Cheapest Analogue Setup to Conquer Best Digital

A $4K VPI TNT Junior/SME 309 may not be the cheapest analog setup but the $20K Linn CD12 can't keep up with it. The only difficulty with vinyl is that it is VERY dependent on the pressing, but in most circumstances a decent pressing vs. the CD version is no contest in the LPs favor. I imagine the least you would be able to spend to beat the best digital is around $2000 for table/arm/cartrige. Look to the Basis 1400, Clearaudio Solution, Kuzma Stabi, etc.

any tnt with a vpi arm and your choice of cartridge...preferably MC will not dissappoint

Why tie up a TON of money when you don't even know if you'll like the end result ? My suggestion is to look for a reasonably priced yet good performing USED rig and go from there. This should give you more than a glimpse of what analogue offers without biting you in the wallet too drastically. If you find the whole analogue process appealing, you can always upgrade AND retain most of the resale value of what you originally bought. That is, if you do your homework to start off with and are just a bit patient.

I would try looking for a used Well Tempered or Sota table. For the money, they are hard to beat. Keep in mind that you will also need a decent arm ( may or may not come with the table ), a phono cartridge ( most would probably recommend moving coil although there are some good moving magnets ), some type of decent yet easy to use record cleaning device ( the Disc Doctor system comes to mind ) and a preamp with enough gain to accomodate the low output voltage of the specific cartridge that you select. I could easily assemble a COMPLETE phono system for well under $1000 that would please just about anybody but the most picky. That is, buying used except for the cartridge. This would also include some type of isolation devices, as TT's are quite sensitive to acoustic feedback, vibration, etc...

I'm assuming that you'll do this courtesy of a preamp that already has an input stage designed for vinyl or via an outboard phono stage. I only mention this as you need a device that has the RIAA phono EQ curve built into it.

If all of you've been using is a digital front end, you are in for a bit of a surprise. While good digital is QUITE good, even a reasonably priced vinyl system that is well thought out and well set up and can do some things better. The others have already covered the caveats in terms of various quality of pressings and recordings, etc... Best of luck and good listening. Sean
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I have had excellent resuts with the Michell Gyrodecks over the years. The latest model I have used is the SE II model with a new DC motor which is much quieter than the old AC motor. This is a bargain at $ 1895.00.

I have the new Mitchell Gyro SE II that I'm using with a Origin Live modified Rega RB250 and a Benz Micro Ruby 2. I like it better than my previous VPI Aries/JMW 10 that I used with a ClearAudio Gamma MC cartridge. It wounds my Wright modified Perpetual Tech duo on much material, but that is also using a $3500 AHT phono preamp, so these things can get costly. The Herron tube phono stage also sounded excellent in my system.

I would like to know what system (TT/arm/cartridge/phono preamp) that Sean would put together for under $1000 that would rival the best digital. Perhaps he is not including a phono preamp in his estimate.

I think that a properly set up (with analog, set-up is everything!) VPI HW-19 series (Mk-III or Mk-IV) TT with a OL Rega RB250, and perhaps a decent Grado or ClearAudio MM cartridge into a Lehmann Audio Black Cube phono stage might make you smile -- but that would set you back closer to $2G's even used. On the other hand, a Gyro/OL RB250/Grado/Cube could be a great way to go and on the used market you might score that for under $2500 with a little luck. But even that may not clearly trounce the "best" digital.