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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
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.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
ZYX RS50 Bloom and the Cambridge 640P phono stage. The Rega arm will handle the ZYX without any problems. If you want sound staging at that price, that's where I would put my money.

Charlie
Post removed 
soix OP
9,585 posts
 
Well, I've gone through all your posts and as a result did a lot of digging, thinking, etc. I learned a lot in exploring all the options you put forward -- thank you.

If I could I'd start w/ the Graham Slee and a good MM cartridge and add a stepup and start playing w/ LOMC later, but alas it's not in the budget right now. This could very well end up being my upgrade path though.

So for now I'll probably start w/ the 640p and the AT150MLX and be up and running for around 400 bucks plus accessories. I noticed I could get a AT-OC9ML/II for $50 more. Would it be a worthwhile upgrade from the 150MLX or just different?

Thanks again.
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