@pindac great point. I am inheriting about 200-250 33s of mostly jazz and R&B, which is likely most of what I will listen to, though I have added (yes, even before the tt! some additional rock albums).
The best way to start adding A=analog to my system
When I started this hobby, I never thought I would need a turntable, so I didn’t think about phono stages etc. That changed with a recent listening session. Vinyl just sounds better to me so now I am trying to figure out where I need to spend, where I can go cheap for the moment. Should I balance all parts at the same level or begin with one great piece and gradually upgrade around it?
For context, my current system has:
Blumenhofer Genuin FS2 speakers, Art Audio PX-25 power, Audio Research SP16L pre-amp. I have a Ayre Cx5 CD player/DAC and an MD-90 tuner.
For turntables, I have auditioned Pro-Jects Xtension 9, Rega P3 and the Clearaudio Concept. I am planning to listen to the Clearaudio Performance next and based on what I have read and heard, I think that may be the answer. but that is a $2k step up in price. Part of me is thinking just get the better table and maybe the Tracer arm and start with cheaper cartridge/stage for now, vs matching things that are more within budget and then having to change everything later.
What makes the most sense?
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This is great news that you have approx’ a quarter of a Cartridges Life (if all goes tickety-boo) in source material to replay. One more suggestion, if you can have a small selection correctly cleaned LP's, and compare the impact of the cleaned vs un-cleaned on the stylus, there may be enough evidence to convince you the collection could be a candidate for a little TLC. Methods employed that improves the condition and cleanliness of the LP, will create an ideal interface for the Stylus and this ’should’ also produce an extended usage life for it. It is a better equation financially when replays are extended with the usage life of a Cartridge. A $800 Cart’ as 600 hrs of usage prior to needing to be changed is $1.33 per whole album as a rough average, @ 1200 hrs of usage prior to needing to be exchanged the replay is $0.66 per whole album as a rough average. Some the places where you might be looking to be offered a demonstration of a TT, might be able to offer a cleaning service for a selection of TT’s whilst you are at the premises. The disciplines that can be adopted in conjunction with LP Analogue Replays, has a few extra needs to be considered and time made for.
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@mijostyn thanks for that info. You give me a lot to think about there. I eventually I plan to get to what you are talking about, but I definitely need to figure out some baby steps on the way there. That way while I am en route, I can listen to some lps. |
@pindac I was planning on getting an Okki Nokki or something similar to clean the records regularly. |
@saulh , I am one of those immediate gratification people and having wasted a lot of money this way I continually have to bite my tongue. I know you REALLY want to play records. You have a target to shoot for. Aim directly at it and try to avoid the deflection shots. I think you will be much happier in the long run. Playing records is a real PITA. You have to really love the sound to make it worth while. Your system demands a quality of turntable I previously mentioned. Don't compromise. You risk making yourself unhappy with the results wasting money when in the long run it would have been considerably less expensive to bite your tongue and hold on till you can afford the real deal. |
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