Vinyl***What If***

@uberwaltz , that your daugther likes analog or you like it or I like it is that the issue and means nothing on this dialogue.
You are talking of a different issue that me, so we can't agree not that I'm against what you posted.

Actually Raul, it is EXACTLY the point of this thread and means EVERYTHING in context.
Point of the thread was did the op think he could be happy with a vinyl setup on the budget side yes?
Answer is that it is most certainly possible to be happy with a budget vinyl setup as evinced by my daughters experience and mirrored by many more I am certain.
So while I would agree that I am talking of a different issue to you I would suggest that is is yourself who is talking of the incorrect issues that have nothing to with the original intent of the OP.
Peace.

Exactly Orpheus.
She is very happy and truly that is all that matters.
So extrapolate that result to the many thousands who might wish to try vinyl too.

Who are we to tell them that ,no it cannot be done on a low budget? Sure they may end up being hooked and spending a lot more.
Or they may just be content and revel in the whole vinyl experience thing.

Whatever how can we honestly tell them they should not even try vinyl.
After all... YMMV.

Says it all.

Orpheus and Raul.

I will give you guys my daughter's tel number and you can tell her she cannot possibly be enjoying listening to her albums.

You can expound and wax lyrical about why this is so.

Let me know how that works out for you.

There are certain types of people who value convenience along with their sq and for them the good old CD and streaming is the way to go and possibly should never consider vinyl. Although my sl-10 could be considered as a one button operation?
However for me vinyl is also about a lot of physical and sensory perceptions and actions.
The chase for that lp in thrift stores and my lrs, I tell you nothing much puts a bigger smile on my face than that $1 bargain bin purchase that after a good clean really shines on the table!

The sensory and tactile operations involved with everything vinyl, from cleaning, sorting, actually picking up and inspecting and finally placing carefully onto the platter and lowering that needle down and hearing the first strains of sweet music.

It is NOT for everybody for sure as time and effort are involved but it is about much more than just the sq of the music, its about life and soul and sheer musicality.

I truly could not care less if a streamed version of an album is technically superior to some, if I am happy then so be it.

I ENCOURAGED my daughter 100% to try vinyl even though she was born in the iPod age and a very modest system has her now buying vinyl all on her ownsome ( she bought a Floyd bootleg few weeks ago at $65!).

I would also encourage anybody who is aware of the more lifestyle commitment to give vinyl a try as well and try to educate them on what is involved but NOT try to tell them they NEED megabucks to enjoy.

For sure once you get hooked it is very easy to spend, spend, spend on the hardware but you do not HAVE to in order to enjoy all that goes along with the vinyl experience.

A tale of two rigs......

My main vinyl rig is right about at $6500 retail.

My second vinyl rig is about $340.

And tbh the sq on the second rig is exceedingly good.

Technics sl10 linear tracker with Adzen p mount cartridge and Project phonobox.

Anybody can replicate this for similar money from eBay anytime.

Now does my main rig sound better? Sure it does and so it bloody well should!

But if I was hearing my second rig with nothing else to compare it to I would still be very happy as it is pretty close to cd replay in that system in detail and soundstage and head and shoulders proud in warmth and musicality.

Plenty of great cheaper options available for new vinyl enthusiasts, sure it is a slippery slope and it is also easy to spend money and be dissatisfied too.

Thinking more deeply about this whole philosophy we should definitely be encouraging new vinyl addicts at every opportunity.

Not telling them you need 3K minimum to play in our sandpit.

Correct Orpheus
You do not know me.....

Must have taken at least 15 years away from vinyl and yet here I am......


My daughter is VERY happy with the vinyl rig I put together for her.

Check it out under my systems page.

Quite true Prof.

There was only one position for "overdrive" on our guitarists Fender tube amps for concerts ... 11...!!

I even used to run some mild distortion on my Peavey tube bass head as well.
Although it could have been as much a sign of the times as a necessity ... Lol.
The good old hair band 80,s.

Btw Freediver.

My previous post was not meant to discourage you from going forward just as a first hand experience from my perspective.

We would love to see you become a "vinyl junkie".

But I for one would also like to make sure you know fully the extent of the damage you may inflict upon yourself ... Lol.

Enjoy your music whatever you decide!

Freediver

I was in the same position as yourself a few years back.

I had a Krell integrated and a Krell CD player and tbh the sq was pretty darn excellent!

Decided to try my hand at vinyl again and thought near enough exactly as yourself with a low budget.

Bought a Project Debut if I remember correctly and an el cheapo made in China tube preamp from ebay( think this was the biggest problem), about $370 all in.

Deeply disappointed is an understatement....

Enough so that at that time with my very limited set up experience and lack of tools to do the job right it all went back on ebay and shelved the idea.

Of course the bug had bitten but the next time around I did a lot more research and came to the conclusion a much larger budget would be required.

Now I had a McIntosh c48 preamp with mm/mc inputs and lots of loading options.

Along came a Clearaudio table cw Clearaudio Ebony cartridge I think, anyway about $1500 total.

Now we were getting somewhere and I could at least listen to vinyl quite comfortably.

But it is a serious addiction and I wanted, no , needed more!

Now I have 4 tables and I think 12 cartridges!

Main table, cart and phono stands about 6k in cost, and that's not much by some peoples standards but at this level I am LOVING my vinyl and listen every chance I can.

$350? Nope not even really going to get you a half way decent phono in reality ( yes there will be lots of dissension on that point I am sure!).

Go for it by all means but...….