Moving into vinyl. Brinkman, TW Raven, GrandPrix??


Dear all,

I'm considering moving into vinyl as all my friends tell me it's the real deal and once you've got it, digital doesn't seem to appealing anymore.

I've being reading some threads on the various brands etc etc and have made a selection of a few players I'm highly interested in.

- Brinkman Balance
- TW Raven Black Night
- Grand Prix Audio Monaco turntable

Obviously the arm/cart has an impact on the sound as well, but which of these tables would to prefer and why? Any other tables I should consider?

I don't have funds for the really expensive turntables, the above brands are the price range I'm thinking of buying.

Appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.
maxx1973
Just today I use the Search feature on the Gon's home page and got to a TW-Acustic Raven One, brass arm board, a Graham Phantom MKI and then a WSS Silver Phono Cable $7200.00 obo.

Brinkmann LaGrange with one year warranty Ad, but it does't have an arm included. P.S. There is a Brinkmann Tube Power Supply available. Check to see if it works with this Brinkmann. It is the sexist speed controller I've ever seen and makes Brinlmann TT's sound even better. Add your favorite arm.

Both are wonderful tables and are 95%title TT's as compare to the absolute best. They sound more a like than radically different.

If you buy either brand your TT's life time needs would be solved.
You should check out Kuzma, either the Stabi Reference or the Kuzma Reference. My Stabi Reference was clearly better than a Raven in a shootout with the same arm, SME V and Triplanar 7U with both a Transfiguration Orpheus and Miyajima Shilabe.
Mark
To really get a sense of how the tables sound relative to each other, you will need to audition them in the same system which is almost impossible. Find a good dealer whom you trust, who has the same equipment that you currently have and ask his advice. You may also be able to ask some of your analog friend to bring their tables to you to audition in your system. This will be both fun and very informative. As others have said, it is a long journey, but possibly a very rewarding one. Don't forget a good record cleaning machine and fluids. Think of the whole thing as a sub system of the rest of your system.
Maxx1973,

Whoever recommended those 3 tables to you sure know their vinyl.All 3 are superb,with perharps slight difference in tonal shade.They are good enought to be bought without auditioning IMHO!!!I could happily live with all 3 and I am sure most people would be too,but if somebody put a gun on my head and ask me to choose ,I would probably choose the Brinkmann
I would start with a Thorens TD 160 and see if you like all the vinyl rituals, all the good sound and all the very hands on adjusting, tweeking and experimenting :)

Peter