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Turntable cost:benefit

I read the new Garrard 301 review in the current "Stereophile" with great interest, especially as my father owned one which he jettisoned decades ago...most unfortunately. Anyway, appealing as the re-issue is, the cost is punitive, as noted by the author.

With that preamble, I'm interested in forum members' thoughts on the cost:benefit ratio of a high priced turntable for a modest vinyl collection. In my case, that's around 800 LPs. Another reason I'm curious is that I have a friend who simply "decided to get into vinyl" and bought a ~$15k turntable plus a comparably priced tonearm + cartridge. He owned zero vinyl at the time of the purchase. Now I think he has about 20 "audiophile" pressings to enjoy on that TT.

To answer my own question, I can't justify a turntable at that price level for my own vinyl collection. Actually, I can't really summon up a compelling argument for such a purchase. Plus, I'm quite content with my  VPI HW-19 Mk 2 (though a better cartridge would be attractive).

Assuming disposable funds are not the absolute deciding factor and other components in your system are good enough to support a high end TT, what size record collection do readers think justifies a turntable costing over some arbitrary (say around $3000 for the purposes of argument) threshold? Is that even a consideration?
kacomess

Showing 5 responses by kacomess

kacomess OP
202 posts
 
dweller,
Perhaps you misapprehended my comment. I am an avid vinyl listener and I'm perfectly content with my present system. My LPs have accumulated over quite a few years.

I posted this comment simply as a point of discussion. It was prompted by both the 301 review and the recent TT acquisition by a friend, as I explained.

To further qualify: if I had $24k in easily disposable funds at hand, I still couldn't rationalize that sort of purchase. In short, the cost:benefit calculation doesn't work for me, regardless of circumstances. I'm just curious about what others think.
kacomess OP
202 posts
 
The VPI HW-19 Mk 2 has a Mørch UP-4 with a Sumiko Blue Point #2 cartridge, a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, a Classé DR-9 and Magnepan LRS speakers with Kimber and Nordost cables.
kacomess OP
202 posts
 
Hello, again!
To clarify once more, my original posting was simply an abstract question open for discussion and opinion.

To rephrase it: I posed the question about factoring the size of an existing vinyl collection into the decision as to whether or not purchasing a high-end TT is "worthwhile", as opposed to keeping a more modest player. Seemingly, the answer is that the number of LPs is not germane to that decision

I'm not looking for any upgrades now or in the near-term future. If I were to personally upgrade anything for my vinyl system it might/maybe/potentially/possibly be the cartridge as I (correctly or not) think that component may provide the most "bang for the buck" assuming the rest of the system is reasonably good.
Thanks for your comments,KAC
kacomess OP
202 posts
 
yogiboy,
It has <<1500 hours. As for the possibility of changing it, it was only a passing fancy, set to maybe occur sometime in the far-distant future (if at all).
Thanks!KAC
kacomess OP
202 posts
 
Yikes! I just posted this "poll" merely as a "food for thought" item! It's certainly elicited a variety of interesting replies, all of which are appreciated.

I've been acquiring vinyl records since ~1965 and I'm relatively (more-or-less) happy with my current setup. On the other hand, high-end equipment and/or financial donations will be sincerely welcomed; gratefully and individually acknowledged; and (even better still!) applied in-full by me to acquire your recommended and preferred system upgrade(s) :)
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