2. analog
  3. 1401025949

Thinking about getting into vinyl again...

After 25 years. Any suggestions (besides don't ; )?

Thanks to my Audio Note Dac, I have an Awesome Digital setup and am very pleased with the sound. However I do love vinyl setups when I hear them. Further, now that my system's just the way I want it, I have nothing to obsess about, research, tinker with...etc.

I have a Modified Musical Fidelity A5 integrated...to my, ears the best sound I've ever heard and I've tried many many pieces. (In fact, that may be why I've run into a wall, I'm done looking at amplification too). Hoping to avoid the whole phone stage thing... assuming the A5's is decent.

I want a decent vinyl setup -- but don't want to spend a fortune either. After exhaustive research I'm pretty set on trying a Rega P3 w the Elys2 cartridge (bit over a thousand new). Right or wrong, part of the reason I chose this is relative simplicity of setup and use. Although I'm open to messing with accessories and upgrades, I don't want to mess with spacers, complicated adjustments, changing arms, or hacking the table in any way.

Any thoughts about:

The move in general
Tips and tricks
Accessories: Cleaning Kits, scales, etc.
Upgrading that MM Cart (slightly, I don't want to spend more than a hundred or so more)
I thought a bit about getting a professionally restored Thorens?
Vendors (No real table dealers around me...looking at Music Direct...especially because of the easy return policy ....and they've been good in the past)

(Note: I will very likely stick to new on this as the idea of buying and shipping (again) a used turntable seems fraught with risk)

(One bonus question: When I switch my a5 to phono (nothing connected) i get some hum/noise...I'm assuming that's because nothing's connected to the the inputs or the ground?---Just hoping I don't go through all of this just to find out I have a bad phono section!)
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mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,479 posts
 
My Modded REGA P3/24 sits on a Mapleshade ISO system and it is so quiet now its thrilling!! I totally agree that with the mods and Isolation this table is a giant slayer!
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I think that when I heard the Rega 6, that it wasn't isolated properly. It was just thread bare in the mids. Sterile almost is how it sounded. I heard it vs the totally tricked out Linn 12 and the Linn just had more pace and rhythm. It wasn't even close. I know the cost diff was huge, but the Rega just didn't sound right, but years ago I loved the Rega. I regret not getting the P3 around 1998 or so. I got the Rotel 855 with VDH MM1 (great cartridge I'm selling off with this table). It's a nice rig and set up properly is awesome. That said it wasn't a Rega.

So many variables with analog playback and I think some sell it, but don't set it up properly.
abrew19
146 posts
 
To Kiko65:
"..custom made skeletal plinth, new ultra-stable RB808 tonearm with state of the art bearing assembly, triple-layer glass platter for fly wheel effect, 24-volt low-noise, low-vibration motor controlled by a hand-tuned electronic external power supply, new double bracing technology for stifness where it matter the most, between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing, forming a structurally sound "stressed beam" assembly."

None of this stuff costs much to make for any factory with decent volumes of production. "state of the art bearing assembly, triple-layer glass platter for fly wheel effect" ... dude do you write their ad copy, or what? It's 3 pieces of glass glued together man! No machining required. Good engineering to find a way to cut corners from multiple layers of machined metal. They save a lot here.

"24-volt low-noise, low-vibration motor controlled by a hand-tuned electronic external power supply" .... seriously? Odds are they source the motors (and the guts to the power supply) from China for dirt cheap... any takers?

As for their "custom made skeletal plinth" don't get me started.
runnin
397 posts
 
The Pro-ject Debut Carbon is due tomorrow, for the price it's performance is very good. There is better out there, but you gotta pay to play.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Well, my day has finally arrived. Tomorrow John from Audio Connections will be delivering my Vandy Treo's along with my Heed Quasar Phono stage and my Basis 1400, Basis/Rega 300/Micro Benz Glider. It's a demo and he was very fair. In the end, this set up is about as good as I could find for the money. For me, this is the perfect set up and I'll now sell off my lightly used Rotel 855/Van den Hul MM1 cartridge (any takers? ).

I'll let you all know how it sounds after it all breaks in. I'll upgrade to the new belt soon I'm sure. Just need to get a VPI 16.5 cleaner now.
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