Ready to try vinyl


I would like to buy a turntable just to see what all the fuss is about. Since I remember the pops and scratches all too well, I do not want to spend alot just to satisfy my curiosity. I want a turntable that is capable of giving me a "taste" of what the vinyl sound is all about without going overboard. I can always upgrade if I like what I hear. I would also like to avoid deciding against vinyl because the turntable was not capable of capturing at least the basics. What turntables should I be looking at and how much should I spend? I would prefer to buy used due to the experimental nature of this adventure. Current gear is Sunfire processor with phono input, a pair of Classe M 701's, and B&W 800N. I am relying on your responses since I don't know squat. Thanks for your help.
baffled
my humble take on this is that in fact speed accuracy IS INDISPUTABLY as important as it "seems," and the issue at hand is not the table/arm/cartridge combination, but the table ONLY, and it's one and only function, which is to maintain as stable a speed as is possible to reproduce the time domain of the LP. to compare this to specifications of amplifiers is comparing apples to horse apples IMHO. the key is IMPLEMENTATION (as in all things), and the walker had better be optimized in this respect to justify it's price. to hear a properly implemented/optimized technics, lenco or garrard with the same arm and cartridge would be preferred, and i guess that's where things are going. this is getting exciting!

i would add that jean's lenco thread did not require endorsement by anyone, it has stood on it's own merits and by his (significant and ongoing) efforts since day one. not trying to be overly contentious, but that needed to be said. credit where credit is due.

I think you missed the point. When I posted at the Lenco thread it was very early on with lots of speculation as to the accuracy of Jeans comments. I put my money up, ordered a Lenco off Ebay, ordered a Decca tonearm from Holland, a new EAR 834 phono and Shure cartridge, just from Jean's comments. I even went on to design my own plinth and post it in vertual systems here at Audiogon. I am a supporter of Jeans ideas.

My results were wonderful, the Lenco is an inexpensive turntable that makes great music for little money. My comments were supportive of Jean and I take no credit for his thread.

As with all things high end, the performance differences seldom justify the price. For me, LP is my main source of listening as my library is mostly vinyl and the Walker is so far beyond any other LP playback source it defies logic.

What got this thread off center were comments that appeared to support the idea that speed accuracy was so important that it surpassed the "whole package" approach. I'm not saying speed accuracy is not important, but not so important that it can overcome all the engineering that make up the turntable package.

Having owned two Basis Debut Gold (Model 4 and 5) with both AirTangent 10B and Graham 2.2 arms with exact same Koetsu RSP I'm using with the Walker, I can state without doubt, the Basis is speed accurate enough to provide state of the art sound.

The Walker package is superior to the Basis and although the Walker is more speed accurate, it is only part of the picture.

An "equal" test is not possible between a Walker and a Lenco or Technics as the Walker arm is integrated into the foundation and design of the table. Any comparisons would be between the Walker package and whatever package was chosen for the other table.

Testing is fine and I will support it, but having heard the Technics tens of dozens of times, I know exactly what it sounds like. If anyone want's to challenge the Walker in a "dollar for dollar" match against the Technics, I concede defeat before the test begins. Just the same as Rockport must concede defeat against the Walker as it costs three times the price.
Dear Albert: I think that if everybody have the right attitude to do that " learning exercise " about the importance of speed accuracy, we will " have " something.

+++++ " . Any comparisons would be between the Walker package.. " +++++ " If anyone want's to challenge the Walker in a "dollar for dollar" match against the Technics, I concede defeat ..." +++++

Albert, the issue is not the Walker and is not a Walker challenge. This is not my idea and I don't think is yours, right?. No body wants to compare a 40K TT against a 1K TT: this will be totally unfair.

Before we can go-on there is one subject that is really important for to do a critical evaluation on TTs and that critical subject is the TONEARM/CARTRIDGE combination: is has to be the same. Albert we have to find how we can run the Walker with a different tonearm. If we can solve this issue, I can give/put two samples of the same tonearm.
There are other issues that we have to solve but I think is better if we solve one by one.

Other thing that I would like to have on this " exercise " is the direct Jeans participation: what do you say Jeans?.
Btw, I think that the ideas/help of anybody in this forum will be happy welcome.

Albert I want to clarify something: +++++ "What got this thread off center were comments that appeared to support the idea that speed accuracy was so important that it surpassed the "whole package" approach... " +++++

I never post that idea, I post : +++++ " A Walker DD system beats a Walker belt drive system .. " +++++

Albert your move.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Dear Albert: +++++ " If you don't like my equipment, one of my members must have a speaker you approve of, " +++++

You and any one in this forum know that your speakers and you friend's speakers are great ones, no question about.

Maybe where is more important for our " analog exercise " is first in the phono preamps and second on the amps. But these issues are for our second/third move.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Before we can go-on there is one subject that is really important for to do a critical evaluation on TTs and that critical subject is the TONEARM/CARTRIDGE combination: is has to be the same. Albert we have to find how we can run the Walker with a different tonearm. If we can solve this issue, I can give/put two samples of the same tonearm.

Sorry Raul, that is not possible. The Walker tonearm is integrated with the turntable and there is no room to add another arm or anything to mount an arm to. The base of the Walker is stone and I have no interest in drilling into it to mount another tonearm for a test.

I never post that idea, I post : +++++ " A Walker DD system beats a Walker belt drive system .. " +++++

Not according to Lloyd Walker. His opinion of direct drive is the cogging (search for speed) is worse than errors of his air bearing and silk belt drive. Guess that will never be resolved as Walker has no intention of building a direct drive so, we are back to one mans opinion against another mans opinion.

You are secure with your decision and I with mine.