2. analog
  3. 1013023379

Need help with analog system choices

I have recently become curious about exploring the realm of analog as my sister has a collection of LP's and I can always purchase new and used albums. There are always good sources around for LP's if I go that route. I have not yet committed and here is my problem.

I have been poking around the analog discussion forum and reading up on turntables such as the rega line,Mitchell Engineering Gyro SE, and SME products.

People speak highly about the Rega and Mitchell products, but I am confused about all the adjustments/mods people talk about. VTA ,skating,various mounting adjustments, cartridges, balance,wiring, drive motors,etc.

Is it really that difficult now a days to set up a turntable? My sisters turntable is an old Denon and she says its fairly easy to adjust parameters on her table. You just dial them in.

Any advice on a turntable that won't brake the bank and can be configured with a tonearm that provides all these adjustments in a user friendly fashion. Am I dreaming here?

Also, would it not make sense to invest in a better cartridge then put more money into the tonearm? The cartrigde is what is hitting the album?

Can you really hear a noticeable difference when you upgrade tonearms assuming the remainder of the system stays the same? For example, there is a forum on comparisons between rega tonearms and the SME V arm. Most say that the SME is the real thing and far superior to the Rega arms. Also the rega cannot be easliy adjusted. How true this is is a mystery at this point.

Are cartridges only designed for specific types of tonearms?

I am overwelmed. Is this really worth it? Do albums really sound better than CD's at this point?

Perhaps I need a drink.

Any advice would greatly be appreciated.
tazuser

Showing 1 response by tacs

tacs
220 posts
 
Taz,
There's definitely no need to get neurotic. You can drop $1k or so on a Rega P3 and a decent Rega cartridge and will get a vast amoung of satisfaction with this setup with no trouble whatsoever, then later, you can worry about changing cartridges, arms, etc.
But even $500 will get you in the ballpark (excluding phono section). I bought a NAD 533, Rega clone, several years ago, was blown away by the performance (like a lot of people, I was having a tough time getting good CD sound on a budget) and still have that table, tough I have tried a couple of relatively $$ cartridges - Audio Technica, Grado - both sound great tho different.
Rega even makes an inexpensive phono preamp that retails for $175 and has been reviewed favorably.
And records are cheap and plentiful!
Tom
More to discover