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Getting into vinyl for the first time, need help

I currently run MOG via airplay to an Apple TV. I own a Peachtree NovaPre and Peachtree220 amp. My buddy brought over his Rega P3-24 and I connected it to the (tapeout) of an old thriftstore stereo with built in phono into the aux-in on my preamp. We fired up Neil Young's Heart of Gold and within 3 seconds I wanted to throw away my entire digital system.

I am in the market for a new table and phono pre and its decision making time. I could spend around $800 for a table and that would soak up my entire budget, leaving me no room for a phono pre. The other option is to sell my Peachtree Pre for another $800-900 and buy a phono preamp with volume control and run that into my power amp but I cant seem to find much out there. I was looking at the PS Audio GCPH but its almost a decade old, is it still a good contender?

Any other suggestions?
vedder323
tbromgard
814 posts
 
I have read positive things about the PS Audio GCPH and believe it is still a viable piece in a good system plus it has the vol. control. But I think your peachtree offers lots of flex and I wouldnt abandon the heart of your system...yet. If it were my choice, I would opt for a used table, new cartridge and used phono, similar to what Heyraz suggests. I would look for used Sota Comet, P3, MF5.1. I would then put a new cart-like Ortofon 2M red (blue if you can swing it). it comes with a scale and instructions so you can install it yourself. 100-200, respectively. A used NAD pp2 or creek mm $100.

Or get a new project Carbon, comes with Ortofon 2M red mounted for $399 or $499. Read michael fremer's review. He paired it with a Bellari tubed phono preamp and liked the results. Any cash left over spend on new vinyl and accesories like a record brush.
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 
Welcome to the world of vinyl. $800 you say? No problem. Look at the new Pro-ject Carbon that comes equipped with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge at $400. Add the optional Speed Box II that really will tighten up the bass and make for easy changing of speeds for another $160. Last, get a Pro-ject Phono Box S preamp at $200. I can't say enough good things about this little preamp - it blows away the phono stage in my Parasound 2 channel preamp. It also allows for full cartridge loading.

Total cost $760 with $40 left over to start going to the used record shows to start your vinyl collection.
tbromgard
814 posts
 
Yes the more I think about it, I would opt for a new Carbon, et al as described above.
yahoochaz
67 posts
 
Paraneer and Tbomgard hit the nail on the head. Pro-ject is a great entry level product, although they also have pricier offerings too. I've been very pleased both with sound and reliability. Cheers.
jwglista
206 posts
 
The PS Audio is a fantastic pre. I've owned it for quite some time and have had no desire to upgrade it. I am currently using it with a Grado Sonata 1 reference (high output), so I'm not sure how the PS Audio does with low output carts, but it does have several loading settings should you end up going that route in the future. It does seem to have very low noise output so I'm sure it'd do fine with most low output carts.
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