2. analog
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First Turntable - Direct drive or Belt drive?

First Turntable -  

Having no prior experience with a turntable, I need your help in understanding what are involved in setting up and playing a turntable. I’ve been contemplating an analogue front end that has a good synergy with my existing digital music playbacks and provides a music experience that excels what my current ARC CD-7 tube CD player could offer.

Here’re the components in my existing system:

Audio Research CD-7 Tube CD player (I much prefer a tube-based CD player than a non-tube based one)

Ayre K-1xe pre amp (without phono)

Pass Labs XA 30.5 power amp

Harbeth Compact 7ES-3 speakers (Sound Anchor stands)

Audience Au24e balanced interconnects

Audience Au24SE speaker cables

Kind of music listening to: symphony, chamber, strings, vocal, pop songs, jazz

FYI, I have no of collection of LPs.

 

First, where do I start collecting LPs? Buying new (expensive) or getting used? FYI, I’m in NYC area and I think there’re some LP stores around. Second, do I need a decent record cleaner to achieve a reasonable level of LP playback experience? Moreover, how do you store your LPs? Any suggestion for a good quality shelf/storage for LPs?

 Trying to understand the output from a turntable. I read somewhere on the forum that the output of a turntable is inherently balanced. What’re the typical output connectors off a turntable – balanced, RCA or other?  My pre amp has balanced input/output and power amp has balanced input. Should I get a phono stage that has a balanced input/output to take advantage of the pre and power amps?

If a turntable (i.e. Technics SL-1210GR) has a RCA output, how to connect it to a phono stage? Turntable RCA output > Phono RCA input > Phono Balanced output>Pre Amp balanced input?

 Any recommendations for a high quality, less maintenance First Turntable around $2K (new or used? Thinking about the Technics SL-1210GR? Is its playback more digital like than analogue?

Lastly, I need recommendation on a moderately priced, solid rack for a turntable. FYI, I currently do not have a rack and I put all components on the floor. A rack that will house a turntable, pre-amp and CD player would be ideal. Or, they could be 2 separate low-profile racks.

 

Thank you!


r0817
melm
1,057 posts
 
This may not be the answer you want.

I am a vinyl lover who has a first rate set-up, I think, and a large record collection.  I also think I'm a critical listener.

After many years of being disappointed in digital play-back, I have discovered, in the last two years, that a reasonably priced digital system can now be had that is as good as vinyl.  In fact, I have listened critically to many of the same recordings on vinyl and digital.  Add to that the fact that digital can be far more convenient, as for example, choosing tracks off my phone.  

In addition digital is noise and maintenance free, and used CDs are a bigger bargain than used LPs.  They are cheaper and noiseless.  Even old scratched ones can play as new.

Also, new vinyl is ridiculously expensive, and in SQ not as good IMO as the old stuff.

Bottom line is that if I were not already invested in vinyl, I would not get started.  There's really no reason to.

If your digital player is not giving you what you want, look for digital elsewhere.
lewm
12,460 posts
 
Melm, the man already has good digital. Take a look at his equipment list.

Also, the man has some money. The obvious fit for a phono stage is the Ayre P5Xe, which is a balanced circuit to go with the Ayre linestage. In which case it makes sense to go balanced from cartridge to phono input. If balanced is desired it’s probably not a good idea to purchase an all in one turntable with built on tonearm arm and internal wiring, because all such units are SE. For true balanced hookup you want a 3-wire connection with identical conductors for the pos and neg phases and separate ground. And, to me, there ARE important SQ differences between DD and idler drive on one hand and belt drive on the other. Best bang for buck are the former types, IMO.
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
For collecting LPs Discogs is a godsend, even if just for checking prices. My practice is to often buy a cheaper repress to see if I like it and then hold out for an original. What are your tastes in music?
br3098
969 posts
 
Melm,

Hmm, I never really considered that I might be neurotic.  That explains a lot... 
melm
1,057 posts
 
@lewm 

The OP says he wants an LP system that "provides a music experience that excels what my current ARC CD-7 tube CD player could offer."

I don't know anything about the OP's DAC except that it costs about $9000.  [I also know that the correlation between DAC price and SQ is far less than perfect.] The OP's budget for a turntable is $2000.  Given that the DAC is worth $9000, or anywhere near that amount, the likelihood of equaling the SQ of his digital, never mine "excelling"  in SQ beyond it, is almost nil IMO.

And then there are the issues of software, particularly used LPs.

It seems the OP is missing something, something his current system doesn't provide.  I think he should look within.  A $2000 turntable will not give him more.  A $10,000 turntable probably won't either.

Anyhow, it's not your money so feel free to advise away! 
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