Starting Analog...

One person's hassle is another person's idea of a great time.

I like the time, the involvement, the rituals. The sense that one is handling precious objects - LP, turntable, tonearm, cartridge, stylus.

I like the gorgeous construction of well-made analog devices. It's a pleasure to see the mechanical running of them.

Nothing could be a further cry from pushing a silver disc into a drawer, or indeed clicking a mouse or trackpad.

The WHOLE analog deal is wonderful. It might not be to your taste, but many of us have fallen in love with it and won't let go. And in some way it seems to me that all this - the physical and emotional involvement, the sense of running parts in a system where everything has to be set just so, like the rigging of a ship, is somehow connected to the glorious sound of a great analog stereo, and its unrivalled ability to communicate emotion and music.

Aside from a cheesy plastic cheap POS player, my adventure started with an AR Turntable and a Linn Basik arm. Nursed it to health, slapped a Shure cart on...was officially in vinyl playbackland for under $150. A year an a half later, shortly after upgrading to a Clearaudio cart on the AR, I sucked it up and bought a Gyro SE, VPI cleaner and some tube amps! Worth every penny, I might add ;)

It's dangerous stuff! Listen to these guys, you'll be hooked! I want to do some structural mods to my stand, mod my tonearm, and upgrade my cart at some point and I'll be happy for a while (then I'll have time to work on getting my CD playback to some kind of "tolerable" level--I just can't stand it right now, but my player is pretty modest).

If you don't mind the attention vinyl commands, I suggest you jump in with both feet and don't look back. You'll love vinyl, and more and more new titles are becoming available along side all the old used gems out there. Just make sure you get a 'table with a good upgrade path, as you will definitely follow it, and make sure you make some kind of cleaning system part of your budget. This doesn't have to be costly, but it can be. Up to you, and how much DIY work you're willing to put in.

It's worth it! :)

I started with no albums a year ago. I sold all of my albums in the early 80's. Since the year has gone, I have already upgraded my vinyl rig once. I think it has increased my pleasure of this hobby 100%. Once a month I go to a local store that gets vinyl from the Bop Shop out of Rochester NY. I buy about 10 - 15 albums a month. I must have 500 albums now.
Just go into it with a level head. If you are like me ( obsesive, compulsive) You better get you finances in order because it is a wild ride.
And NO, Cd doesn't come close!!!

the greatest thing in the world, but these guys(and girls?) are right. in november 02 started with a few records, a project 1.2, and a project phono box pre. now, less than 2 years later, i have a vpi scout/benz glider l2 table/cart, a dynavector p-75 phono, ugraded electronics and speakers, a nitty gritty cleaner, and a just got a vpi sds(everything they say is true about this beast-wonderful!) not to mention about 700-800 records. and of course, all the acessories(man, that record research labs cleaning fluid is great, but it goes fast and it ain't cheap). i'd say there's 2 ways to look at it. if you have the money/or dyi spirit, and the inclination, and you love music, than by all means get started. once it's all in place and you're spinning, it truly does blow away digital. on the other hand, it requires some committment to the routine of cleaning, tweaking, etc.

good luck!

Vinyl is a hassle--let's face it. Unless you already have a lot of records that *you* like and/or access to cheap ones it's not worth it. To top it off, one needs an analog rig that will be up to the rest of your equipment. I don't say this to discourage you, as I have three times more LP records vs CDs, but it's just a matter of numbers. Performance wise, my digital and analog rigs are pretty much in balance with each other.

Edavis, we've all said that line I am going to stop before!!!!!!!

Walk away from the vinyl now...before you fall in like I did. Started with a Music Hall MMF-7, and a Channel Island phono preamp. Now I'm into a VPI Scout w/Dynavector 20XH, and a Graham Slee ERA Gold MkV/Elevator EXP. I have a Shelter 501 II on the way...then I'm going to stop ;-)

Man, you're toast!

...but with butter & jelly.

Enjoy the ride.

Oh yeah, be very, very, carefull. Next thing you know" I can get this TT for $1800 and the pre for $1200, does that sound good"

Sounds good. For less than $500 you can join the club.

Now, the problem is, the dues get higher evry day ;)