TOTALLY CONFUSED about analog

Ken,

I know this can be confusing...if you have read my posts you'll see that I was considering those European glass and particle board TTs. Then I started reading posts (in other forums, obviously) about modifying the 1200. Nothing spectacular to begin just changing the headshell wires and interconnects...and adding a good record clamp. So I did.

The unit is very user friendly, with a suspension that none of the above TTs can outperform. It also has the tonearm with the lowest bearing friction (Yeah I had that Rega leaflet titled "Listen to this" many years ago) Just a wonderful high end unit. Besides, it is the ONLY decent priced TT in which you can add a tonearm fluid damper, just like some very expensive tonearms. I just ordered mine yesterday ($149 from www.kabusa.com) and am looking forward to some heavy duty performance. None of the above TTs is in this league (sorry...).

When you add all things up, you will end up paying less than $1000 USD for a totally outstanding unit.

I empathise with you, but please don't make this sound like you're writing to Abby or Ann Landers!!!!!

Regards,

Bishopwill, that is not a joke. I will simply add my two cents worth: aside from having a turntable for archival reasons (there still is great music that will never find its way unto cd) or simply because you are in need of a hands-on hobby, there is very little percentage in going the analogue/vinyl route. Whatever the highly touted "analogue" liqudity arguments from dyed-in-the-wool tt persons might say, for general listening of music with no background noise, and with all due respect to any dissenting opinions, cd is the way to go. Buy yourself $3,000 worth of cd.s, explore music you never even thought of buying, read up. If all else fails, some of the suggestions posted are corrrect. You can get a decent tt, arm, cartridge combo for not too much money. Leave this stuff about direct drive to djs. You will wind up with two hobbies: fussing with the tt. and going through bins for records, throwing out every second one because one can only eat so much bacon without having cholesterol problems. It's only a hobby. Don't you guys get all wound up now.

Pbb, you get the point about records:

"You will wind up with two hobbies: fussing with the tt. and going through bins for records, throwing out every second one because one can only eat so much bacon without having cholesterol problems."

That's why I went for the 'DJ turntable'...no fussing.

However, Direct Drive is not just for DJs...otherwise records would be cut with belt drive systems--right?

There we go...I already have my TT--and just one hobby. I buy used records that for $2-$4 it's a very good deal to me. No problems.

Well, I think lps and cds both have their place. If you want "general listening", and "no background noise" is your primary criteria, then you certainly can't argue with your argument about cds Pbb. I have been hoping that technology would step in and put an end to this dilemma with some miracle technology, but ...it seems we are moving toward HT and MP3. There is a good argument that these are suitable for general listening. Likely that quite a few will argue that MP3 and downloading is so easy that "there is very little percentage" in cds. I think they will have lost something.

Have you seen some of the audio systems around here? There seem to be folks interested in more than "general listening." If you have a pair of Mezzo Utopias in your listening room and like to discuss the suitability of Vienna Mahler speakers for orchestral music, as does the good Bishop, it seems to me you have more on your mind than "general listening." That being said he is not an lp fan and does not like the "bacon problem". Only goes to show.

I certainly like your point that we should listen to more music and not obsess on the tech stuff.

Sincerely, I remain