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
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.
The unfortunate vinyl neophite who initiated this thread has no doubt been comletely scared away by now by those posters who have hijacked his thread into yet another Raul vs. the World debate on the fine points of analog reproduction which are so far beyond the scope of his question as to be irrelevant. One thing he was right about, however, is the "all the fuss" he has heard over analog. I have heard less fussing from a nursery school full of 5 year olds than on this forum! ;)