce
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- 145 posts total
roberjerman This question has been around since the arrival of the first CD players in 1983! And that was the Hitachi vertical loader - $1000! >>>>Hitachi had the right idea, eliminating the effects of gravity on the spinning disc thus eliminating the tendency of CDs to flutter and wobble during play in one swell foop. |
Buy an SL1200 if you like to hear hum... i was a DJ too and this turntable was the best ti mix, but it’s nowhere near a HiFi one. I have SL1210mkII since i was 19 and no hum even in the headphones @russhealy Cardas tonearm rewire kit cost $50 for two turntables, external phono cable cost $150, so the total upgrade cost $200 (if you have soldering skills). Everything else depends on a cartridge, the turntable provide stable rotation. I’ve been using $3000 MC Zyx Airy III on this upgraded turntable - no hum ! Excellent result with Technics 205c mk4 and Technics 100c mk3 cartridges and many more killer MM and MI. Some people complain only about Grado cartridges, but i have no hum with my Grado on SL1210mkII. Watching Grado factory tour you will see even older Technics turntable, this is where they can test cartridges. Today SL1210mkII cost $350 max (used) and at this price there is NOTHING better than this, except for some vintage stuff. In Japan those Technics SL1200 mk3 cost $150 used ! Jelco tonearm was very popular upgrade, if you can buy SL1200 mk3 for $150 and Jelco for $300 then it's a fine machine for the money. |
- 145 posts total