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Advice on restarting vinyl playback after 30 years

I started spinning vinyl in 1960 on my dads rig. In 1965 he bought me a really cool Sony Bi-directional reel to reel then I was forever hooked in the performance audio world - a sad expensive day ;)

My first and only record player was and is still, a Technics SL-1700 purchased in 1977 (think I got that right?). I've tried to employ that back into my system but quite honestly, it sounds like crap so back in the garage it sits along with some old Thorens.

I still have my vinyl collection and dads too who is still around at 93. We both wish to spin these albums again. How cool would that be? And I still Long for those shiny black vinyl disc's when I see them in a store.

I have cutting edge playback in my system now. Hi rez music in FLAC, my CD collection burned in EAC, server fed to a PS Audio Perfectwave DAC through Bridge, the matching DC transport, Humongous Pass Labs amp and some MBL's to play through. Sounds great!

There's 2 shelves on my rack that are empty. The top center and one to the right ;)

Trying to be realistic about this and being so discerning about my playback, I figured that I would need 6 components to play my current and future vinyl collection.

Turntable
Arm
Cartridge,
Additional damping platform
Phono preamp
Something to clean vinyl thats between 30 and 70 years old.

First question.
I sold my preamp. My music flows from DAC to amp. Would I simply replace my cables in back of amp from phono preamp? I know that's a dumb question for most but I always had a pre something until lately.

I'm hopeful to budget 3K to 5K and used is fine.

I've scouted the VPI scout and scoutmaster with it's accompanying arm, seems like a good place to start. I'm sure there are many opinions here on where to start.

We've (as a family) have spent countless hours tuning our 2 channel system, cables, room, speaker placement, AC, the list goes on. So we're not shy on the work ahead. We just want something that we can appreciate and use from time to time that's comparable to our pure digital rig. It would be an interesting contrast no?

Just read about a supposedly great phono stage in one of my audio magazines, but it's 2.2K Ouch. What matches with what so on... Here's where forum folks can really help me out.

Oh, and I don't mind getting up, and going through the rituals. I'm not dead yet. I do appreciate the medium, and the headache, I grew up on it.

Just canceled my cable TV. Now maybe I can afford vinyl!
128x128desalvo55
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

01-31-11: Desalvo55
JDaniel,

Just looked up the cost of that XX2. I feel your pain and hope it's not mine too.
You can get very close to the $2K sound by tapping into Audio Technica's and Denon's abilities to combine high precision with economy of scale. There's the Denon 103 or 103R, though those may be better served by the nuded/repotted versions from Zu Audio. Then there are the Denon 301 II, the 304, and their <$1K DL-S1 here. Audio Technica has the overachieving MM AT150MLX capable of excellent detail, speed, and linearity, plus LOMCs OC9, AT33EV, and OC9ML/III.

Shop around; you'll notice some attractive prices here. Anything with ML in its name has a MicroLine stylus, which is a great shape that gets at the music and avoids the noise. Other than Audio Technica, most microline stylus cartridges are very expensive small quantity moving coil carts.
vernneal's avatar
vernneal
438 posts
 
HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VPI CLASSIC 1- 2-and 3 RETAIL

CLASSIC 1-WALNUT OR BLACK WITH CLASSIC SE ARM, VPI WIRE, SCREW DOWN CLAMP, 1/8” STEEL TOP PLATE
2750.00




CLASSIC 2 – SAME AS ABOVE WITH CLASSIC SE ARM AND VTA ON THE FLY
3500.00




CLASSIC 3 – PIANO BLACK BASE, AS ABOVE WITH ½” THICK ALUMINUM TOP, RING CLAMP AND HR-X WEIGHT,
VALHALLA WIRE, NEW SS ARMTUBE
6000.00


◦CLASSIC DUST COVER - $300 RETAIL
◦PERIPHERY RING CLAMP - $700 RETAIL
◦HR-X STAINLESS STEEL WEIGHT - $150 RETAIL
◦CLASSIC STAINLESS STEEL ARMTUBE - $300 RETAIL
◦VALHALLA WIRE - 200 RETAIL
◦PIANO BLACK BASE AVAILABLE ON CLASSIC 3 ONLY
manitunc
795 posts
 
I run a PS Audio GCPH straight into my amplifier using the gain control on the GCPH and have no problem reaching any volume I desire. I use the balanced output to balanced input on my Classe CA100. Very nice, clean sound and cuts out any middleman preamp and cables. The GCPH has a lot of loading options too.
desalvo55's avatar
desalvo55 OP
257 posts
 
Thanks for the breakdown Vernneal.

Seems like the VPI Classic XX should be a good starting point. What model and what features should I look for?

I owned a pair of Classe CA100's for many years. Is the PS Audio GCPH a well regarded phono stage? I keep reading about the Whest phono stages, especially the WhestTWO and the .30 series. No gain control would make the Whest an expensive alternative no doubt.

Just unboxed my album collection. Have to admit we're pretty excited about the prospect of playing LP's again. I was surprised at just how many albums I had that were not released on CD.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
02-01-11: Desalvo55
... Is the PS Audio GCPH a well regarded phono stage?
From reviews and owner comments I get the impression that the GCPH is *the* premier $1K phono pre overachiever. PS Audio's GainCell technology also gives it the advantage for plugging directly into a power amp.

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