2. analog
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I've finally lost it

Dear Fellow Audiophiles,

(This greeting sounds so much like the one in Signal Cables’ ads)

I heave a heavy cry for help hoping sane audiophiles, if any exists at all, can come to my aid.

(Looking at recent threads such as the one by Rick Schultz, I fear there’s few out there)

In the past few months, I’ve been in a terrible turmoil: a sickness, a disease.

I don’t understand it at all. So, I beseech your guidance, knowledge and, most of all, a good ass kicking for I fear I am that far from adopting a new religion to save my damned shoe horn.

Until a few months ago, I casually avoided all things analog as I perused through the audio pages be it web or hardcopy. I was only interested in monitors, quaint looking amps and redbook non-os cd players and dacs. But, as of these few months, I can’t get analog out of my head.

I have purchased a total of THREE LPs in the past month. I have maybe 200-300 LPs in a box that I purchased before CDs became prevalent to me in 1989. And, I hardly and ever will hardly listen to any of them ever again. Yet, analog hardware are hopping around my head like Daffy Ducks swimming around Elmer Fudd’s head after he sufferes a great accident.

I can’t keep my eyes off my laptop’s screen as I search for more and more information on turntables. What makes them tick? How do you make them sound better? Which brands are good? How much should I spend? MC or MM?

I’ve leaned towards the VPI Scout or Aries at first. But, I have a dreaded pet peeve against MDF as one of my speakers is made completely of MDF which I thought sounded awkwardly unnatural. I looked to Michell Technodec and Gryo SE which I still think are worthy choices. However, lately I found a review of Positive Feedback’s review of Bluenote’s polyvinyl Bellavista package which includes the Bellavista turntable, the Borghese tonearm and the Boboli cartridge.

I read the review with complete concurrence with every paragraph. Usually, I think Positive Feedback is just that. They have positive feedback for every product they’ve reviewed. However, somehow I felt this review has more journalistic weight than usual. I started researching all things Bluenote.

This isn’t the first time I became hawkish on one particular brand. I did fall heads over heels for 47 Labs as their Gaincard demonstrated to me a new level of resolution through the application of simple materials and set up. I still have the urge to get a Pitracer once I hit the lotto. However, this Bluenote thing doesn’t make any sense at all.

I have a total of THREE LPs that I want to listen to.
I am planning to buy the Bellavista Signature table, the U3 Singature tonearm, an Ortofon Kontrapunkt A or B cart as I read the Bluenote’s arms like heavy carts, and I want Bluenote’s own Phono1 MC phono preamp. I haven’t started nickel and diming the dealers yet, but I think I will spend close to $4000 by the time I am done not including wires and accessories. This means, at current time and purpose, it will be costing me $1333 for me to to play ONE LP.

Atleast with the 300 or so CDs that I listen to and about 200 CDs that are boxed up, the marginal return on investment on a Pitracer will be about $500 per CD. Still INSANE but not as INANE as the turntable investment! Nevertheless, I want a turntable!! I don’t know WHY. Maybe they LOOK sexy. Maybe I just want a new toy. Maybe I have some shortcomings that I want to emotionally supplement. I can’t figure it out!!

Anyways, I am posting hoping for moral or analog support. Even if I do end up splurging on this stupid turntable, at least I hope I spend my money intelligently as stupid as this whole ordeal seems to me.

My GF says I just want to spend money. Either she is making sense, or she’s turning into one of those controlling wives that has problem with the hobby of HIFI which I will need to hit the dating scene again if that is the case.

Thanks,

Ed
viggen
restock
831 posts
 
Why not start with the Bluenote Piccolo at $1000.- (from Needledoctor) and the Kontrapunkt A (around $400 from Needledoctor). Might be better to start small. I heard the table just shortly, but my impression was certainly positive.

And then you can let me know how you like it...

By the way: I started like you just 10 years ago. Even 10 years ago people thought I was going crazy....

Enjoy and good luck!!

Rene
viggen OP
838 posts
 
GMC and TVAD, thanks for showing me the "real" darkside of this analog madness. As I am, so far, on the outside looking in, I feel like I am in a safer and warmer place.

