Possible purchase of the first turntable

@marco777 

Rather like you, I became vinyl-curious about a year ago after switching to digital just after CDs came out.  My dad gave me his Garrard 301 / SME 3009 / Shure deck at exactly that time, and I hardly used it since.  My record collection was small because my local public library loaned records for free, and I mainly listen to classical.

Then I discovered how much people were paying for old Garrard 301s, and how much SME are charging for New Old Stock!  I invested A$4,700 upgrading the Garrard, which included a new main bearing and accessories like an ultrasonic cleaner, a second cartridge and replacement microline stylus.  I would rate the sound quality as equal to or slightly better than CD for classical music, but not as good as SACD which in my opinion blows away current streaming services!

I have just taken the next step, which is to buy a near-reference Holbo turntable which has air bearings for both its tangential tracking tone arm and its platter.  The factory direct price from Slovenia to Australia was under EUR-5000.  You seem to be in Europe so you might do better!

I buy new vinyl, along with SACD and CDs, from Presto Classical in the UK.  A big surprise is that I can buy secondhand classical records for about A$6 locally and with the microline stylus, they match new records for sound quality most of the time.  This stylus shape seems to bridge wear created by more rounded stylii.

From a review I have just read, your Arcam FMJ A32 amplifier seems to have an excellent MM/MC stage as standard, so there is no "pressing" need for another phono stage.  I use the MM phono stage in my Marantz AV8802 pre-processor although I have a Krell stereo pre-amplifier I can also use.

From where I float, in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, North America and Europe are diametrically opposed in most things audio, especially when it comes to SACD versus streaming, cash available to splash, and the emphasis on "songs" versus "works"!

If I was conned into returning to vinyl, so be it, but I am still cautiously moving down that path.  Hope this helps ...

In todays audio systems there are options for a 1 Source, 2 Source, 3 Source set up.

Off which the Digital options are certainly the ones that require the least disciplines and take up the least real estate.

I am with a system that used both Vinyl and CD as a source, when it comes to the impression made from either as an End Sound, I get parity satisfaction produced  from both.

I am aware of the differences in the sound that are being produced when Vinyl is compared to CD, but the differences are just that, the music produced from either medium when allowed an extended play than that used for comparisons, quickly develops in to a sound that is totally acceptable and welcome.

For the above reasons, the notion of a third source, being a streaming design is not to be rejected. It is a open idea that will one day be realized.

A friends home I visit offers the option to listen to a recording using the above three sources, and the experience when compared again do show differences.      

Thank you for all your reponse !! 

Since many of you have a certain experience with vinyl, certainly much more than me, in your opinion, owning a 3000 Euro SACD player like in my case, even if to be honest I only listen liquid music which in 60% of cases are FLAC files at 24/96 Khz, or in the worst case at 16/44.1 economically how much would it take for an analog source to equal or surpass a player like mine? Obviously leaving aside the cost of the records which would be separate

I am not going to get into the debate on whether digital or analog sounds better as it can be very dependant on the source of each and equally on the system one has and I currently enjoy music streaming, on CD's and on LP's.

While streaming can sound great but is also convenient and a great way to experience new and an unlimited catalog of music what I will say is that I more so enjoy listening to LP's not only for the sound of a good recording and pressing but also for the experience of the LP media. 

There are a bunch of great all analog recordings being released in the recent past but what I really enjoy is a great sounding early pressing from the 60's and 70's over the current remasters. 

Like I said it is about the total experience. Go with your heart. 

@marco777 

economically how much would it take for an analog source to equal or surpass a player like mine

Hard to say without knowing where you live!  Do you listen to more than two channels?

I would imagine that more than 90% of the sound quality you experience lies in the speakers (true for anybody) and yours are an unknown quantity ...

... the speakers in turn determine how much, if any, room treatment is recommended