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Is it worth expanding into Vinyl???

I've been kicking around the idea of going vinyl for awhile so I figured I'd post some questions. I understand the difference between Vinyl and Digital from a sound recording and reproduction standpoint and the pros/cons of it, but I guess real world opinion specific to my situation is what I seek.

I was born in '79 so by the time I got into music, Digital had already taken over. As such, I was never exposed to Vinyl as a child and have been raised on the digital "sound". At this point, I have a fairly substantial collection of SACD and DVD-Audio which serve as my primary listening material. Genre's are very dispersed including just about everything.

If I decided to venture into Vinyl, I would want to do so with a minimal investment up front (for the hardware)...perhaps around $500-$600. I also see that one can spend over $30k on a turntable with tonearm and cartridge, so that's a little intimidating to me. I don't want to waste even my measly $500 on getting into vinyl if I need to spend substantially more to get sound that exceeds that of my current all-digital setup.

Here is my current setup, so the only addition would be that of the turntable itself, played through these components. I suppose I'm just looking for opinions from anyone who has one regarding whether a ~$500 turntable on this system can yield sonic results that equal or exceed my current capabilities (realizing that the recording itself plays a tremendous role in the reproduction).

SACD/CD Player: Music Hall Maverick (stock)
DVD-A Player: Denon 3910 (stock)
PreAmp: Outlaw Audio 950
Amplifier: Outlaw Audio 750
Fronts: Axiom M80 v2 (Bi-Wired)
Center: Axiom VP150 v2
Rears: Axiom QS8 v2
Sub: Axiom EP500 v2
Interconnects: Outlaw Audio
Speaker Wire: Monster M1.4s BiWire

I should also mention that a nice, wide and open soundstage is the most important characteristic I look for in listening. The more "real" it all sounds, the happier I am.

Any opinions or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Turntable recommendations would also be greatly appreciated!
fatgh0st

Showing 3 responses by newbee

newbee
4,816 posts
 
Busic2, You won't get much hell from me. I owned a 101 too. Didn't buy any CD's to speak of for about 10 years until I got a Cal Aria III, then the Alpha/Delta combo. For me the choice is now determined by the music I want to hear.

Fatgh0st, FWIW, in determining whether or not to add Vinyl at any price, budget or high end, don't overlook the availability and/or cost of records. If for example, if you have great access to used records of music you want to hear, either because you are already familar with the content and enjoy the nostalgia of older pop/jazz/rock etc, I wouldn't hesistate to add a TT to my system, or if you want to explore classical the used bins are full and you can really hear some great performances at a reasonble cost. BUT, if you have to buy new issues at $30 a pop or more from speciality stores I'd think long and hard before I even bothered to go there.

And within your budget, you're unlikely to find much satisfaction in getting a 'hi end' sound superior in the overall to that available on an inexpensive CDP.
newbee
4,816 posts
 
Tvad, I think you are right, but would add -Microscopically 'damaged' vinyl that is not visable to the naked eye is, however, as much a matter of poor pressings in the first place, not from misuse/storage. And yes, there is no remedy for it.

When I first started to collect vinyl it seemed as if American pressings from the late 60's onward were plagued with poor pressings, from, especially, the majors like Angel, CBS/Sony/Columbia, RCA etc.

I was amazed when I bought my first 'Import' recordings from EMI, Decca, Phillips, DG etc and found them to be amazingly clear and quiet. I was also amazed to hear the same thing on early RCA Living Stereos along with the sonics in the grooves.

I was not amazed that folks rushed to digital when it arrived because these exact problems were epidemic. That folks are now buying these lemons in the used bins is not surprising - I gave all the crap away to Salvation Army long ago and its probably found its way there.

Now if I get into a used record store I will only buy 'Imports' and a few other labels I know have the same consistent quality, which have unblemished surfaces. I've had good luck so far, but I'd be lying if I said there were many of these out there to be found. I think most have stayed in someone's library.

BTW, FWIW, if you like jazz and see any recordings put out by Concord Jazz buy 'em. Some American (non-audiopile labels) seemed to have almost always gotten good pressings, as have audiophile labels like TELARC(if you like the bass drum!) and Reference Recordings, to name a couple.

FWIW.
newbee
4,816 posts
 
Johnnantias, One reason that 'vinylphiles' want to discourage 'new members' is that success would result in less competition for those few remaining great RCA Living Stereo's in the Goodwill bins.

However, I believe that many who may sound discouraging to you are nothing more than unvarnished realists faced with helping inexperienced folks who seem (to them) to be driven by the popular resurection of vinyl but have no idea of what the actual problems are in setting up and utilizing a TT system not to mention the acquisition of high quality LP's.

There is a lot of good music to be heard in vinyl over any system, but high quality software and sound is neither cheap nor easily acquired. As someone already said, Vinyl playback is a hobby within a hobby. If a fellow can be easily discouraged by a few 'reality' remarks, then it probably wasn't a pursuit to be pursued.

Audiofeil, No arguement about tossing LP's out for CD's...you are right! BTW, are these the same folks who now hawk the benefit of liquid based tweeks for CD's? :-)
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