Cost Incurred to Achieve a Vinyl LP Replay


As a Long Term user of the Vinyl LP as a Source, as well as being one who has ventured into discovering and experiencing how fellow enthusiasts have developed their own interest in Vinyl replays. I have got to a place where limited to my experiences only, most I have encountered have over many years have been constrained in their budgets for the Ancillaries required to replay a Vinyl LP.

A few have exceeded the approx' £30K mark for a TT > Tonearm > Cartridge, and fewer from this selection are using dedicated Electronics with a Value of more than £10K to support the Source. 

My most typical experiences are of Ancillaries and Electronics used to support a Vinyl Replay with a combined cost of between approx' £6K - 16K.

I have been demo'd through being at commercial events, Ancillaries and Electronics that far exceed the above Values, but as these demo's are not from a familiar system and have been quite some time in the past these experiences have not been considered as being of importance or contributing to shaping how my present methods are I place to replay a Vinyl LP. 

What I have also become quite aware of, as a result of sharing and receiving accounts of Past Experiences, is that 'dye in the wool' Vinyl Replay Enthusiasts have been active at different levels in their trying out or introducing new ancillaries to get to a place where they are believing that most contentment can be found for their own unique preferences for a produced sonic.

My own endeavours has been to remain with a Particular ancillary and look to have it overhauled, where a modern approach is used to produce a end product that has materials and electronics selected and utilised to transform the ancillary into something that is noticeably different for the better over the original. As such methods are Bespoke, it is difficult to have the methods understood by a onlooker.

My experiences shared have introduced myself to like minded individuals in the flesh and through Global Forum communications. 

I do belive adopted methods to produce Bespoke ancillaries are capable of producing performance that will be more aligned to ancillaries costing much more if using a Branded Item is the guideline, as a selection of materials and adopted methods for these materials can be found in the more recent marketed products. . 

For myself Vinyl Replay is a method to supply a form of entertainment The use of ancillaries to create this entertainment is a must. The learning that is to be attained as a result of using the Ancillaries creates what is more aligned with being a hobby.

The question that is a vaguery, is how much monies, from a range of approx', £3K ($3.2K) - (£350K ($400K) does one feel justified in spending/believes needs to be spent, to satisfy their hobby (lessons learned) needs and need to be entertained (enjoyment of listening to music) .

It is without doubt, there will be 

 fewer reading this, that will be experienced with and able to comment on the 50K and upward ancillaries, it would be good to see what is to be shared. 

 

128x128pindac

@crustycoot The wonderful thing for a user of Vinyl LP as a medium and Source for accessing recorded data, is that the collection of LP's has a Value. In some cases in today's market, due to enthusiasts for owning Vinyl for more than replay purposes only, there are owned LP's that can be discovered to be substantially appreciated in value above a purchase price.

Off Topic

A friend become interested in Classical Music, and educated themselves to become quite familiar with early Classical Recordings (Brands Pressings) that are sought after across the Globe. The friend started to buy up 'Job Lots' of Classical Vinyl and after having used their acquired knowledge of the market, extracted a few choice LP's to be resold on from the 'Job Lots'. This as a method has enabled a substantial Classical Musical collection on Vinyl for very little monies, as well as remaining being a collection worth reasonable monies.  

I am beginning to suspect that someone is using ChapGPT to generate the above word salad by using the prompt "Write a forum entry in the style of a European Audiophile who only listens to vinyl records on expensive audio equipment" 

If you define ancillaries as everything but the source (and source = table, arm and cart) then…for me it’s about 40/60.

For a long time, I had a much nicer source than my ancillaries. The source was proportionally worth a lot more than everything else. Over the last 5 years, that has shifted towards a more balanced system in terms of everything, including cost. 

So, from my experience, the better your front-end the more you can throw into everything else until you feel satisfied.

There is just so much information locked in those grooves…

I for one find OP posts to be of the humble inquiry method but from a perspective of well read, educated and in ways audiophile and music lover almost always instructive. 

We both have some experience using Panzerholtz to improve vinyl playback. i believe that is but one such path he refers to.  i’ve yet to really run across anyone without some form of constraints…. that i would consider a guidestar for anything audio / music related…. in fact my mentors are famous for excellent sonics at reasonable prices. ( Vandersteen, Modjeski, Hansen )…

@whart having heard my Bardo with the tube power supply…. there is no unhearing it…. Happy holidays to you.

@pindac Three principal Vinyl LP front ends all live on HRS isolation; Brinkmann Bardo w Taurus grade SS supply, Triplaner 7 U2, Kuzma CAR 40 or Soundsmith Ruby OCL / Grace F9, Herron phono w HRS tweaks, NOS tubes, Naked Vishay R in a few critical places… ( guessing $30 K ) 2,) Denon DP-75 w Pbn updates, Wood plinth, Aircraft grade hard anodized and Panzerholtz armboards, Dynavector DV-505 arm, Kuzma CAR-40, Dynavector 17D3, Signet TK9, ARC Ref Phono 2SE, Blackplate Tungsol NOS in the power supply, Lower chassis damping w Panzerholtz, HRS isolation… Nordost/ Cardas frankencable on arm DIN… 3.) DP -75 mule, factory base w Panzerholtz armboard, Audioantiquary mag lev feet. Infinity Blackwidow arm…. Soundsmith Ruby OCL grace….

In deep….but could go deeper if it serves the music, entertainment of self….or both

@kfscoll ....better verbose than morose.....which was +/- the intent.  My current state of lp play is 'adequate', whereas I've had better....

In short, I can enjoy without lasting damage....;)

@baylinor *L*  Too easy of an excuse for this one...aannnd...

@bipod72 ....Now, that's a thought....but....some of the syntax isn't as I'd expect (mho 🤷‍♂️).....and it's certainly something yours unruly could be blamed for....😏