Lenny: If you want great sound on a low budget, then you have to be patient and wait for the good deals to come. I am currently using a Thorens TD125 MkII with an SME 3009 II arm that I purchased used for $219 shipped (Ebay auction). For a good budget phono preamp there is only one choice that I am aware of. This is the Radio Shack battery powered preamp (#42-2111) that is currently out of stock though. They can be found on Ebay if you search 42-2111 and they may be coming back to RS as well (mixed stories on this). The unit retailed for $25 and you will also need a 9 volt battery charger and two NI 9 volt batteris (charge one while using the other). I purchased the batteries and charger @ Target and figure under $30 (easy) to equip a singe preamp. I use two of these units as dual mono's (one per channel) with some special shorting and 100 ohm RCA's that I made myself, on the unused inputs/outputs, but a single unit used in stereo also sounds quite good and because it is battery powered is dead quiet. Anyway, I have just under $300 invested in this rig (the TT came with an Ortofon F15E II cartridge, plus I already had a Grado Silver). Compared to the Music Hall MMF5 that I auditioned twice there is no comparison (the old Thorens/SME combo whoops it badly). It took me almost a year of research and a lot of looking to put this together, but this is what was needed to keep the cost down. I would also put my old Thorens TD165 (with its stock arm) up against the $500 Music Hall that I auditioned (this would probably be a wash) and I paid just over $100 for this deck.
Beginner in Vinyl - How far should I go?
I'm full of questions these days, but...
My question is, how far should I go? I recently went on holiday in Europe and picked up a few vinyls for really cheap (Eagles, Simon & Garfunkel, Diana Ross & the Supremes), and I'd like to listen to them, but I'm not sure how far I should go into investing into a turntable.
How much difference is there between getting some fully-automatic Sony/Teac turntable with built in phono pre-amp and actually making a further step up to a manual turntable with separate phono pre-amp?
For example, I could:
1) Get the TEAC PA688 turntable with cartridge, phono pre-amp, already included for $79.88 off J&R;
2) Get a Project 1.2 turntable with Sumiko Phono Box and a cleaning kit for $500 from Needle Doctor; probably less if I go with something like Music Hall.
How much of a difference would there be in the sound? I've also heard that vinyls get worn out and sound a lot staler and less detailed, so perhaps I'd be better off just getting the TEAC (or any other el cheapo one - any recommendations?)
I guess how much I invest into buying vinyl records depends on how nice the sound is, and how durable it is as a medium.
I appreciate any recommendations on hardware, both ways. Thanks.
My question is, how far should I go? I recently went on holiday in Europe and picked up a few vinyls for really cheap (Eagles, Simon & Garfunkel, Diana Ross & the Supremes), and I'd like to listen to them, but I'm not sure how far I should go into investing into a turntable.
How much difference is there between getting some fully-automatic Sony/Teac turntable with built in phono pre-amp and actually making a further step up to a manual turntable with separate phono pre-amp?
For example, I could:
1) Get the TEAC PA688 turntable with cartridge, phono pre-amp, already included for $79.88 off J&R;
2) Get a Project 1.2 turntable with Sumiko Phono Box and a cleaning kit for $500 from Needle Doctor; probably less if I go with something like Music Hall.
How much of a difference would there be in the sound? I've also heard that vinyls get worn out and sound a lot staler and less detailed, so perhaps I'd be better off just getting the TEAC (or any other el cheapo one - any recommendations?)
I guess how much I invest into buying vinyl records depends on how nice the sound is, and how durable it is as a medium.
I appreciate any recommendations on hardware, both ways. Thanks.