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 jphii

jphii
485 posts
 
Rushton, you need to stop doing that! You are making us all look bad. But, I want to second AEW's recommendation for a cleaning machine. I think it is an essential part of your analog budget. I've tried every low-dollar cleaning method known to man, and the VPI 16.5 clearly betters them when used with good fluids. Cleaning is a pain in the ass, but a good machine makes it less of one.

Also, I'd recommend a Teres. You would be starting out well over 2 grand, but IMO, as far as looks and especially perfomance goes, a well set up Teres will spank a Scout any day. I think Rushton is right, a lower end setup is not going to make you happy. You would be looking at 3 grand minimum to get into a 245, and that is with a Rega variant arm and a Denon 103r. The main problem with going the Teres route is that you can't save any money on the table by buying used because, well, nobody lets them go.

You do have a ton of options, and the search for the right table is fun (it was for me, at least). Keep us posted as to how it goes.

Enjoy!
jphii
485 posts
 
Rushton,

Keep it simple? I may take some heat for this, but with 600 lps IMO hand cleaning is not an option. After coming out of storage they all need to be cleaned, and doing it by hand will take about 33.9 years. Why use this:



or this:



When this:



makes life so much easier? Because as Brad said:

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.

If anything would scare me off it would be cleaning all of those lps by hand!

Doug is pretty much right on with what I was thinking, but for $200 more I'd go with a 245. So i'd say this:

Teres 245: $2450
OL OL1 MK2: $570
Denon 103r: $250
VPI 16.5: $425 (Galen Carol)

which comes to $3695, leaving well over a grand to get "even" with the Eclipse. Sould cover a phono stage and some other supplies, and a few lps. And the TWL Hi Fi Mod and Paul's VFT Tweak, of course!

Brad, once you enter the dark side, well....

Good luck,

Joe
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