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Help me get back to vinyl

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I can't take it anymore. I've got a 25-year-old Rega Planar 2 sitting around doing nothing, and my parents just moved and brought over 4 boxes full of my old records. There's even an Original Master Recording of Donald Fagan's The Nightfly that I forgot I even had and can't wait to cue up since the CD sounds horrible. Ditto Aja. God knows what else.

Anyway, I'm looking to do this on the cheap just to get the disease started while avoiding divorce. I need a new cartridge and a phono pre (I have interconnects already), and the whole thing has to cost under 1000 bucks. I tend to favor neutrality and transparency with good imaging and 3D soundstaging, and I definitely do not want something that sounds polite or rolled off in the highs if that helps. I assume I should buy the cartridge new, but I'm open to a used phono stage and would prefer solid state but am open to tubes if the benefit warrants.

Also, the Rega hasn't been fired up in probably 20 years, so what service should be performed and about how much should I expect to pay for it? Or should I just start it up and see what happens? Would I be better off just buying one of the newer less expensive turntables rather than resurrecting the Rega?

Many thanks for your thoughts/suggestions.
soix
jallen
502 posts
 
The above post by Viridian is right on. The Gram is superb and I have the AT150MLX which is one of the great under-rated cartridges. It retails for 500.00, J&R is the best price as is LPgear. I am using it on my VPI Scoutmaster and it easily dusts the Shure V15VXmr and the VandenHul/Adcom HOMC. It is fast, huge, open and reminds us why cd is ....well... just a cd. Clean the bearing well with a long q-tip and if you don't have one, let me know and I will send you some. I get them from work...medical stuff. Clean with a little alcohol, allow to dry and use a little synthetic oil like a 5w20 or 0w20 Mobil 1. An ATF will also work like the Mobil 1. The ATF is good enough for BMW transmissions...manual ones in some cases so it has the shear wear resistance properties. It also has a detergent to keep things clean. Change every year. Spin the black magic. Jallen
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Be sensible, first just purchase a refurb Audio Technica at J&R Electronics for $50. Your get to go and you will be surprised at the good sound it produces. Yes, I have one, but also a VPI $6K rig and to tell you the truth, the Technica sound is quite acceptable. At least until you go up four grand or more.
dearle
38 posts
 
I am also just getting back into vinyl after 20+ years. I found a Denon DP-300F turntable that has a built in pre-amp so you can plug it into an integrated amp or receiver that does not have a phono input. It came with a MM cartridge that I upgraded to a DL-160 high output MC cartridge. Total cost new was $600. The sound is very open, alive and full with no problem tracking records. It gave me the extra money for the stylus gauge, record cleaning supplies etc. I know I will upgrade but this is a very acceptable and affordable way to get back into vinyl.
soix OP
9,585 posts
 
Thanks for the great advice. I'm thinking I can get started on the cheap w/ the Cambridge pre and maybe the AT150 cartridge. I was thinking about the Bellari, but I don't think I want to be restricted to MM cartridges.

I was also considering the Graham Slee, but it's gonna take someone who compared it head-to-head with the Cambridge and found it vastly superior (be specific) to make me spend the extra $$$ at this point. Also, at that price point should I also consider a used AQVOX Phono 2 Ci?

Thanks again for all the help.
strateahed
304 posts
 
Soix

I had a similar concern about the Bellari, so the Pro-Ject Tube Box was a consideration. My buddy got a Pro-Ject pre to go with his Denon MC cartridge. It has MM/MC cart flexibility at about $450 retail. Understand your leaning more toward SS; but this would be a good tube alternative IMHO.
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