Surprised at how turntable sounds

@martinlb ,

Good choice. Get the Audio-Technica cartridge over the Ortofon.

Now you need a decent record cleaning machine!

For now, there are lots of great suggestions here in this thread, like those above.  For example, I can vouch for the Schiit Mani 2, which is how I started out.  It has some loading flexibility for a wide variety of cartridges.  Great way to start, and not very expensive.

One interesting aspect of this hobby that I have seen in no other:  The higher up you move in the analog food chain the fewer features you will see.  A cheap AT TT will have auto arm capabilities (start / return).  You rarely see these on higher-end tables.    You will rarely, if ever, see BlueTooth or built-in pre-amp on a more precisely engineered TT.  Think about why that is.

Eventually, consider reaching out to some of the boutique TT manufacturers, as well.  Maybe not just yet, but in the future. Yes, these are more expensive, but you are buying not just the table and gear, but the engineering philosophy and an ongoing relationship -- someone who can mentor you, and occasionally hook you up with secondhand equipment that far exceeds what you can find online.

Cut your losses and run away from this turntable abyss, while you still can.

All studio masters for many decades now are digital. A better salvaged digital version exists even for old vintage albums degrading away on master tape.

One day you shall find that even with a 100k+ turntable setup, 2 records may sound ok and the 3rd one may sound like sht. So, focus on getting your digital chain better.

If you want the sound of analog master tape (flavors flavors flavors..), get a software from Levinson called Master Class and run your files through it...Analog master tape sound for dayss...

I'm hoping for some feedback and help about what happened with a turntable I've just got. My system has two Dynakit Mk 3 60w monoblocks, a Sonos Port, two B&W 702 S3 speakers, a nas with my music saved as flac files, and a new Denon DP-25F turntable.  

I do have a preamp I can use.  I haven't been using it, or thinking about it I guess, because I haven't needed it.  That's obviously changed.  I doubt very much it will make enough difference but I'm looking to bypass the built-in preamp in the Denon and see what happens.  It's an Elekit 8550 tube preamp BTW.

I suspect the cart is running thru a built-in phono-pre.

These can range from TT pr-eamps onboard, poor phono sections in your amp.

Invariably an external phono-pre will knock you out.