TOTALLY CONFUSED about analog

Ok, I haven't read all the threads here, but I want to ask why you want to get in to high end vinyl?

A) If you already have a vinyl collection, proceed.

B) If you have a curiosity about the vinyl "buzz" proceed with caution.

C) If you are a audio hobbyist who wants something to do, proceed.

But if you are starting purely from scratch (no pun) and you want better sound, I would recommend spending that money on a CD upgrade, start buying dual layer CD's, and get a SACD player when you can afford it.

That said, know that I am 60% vinyl. (VPI 16.5 record cleaner, Oracle Delphi MkIII, Premier FT-4, Grado Sonata, ARC SP9 MkII, Bryston, Magnaplanar 2.7)

I enjoy vinyl because I have a lot of it with historic and sentimental value. I buy new and used vinyl, and, Yes when I A/B vinyl to CD I find that there is more music there. But I could not recommend to anyone to start a vinyl collection now without some serious motivation.

Unless you do SERIOUS listening, or have the musical values that vinyl lends itself to, wait out the new hi-res formats.

Now, if you have a collection to play. (A) go for your higher dollar solution. Get a VPI HW-19 JR, and upgrade it as necessary. IF your motivation is (B) get a used rega or MMF, and see how you like it. Or if you are a 'phile who wants a new and ongoing project (C) I'd shop audiogon for a higher end unit used. (always your best buy, but not always your best choice w/ dealer support and etc. considered.}

Vinyl is more than sound, it is a degree of dedication and a state of mind. And..... CD's don't have to sound that bad.

fzxguy forgot to mention that vinyl is a sobriety "monitor" as well. you can't get too wasted. You might trash your ry cooder mfsl jazz lp, or worse, your new uhqr pink floyd.

has this tread run it's course?

FZX, you've got it nailed--totally. Ken, you need to start where the previous post starts. I've posted similar before:
Why are you going into analog? I would not recommend anyone w/out records to start analog, either...

Just give it some thought and if you still want the DJ TT, let me know and I'll help you. Sedond, did't you read the post about the guy who has Technics 1800's and an Oracle w/an SME arm? He wrote they are not too far apart--and that's w/out the fluid damper...maybe I'll catch up with you! And if so will probably overthrow you as a Bargain King!

Clueless (which you are far from, may I say), I really agree with you. At its best, vinyl offers lush, beautiful sound that, in my opinion, CAN BE but seldom IS matched by anything digital. It goes without saying, too, that there is an awful lot of wonderful material available only on vinyl. But from my perspective surface noise is a detriment to the listening experience that I find every bit as serious as the edgy sound of poor quality digital. And, while it is all very well to say that "if they sound like bacon they go to the trash," the truth is that if every LP with surface noise was discarded, there'd be damned few copies left to love.

Listening is for a me much more than a casual experience. It is a food group, right up there with rare beef, chocolate, and good beer. That's why I have Utopias, which I definitely CANNOT afford. My personal choice is to accept the steadily diminishing limitations of the digital domain in preference to the noise of vinyl and the time-consuming demands of its care and feeding.

I respect others who choose differently. One of the nice things about a-gon is that most people respect my choices, as well.

Keep having fun!

bishopwell, i guess that's why there's more than one kinda car, and all ice cream ain't vanilla... ;~) i have excercised minimal care-n-feeding of vinyl in ~35 years of spinning it, and, while i acknowledge surface noise is an issue w/some albums, the overwhelming majority of 'em are emminently musical, w/o surface noise being a distraction, even the *oldies*. and, no edgy digital sound - who cares if the background is perfect, when the main event is irritating? :>)

i do agree that, w/quality tubed electronics, and a good dac, the problems of redbook cd are diminishing. it was only w/in the past few months that i finally heard digital that i could *really* enjoy: a food-group, if you will. while i still long for the day that the software mfr's finally decide on a much-needed replacement for cd, so digital audio can lay waste to vinyl once & for all - no reason why it *shouldnt* be able to do so - at least, in the meantime, i can finally savor the taste of my digital software - *almost* as yummy as those big black 12" discs! ;~)

doug s.