2. analog
  3. 1218926373

Is it worth expanding into Vinyl???

I've been kicking around the idea of going vinyl for awhile so I figured I'd post some questions. I understand the difference between Vinyl and Digital from a sound recording and reproduction standpoint and the pros/cons of it, but I guess real world opinion specific to my situation is what I seek.

I was born in '79 so by the time I got into music, Digital had already taken over. As such, I was never exposed to Vinyl as a child and have been raised on the digital "sound". At this point, I have a fairly substantial collection of SACD and DVD-Audio which serve as my primary listening material. Genre's are very dispersed including just about everything.

If I decided to venture into Vinyl, I would want to do so with a minimal investment up front (for the hardware)...perhaps around $500-$600. I also see that one can spend over $30k on a turntable with tonearm and cartridge, so that's a little intimidating to me. I don't want to waste even my measly $500 on getting into vinyl if I need to spend substantially more to get sound that exceeds that of my current all-digital setup.

Here is my current setup, so the only addition would be that of the turntable itself, played through these components. I suppose I'm just looking for opinions from anyone who has one regarding whether a ~$500 turntable on this system can yield sonic results that equal or exceed my current capabilities (realizing that the recording itself plays a tremendous role in the reproduction).

SACD/CD Player: Music Hall Maverick (stock)
DVD-A Player: Denon 3910 (stock)
PreAmp: Outlaw Audio 950
Amplifier: Outlaw Audio 750
Fronts: Axiom M80 v2 (Bi-Wired)
Center: Axiom VP150 v2
Rears: Axiom QS8 v2
Sub: Axiom EP500 v2
Interconnects: Outlaw Audio
Speaker Wire: Monster M1.4s BiWire

I should also mention that a nice, wide and open soundstage is the most important characteristic I look for in listening. The more "real" it all sounds, the happier I am.

Any opinions or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Turntable recommendations would also be greatly appreciated!
fatgh0st
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the marantz table is an extremely good way to dive in... and reasonable(in a couple thousand dollar kind way). there are thorens and dual models too that are great values, and play as well as many of the veg-o-matic brands that sell for a alot more. 'take care of your records, and your records will take care of you'.
hot_rod
11 posts
 
I'm not sure you need to go to the lengths described here.All it took for me to realize the upside to vinyl was a used Yamaha pf-800($279.00)a Cinmage SUT($300)and a Denon 103($175.00).For a total of $750.00 I feel completely satisfied with this setup.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2
468 posts
 
I might suggest spending time with some friends who own both formats. Make an attempt to match your CDs to friends LPs and listen to them A-B. You will probably walk away from such a comparison being better informed and more than likely even more confused.

I'm 49 years old. I have been playing vinyl since I was preteen.

My opinion?

Digital has really become excellent. I owned an original Sony CDP101 during the original release. It was absolutely horrifying digital. Back then, the sound of vinyl was very, very different compared to digital. At this point in time, I have to very carefully question if the sonic differences between vinyl and CDs isn't slowly beginning to diminish and minimize.

But do also consider that low end analog provides low end results. A good analog front end is a substantial investment. I feel an important consideration would be the cost of investment. I promise you...... If you're bitten by the analog bug, you are not gonna stop at a $2k rig. You'll also find that your record collection will begin to represent a huge outlay of money.

A quality digital front end properly connected to a Tubed-pre is a very fulfilling and satisfying sonic presentation. I'm gonna put my neck out here and state that some will rival analog all day long in terms of tonal accuracy, texture and holographic imaging characteristics.

Boy..... Am I gonna catch Hell for that one. :>)

learsfool
1,215 posts
 
The short answer is yes. Analog is far superior to digital, and music was also better recorded back in the day than it is now. You can get into vinyl in the price range you want. Give it a try, and you won't regret it.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Busic2, You won't get much hell from me. I owned a 101 too. Didn't buy any CD's to speak of for about 10 years until I got a Cal Aria III, then the Alpha/Delta combo. For me the choice is now determined by the music I want to hear.

Fatgh0st, FWIW, in determining whether or not to add Vinyl at any price, budget or high end, don't overlook the availability and/or cost of records. If for example, if you have great access to used records of music you want to hear, either because you are already familar with the content and enjoy the nostalgia of older pop/jazz/rock etc, I wouldn't hesistate to add a TT to my system, or if you want to explore classical the used bins are full and you can really hear some great performances at a reasonble cost. BUT, if you have to buy new issues at $30 a pop or more from speciality stores I'd think long and hard before I even bothered to go there.

And within your budget, you're unlikely to find much satisfaction in getting a 'hi end' sound superior in the overall to that available on an inexpensive CDP.
More to discover