2. analog
  3. 1114893056

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
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Spring -- Well, I don't know about vinyl being the Holy Grail, I guess I just enjoy the chewing and tasting (the Ritual) of vinyl, rather than the "Wolfing It Down" of digital. And I do enjoy the sound -- which has a kind of delicacy or refinement (even on Rock music) that the best reproduced digital never seems to achieve.

Your comments on photography are not lost on me. In fact, when I was an architecture student at MIT in the 60's, I was a teaching assistant to Minor White in the Creative Photography Dept. where I was groomed to teach the Zone System. Once I owned everything in the Hassleblad catalog. And now I own a single Nikon digital. Sigh!!

I have to go now, Fatparrot is coming by to spin some records.

Neil

.
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Neil certainly covered a lot of the positive aspects of owning vinyl plus there are others. It is a lot of fun discovering older recordings which, in my opinion, are some of the best sonically and many of them are great performances by artists who have withstood the test of time. At least you can read the liner notes on an album where reading a CD requires me to nearly get a magnifying glass.

Playing vinyl is ritualistic but not necessarily anal. Set up surely is and cleaning LP's is mandatory. But playing them is another story. One gets very good at handling them and a quick wipe with a carbon fiber brush is all you need once they are placed on the table. Sure, you can make it much more than this but that's all it really takes. Developing good habits comes easily enough too. Don't forget a good light source.

Let us all know your first impressions and keep us advised of the upgrades that will surely happen. Most of all have fun.
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Lot's of good comments here with which I agree, most particularly with Lugnut's closing:
Let us all know your first impressions and keep us advised of the upgrades that will surely happen. Most of all have fun.
It should be a fun re-exploration!
springbok10 OP
711 posts
 
Any volunteers, familiar with the Origin live Illustrious tonearm (in a SOTA Sapphire V) willing to help me fine-tune the set-up? If there are such saintly A'goners, please e-mail me your phone number, so that I can call between 7-11 pm tonight. If you are out there, and willing, I will call at a time you choose and promise to ask just 2 questions, for maximum 10 minutes:).
Thanks again for all your help.
Set-up complete, but not fine-tuned. So no comments yet. Starting unpacking 7 pm, finished 12:15 am. Just like joining the army, first day of boot camp.
springbok10 OP
711 posts
 
Request cancelled. The incredible Lugnut to the rescue. He has sent me photos, a very detailed explanation and a proposed plan of action to fix the VTA. Thank you, Patrick. You are amazing.......
More to discover