Vinyl, should I take the plunge?

Thanks to all who took the time to respond. It will take me a while to get through Albert's great set of URL's for finding vinyl.

It is encouraging to know that others have navigated hifi with children.

Brett44, you don't know my wife. I can't have the upgrade conversation w/ my wife any more. I'd need Johnny Cochran in my corner to try and win that debate. I think the angle I'm going to try this time is that I'll sell off all of the old systems gathering dust for this new purchase (what ever it turns out to be. Any one need a crappy rotel cd player and a decent adcom processor :)?

Bob's comments about enjoying the music and not pursueing the collection of equipment is particularly fitting. He must know my wife!

Dirtyragamuffin- I live in Iowa, so I am familiar with "hell" and not being able to readily find software or hardware from dealers easily. I have to trek to Des Moines or Chic., which are hours away and that isn't happening much since my little guy came along.

BTW, I do have a really good collection of vinyl available. My dad who is 100% Czech must have 200+ 45's and records (he has a totally crap system though as he can't hear squat any more and refuses to use his hearing aids). To bad they are all polka!!! The tuba and the singing just get to me after a while. Maybe I'm not drinking enough beer when I'm down there.

Thanks again for the responces.

JJ

Mutex,

I did take the plunge. I got a technics SL-DD33 table for free from a friend. Hadn't been used for 10 years I'd guess. Plugged it into an old denon receiver and put up some used LP's and liked what I heard. Had some jazz with good strings and percussion and it rocked. Better then cd's even on this crap analog system. I upgraded my phone preamp to graham slee mk gold unit and the quality of my vinyl rig went up orders of magnitude.

My little guy is two years old now and just kill my #37 transport. He can reach it and did well for the last year just hitting play. He got more comforitable and harder to watch and I think must have pushed hard on the drawer and got it screwed up some how (sigh).

He can't reach the turntable cause it's up on the top of the eq rack.

I need cables and badly need a record cleaner. Eventually, I'll upgrade the table but kids put a major crimp on the old hifi budget for now. People complain about saving for college. Well I've got news for you... Damn day care is more expensive. I'll be happy when I can get to paying for college and have some spending money from what I'll be saving from day care :) (yes I know by the time he's in college inflation will have made my argument mute...)

Back to chasing my 2 year old. More as time allows...

JJ

Shhh, not so loud. My wife might hear you... I don't think she's noticed the new vinyl preamp. That mk gold unit is tiny. That was a small part of the reason I chose that one. Well, that and the cost and the favorable reviews... Let's see, cartridges and arms are small. Easy to sneak by. Only problem is that darned record cleaner. That ones going to be a little harder to get by her.

What's the big deal, not like I'm blowing my hard earned cash on cocaine or any thing...

My addiction is (hifi) is costlier...

JJ

SZdatch. Turns out there is like 30 days left on my warranty. So hopefully, it will be covered. The audio rack w/ a door is a great idea.

I may connect up an el-cheapo dvd player to the system and turn the #37 side wise or some thing. Though I suppose the IR remote will be a problem w/ that. That way he can still put his baby music cd's in. You know, I'm amazed at the fidelity of some of these cd's. The bass line in itsy bitsy spider really rocks through N802's...

Dratt. Not sure what to do. I want to encourage him in my hobby, but damnit, not if he's going to kill my cd's and transport.