I thinks it's great that you want to get into analog as it's my belief that analog is the state of the art in music. Digital is the state of the art in salesmanship. CD's should be relegated to new recordings not the tried and true of the glorious past. And, since there are no sonic differences between new and used cd's, buy used. I've purchases 5 new titles released this month, highest paid $6.99.
If you were confused before starting this thread you must be close to insane at this point. There is some good information provided but there are a couple of obious questions not asked by you or answered by the repondents.
My assumption is that you do not own any siginificant albums. If true, have you investigated where in yhou rcommunity vinyl can be purchased? If not, do this first. If you are depending on ebay, internet sites or, mail order houses (we all know who they are) you are going to need deep pockets. There are really no bargins, or sales, just stuff they haven't sold. I am an experienced collector of 40 years. At this point in the record-collecting hobby,vinyl is an exercise in dinminished returns. The reissue business of vinyl is hardly stable,so unstable it qualifies as a fad now. MOFI and DCC both went out of business withMOFI going out twice. The reason are irrelevent, gone is gone. The fact that you can find most of their prosucts on internet auction houses daily show there isn't a market for this stuff in any large sense. These companies sold there new products for $25. You can buy
it now for $39 dialy only no one is buying it now. Do a search on ebayand then do a completed search and compare/
Original vinyl and the pursuit thereof can be and is an extremely fun porcess. And, with the advent of excellent cleaning products, your own experimentation, you might surmise(as I did) that the reissues do not exceed the originals in sound quality, (although they may at times sound good but good doesn't mean better). Which leads to my suggestion.
Split the difference. If you are going to get into analog at this date get a used Rega 25 (I'm getting one myself)They are plentiful and an excellent starting or stopping point. The person you buy it from will not have abused it and more likely will want to update it not because there is anyhing wrong with the table but because he just can't help it. That's part of the audiophile syndrome. A used Rega Planar 25 can easily be had for $700 - $1000/ You can always update sound quality by changing the cartridge a fun process. I would suggested the Music Hall but the Rega company has been around since the late 1980's and shoould you need service or a part (belts etc.) chances are the Rega company will still be around in some form. There have been many companies who's products were herald as you can't live without them you gotta have em now it will get no better (SOTO/APPOGEE/COUNTERPOINT) who are all gone now. Again it's not relevent as to why really, if you need service or a part, good luck. If you take the plunge into analog the best investment you can make is in a good cleaning system in conccruence with your intial plunge. I prefer a combination of two systems: a VPI cleaning machine (ESSENTIAL BUY ANY OF THEM) and the newly introduced Disc Doctor solutions and brushes.
As for cd's and SACD, to me it's not worth the signifcant amounts of monies needed to get good just like analog sound ( which I already have). Record companies continually change formats when the creative well dries. Let those with the money to waste. waste theirs. The only caution I have for you is that the Rega cartidges all hum. I have had four independent experiences with Rega + Rega setups. In all four systems,the Rega cartridges hummed. And it's always my fault (my being my small group of audio cohorts). Ask the dealer,importer etc. All are working great with different cartdiges now. The only other caution would be to completely ignore any unsolicted emails you get from dealers. Dealers deal. They want to sell you something before the next guy does. Nuff said.
And do us all a favor, let us know what you decide,but, don't start anymore thraeds like this!! (ha)
Best of Luck
