2. analog
  3. 1104381273

OK, I made the leap...

Now that the kid is grown and gone (boo, hoo) I’ve decided it is time to get back into analog. I’ve been into this sport since; hum, ah, 1967, how ever long that is. I’ve had 500-600 albums, (I’m not going to count), that have been in storage since 1989. I know that year since that was the year my ex and I split the sheets and I managed to escape with the vinyl.
Anyway, I went to a used stereo store in Seattle today and purchased a used (old) turntable and a cheap phono pre, and I am like a kid in a candy store. I literally had not even looked at the albums since they were packed and stored years ago, in spite of moving several times. Holy crap, I’ve got a lot of good music. In spite of all the smoke and booze, I really did take good care of these albums. Yahoo. While I’m having a blast listening to my old stuff, it does not sound as good as my digital setup. There just seems to be no bottom end, and kind of a harsh top end. Sounds like an old receiver with tone controls that someone had turned the bass all the way down, and the treble all the way up.
Now for my question; how much do I have to spend on a table/arm/cart/phono pre setup to at least match what hear with my CD player? I do now, especially after listening to, and looking at what I’ve got, want to get back into vinyl, but not just as just a novelty. From what I’ve read here and other places, I should be able to have this sound as good or better that CD’s. All reasonable help/suggestions will be appreciated.
My system is as follows: (I can’t seem to make the virtual system thing work today)
Speakers: Osborn, Grand Monument Reference
Amp: Redgum RGH900
Pre amp: Consonance Reference 1.1
CD player: Sim Audio Moon Eclipse
Table: Sansui SA 4050C
Phono pre: God knows what it is.
Cables: Analysis plus, Harmonic Tech. Some other things I can’t remember.
bnc

Showing 2 responses by bnc

bnc OP
18 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the responses. It really helps to get the specific recommendations and pricing to give me an idea of what I can expect to spend to equal or better my current dig. system. Unfortunately, it’s not a good time of year for me to be making any purchases (construction worker); however, I now have an idea of what to save for. I think it’s clear that there is no use in just kind of upgrading. Might as well bite the bullet and go for broke when fund become available. I’ll be keeping an eye on the used market. Actually maybe I shouldn’t right now, it’ll kill me if something comes up and I have to let it go. Crap, I knew I shouldn’t have drifted to this side.
I have done a lot of reading in the archive threads already. What a hornets nest. Many there seem to be rather opinionated. After reading for many hours, I was more confused than when I started, which is why I started this thread. It turns out that I’m not only a construction worker, I also own the company. I added this just to let you know how much I appreciate recommendations of specific combinations that work well together. By the time my day is over and I make time to listen music, I just want to listen, not have to fool around trying this and that to hear what seems better. I get enough stress at work, I just want to relax and listen.
Thanks once again, I knew I could count on you.
Brad
bnc OP
18 posts
 
Well so much for not spending any money right away. After talking to the guys at the shop where I bought the table about the lack of bass and tinny top end, they said that table should sound better than that and suggested a better phono pre. So back to town I go. Geeze, I didn’t even make it 24 hours before I got upgradeitis. I bought a Rega Fono pre. Holy cow, what a difference. In some ways, even this modest setup sounds better than my CD’s do. I never would have believed it. Bells and such just seem to linger for ever. Cool. Now I really can’t wait until I can afford to make the “big” jump. If indeed a real top end type table, arm etc. combo will step it up that much more, I’ll never get anything done. If I didn’t already have so many CD’s, I think I would sell my player to afford the update now. Oh well, nobody said this was going to be easy (or cheap). I’ma thinkin this puts the new tube amp purchase in the back burner.
Thanks once again for the help all. You guys are killing me.
Brad
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