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Turntable suggestions for a newbie

Hello all. Beginning my journey into analog. I've recently gotten some advice on here in regards to my integrated tube amp selection. I may be going about things backwards, but here's where I'm at now. I'm 99% in on the Raven Blackhawk as my amp.  At Ravens suggestion I've purchased the Schiit Skoll as my phono stage. So now I'm looking at tables. I've narrowed it down to 3 although I'm open to suggestions.  Here they are in order:

1)VPI Scout 21

2)MoFi ultra deck

3)Michell Technodec 

The VPI is 1 because it looks bad ass and has really good reviews. Draw back is that it doesn't include a cart so is getting a little pricey for me with the additional cost of a cart. Not to mention that I'm not sure where to start as far as carts go. The MoFi is intriguing because it can be purchased with their ultra gold cart for less than the cost of the VPI. Looks are but not as nice as the VPI. Both are USA  made. Third choice is the Michell.  Looks great too. No cart either. It seems like the VPI is also upgradable. One concern that I have is that whatever table I choose will be placed on my council next to my center channel with L and R towers and a sub on either side.  Not really any other options unfortunately. The VPI and the Michell have isolated drives. My concern is that the the table location will be prone to vibration and may effect any table with an isolated drive.  Is this a legit concern?  Center channel wouldnt be used while listening to LPs.  Would an isolation platter mitigate any adverse effects from adjacent towers and subs?  Am I over thinking this?....

sandrodg73
sandrodg73 OP
161 posts
 

Thanks again all for your knowledge and words of caution.  I like tweaking with things and love gound sound so it's sounds like analog will be rewarding. 

I just talked to a local dealer and he has a Clearaudio Performance DC table with a Clarify Carbon tone arm and Virtuoso V2 cart. He says it's in mint condition.  Asking 3300. Anyone have a thought on that deal?

dogberry
960 posts
 

OP: I bought LPs and cassettes back in the day. Between my wife and I, we had quite a lot of LPs, but after moving to Canada from the UK, I started into CDs and left my Garrard deck behind. Then I inherited all my brother's LPs (he was replacing them with LaserDisks and did not want his wife to know...). So nearly twenty years ago I decided to buy a turntable again (it was a Rega Planar 3) and have never looked back.

But what you did not mention is whether you already own any LPs. I'm not sure I'd do it (even from my current perspective, with two turntables, four tonearms and a pile of spare tonearms and cartridges)) if all I had was CDs and SACDs. The digital disks sound nearly as good (after many, many CD players), but I needed to be able to play LPs that were not available on CD. Having started, I now buy on LP as a first choice, and CD if vinyl is not available or is crazy expensive. Should you (or anyone else) start on that road if you don't own any LPs? Hard question!

lewm
14,669 posts
 

Japan, where Technics products are nominally manufactured by a large conglomerate is hardly a 3rd world country.  (I say "nominally", because some of their lower end models are apparently now made in Malaysia.) Nor is the UK a 3rd world country, the nominal home of REL. I think what you mean is that you want a TT made in USA.  Then your choices are VPI and SOTA, period. Clearaudio are made in Germany or outsourced to a dreaded 3rd world country.

Also, there are big differences between an older Technics SL1500 and any of the newer G series TTs (SL1200G, GR, GAE, etc), all in favor of any of the latter. Technics have very recently introduced a G2 version, as well.

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

I literally came across two people this week in their 20s and 30s getting into vinyl without a single album and I gave them all the help I could. 

Maybe vinyl is not dead, after all....

sandrodg73 OP
161 posts
 

Dogberry,  

I've inherited a bunch of old classical LPs from the 50s and 60s that were my fathers. I'd like to listen to them.   Besides that, I'm 50 yrs old now and finally have some disposable income which I'm choosing to spend on the HiFi hobby because I enjoy it and my wife does too.  Although she won't readily admit to it.  So that's it in a nut shell

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