2. analog
  3. 160537-122106

Vinyl collection, now what?

Hey folks,

Just inherited a really interesting collection of records from my audiophile crazy uncle.
Lots of master and super master pressings, a complete Time Life Records collection, Sheffield track records, etc.

I have never owned a turntable and know very little about them.

Does anyone have experience digitizing tracks to file using a USB turntable?
Any recommendations for or against?
Am I looking at something potentially very expensive?
I haven't looked through everything but saw lots of albums I would like to digitize.

Thanks everyone!
hleeid
aewarren
658 posts
 
Some good advice here as well as interesting questions. I have no advice but do have a question:

Why did your still-living uncle will you part of a record collection he is still using, knowing that you do not own an analog front end? I do realize you said he is crazy. You also said he is an audiophile. Do you think these terms are interchangeable? Many people do. Sometimes I wonder about myself.
hleeid OP
219 posts
 
@aewarren - My uncle has been downsizing in anticipation to a move to a retirement home.  He gave me a pair of B&W 801 Matrix S2s, some component racks, MIT2 biwire cables, boxes of turntable stuff.
He hasn't touched the records he gave me for many years.
Says he has no interest in reference track records, or any of the others he gave me.

I meant he was really fanatical about audiophile gear years ago.
He has his smaller "main collection" that he still enjoys.

aewarren
658 posts
 
That makes sense and you are a very lucky nephew. I hope you enjoy the gear and the LPs. Most of all, have fun!
hleeid OP
219 posts
 
So I decided to not attempt any record digitizing.  At least not for now.

Also decided to take the plunge into vinyl.

Started looking up the many candidate turntables suggested here.  
Wow! 
A whole new world of technical/design here!  A lot of new terminology to get familiar with.

Some serious works of art out there!  Some of these don't even look like turntables!

Guess I never really understood and appreciated what goes into designing and engineering hi end turntables.

Enjoying the search though!
glupson
7,842 posts
 
I do not have experience with USB turntables, but do with digitizing records.

Partially good move on not digitizing them. It is a project, it is a chore, and it is time-consuming. If you can find CDs of what you really like, I would strongly recommend it. I did many records I just could not get any other way.
More to discover