Origin Live Sovereign dual arm TT, Origin Live Enterprise mk4 with Soundsmith Hyperion MR, Origin Live Conqueror mk4 with Lyra Kleos, SME 3012r on a Accustand custom base with either a Miyajima Zero 0.7, Soundsmith Paua 2 (for sale), Hana ML, or Paradox Guard DL103 BML. The three tonearms connect to the Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono 2 preamp. Retail would be around $63k but I was able to obtain a few discounts along the way. I am committed but in reality maybe I should be… committed.
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For some unknown reason, many of my friends believed the hype about how vinyl was for the Dodos and everyone should embrace digital. To my good fortune, several of them approached me to see if I would offer a good home for their vinyl collections and I was only too happy to oblige ! One friend had been a university professor who taught a course on Jazz. He was delighted to pass along hundreds of his demonstration discs ---- I did NOT protest. Another friend simply wanted to divest themselves of their vinyl collections and I, once again, did not protest. When all was said and done I had amassed a collection that even surprised me ! A friend who had a couple of annoying youngsters staying with him and his wife decided that an excellent way of keeping them out of his hair was to pay them a stipend to count his vinyl collection and report the sum to him. I thought it was a great idea but had no irritating youngsters to do the job so I devised a "quick and dirty" way to accomplish the same result. I measured how many LPs occupied a foot of space and then measured all of my record shelves. One foot would hold 75 standard LPs. When I concluded my inventory I had somewhere around 12,000 vinyl discs ! I figured that boxed sets counted a bit high for their content, but otherwise the figure seemed correct. Have I listened to every one of them ? No --- definitely No. But just to realize that I'd rescued thousands of recordings from probable oblivion was enough of a reward for me. I really enjoy that they are there to be accessed and enjoyed whenever I wish. I know that a similar collection of music can be accessed through multiple streaming apps but there IS a difference. Those with a vinyl passion know exactly what I'm talking about ! Whether you are a collector with a mission of saving these amazing artifacts or even a collector with the mission of making a quick buck from your interaction, you both have a role in saving the destruction of of these precious links to another era. Keep those discs spinning !! |
Rega Naia package, Zesto SUT, EAT Eglow petite (casually looking for upgrade) so around 20K. Made my own leveling platform for TT (~$100 for materials, plus tools [bandsaw, router, drill press] and labor). Vevor Ultrasonic cleaner, Pro-Ject Vacuum [looking for Record Doctor X]. About 1,800 records, all in VinylStorageSolutions inners and outers. Made my own solid red oak shelves, built into closet. Write music reviews (mainly vinyl) on my darkwave-focused insta account (@undaobscura). |
Actually Keith, If I remember correctly your VPI HW-19 is a Mk.2 (I sold it to you, and mounted your Moerch arm on it. How are the Magnepan LRS working out for you? That is one beautiful house you have, and a great dedicated basement listening room!---Eric.
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Hey if you got it spend it...I used to but not any more. My TT Fluance with cart.$600 , pre amp 200 bucks .I'm retired on fixed income.But I have other TTs 2 Tecchnics, AR,Rega,Marantz,Kenwood, another Fluance and cartridges for all.Tyree different setups tube,integrated amp,power amp and pre amp.All vintage stuff. ..
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Used VPI Prime, $3k. Upgraded feet, $350. Hana Umami Red $3k with trade in. Odyssey phono pre, $1k (I think, been 3 years) Vinyl only system. Cartridge still breaking in, but sounds pretty damn good. Possible upgrades next year: Pass Labs phono pre, electronic speed control for TT, better interconnect, probably cryo’d. That should do it for the front end. |
I'm all in on vinyl and have been since my 1st system in 1981. Current setup is made up of a mix of new and preowned components. Luxman 441 deck with Micro Seiki 505mkII w/S pipe & have several headshells. Carts by Nagoka, Audio Technica, Shure & Micro Acoustics. Simaudio Moon LP5.3 w/PSX 5.3 power supply. Shunyata Python for the Simaudio PSX. $7500+/- for it all. Pure Joy! |
I'm really enjoying this conversation I recently purchased a Japanese issue of Queen Night at the Opera. It was advertised as Near Mint. I expected to have to clean it. I use a Humminguru ultrasonic. When the package arrived it was so pristine I slapped in on the turntable and WOW, it was flawless! That's so unexpected as most vinyl I've purchased benefits greatly from a thorough cleaning. As far as this discussion goes, I am a huge fan of CD's and streaming. At the end of the day, the discussion boils down to best sound quality versus the tactile experience. I love both. For convenience, CD's and streaming cannot be beat. Yet, some nights, placing that vinyl disc on the turntable is insurmountable as an audiophile experience.
