Newbie Analog High Expectations??

Definitely look at the used markets as well as the new. There are a LOT of great used TT's and cartridge combinations out there that you can get at the same price. And you would be helping to keep the money supply circulating also :-)

Don't forget to budget for a phono preamp if there isn't one already built into the Rogue preamp.

There's lots of threads on this very topic, but mostly you will need to consider the following:
- setup is paramount for good TT sound, read up on the right way to do this or find a knowledgeable friend to help
- clean records are also important, so buy a Disk Doctor cleaning kit as well, or something similar
- vinyl is not as user friendly as digital, it is a labor of love so expect to expend some extra effort
- it may take some time to get the setup right, or you may hear great things right from the start, but be patient, there is a lot to learn and a lot of "tweaking" that can always make it better

A lot of the difference between digital and vinyl is in the mastering, not just the medium used to replay it. Sometimes digital wins, sometimes analogue. But if all things are equal (same master, clean records, good setup and isolation) vinyl will probably come out on top.

Enjoy,
Bob

"Jumping" is not the best way to get into anything. Certain characteristics of LP audio are a major anoyance to some people, while other people are not bothered. (OK, I am mostly talking about surface noise). I suggest that you somehow get some experience actually listening to LPs before making the investment. On this site there are a group of people who claim thet LPs are vastly superior to digital sources. Maybe so, for them. Take a look at the LP playback equipment they are using, add up the cost of that equipment, and then decide what you want to do.

Everything Bob says is right on. Now, I will play the skeptic. I've returned to vinyl four times over the years, three, almost four were met with great disappointment. Vinyl simply didn't sound as good as my digital. Finally, this fourth attempt has met with success, albeit it still a work in progress.

And so I say, it all depends on how good your present digital is, your listening preferences, the quality of analog gear your proposing to buy, how you feel about greater amounts of labor directed to cleaning and turning over vinyl every 20 minutes or so, higher noise levels from grunge on vinyl, I could go on and on.

I think too many audiophiles make it seem easy to attain satisfaction in the analog realm. I've found it to be hard work, much harder than digital.

I'm just now beginning to attain an analog sound I find as involving as my digital, and this after months of spending mucho bucks and tweaking to no end. Now, perhaps I'm just hard to please, you may find analog nirvana right away, it seems many do. I will only say, no one can predict an outcome for you, you will just have to experience for yourself.