Is it worth expanding into Vinyl???


I've been kicking around the idea of going vinyl for awhile so I figured I'd post some questions. I understand the difference between Vinyl and Digital from a sound recording and reproduction standpoint and the pros/cons of it, but I guess real world opinion specific to my situation is what I seek.

I was born in '79 so by the time I got into music, Digital had already taken over. As such, I was never exposed to Vinyl as a child and have been raised on the digital "sound". At this point, I have a fairly substantial collection of SACD and DVD-Audio which serve as my primary listening material. Genre's are very dispersed including just about everything.

If I decided to venture into Vinyl, I would want to do so with a minimal investment up front (for the hardware)...perhaps around $500-$600. I also see that one can spend over $30k on a turntable with tonearm and cartridge, so that's a little intimidating to me. I don't want to waste even my measly $500 on getting into vinyl if I need to spend substantially more to get sound that exceeds that of my current all-digital setup.

Here is my current setup, so the only addition would be that of the turntable itself, played through these components. I suppose I'm just looking for opinions from anyone who has one regarding whether a ~$500 turntable on this system can yield sonic results that equal or exceed my current capabilities (realizing that the recording itself plays a tremendous role in the reproduction).

SACD/CD Player: Music Hall Maverick (stock)
DVD-A Player: Denon 3910 (stock)
PreAmp: Outlaw Audio 950
Amplifier: Outlaw Audio 750
Fronts: Axiom M80 v2 (Bi-Wired)
Center: Axiom VP150 v2
Rears: Axiom QS8 v2
Sub: Axiom EP500 v2
Interconnects: Outlaw Audio
Speaker Wire: Monster M1.4s BiWire

I should also mention that a nice, wide and open soundstage is the most important characteristic I look for in listening. The more "real" it all sounds, the happier I am.

Any opinions or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Turntable recommendations would also be greatly appreciated!
fatgh0st
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i'm not 100% sure, but i don't think the outlaw 950 preamplifier has a phono input. i'm kicking around the idea of getting into vinyl myself and i'm pretty sure a dedicated phono input is needed to properly playback vinyl. something to do with riaa equalization i suppose. hopefully those more knowledgeable of the black circle will chime in.
For you, no, unless the music you are interested in is pre 80's. Once the production of music was driven by the digital format, there is little point in having this music on vinyl. I know, there is a large amount of current music on LP, but it is digital sourced. Best way to check that out is at a dealership wherein you can compare the LP with the SACD equivalent. One of the best ways to see what the pre 80's music was all about is in the Miles/Blue issues. That music is available in every format under the sun, analog and digital. I have them all, vinyl, tape, cd, sacd and each in many different mastering productions, imports, and other. You need to listen to as many as possible to determine what sounds best to you. I am sure one of the first blu-rays will be this material remastered to super hi resolution. Can't wait.
YES !!!!! It's definitely a good idea for you to add an analog front end to your system. You have some very good stuff, and I'm sure your music sounds real nice. An "easy way" into analog would be one of the "complete packages" where the cartridge is already mounted on the arm. In your budget, I'd seriously consider the NAD 555, Rega P1, Music Hall 2.2, and Project Debut III. Obviously, if you can spend a little more, the options will greatly improve.
Check out the popular analog websites (Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc, Needle Doctor, etc.) and you'll get some good ideas.
Good Luck, and Happy Listening !! Once you start listening to LP's, even on a "modest" turntable, you'll be hooked !!
I agree with Tvad. If you don't have the records already,
stick with what you have and buy more digital recordings. (I'm 60 with 1500 records)