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@whart Is spending time cleaning records a chore? Maybe. Although personally i get some amount of pleasure from the simple task of running the record through my cleaning protocol, US and vacuum, and then seeing the result. ( and hearing it too). Spent several hours doing exactly this yesterday, was quite pleased with the results. |
My commitment under the meaning " The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.: " With this meaning in mind, over more than 30 Years I have had the Vinyl LP as my source of choice and within the interest, have developed a very keen interest in Mechanical Interfaces with a TT, where correct lubrication and extremely low coefficient of friction was the objective for designs being considered. The Interest and learning lead to avoiding metal on metal contact at sacrificial part interfaces. Materials selected which are non metal are very very stable in the environment they are to be used and during the role they have to function as. As this knowledge evolved, the gateway was discovered to enable extremely tight machining tolerances between sacrificial parts at interfaces where non-metal and metal parts interface. Lubricants not seen discussed in a TT exchanges are fit for purpose in the above design that is able to be produced today. . Knowledge of TT Mechanical Interfaces lead to discoveries being made where similar design intent was being put into Tonearm Design. Along with this and still continued today as mainstay subject, is the designs for Isolation / Separation of the TT and Tonearm, especially where supporting structures is the concern. Experiencing designs evolve and comparing to established designs resulted in established design Tonearms be put on the Sub's Bench and New Design Concepts for Tonearms being explored and ultimately adopted for main use. This lead onto a keen Interest in Cartridge Design to the point I have my own bespoke built Cartridge as the main Cart' in use. Additionally there are more Donor Cart's owned with alternate designs for them as personal Venturesome ''To Do's ' Running Parallel has been the Interest in TT Drives and I have started with and still own, but very infrequently use BD Designs. For many many more years than I lived with using the BD Design. ID Designs followed and with this type, extensive investigations have been undertaken of Platter Bearing Designs and Plinth Designs for these, through owned ID's and ID's from others. For longer than BD usage but less than ID usage I am a Vintage Japanese DD user, with a large collection of these models. Models are used OEM and having undergone modifications relating to ones mentioned above. The most recent personal Venturesome ''To Do' ', has resulted in the Vintage Japanese DD that I am a advocate of and class as my First TT, has been redesigned substantially. All Electronics are Off Board in their own casing and the Power Supply is a design change. The OEM Chassis is removed and the Bearing Housing / Stator Assembly are embedded into a Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Chassis / Plinth. The New Design and OEM Design are being compared, with the conditions referred to below. At the current time intensity is not attached to the comparisons as of yet. Fortunately the same Tonearm > Headshell> Cart' and systems can be used when things really heat up. During the same duration of the above, the electronics also took hold of me, and I was to have my first commission built Phonostage in the 90's There is plenty of posts on the Gon where my journey with discovering a multitude of Phon's is shared, along with Commission Build at different times. I am Wed to the LP Source and all that brings betterment. |
hmmm - I guess it would be HIGH - zero CD's only vinyl..... +1 chuck Just a sidebar.... about 15 years ago, I was fooling with an old Dynaco PAS3 pre. I replaced all caps, wire, resisters, and power supply, added a new Alps vol control and bypassed all tone controls. Replaced tubes with a bunch of cheap new ones, probably Chinese. In any case, I thought it would be interesting to replace the SS pre I had at the time and listen for any difference. For me, that was the game-changer. I thought that old Dynaco sounded GREAT!!! Which got me back into vinyl.... |
I think I will always be improving my system. I guess that is my commitment. Love my vinyl, like my cds, am currently not streaming Today: Dr Feikert Volare (would love to get the Blackbird) OL Silver Arm (will replace with the Conqueror or Kuzma 4point 9) Soundsmith Zephyr Star MMIC (will replace with the Paua) Decware Phono pre (with Cryotone tubes) and SUT (I'm Happy)
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SOTA Star Sapphire III $1700 ET-2 tonearm 570 Monster Cable AG1000II 400 (decomissioned) Lyra Kleos 2600 Hegel V10 phono preamp 1350 DH Labs Silver Sonic tonearm cables 350 vdH Thunderline interconnects 280 TOTAL: $7250 Interestingly, my current digital front end cost about the same, but it is in current dollars, whereas much of my vinyl front end was in late 1980s dollars. However, if I were to count all the CD players and DACs I’ve bought, I’ve spent more during the same time period on the digital gear, which I suspect improved more dramatically over the decades than record-playing gear. I also suspect the analog gear has retained its value better than my old digital gear for this reason. |
I hope you are correct. Then I will buy all the records I want at a third the cost. On the other side, I will probably be drooling on the covers. $15,000 , Acoustic Sig. Calypso turntable, Schroeder #2 arm, Mutec cartridge, and Esoteric E-02 phono stage. 2000 records, more than that in cd's. I like streaming, but analogue sounds, just so real! |
When you say commitment. I think of what percentage do you listen to your vinyl rig. I grew up listening to my uncle’s records. I remember distinctly hearing the warmth that vinyl brings to the table. But when I was in High School CD hit the market and was hailed as the new King in audio. I sold all my records, which was not many and went all in on digital. Is Digital better? For me it is. I prefer the sound of digital to vinyl so my commitment to vinyl is ZERO. I know a few guys that think vinyl is so superior they will not listen to digital. That is commitment in my book. To each his own!! The only thing that matter is you enjoy the music!!
