Cover me...I'm going in!

ROHfan

cstibitz wrote: »

I've been looking at Rega rp1, Pro-ject Carbon Debut, and U-turn upgrade. All seem to be entry level audiophile quality for around $400 or less. Large majority of reviews I read were pretty good.

Pro-jects with the DC motor get good reviews. They had a problem with their AC motors being noisy.

ROHfan

Just found this on the Bay. It's pretty close to my job:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICS-SL-D2-SUPER-CONDITION-TURNTABLE-DUST-COVER-SHURE-99-IED-WORKING-/152008324291?hash=item236466f4c3:g:rZ8AAOSwxp9W3uml

[Deleted User]

I have the belt version from Rick88 w/ a shure M97xe cart.
Solidly built. Cartridge is just o.k.

ROHfan wrote: »

Just found this on the Bay. It's pretty close to my job:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICS-SL-D2-SUPER-CONDITION-TURNTABLE-DUST-COVER-SHURE-99-IED-WORKING-/152008324291?hash=item236466f4c3:g:rZ8AAOSwxp9W3uml

[Deleted User]

This has good specs and is around your price range.
https://store.uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-plus-turntable
No experience w/ it though.

Nightfall

That 1200 MK2 with the Dynavector on it would be at the top of my list out of everything in this thread. It has a very good aftermarket too and lots of documented mods.

Then something like this would get you going.

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Audio-Phono-Pre-amplifier-Black/dp/B000YEK1AQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458141123&sr=8-1&keywords=pro-ject+phono+preamp

Don't forget a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and a Spinclean.

If you aren't into it the 1200 would be pretty easy to sell as far as TT's go.

msg

ROHfan wrote: »

Just found this on the Bay. It's pretty close to my job:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICS-SL-D2-SUPER-CONDITION-TURNTABLE-DUST-COVER-SHURE-99-IED-WORKING-/152008324291?hash=item236466f4c3:g:rZ8AAOSwxp9W3uml

maaaan, I'd be all over checking into that D2 if there were one local to me. You could probably go $150 on it. I've been casually looking for one of these to replace the one that my parents had and that my younger brother and I trashed growing up. I finally found a 1200 that I enjoy, and I really like these D2's as well. Looks like this one just needs a good cleaning! I welcome that sort of thing, as I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from fixing up older, neglected stuff.

As NF says, though, that 1200 near you might be a better choice, overall, quality wise. I'd have a look at this one as well, to see whether it can be spiffied up, and whether it has the dust cover. It's a real shame to me to see some of these old tables abused. For that price, it would have to be completely intact and include the dust cover and not needing a whole lot of work. If it's been dj'd, the case might be all scratched up and the bearings/tonearm may need some attention. You can contact Kevin at KAB - he's a super nice guy, and he'll give you some points on what to look for when shopping and what to expect for reasonable pricing. I think he told me $450 and expect to buy a tonearm, but I can't remember for certain.

I started off like you thinking I wanted to give it a shot again (first foray was with the AT-LP120 Summer 2014; didn't take; returned) and not really wanting to get in too deep, but then I got the Technics feevah, and all defenses were defeated. If I can offer one piece of advice, it would be to search your feelings, Luke, and determine how far you think you're going to go, realistically. If you think you might get in pretty deep, then I'd say jump right to that, and skip the tentative purchases, which can amount to a significant amount you could contribute to a table you really want. Otherwise, sticking to your original plan, since it's available to you, I would look into that SL-D2. That'll get you into the Technics tables, nicely, I think, and then you can decide from there whether vinyl is something you'll want to explore further.

And if you decide you'll end up deeper, then that opens up the field to lots of nice options.

I would also consider that Project Phono Pre that NF suggested to get you started, if you really want to stick to your plan to inch your way in, which I can completely respect. Otherwise, there's the Vincent PHO-8, Lounge LCR, or Budgie phono pre's you might consider at $300/$300/$400. You know, for when you become a vinyl/tt junkie

Nightfall

The price on the 1200 is probably mostly because of that cartridge.

ROHfan

Thanks, msg, for sharing your experience. Gives me a lot to think about.

So I've got my eyes on a table rednedtugent recommended. That U-Turn looks nice and is spoken highly of. Here it is:
https://store.uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-builder
I'd go with the acrylic platter and the cue as add-ons if I decide to take the leap. I kinda want something new so this may fit the bill.

heiney9

That Orbit sure looks nice! Spec'd out $399, with acrylic, cue, and grado blue.

voltz

If you do get into Vinyl it will add up, new vinyl is expensive and old vinyl can be hard to find in nice shape, then there is record cleaning and care and stylus care etc...

but Cleaning and Playing Vinyl can be very Therapeutic it slows you down a bit, And Vinyl is always analog. either way have fun with it Bill! hope it works out for you.

