[twitch54]

Liz, Et al.,

How about you all say something about the wonderfulness of the vinyl sound that makes it worth all the troubles to get back into this format?

woodsyi, I think Liz nailed it.........besides the Op is NOT 'getting back' into vinyl, rather starting anew.......that's a whole different ball game.

[tomytoons]

Wow 3 pages on this.

A lot of nonsense here.

I'll refrain from recommending anything.

[neobop]

woodsyi, I think Liz nailed it.........besides the Op is NOT 'getting back' into vinyl, rather starting anew.......that's a whole different ball game.

Before posting here Pete read 11 pages of Vinyl Circle.  That's a lot of posts and shows more than idle curiosity, lots more.  In fact I would venture to say it shows a desire to check out records and record players.  The fact that Pete isn't dependent on a particular source and was planning to use records to augment his collection is very different from Liz and her thousands of LPs, a collection that seems to be out of control with all the mold etc.  I used to have 2 thousand LPs and it's a lot to handle, but each one was cleaned before it was played and a moldy old jacket was dealt with, or wasn't purchased in the first place.  There's a gigantic difference between a relatively small collection and one that's too big to handle.  Liz has been selling her records a hundred at a time and posting about it on Asylum.

We've read the posts of those who tried vinyl and never looked back.  We also read a post about being afraid to damage an expensive cart with an old noisy record.  That's completely erroneous, but records aren't for everyone. 
Depending on your source material, records can sound vastly superior to digital and there's plenty of stuff available only on records.
Seems that Pete is scared off, at least to some extent.  He's going to check it out further and think about it.  I'd just like to emphasize that the initial investment doesn't have to be that much to get great results and at this point in time any investment is easily recovered almost in full, depending.
neo   

[G E]

One doesn't need to spend big to get big results.

I have a vintage Harman Kardon HK720 turntable, Grado hi output Ref Sonata cart and Hagtech Cornet 2 phono pre.  Prior to the Cornet I had the Hagtech Bugle, a well respected solid state phono pre. 

With the Bugle in the chain, I'd play a few records and move on to CD and hi rez formats.  With the arrival of the Cornet 2 all that changed, now I spin vinyl and once in a while venture into the digital domain.  And well done digital can sound warm and detailed.  But there is something organic in the sound of LP reproduction - even with all of that medium's shortcomings and liabilities - that is undeniable.  This also illustrates the importance of symbiotic relationships of arm, cart and phono pre.  Getting involved with New Old Stock (NOS) tubes is just added fun.

And if this intrigues you and the idea of active involvement with playback is a plus (rather than digital's set it and forget it), then LP playback might be for you.

And there are so many more recordings available on LP than hi -rez, you have a nice treasure hunt in front of you!

[twitch54]

Before posting here Pete read 11 pages of Vinyl Circle.  That's a lot of posts and shows more than idle curiosity, lots more. 

neo, I understand and as someone who has been spinning black pizza for half a century I too know the pitfalls, limitations, etc. That's why it's important for Pete to take his time and be sure. His 5k budget is enough to allow him a good 'window' into what analog is all about but spending much less than that is a total waste of $$ IMO.

[neobop]

neo, I understand and as someone who has been spinning black pizza for half a century I too know the pitfalls, limitations, etc. That's why it's important for Pete to take his time and be sure. His 5k budget is enough to allow him a good 'window' into what analog is all about but spending much less than that is a total waste of $$ IMO.

I disagree.  Prices are up, it's true, but with judicious selection of used equipment, careful set-up and a little luck, I think you'd be amazed at the results.  I've been spinning records as long as you and I know the benefits of great equipment, but I also know what the right, less expensive stuff can do. 

