2. analog
  3. 1104381273

OK, I made the leap...

Now that the kid is grown and gone (boo, hoo) I’ve decided it is time to get back into analog. I’ve been into this sport since; hum, ah, 1967, how ever long that is. I’ve had 500-600 albums, (I’m not going to count), that have been in storage since 1989. I know that year since that was the year my ex and I split the sheets and I managed to escape with the vinyl.
Anyway, I went to a used stereo store in Seattle today and purchased a used (old) turntable and a cheap phono pre, and I am like a kid in a candy store. I literally had not even looked at the albums since they were packed and stored years ago, in spite of moving several times. Holy crap, I’ve got a lot of good music. In spite of all the smoke and booze, I really did take good care of these albums. Yahoo. While I’m having a blast listening to my old stuff, it does not sound as good as my digital setup. There just seems to be no bottom end, and kind of a harsh top end. Sounds like an old receiver with tone controls that someone had turned the bass all the way down, and the treble all the way up.
Now for my question; how much do I have to spend on a table/arm/cart/phono pre setup to at least match what hear with my CD player? I do now, especially after listening to, and looking at what I’ve got, want to get back into vinyl, but not just as just a novelty. From what I’ve read here and other places, I should be able to have this sound as good or better that CD’s. All reasonable help/suggestions will be appreciated.
My system is as follows: (I can’t seem to make the virtual system thing work today)
Speakers: Osborn, Grand Monument Reference
Amp: Redgum RGH900
Pre amp: Consonance Reference 1.1
CD player: Sim Audio Moon Eclipse
Table: Sansui SA 4050C
Phono pre: God knows what it is.
Cables: Analysis plus, Harmonic Tech. Some other things I can’t remember.
bnc
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
I'm going to offer a contrarian's opinion on the record cleaning machine. I own a one (VPI HW-17) and I use it all the time. But, it is not *necessary*, imo. Convenient, yes. Necessary, no. CLEANING our LPs is necessary, but this can be done very well manually (using the Disc Doctor cleaning method, for example) without the expense of a multi-hundred dollar machine.

I'm offering this alternative viewpoint because suggesting that someone new to vinyl, or just getting back into vinyl, needs to buy an expensive RCM seems to me like a good way to scare people off from enjoying vinyl.

My recommendation to someone just getting (back) into vinyl: keep it high quality, but keep it simple. Grow from there.

Cheers.

P.S. - Sorry about the pictures. Should I stop?
The moderators would probably appreciate it. :-)
musicslug
430 posts
 
for the most trouble-free way to solve your problem just go to The Audio Connection (in Seattle! 524-7251). John is very knowledgeable about TTs PLUS he has an in house technician (Bill) who will look at your TT to see what's up with it. John is very opinionated but a great resource. Highly recommended!
scottht
398 posts
 
I think you need to really think about the leap to vinyl.
I did it a few years ago, and I am glad that I did. I listen to 99% vinyl. But it is addicting and expensive.
If you don't want to mess around with your system just like you said, then you do not want to get into vinyl.
Throw on a CD and enjoy your evening. Once you enter the vinyl world, nothing is the same anymore. Not to mention the up keep and adjustments needed to keep everything in working order.
You will always be looking for used vinyl.
You will buy a record cleaning machine.
You will upgrade everything after you start.
Just be carefull what you wish for.
jphii
485 posts
 
Rushton,

Keep it simple? I may take some heat for this, but with 600 lps IMO hand cleaning is not an option. After coming out of storage they all need to be cleaned, and doing it by hand will take about 33.9 years. Why use this:



or this:



When this:



makes life so much easier? Because as Brad said:

By the time my day is over and I make time to listen music, I just want to listen, not have to fool around trying this and that to hear what seems better. I get enough stress at work, I just want to relax and listen.

If anything would scare me off it would be cleaning all of those lps by hand!

Doug is pretty much right on with what I was thinking, but for $200 more I'd go with a 245. So i'd say this:

Teres 245: $2450
OL OL1 MK2: $570
Denon 103r: $250
VPI 16.5: $425 (Galen Carol)

which comes to $3695, leaving well over a grand to get "even" with the Eclipse. Sould cover a phono stage and some other supplies, and a few lps. And the TWL Hi Fi Mod and Paul's VFT Tweak, of course!

Brad, once you enter the dark side, well....

Good luck,

Joe
raquel
841 posts
 
I think that many of the above posters are going overboard with enthusiasm and detail. Here's my advice:

(1) Buy a used Rega Planar 25 turntable (+/-$750);

(2) Buy a new Benz-Micro Glider MO cartridge and have the dealer install it (+/-$750);

(3) Buy that VPI 16.5 record machine (essential), cherry pick your LP's for cleaning, and pay some kid from the neighborhood to stand there and clean them ($400 for machine + labor); and

(4) Buy an Audio Research PH-3 phono preamp used (+/-$850).

At 6.8 grams weight and 14cu compliance, the cartridge and arm on the Rega table will produce a combined resonance frequency of a perfect 10Hz. The 0.8 mv. output on the cartridge is ideal for the PH-3 phono stage's 54 db. of gain. All of the above products are very well built and low/no maintence. It will sound better than your CD player.

Good luck.
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