Digital guy, thinking of taking the analog plunge.

If you want a relatively inexpensive "turnkey" solution with a pre-mounted cartridge, it is hard to beat the new Rega RP1. It comes with an Ortofon cartridge pre-installed, and one of Rega's great tonearms.

Note that unless your receiver/integrated amp/preamp has a phono input, you will need a phono preamp as well as a turntable and cartridge. There are good inexpensive units from Creek, Pro-Ject, Music Hall and Parasound, among others, and a used one can usually be found at a very nice price.

What's your budget ? Perhaps a Rega table/arm combo for around $1,000 will meet your needs financially (excluding phono-pre & cart) ? If your holding back on the budget because you are unsure you will like analog compared to digital (Like I did), forget about that. You will love it. So if you have the cash, get what you want. There is no turning back to digital once you go analog (Fair Warning). The Clearaudio Concept Table package with arm and cart is another nice kit for $1,500.00 to start your analog odyssey.

I was in you shoes about two years ago ... all I can tell you is in my case it's been well worth the "journey". I say that because at first I just wanted an older vintage table with a basic cart and be done with it. We had a little "audiohead" gathering at a local pub and I asked the question "what table should I purchase?" I basically got my head ripped off for asking such a dumb question and never did get a straight answer. Every question I asked was answered by 3 more questions back to me. I continued on to my local used audio dealer and was given so my options I had found myself back at square one.

Here are some of the mistakes I made :

1. Don’t underestimate the possibility you may stay in analog for a while and start buying LPs which could bring on the upgrade bug regardless.

2. Invest in a good LP cleaning system - I bought the Spin clean because it's inexpensive and seems to do a pretty good job.

3. If you pickup a turntable w/o a cart make sure the cart you purchase works with the turntable. Yes, I actually bought a cart that was such that the VTA on my turntable didn’t accommodate it very well. The same goes with the cart and the phono pre - not all MC carts are created equal.

4. Space ... No, not a Deadhead interlude - LP's and cleaning systems take up a lot of it as well as the table itself. Just something to think about.

I like the Rega/Ortofon combo because it's been matched. I almost wished I would have gone that way but I have picked up a lot of knowledge about what I like along the way and I am still not into my analog setup nearly as deep as my digital setup. I find myself listening to entire LP's now where with digital I hop around a lot. I have rediscovered a lot of music I had long left behind which was an unexpected bonus. The sound is very pleasing but then again, so is the digital setup. I’m glad I did it and I hope you are too.

Good luck,

You should ! Do it ! You will love it.