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Need to re-discover analog - please help

Like the short-sighted, lazy, modern moron that I am, I threw away all my LPs and turntable when I got hooked on my first decent CDP, a Kinergetics Platinum KD-40, 15 years ago. Because it was easier to take care of CDs. Now, my mother who was a musician, and had a classical collection of about 200 really absolutely great recordings, collected from the 1940s til the 80s, has left me her collection. They just have to be preserved, played and savored. I need an analog set-up that will a) do them justice and b) not sound noticeably "worse" compared to the digital set-up I am now used to. My analog set-up that I discarded (I know, I know.........please dont rub it in, what's done is done.) was a Denon 103D and Sony PS-800 linear tracking TT and also a Kenwood marble platter with SME tone-arm and also Denon 103 D cartridge and circa 1980 PS Audio MC phono stage.
The present system, to which must now obligatorily be added a turntable: EMM DCC2/CDSD; Atma-Sphere Line-stage MP-1 MkII, Atma-Sphere MA 2.2 modified (27 tubes each); Kharma 3.2; Indra Stealth i/cs; PAD Dominus i/cs and S/Cs (Rev C & B).

I tried MM cartridges before - Dynavector,Ortofon,Shure V15 iv - but only liked the MC Denon 103D - so would prefer that MC "sound".

I have not kept up with the analog market, nor new equipment, and am totally ignorant about the components but would greatly appreciate input as to what TT, tone-arm, cartridge and phono preamp to get that would neither bankrupt me nor do the wonderful collection my mother left me a disservice, nor my ear that is now spoiled by the pretty "good" digital, ancillary set-up I have. Nor, obviously, sound "inferior" to the CDs:)

What sort of a budget am I looking at to keep the system within the overall quality of the associated equipment that I have, without going crazy, since i will still mostly be listening to CDs (unless i get totally hooked and go bonkers..........)?

I listen to classical 90% of the time and 95% of her collection is classical.

As always, I appreciate your advice.
springbok10
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rauliruegas
13,055 posts
 
Dear Springbok10: There are many options out there. Here is my advise:

TT: Acoustic Signature Final Tool. To beat this turntable you have to go for a Walker, a Verdier or the like. Great performer for the price. Hard to beat.
Tonearm: Moerch DP-6. An excellent one and you can match with any cartridge, because the use of different effective mass arm wand ( this is a plus. )

Cartridges: Sumiko Celebration ( lower price than the ZYX and great performer. Truly a bargain. ), Dynavector XV-1, Clearaudio Discovery, Allaerts Boron, Ortofon Kontrapuntk B, Denon S1, Shelther 90X.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
opalchip
355 posts
 
Just a reminder - A turntable spins a platter. If it spins at a constant speed and imparts no (or virtually no) vibration to the lp as it does so, that is the best it can do. Period. Doesn't matter how much it cost.

98% of the differences people think they hear from turntables result from:

a. the cartridge's unique characteristics
b. the interaction/combination of the arm and cartridge.
c. the interaction/matching of the cartridge's output with the signal path, primarily the phono section.
d. the quality and quantity of isolation of the turntable from acoustic and mechanical feedback sources.

All this dwelling on which TURNTABLE is silly advice - especially for someone with only 200 lp's at the moment! My advice would be to get any decent deck with a good arm - like a VPI Aries Scout, play a bunch of lp's with a Denon 103 and Shelter 501, and see if this whole vinyl thing is even what you really want. You can always shop for something to impress the neighbors later.

If an Aries Scout or it's equivalent isn't enjoyable to you, then neither would a J.C. Verdier. It's different, but it ain't THAT different.

IMHO, of course.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Denis- I am not a vinyl (or digital for that matter) expert by any means, but it seems to me that Opalchip's advice is excellent. Plenty of decent TTs for sale used here, including SOTA, Well Tempered, Rega, VPI, etc. I was very pleased with the service I got from Donna and Kurt at SOTA; they drilled an armboard, mounted the arm and cart I sent them, balanced it, and shipped it to me, all ready to drop into the arm board cut-out of my used Star Saphirre with the appropriate amount of lead shot for the suspension, all for a VERY reasonable price. I recommend them highly, and you can deal direct with the owner/manufacturer. I'm sure there are others out there who would do the same for their product.
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Opalchip and Swampwalker have a point, up to a point. Most of the turntables that are of higher cost as well as higher cost cartridges drastically reduce low level noise versus the well respected Sota, Rega et. al., tables. The question becomes one of at what point do each of us (in our own minds) begin to see the point of dimenishing returns. That changes with time, exposure to better components and our personal incomes. My own table gets bashed a lot in these forums primarily by people that have no experinence with them. Since 1984 I've had no compelling reason to buy a different table and have spent money to upgrade it along the way. I really respect my LP12. The thing is I've been exposed to other tables and know in my heart that if I lost mine somehow I would buy another brand because of the very small benefits. I've evolved. We have a guy starting this thread that has one of the finest digital front ends on the planet. His other equipment is complimentary to his source. I know where you guys are coming from and agree with you but I really believe that a lesser table would only reside temporarily amongst the other great gear. It's cheaper to do it right once. My sense is that Springbok10 is a man of means and appreciates things of a higher caliber. I am in no way criticizing your opinions because it's correct for most of us.
springbok10 OP
711 posts
 
My sense is that Springbok10 is a man of means...

I hope my wife never reads this thread, since I told her we couldn't afford to re-furnish the family room. How could we? Every red cent is earmarked for sonic solace, which is how I justify the insane spending on just a "hobby"........but then I doubt I'm alone?:)
But I appreciate Opalchip and swampwalker's thoughts and have not discounted them. In fact, it is not improbable that I will start with a vinyl rig on my junior system, which is not of the caliber of the main rig, until, as Opalchip so aptly says, I can see if this vinyl thing is for me, long-term, before spending what is clearly big bucks, because I certainly dont qualify, main rig notwithstanding, as a "man of means". You know about the guy who has a Benz parked outside his tent?
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