2. analog
  3. 1093106168

Start with Project 1.2?

As a die-hard digital fan (ducks the chucked fruit) who wants to play the occasional record, does it make sense to start with something like the Project 1.2? I really like clean sound (read that: no pops, clicks, wow, flutter, hiss, etc) but am interested in seeing if I can hear the oft-mentioned warmth and quality of analog through my current gear. My early years of playing records were through gear that did justice to nothing but harmonic distortion. Given that most of what I was listening to at the time was not really much different than distortion it didn't make much difference. Once I started to transition to classical, jazz, folk, etc I really wanted to find better sound. I'm obviously looking to make the minimal investment that will still be worth listening to. If it truly takes, like, $2000+ to get a reasonable setup it ain't going to happen for me. FYI, my (tube) preamp already has the appropriate inputs for a turntable.
This is not a troll, but a serious question from someone who had really bad experiences with analog, albeit on crap gear.
tds234

Showing 1 response by ozfly

ozfly
887 posts
 
I'd go with something well known and used so, if you don't like it, you can easily sell it. For example, a Music Hall MM7 is available now in the classifieds for about $750, with cartridge. If the popping and hisses drive you nuts, you can always sell it. Conversely, if you end up loving it and feel the need to upgrade, you can sell it on your path to analog nirvana (there's also a good deal on an Origin Live Aurora Gold setup right now -- that is one nice turntable, but above your price range).

Cleaning the records helps with the noise, but you really can't escape it unless the records are new or mint. Cleaning is a whole sub-culture and involves much research, possibly some machines, and trial and error.

Do make sure what your preamp can accommodate. Not all cartridges are high enough voltage so check to make sure the preamp is set for both moving magnet and moving coil. If it is, you're probably OK. Otherwise, make sure you determine the cartridges output voltage before buying the turntable or you may need to buy a separate phono preamp.
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