IMO Pete's only unrealistic expatiation was in thinking he could just spend $5K and have the same quality as his digital.  You and I started out in a time when records were the popular medium and there was no digital.  Everyone played records and quickly learned their way around a record player.  If you're completely unfamiliar it takes a little time.  Awhile back we had an OP who bought a nice record player and thought it would beat his digital like he had read.  He didn't even know that records had to be cleaned and came here complaining about how bad it was.  On the other side, we've had many people ask what to get on a much more modest budget and are now quite happy vinyl enthusiasts.  I think Pete has an idea of what's involved if he doesn't mind going through all the motions, rituals and habits.  Remember, initial aspiration is to augment his collection with stuff not on digital, not to play Mahler or Beethoven against SACD, but some vintage jazz, rock, blues.

I used to be a high end turntable guy and part of my gig was setting up budget, even entry level tables.  It's amazing how nice inexpensive tables can sound, but I'm not recommending that.  I think there's lots of decent decks that fall in-between and would be great vehicles for Pete to get his feet wet.  With the right selection of components it can be done.  After all, at this point Pete doesn't know if his cart should be mellow or bright, detailed or musical, fast or round.  How can he with no basis of comparison?  The liquidity of his purchase is the insurance policy and will allow him to change up or get out if he doesn't like it.  There are other factors we don't know like local record stores other resources and even friends that play records.  If Pete wants to spend $5K initially, more power to him.  It's not outrageous considering he needs everything.  If he wants to spend somewhat less, I think he can do that and get a nice start.
neo   


 
 

[PETE6737]

IMO Pete's only unrealistic expatiation was in thinking he could just spend $5K and have the same quality as his digital.... I think Pete has an idea of what's involved if he doesn't mind going through all the motions, rituals and habits.  Remember, initial aspiration is to augment his collection with stuff not on digital, not to play Mahler or Beethoven against SACD, but some vintage jazz, rock, blues.

I have been continuing to research and later this week, I will be checking out some local peeps systems...NEOBOP, I believe, has an accurate idea, where I'm coming from, where I want to go, and how I am supposed to get there. Everyone posting here and behind the scenes has been very helpful, and I am learning alot. My wife is getting into the idea of having records into my room, and she has been looking at some used stuff at a thrift store.I told her hold wait for me since I don't want a bunch of useless records I'll never listen to.....but this week, I am heading out and maybe get a couple of LPs,...As if I need any more enticement 

As a side note about my pining for vinyl...17 years ago, I helped a friend move her parent's belongings from a home after they passed. I found an old 5-6 LP  box set that was in perfect condition, and it looked like they'd never been taken out of the sleeves...I was given the LPs,  where they have been stored in my house for all that time, on the chance I'd get into vinyl...whether they'd be any good, I dont know, I haven't even seen them in all this time, so I have to dig them out. I don't even remember the Genre...but it will be fun to finally spin them after all these years....Secondly, my grandmother's house was recently sold after her passing, and when the house was cleaned out, about 50 records from my grandfather's era were found..Old Italian records and some old 1940-50's records..I tried to get ahold of them, but my uncle scooped them, but probably just to sell them...Now I am eyeballing a small stash my folks have in their attic. I suspect that they will be all warped, but they haven't been brought down yet....

So as you can see, now I'm in my mid 40's trying to get a piece of what you all here love so much...I am willing to spend some time learning and making some good choices in gear and with a little luck and some cash, I should be able to get what I've been wanting...I've posted these pics on AC before, but here's my room where I want to listen to records....It started as a DIY theater, then to two channel only...the next metamorphasis...analog addition????? stay tuned....Thanks again....Pete
 

[Gzerro]

Pete,

It is great to see you have not been discouraged!

As a fellow vinyl newbie in my mid-forties, after a little over a year in I can tell you:

1. It really isn't that hard to learn. There are great resources here at AC to help, as well as various other sites.

2. It's alot of fun! Looking at your room you obviously take this hobby seriously and are willing to put in the effort required to get a great result.

3. It's amazing how good this decades old tech works- it still blows me away how good it can sound almost every time I put on a record.

4. Whether you decide to go all in, or just put together a modest system with a small collection of favorite records, I really doubt you will regret the time and $$ spent based on what you have posted so far.

Good luck and please keep posting your progress.

Tom