Record wear

Record wear is a problem no matter what the system. If you've never owned records, starting with a budget system is a good way to go. But my recommendation as to software is not the 50 bucks a pop fancy 45's, but a trip to the used record store where you can buy 20 lps for that price. Plus buy some new "regular priced" lps from sundazed, etc--and on major labels that release them on occassion. See if you like what you hear. In my mind the ultra-priced analogue software products are aimed at folks with pretty high-priced turntables. In my opinion you cannot "live" musically on the reissues...there just isn't the selection (compared to cd's and used lps). Maybe as a treat or experiment buy one of the high priced spread and take your chances on record wear. Hell, for the several thousand dollars it sounds like you may end up spending on an eventual "high end" table, you can replace a few of the records. Although I have owned lps forever, I may not be the best to advise you on this if sound quality is your main criteria--for the most part, audiophile type software bores me. The most 'spectacular' lp I ever bought was a direct to disk Missing Linc on Sheffeld. When I think of great (lp) sound, that one always comes to mind. But in truth I never play it, nor do I play very much the cd's I have purchased for strictly audiophile reasons. GOod luck in whatever you decide.

Record wear is not a problem in my experience if a few simple rules are followed. Keep the record & stylus clean. Cartridge alignment and setup is key.

With clean software and a properly set up turntable records can last a lifetime. I have a copy of the Stones Beggars banquet that I've been playing for over 30 years and it's in excellent shape.

An alignment protractor (available free from the Vinyl Engine), a stylus force guage (the Shure is aprox $25), a method to clean the records (new ones too!), and poly lined sleeves will keep your collection in top shape.

Good Luck!

I agree with what Tarsando said. You can definitely get into vinyl, have a lot of fun, and get a lot of emotionally involving, good sound and music without spending a fortune on the LPs themselves.

I just got into LP playback again 2-1/2 mos. ago and some of my favorite, as-new LPs are from the 99-cent bins at used record stores and thrift shops. For the cost of an mp3 single song download, I come away with one or two albums.

If you want to start really cheap, you could get an entry-level Technics belt drive turntable with P-mount tonearm. Even though it wouldn't be the most sophisticated rig, P-mount arms are factory-set to track at 1.25g, which is very light, and P-mount arms are straight, low-mass designs (though I doubt that the pivot bearings are much to write home about). An example is the Technics SLBD20D as described here: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Technics-SLBD20D-Automatic-Turntable/dp/B00005T3Y8

Another alternative would be to start at a little over $400 for a Technics SL1200 Mk2. It's a 'way cleaner machine with a lot of upgrade potential should you decide to keep it, and a very high resale value should you decide to sell it. Its tonearm also have very low bearing friction and should be easy on the LPs.

A third alternative would be to check garage sales and Craigslist and the like. I got a Yamaha garage sale turntable very much like the Technics SLBD20D for $2 and that's what got me hooked. 2 weeks later I bought a Technics SL1210 M5G and play it an average 2 hrs a day.

IMHO, dirt and dust are the biggest problem (static electricity makes many Vinyl albums a magnet for dust) followed by natural degradtion of the plastic. My limited experience was that the more cleaning I did the worse it eventually sounded (faster it degraded) and that the stylus of any decent mid range TT NEVER did any damage (except if you bumped it or someone jumped on the floor next to the TT)...just my two cents.