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Your choice, of course. Whichever way you chose to enjoy music is fine by me. Although I am a little saddened that you’re missing out on so much of the pleasure. But why the need to present such an over the top and one sided justification for it? Reality isn’t as polarised as some people try to make out. I am reminded of my young daughter who saw everything in extremes - for example, her food was always either boiling or freezing. Fortunately, she grew out of that. These days there are a lot of people around who haven’t. |
Way too much for what vinyl delivers in my instance. Regardless of the Technics sl1300, hana sl MC low, Gold Note pre amp and 50-75 high quality and expensive- $40 - $60 average cost- records I'm intolerant of the inferior sound, surface noise, and mechanical care of vinyl. It's exactly what I thought it'd be- an expensive and finnicky walk down memory lane I no longer care to take. Streaming sounds way better, is totally convenient, laughably inexpensive and allows me endless choice, the ease of changing tracks and artists from my chair instead of getting up every 2o minutes to flip a record and clean a new one only to have surface noise anyway. |
I did the same, but came to regret it. I am back into vinyl again now and have never been happier listening to music. The truth is we need both digital and vinyl to get the most out of it. They both have their pros and cons and complement each other. With my current setup, I prefer the sound of vinyl. Nevertheless, digital can sound great too. |
First, I must thank everyone who has participated in this thread. I am so impressed with the quality of the responses and the impressive components our community have assembled in their systems. That comes only with hard work, research, passion and commitment. Bravo! I've been an audiophile for 40 years. I have a collection of ~60 albums and ~250 CD's. Crazy as it sounds, 20 years ago I tried to sell my vinyl but couldn't get $20 for it. Now, I cherish every album. 3 years ago, I offered to donate all my CD's to the local library. They had a pretty good selection (maybe 500) of CD's. After a couple months, they politely declined. Fast forward... I have a nice Rega rig, NAD M66, NAD M23, Zesto Audio Andros and TEAC PD 505T CD Transport, Focal Sopra No. 2, and am ABSOLUTELY loving my music. So happy nobody wanted it when I was willing to give it away. Thanks to all of you who responded. I was especially moved by stories from those that have been collecting vinyl for decades. My very small collection is largely from 1980-1990 with some recent high quality additions. I'm very happy to be part of this hobby(obsession?) and forum. I thoroughly enjoy the conversations and enthusiasm we share for high fidelity music. Thank you. Matt |
Bergmann Galder with Odin Tonearm - $35K Sumiko Palo Santos Cartridge - ~$5K McIntosh MP1100 - $6K All prices when purchased, so that’s just shy of $50K. And I love the set up. Amazing sound. The Bergmann is a technological wonder with the vacuum hold down, air bearing tonearm & platter. According to Discogs my LPs are worth $38K on the low end and $155K on the high end. Still have another thousand or so LPs to put into Discogs, so numbers will go up substantially. |
Somewhere north of $30K with custom build Technics SP10 MKII, highly modified Thorens tt's, Thoress and Modwright phono stages, Audio Technica AT-Art9xa, modified Rega arm on Thorens, Jelco TK-850L arm on Technics.
So many other items really required for vinyl which should also be included in determining one's money commitment, things like record cleaning machine, fluids, specialty component stands, cartridge alignment tools, cabling. And then we have the vinyl, I have over 3K albums.
And the shame of it all, rarely use my vinyl setup, streaming has replaced the vinyl. I've been spoiled by new listening modes which don't require listening through an entire album, but I still can if that's my desire. |
Live in a studio apartment, so vinyl is not an option. Have invested in streaming. When I was a younger person an album was about the same as a month subscription for Qobuz. I now feel like a kid in a Tower Records store, with no one stopping me from taking whatever I want. Makes the guy inside of me that wants to be mischievous, feel like he’s gotten over on them. |
I couldn't agree more. It's either a passion, or it isn't. It isn't about money. |
). The original HW-19 ("Mk.1") had a textured fibreboard top plinth and an aluminum platter, the Mk.2 an acrylic plinth and a black Delrin platter. If the label on the back of the table’s base doesn’t identify it as a Mk.2, a former owner (not I 
) may have updated the Mk.1 with the MK.2 plinth and platter, a very common move by VPI owners. Or maybe VPI sent out some Mk.2’s before they had new labels made.