2. analog
  3. 1061232207

Getting into analog is tough....

I have been thinking hard about getting into analog, but the more I research, the more it puts me off. First, I need a phono stage. Then, of course, I need the turntable. Then, I need a tonearm. Then a cartridge. Then a needle. Ok, now will it be MC or MM? How about the arm? Will I get a turntable without an arm? No, get a turntable with an arm because setting up an arm for a newbie can be a disaster, right?. How about the cartridge? Ok, my budget is $1500 for a phono stage and a turntable. But, a tone arm by itself might be more than the turntable and the stage. Oh, the cartridge might be more than everything, but which one? Who has a turntable I can listen to? What, almost no one I know has a turntable these days? What about the thing and the other thing and then there is this thing and that thing and cables and..........AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!

You know, my CD player doesn't sound that bad. In fact, CD players are easy. You just plug and plug and listen.

So, what was the reason I wanted to get into analog?
matchstikman
jyprez's avatar
jyprez
241 posts
 
I recently took the plunge back into analog and I agree it is very difficult to do. It took me about 6 months to purchase all the components of my analog front end which now consists of:

Michell Gyro SE MkII Turntable
Origin Live Silver arm
Shelter 501 Cartridge
Sonic Frontiers SFP1 Signature Phono stage

At the time I only had about 50 albums of 50's - 60's Jazz (which is what I really like to listen to) compared to hundreds of CD's. I now have about 200 LP's.
So far I have had the system for a month and I'm begining to form some impressions of CD vs LP based on specific A/B comparisons of albums rather than broad generalizations (since I can't say, based on experience to date, that LP's categorically "blow away" CD's in every case.) I will report on specifics in the near future.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Tubegroover, good post. You and TWL summarized the issues nicely.
tsip6920
1 posts
 
Get a Pro-Ject Debut turntable....you cant believe the sound of this baby at that price...it sure beats my cd player, and strangely enough i think that i can even compare it to my rega3, if i install a good cartridge...just bought it 2 months ago for 100 british pounds and it still amazes me every time i put a record...
rainchild
31 posts
 
Hey matchstikman, I know what you mean. Me too am considering going into analogue but find it exciting to find out new things everyday instead of feeling weary. I just got a Rega Mira 2000 integrated amp which has a pretty good MM built-in phono. Now I'm looking out for TT and learning as much as I can how to set up a TT. I'm thinking about Thorens 125MK2 to start with but later putting priority on the Rega P2/P3 or Music Hall MMF5 because of the ease to set up and availability of parts. I will appreciate if anyone here can give me some suggestion of the TTs that I'd shortlisted and tell me the pros and cons of these TT and I welcome options in this price range. Keep the faith, I think analogue is a worthwhile path to go into although at this moment we may feel a little lost. Don't rush, enjoy the search. It's more fun than pressing open/close, play and stop.

Lastly, can someone tells me what's the sonic diff between the Thorens TD 125mk2 and 126 and 160BC mk2?
aceto
273 posts
 
Take a deep clean breath. Do it once for each decision point you mentioned. You have enough money for everything. You have enough time for them. And you don't need a needle, unless you mean for something to calm you. Needles went out with Prohibition. Your cartridge has a stylus. There is always a better cartridge, always a better phono stage and usually a better arm. So those decisions are not permanent. So get a table that gives you options. That way you have something satisfying now and you can have a leisurely series of aaahhhh upgrades over the next several years. My Linn is a 1978 and my Clear Audio is a 2003. And play those CDs while you draw out some possibilities.
More to discover