Hi Lawrence, I've been trying to make a similar decision except I don't have the Emmlabs gear. I could use a digital upgrade as I do enjoy listening to SACDs but I've been wanting to go the analog route for a while. Unfortunately, I find it amazingly difficult to make my budget work when I'm starting from scratch. It seems to me that unlike other areas, a couple hundred dollars goes quite a bit further in analog. $500 cart vs $750 cart? Big difference. But what's $250 in the long run for someone who owns your $$$ system? And this sort of thing continues up to a very high pricepoint in other parts of your analog rig. You have to compromise somewhere of course, but where will you draw the line when you know that a worthwhile upgrade is only a little bit of money away? And one big setback for me in my quest for analog has been the need to clean records!!! A good RCM is really needed sooner or later so you might as well "start out clean." To compound my problems, I am out of single ended inputs on my preamp and so I need to run things balanced and a balanced phono stage cost a lot more money. But this won't be a problem of yours of course. Don't forget you also need more interconnects!!!
Will VPI scout or Michell Tecnodec beat my emmlabs
Theoretical question. I have not had a turntable since my Technics SL1200 in the 1970's. I have only 3 new LP's, of alternative artists that I am currently into (bought for auditioning purposes only). Yet, I think I would like to add vinyl to my system: emmlabs CDSD; DCC2; Lamm M1.2 ref amps;Kharma Midi-Grands;Jena Symphony cables. (Perhaps, I am crazy ... given that I don't have a vinyl collection ... yet, a lot of the indie/alternative stuff is available locally or on internet in vinyl ... sometimes recordings are only available as vinyl !!! ... plus, I am tired of worrying about copy control discs that can be a problem ... So, I would like to consider adding vinyl if it can get me past what I have now with digital)
However, I don't want to spend more than 1000-1200 for a table and arm. (Obviously, I will also need a phonostage + cart ? budget ??). I can get a used VPI Scout (6 mo old with 300 rpm motor) for this budget vs. a JA Michell Tecnodec, as two possibilities. I am curious whether any of these tables can allow me to get a significant slice of the benefits of vinyl, without spending a lot of money ? With a reasonable phonostage and cart (not too expensive though), would this surpass my emmlabs. Unfortunately, locally I don't have the ability to trial many tables. There are only 2 high-end dealers (one largely internet-based_, but most of the stuff would have to be bought outright, as demos are not readily available.
Finally, if anyone thought the VPI scout was a reasonable candidate, any suggestions for a decent phonostage and cart that would be appropriate for my associated equipment and allow me to get the most out of that table ? Again, I apologize but I don't have anywhere local to try these things out right now.
However, I don't want to spend more than 1000-1200 for a table and arm. (Obviously, I will also need a phonostage + cart ? budget ??). I can get a used VPI Scout (6 mo old with 300 rpm motor) for this budget vs. a JA Michell Tecnodec, as two possibilities. I am curious whether any of these tables can allow me to get a significant slice of the benefits of vinyl, without spending a lot of money ? With a reasonable phonostage and cart (not too expensive though), would this surpass my emmlabs. Unfortunately, locally I don't have the ability to trial many tables. There are only 2 high-end dealers (one largely internet-based_, but most of the stuff would have to be bought outright, as demos are not readily available.
Finally, if anyone thought the VPI scout was a reasonable candidate, any suggestions for a decent phonostage and cart that would be appropriate for my associated equipment and allow me to get the most out of that table ? Again, I apologize but I don't have anywhere local to try these things out right now.