And the rest of you, thank you for your support and suggestions.

However, I personally don't believe in starting low then gradually getting something better later on. Maybe I just want the instant satisfaction. However, I personally find that I grow out of the "starter kits" too fast for them to be worthwhile.

Perhaps, pretending I am speaking to a psycho-dynamic-ologist, this is because my mother bought me a shabby car when I turned 16 giving me the excuse that it's my first car, so I should drive a piece of junk until I am older. And, this left me with the uncorrectable impression that "starters" is just an "excuse".

I know my system looks pretty weak at the moment. I had some pricier stuff a few years ago, but, my system's musicality kept improving as I simplified/downgraded more and more with only the Gaincard as a constant. Perhaps it is this over simplification process in my system building philosophy during these pass few years is causing an ennui thus leading to the currently dreaded analog frenzy.

I have actually downsized my system by another $2000 retail dollars (actually $1000) in the past few months since my last virtual system entry.

There's definitely nothing practical about my "condition". If anything, maybe my problem is hyperpracticality. So, I don't expect a practical solution will suffice.

Rene, I've been looking hard at the Technodec too. It was sort of knocked out of my top choice by the Bluenote. However, I just found out a few hours ago that Bluenote is no longer represented in the US. I guess this means no more manufacturer warranty.

I am also looking hard at the Kuzma Stabi S.
restock
831 posts
 
I agree, starting small is not always a good thing. What about a Teres, start
with a 245 and you can always upgrade. No problem with factory warranty
either as long as Chris stays in business.
I am thinking about awarding myself a graduation gift for my Ph.D. in Form of
a Teres in half a year. Certainly makes me want to finish writing up that
dissertation faster.
wellfed's avatar
wellfed
690 posts
 
A tough call indeed. I would first analyze whether or not you are at all excited about the titles available from yesteryear. Assuming you are, I'm with you, go whole hog on the TT. Perhaps I scared you off by using the word yesteryear. If so, maybe you should go whole hog on a new digital source instead.

In any case whole hog is the route to go because you have identified this quality within yourself. I am blessed with really good sources, analog and digital, and appreciate being setup well with both.

Speaking for myself, I am pretty sure that if I did not already own a record collection, I would go the ultimate whole hog route and put all my financial resources into bleeding edge digital.

I do think my vinyl setup sounds slightly more natural than my digital, but having been on a serious mission lately to optimise digital performance, the difference between the two formats is much less important to me now. Truly great performance is available in both formats when you get all of the details covered. I haven't even worked on superior power delivery to my digital components which many insist is a more vital requirement than with analog. Assuming this to be true, the gap will close that much further.
viggen OP
838 posts
 
Wellfed,

You pretty much stabbed another one of my irrationalities in the heart that I haven't exposed in this thread yet. The main reason I have stayed away, thus far, from analog is because of the lack of availability of the software of music I usually listen to. Most of what I listen to are small electronic pop bands which are not even available in most mainstream brick and mortar stores. Thus, most are not even made in vinyl.

If I do go analog, I'd pretty much buy what I already have on CD, whatever ones that are available in analog format, or explore new/old music such as the symphonies by broodish Russian composers, early big band swing and west coast jazz.

I am also keeping an eye on improving my digital set up. I don't want to get into hi rez as I really like the way non-os digital applications sound. However, right now I am using a NEC cd rom as my digital front. I got it from ebay for $20. It outplays all my previous dac/trans combos.

Thus, adding more to my irrationality. as I only have about $2000 in my system now (it was $8,000 a few years ago), yet I want a $4000 analog setup to play a virtually non-existent album collection.

Also, $4000 is actually already "starting small" as the tone arm and cartridges is purposely left for more room to improve relative to the table. I think I should atleast start with a table I can live with for awhile and upgrade the arm and cart later on. But, my budget is relative to what is available out there that I am interested in. As I don't see Bluenote as a viable option anymore, my budget is up in the air again.

Rene, what are you writing your dissertation on?
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