Not 40 models but maybe 10 or so that I would like to audition, theoretically speaking. Since I won't go to dealers unless they have it used, what do I do, buy and sell them one by one or take a guess ?
Also, since I would be rarely play records after making recordings, most of the time the phono and turntable would be just sitting there. I believe that two track 15 ips recordings would be just or almost just as good as vinyl, better in some respect - smoother and more coherent, and in some cases of bad original recordings even 7.5 ips would be enough.
What would be better overall - separate phono plus transformer or, say, Ralph's MP-3 preamp with phono ? Probably it depends, on the phono and the transformer.
When choosing the equipment, especially expensive equipment, that I plan to keep for a long time, first of all I try to form an impression of a designer. It should also be easy to have it repaired and maybe upgraded and even customized. Here Atma-Sphere wins, I think.
In addition, I pay attention on this forum to who uses what and with what, and their music preferences if I can figure it out. Allnic, though not the entry level model, is indeed used by some serious audiophiles. Allnic comes with NOS tubes, I guess, and they have replacement. I did hear very positive opinions of Aesthetix and Tron phono stages before.
So, if I wanted to get into it right away, I would start with these four companies - Atma-Shere, Allnic, Aesthetics and Tron. Lamm is impossible to find used and if it was it would most likely be too much to pay for. Atma-Sphere would be the first to try. Besides, what Ralph makes looks very much like pro equipment, this should match well with pro deck. And MP-3 should match well with many power amps, but again I may in fact only need it to make recordings if deck goes directly to power amp. I would of course compare directly to power amp with by way of preamp. Maybe both excellent but somewhat different..?
Also, since I would be rarely play records after making recordings, most of the time the phono and turntable would be just sitting there. I believe that two track 15 ips recordings would be just or almost just as good as vinyl, better in some respect - smoother and more coherent, and in some cases of bad original recordings even 7.5 ips would be enough.
What would be better overall - separate phono plus transformer or, say, Ralph's MP-3 preamp with phono ? Probably it depends, on the phono and the transformer.
When choosing the equipment, especially expensive equipment, that I plan to keep for a long time, first of all I try to form an impression of a designer. It should also be easy to have it repaired and maybe upgraded and even customized. Here Atma-Sphere wins, I think.
In addition, I pay attention on this forum to who uses what and with what, and their music preferences if I can figure it out. Allnic, though not the entry level model, is indeed used by some serious audiophiles. Allnic comes with NOS tubes, I guess, and they have replacement. I did hear very positive opinions of Aesthetix and Tron phono stages before.
So, if I wanted to get into it right away, I would start with these four companies - Atma-Shere, Allnic, Aesthetics and Tron. Lamm is impossible to find used and if it was it would most likely be too much to pay for. Atma-Sphere would be the first to try. Besides, what Ralph makes looks very much like pro equipment, this should match well with pro deck. And MP-3 should match well with many power amps, but again I may in fact only need it to make recordings if deck goes directly to power amp. I would of course compare directly to power amp with by way of preamp. Maybe both excellent but somewhat different..?