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Getting started in vinyl for under $100

I know I can't be the only audiophile out here with champagne tastes and a beer budget, so I just wanted to put my two cents in on getting started in vinyl as it's worked for me. Three years ago, knowing I loved music, my neighbor gave me a crate of classic rock LPs. Having nothing to play them on, I picked up a Technics SL-D2 on eBay for $45 and a Stanton 500E mkII (now regrettably discontinued) for another $40 or so. For the same cost as the half-meter interconnect connecting my CDP to my NAD integrated, I was up and running with vinyl. I've since upgraded to a Shure M97xE cartridge and otherwise put my few spare dollars into the music, gradually collecting a few hundred jazz and classical LPs.

I've never loved the music more, and cheap as the TT is--the cheapest thing in my system by a few hundred dollars--I can hardly stand to put a CD on anymore. I've listened to well-assembled high-end systems enough to know what I'm missing in nuance, but as far as making daily music goes--and till I can afford a turntable worth holding onto for the next few decades of my life--this cheap setup brings me a lot of pleasure. Try a Grado black or go for the M97xE, add in a Shure stylus force gauge and an Audioquest carbon fiber record brush, and you're all set for about the cost of an entry-level phono preamp. Buy one of those used, and you're still under $200.

If this lowers the point-of-entry bar for anyone else out there--young and broke like me or not--I'd be happy. Even on the cheap, vinyl is king.
ablang
bongofury
1,160 posts
 
I have been in the professional live music space for years. I think it should be said that room influences performance more than gear. You need to match the room dynamics. Most mega-buck systems sound bad because they overpower the room. I have found, as a rule, that low power amps coupled with efficient speakers will rock most homes better. There are a number of entry level choices that will really sound good. It should be noted that every Motown hit was mixed down on car speakers and Joe Strummer of the Clash recorded demos on a Fischer Price toy cassette.

Good student systems:

Turntables ($300):

Rega P1

Amps:

Trends Audio $139

Powered Speakers: (Both under $400)

Blue Sky EXO
Audioengines

Standalone speakers: ($300)
Era Design D 4
Paradigm Atoms
PSB Alpha B1

iPod:

Red Wine Audio iMod: $200

CD Player:

Sony Playstation 1 SCPH 1001 $40 used
tfkaudio
591 posts
 
I would add the Allsop Orbitrac cleaning system as an essential low-budget component. Analog is way way better when your records are clean.

Then, once you're hooked, get a VPI (or equivalent) record cleaning machine. Once you have one of these, you can't imagine life without one.

Cheers.
ablang OP
165 posts
 
Thanks for the Allsop rec. I have a lot of records I just haven't listened to much because I wasn't sure how to effectively clean them on the cheap. For others interested, I just found a review on SoundStage:

http://www.soundstage.com/upton05.htm
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I believe the Allsop Orbitrac 2 has been discontinued. If you can find one at a vendor, consider it NOS. I believe the pad replacements and cleaning fluid are still in stock, though. I got one of the last ones at Acoustic Sounds back in May.
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