Why bother, really. Clicks and pops, poor new pressing, digitally recored music transferred to plastic? Whats the point. If you need to see something go round and round go open reel.
Much sexier than a Thorens.
Turntable noobie...what advice do you have?
As this forum has corrupted me and I have decided to dive down the rabbit hole of LP's. Usually I stream but I find the tactile experience of records appealing. I have ordered a Pro-ject RPM-3 Carbon with Sumiko Amethyst cartridge and a Mobile Fidelity StudioPhono preamp. Oh, and a record brush. I will be plugging them into my Voyager GAN amp and from there powering my LSA 20 Statement speakers.
I know there is always better equipment to get but I feel this gives a good starting point. I picked up some new records but a half dozen does not a record collection make. So I do plan on making my focus for the near future getting more and expanding my collection. I listen to all kind of music so they will be many different genres. I will be getting new ones but I will undoubtedly get some used ones too.
Okay, so what all would you recommend for someone just getting into this hobby? Especially if I am getting any used records, I should probably look at a record cleaner. What else for equipment or doodads? What about tricks or tips for increasing my collection? In my city there is a record store called Music Millennium that I will be checking out and there of course if Barnes and Noble (where I purchased my other ones). Do you know of places online I should check out? Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Alright, the RPM 3 Carbon was delivered as well as the Mobile Fidelity StudioPhono. I set the turntable up and the the stylus pressure using the little balancing stylus pressure gauge that came with it. I have a digital scale but I wanted to use the other method first. I hooked up the wiring and connected it all to my amp. I cleaned my Purple Rain album, put it on and started the motor. Everything is move correctly so I positioned the arm/stylus and used the little level to drop it. Low and behold...MUSIC!!! Unfortunately it was Alvin and the Chipmunks doing a cover of Prince's Purple Rain. So I lifted the arm and stopped the motor. I then moved the belt to the other spindle and tried again. Much better this time. Prince sounded much more like himself. I am currently listening to Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon and it sounds great. Some pops here and there but certainly nothing that takes away from the music. However, I went to adjust the volume and realized that I do that through the pre-amp/DAC which is not in this chain. My amp does does not have its own volume control. I checked the player and I don't see one nor do I see anything on the Mobile Fidelity. DOH! Does anyone have an idea to make this work? The only thing I can think of is to find cables that will go from RCA (phone side) to 3 pin XLR so that I can connect it into my pre-amp/DAC. |
HeyPersonally I'm a died in the wool vinyl guy, & as much as I hate to say it .... CHAYRO maybe correct with his 1st statement. I grew up with records, so I learned how to handle them, clean them, and they're not all created =. Good Hi-Fi records are expensive, most used R&R recordings from the 70's/80's bye in large are crap unless you get 1st pressings & the list goes on. To add to that, a lot of modern speakers have been voiced for digital sources. Economically speaking, it's been my experience that a superior analog set-up will cost you at least double to that of a comparable Cd rig. If you plan to eventually go in to this hobby full on, like a lot of us have. With a dedicated listening room that's treated, with it's own plugs wired directly from the panel, and your gear is isolated, then sure, you'll be able to justify the added expense of going down the vinyl road. But if you're married, have your gear set-up in a Victorian tea room with springy wooden floors ..... the advantages of an analog set-up will not be audible. |
@ddonicht - you can buy rca to xlr adaptors to plug into your preamp. Check Amazon. They have cables and adaptors. |
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