Nightfall

voltz wrote: »

Vinyl is always analog.

Technically but a lot of new LP's are cut from a digital source. Not that this scenario can't sound good. The Rush remasters are cut from 192/24 digital files and they sound really good.

ROHfan

Thanks again, everyone, for all the suggestions! I read every one of them and got some really good feedback. I took something away from every post. As a result, as always on this board, I will be making a much more educated decision. Will report back on this thread when I start spinning.

msg

ROHfan wrote: »

So I've got my eyes on a table rednedtugent recommended. That U-Turn looks nice and is spoken highly of.

oooh, yeah, I forgot about those. Nice designs. Clean. I'm curious about the Denon Skip mentioned too. I don't know anyone who's tried one.

voltz wrote: »

If you do get into Vinyl it will add up, new vinyl is expensive and old vinyl can be hard to find in nice shape, then there is record cleaning and care and stylus care etc...

but Cleaning and Playing Vinyl can be very Therapeutic it slows you down a bit, And Vinyl is always analog. either way have fun with it Bill! hope it works out for you.

+All this!
I really had *no* idea how involved it could be. "No Ragrets. That's my credo."

ROHfan

So I went with the U-Turn table, and after much research ordered the Cambridge Audio - Azur 551P. Hopefully, this combo will bode well. Will keep the updates coming.

[Deleted User]

you need to jump on the vinyl Karma now!!

ROHfan

rednedtugent wrote: »

you need to jump on the vinyl Karma now!!

I hate you all.

cstibitz

Interested to hear an update, I was debating between the uturn and the pro-ject carbon debut. I went with the Pro-ject so curious to see if maybe I made to wrong decision.

ROHfan

cstibitz wrote: »

Interested to hear an update, I was debating between the uturn and the pro-ject carbon debut. I went with the Pro-ject so curious to see if maybe I made to wrong decision.

It hasn't shipped yet but I'm hoping by Tuesday I'll have it.

ROHfan

So I've had the TT for a few days and I'm sorry to report that I don't think vinyl is for me. It was nostalgic at first, but when I listened to the same songs on CD after hearing them on vinyl it just doesn't seem worth it. I'm going to return the components and put that money into improving my current system.

Nightfall

Are you playing clean LP's that aren't beat up?

What don't you like about it?

msg

ahh man, sorry to hear that.
this happened to me the first time I tried to get into it. I thought it was dirty, inconvenient and expensive. two years after, I got the bug again.

I can't go full vinyl, but there's something more relaxing to me about playing certain albums on vinyl instead of digital. my rig isn't refined enough to realize the full potential of an analog path from start to finish, but for me it's more the ritual. it's more involving, and I find that it almost makes me listen to an entire album instead of jumping around from track to track.

ROHfan

Nightfall wrote: »

Are you playing clean LP's that aren't beat up?

What don't you like about it?

I have two brand-new LPs that I listened to. Steely Dan's "Aja," and Rush's "Permanent Waves." No hiss, rumble or pops of any kind. Ortofon OM 5E cartridge, also. I just preferred the CD version of both--there was more there to like. I also listened to some older, used LPs and they were just a total turnoff. I would have to invest in a cleaning system to listen to used LPs and I'm just gonna get out before I pass the Event Horizon of the Rabbit Hole.

MSG, thanks for the input. For me, maybe somewhere down the road, as well.

msg

maaaan, yeah, that's my understanding as well - to get the best analog experience out of vinyl, you apparently have to go in pretty big. guess the same could be said for digital as well, though...

haha, Event Horizon reference. The first time I heard that phrase was the film title, so that will always be my first reference, which probably has worse connotation than the original definition.

yeah man, it'll always be there. good thing that you could see for yourself that it's not for you right now.

voltz

Hey Bill

It was best to find out early then after dropping a lot of $$ on a full TT setup.

I'd wonder about your phono amp but you have the Cambridge so I don't think that was it...

for me I thought Aja Vinyl sounded a lot better then the CD but the SHM-SACD of Aja is toe to toe with the vinyl.. for most of the Vinyl records that I also have the SACD's for the Vinyl sound a little Warmer and a touch better except Wishbone Ash - Argus which the SACD just rules!!

Plus Vinyl is a dedication of cleaning and picking LP's that you like most of the songs on or at least one side of the LP

If Vinyl isnt your thing how about SACD's?

mikeyb128

Sorry to hear that, but I would say it needs break in. Mine sounded better after about 50 hours. But I'm in the same boat. I spent a bit, and realized vinyl wasn't for me either. My girlfriend inherited a collection from a family member that passed so we have around 200 in the house. They remain unused. CDs are cheaper and sound better with my ears. But then I have a buddy with at least 20,000 invested in his vinyl rig and sounds fantastic.