Need a little TT advice...

tcrossma

I have been thinking about dipping my feet into the world of vinyl for some time now. I found a Realistic Lab 440 direct drive with a Shure R1000 cartridge on my local Craigslist for $50. I know nothing about turntables. Anyone have any thoughts as to whether this would be worth getting involved with?

I also would need a phono pre, which I assume I could hook up to my existing preamp (Adcom GFP-750)? Any recommendations on a phono pre? Would a Jolida JD-9 be a decent fit with my system?

What I'm afraid of doing is not spending enough money to get a decent TT setup, and not realizing the true potential and getting turned off. So if this TT and a Jolida phono pre aren't up to it, I want to know.

Thanks.

mhardy6647

Not a bad turntable as I recall; easily worth 50 smackers in working condition.
Assume a new stylus for the cartridge (and/or invest in a new cartridge); the R/S cartridge was a Shure.
See page 21 of http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1982/

Phono preamps are another kettle of fish. I like vacuum tubes and I like to solder, so I am drawn to suppliers like www.bottlehead.com and www.hagtech.com The Hagerman Bugle (solid state) is perhaps the best value phono preamp available.

doctorcilantro

Heard a lot of great things about Ray Samuels new phono stage, and it's around $650 IIRC; never heard it myself, but it is supposed to be a giant killer.

dkg999

You never really have to worry about whether you spent enough money on a vinyl rig :eek:

tcrossma

Thanks for the replies guys.

dkg999 wrote: »

You never really have to worry about whether you spent enough money on a vinyl rig :eek:

What do you mean exactly? I'm worried that I will buy something too much on the junk end of the spectrum and not fully appreciate what vinyl can do. Are you saying this isn't the case, and that any TT will be fine?

HB27

Vinyl played properly is a large step above digital in "soul and life" reproduction.
Played on average or entry level gear it's just another average format.
The cartridge listed is not a decent quality cartridge. Entry level and lacking in range and sq. A decent/good upgrade cartridge will run you another $60 plus. The turntable will adequately play vinyl but you'll get an audible noise level when playing.
I guess the question is your budget. $$$

tcrossma

My budget is flexible, but I guess I was just looking at grabbing a local deal to see if vinyl was for me, and then jumping in with both feet later. But if buying a table like this is going leave me disappointed, well, I don't want that either.

dkg999

tcrossma wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys.



What do you mean exactly? I'm worried that I will buy something too much on the junk end of the spectrum and not fully appreciate what vinyl can do. Are you saying this isn't the case, and that any TT will be fine?

Vinyl is the gift that keeps giving! It seems there's always one more thing to buy or try! Start wherever you can afford to start!

Toolfan66

I am running the Adcom GFP-750 with the Jolida JD9A with no problems and great results.

hearingimpared

This might help you out Bud;

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-188588.html

IMHO you could do markedly better on an entry level table for a couple of hundred on the used market.

ben62670

I would look for a Technic's 1200 or 1210 on the used market. Put a good cartridge on it, and have a solid table to begin with. Larry gave me a 1210 and I gave Jerry my Project. Check craigslist under instruments too.
Happy hunting
Ben

tcrossma

Ok, so I decided to pass on that old TT and jump into something a bit newer and higher-end. but I'm at a bit of a crossroads and could use some direction.

I want to get my phono pre situation settled before buying a TT.

My current preamp is not a phono pre, so the way I see it I have two options:

1) Buy a stand-alone phono pre
2) Sell my GFP-750 and buy a new pre that adds phono capabilities

Now, I'm not against trying a new pre, and have actually been thinking about doing so for a while anyway. But here's what I like about my current pre and don't want to give up:

- Fully balanced design
- HT bypass
- Remote

If I get a new pre I would love for it to be tube, but I'm not sure a tube phono pre exists within my budget (about $1500) that would be at least a lateral move (and hopefully a step up), with all the features that I have now.

So I can either buy a dedicated phono pre (in the $300-500 range), or replace my current pre with something equal or better.

Anybody have any recommendations on what I should do?

hearingimpared

Your GFP-750 is supposed to be a gem of a preamp so I would keep that. I would definitely look into a stand alone tube phono pre. They will offer a plethora of loading options both resistive for MC and capacitive for MM and being made just to serve as a phono pre would be a much better choice than a pre amp that has a phono stage in it.