I recently took the vinyl plunge after being SACD oriented. I spent a little more than $4000, but got a used Basis 2500, Vector 4 arm, Benz cartridge and Simaudio phono preamp. I had the table and cartridge set up by a professional; I also bought a VPI 16.5 cleaning machine. I did this because I wanted to have an alternative source for non-classical music. I had basically given up listening to regular CDs.
Buying records and listening to my new analog front end is both wonderful and frustrating. My biggest frustration is that many brand new discs I have purchased have significant surface noise when in new clean condition.
It does put me on edge when a click or pop comes up repeatedly and probably always will. For that reason I listen to classical solely on SACD. And some new discs (like those from New West) just sound like crap compared to even the CD. But when the magic happens it is seductive. I bought a used copy of The best of the Guess Who at a used record shop for $4, and the pressing is immaculate with very minor surface noise. The sonics are better than I could have dreamed. Same for a copy of Al Stewart Past Present and Future. Oh well, we all have to live within these limitations until digital gets it better than analog.
Buying records and listening to my new analog front end is both wonderful and frustrating. My biggest frustration is that many brand new discs I have purchased have significant surface noise when in new clean condition.
It does put me on edge when a click or pop comes up repeatedly and probably always will. For that reason I listen to classical solely on SACD. And some new discs (like those from New West) just sound like crap compared to even the CD. But when the magic happens it is seductive. I bought a used copy of The best of the Guess Who at a used record shop for $4, and the pressing is immaculate with very minor surface noise. The sonics are better than I could have dreamed. Same for a copy of Al Stewart Past Present and Future. Oh well, we all have to live within these limitations until digital gets it better than analog.