[sapporo]

hi. i am thinking about purchasing the bugle... i know there is a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, but i prefer buying something knowing i'm gonna keep it rather than just check it out.

my current setup is a technics 1200 mk2, shure m447 + m44g, vestax pmc05 pro ii mixer, a rolls vp29 preamp, and echo mia soundcard.

im aware this is an audiophile forum and my questions may seem a bit out of place. i primarily use my 1200 for scratching, but i also use it for listening and sampling (bedroom studio). right now i use the m44g for anything that isnt scratching, but i'll be upgrading to another cartridge just for sampling and recording later.

anyways, i was attempting to record some vinyls over the weekend --- things that i'd like to have fairly good copies of. i started out recording through the rolls vp29, thinking that it would output less colorization and noise than the vestax. i noticed in my recordings a good amount of noise and low frequency oscillation - somewhat annoying in quiet parts. i switched to the vestax and it was much quieter especially in the low frequencies --- though im pretty sure this can be attributed to the vestax's unusual frequency response, 25-25000hz (scratch mixer).

the noise floor of the rolls vp29 with no signal and turntable powered off, averaged around -38.5dB and the vestax around -54.9dB both using a consumer level -10dBV input on the echo mia.

basically, for sampling or recording vinyl to computer, i'd like something quiet, good SNR + that does not colorize the audio signal --- and a noticeable improvement from what i already have.

i guess to make a long story short... do you think i will notice a difference with the bugle even with the turntable/carts i currently have? i know its a subjective question, but if possible please don't bring up my cartridges... i will be upgrading soon. although its a bedroom studio, i try to get fairly decent results. the bugle is in my price range, but anything priced above it is simply out of the question.

thanx!

[Brinkman]

The Ripper has the same phono EQ circuit as the Bugle, plus a built-in ADC/DAC so you don't have to worry about jitter from your computer polluting your sound files.

[sapporo]

so i ended up purchasing the bugle (used off this board)... im pretty skeptical when it comes to audiophile equipment, mostly because listening to music is such a subjective experience, but also because audiophile equipment tends to be very expensive.

when i hooked up the bugle i put on a record i've listened to 100s of times. its a poorly mastered and poorly pressed record that i happen to love. compared to the rolls vp29 i own, it simply does not compare in my opinion. a few times i thought that i even heard some subtleties of sounds i had never noticed on this recording before. perhaps it was because i was excited to hear the results of the bugle, perhaps not. maybe the bugle is a million times better than the rolls (or vestax), maybe its only a little better, i can't objectively say. but i think it is an absolutely outstanding product that is afford-ably priced and i'm glad i purchased it. thanx! ))

[Bernie]

It's great that you are happy with the bugle. It will only get better.

Bernie.