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arguments against starting a vinyl collection?

Hi,

I have a pretty elaborate setup for cd playback. I use the emmlabs cdsd transport and emmlabs dcc2se dac with the dartzeel amplifier and the wonderful evolution acoustic mm2 speakers with powered woofers.

I own roughly 2600 cds and about 175 sacds.

The vinyl crowd still swears of course that great digital playback cannot equal vinyl so have been somewhat tempted to dip my toes into analog and get a turntable and phono preamp. Here is what is holding me back!

Please note that I would not get vinyl to find obscure vinyl only vintage or otherwise recordings.

It would be mostly targeted at recordings that sound better on vinyl than cd.

Here is the arguments against:

1. hard to find a turntable and phono preamp that is class A and thus as good as my emmlabs cd equipment without spending serious bucks?

2. Even if I could find a reasonably priced class A turntable, the best sound requires more skill than a newbie like I would have? In other words, the better turntables are harder to setup and use?

3. A lot of heavy weight albums are double albums so you need to switch sides three times?

4. You need to clean the vinyl before every listen?

5. If you listen 15 times to a particular vinyl album you will likely begin to hear some deteoriation?

6. Even with a good setup, you will probably still hear pops and hiss on many vinyl albums even some well mastered ones?

7. I will not hear for modern recordings a big difference between vinyl and cds given that my emmlabs equipment is so good and I cannot afford a $10,000 phono preamp and a $25,000 turntable/cartridge....

thanks

Michael
karmapolice
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Kthomas,

As with any other bands releases, there may well be some that are better in format than another. I have several Radiohead LPs and enjoy them very much. But I don't think I would suggest someone go vinyl for these releases alone. Then you have to consider what Porcupine Tree vinyl goes for, if you can find it. Sometimes it's just cheaper and easier to get the digital releases. Just my .02.
genesis168's avatar
genesis168
373 posts
 
A properly setup $1500 TT combo (TT, preamp) will I won't say sound better than your EMM Labs but will give you a much more satisfying musical presentation/performance than any digital will. Listening to analog is an experience. IMO, digital at it's best is still music without any soul while analog at it's worst is music with a soul. That's the difference.

You might want to reconsider before taking the plunge into analog because it's a commitment. It looks like you're not ready.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The biggest arguement for staying away is that vinyl is just another 'thing' to get into, "it's so hip"... So, first off: do not get into vinyl unless: you can't stand living with your system since you heard a friends who has all analogue. Or: You just inherited 30,000 LPs.. all the best, all like new. Or: You don't care that it is just a fad, and that soon enough you will dump it, as hundred of thousands of others dumped LP playback (when CD first came out) because CD is just too damn easy, compared to the hassles of LP. And after selling all that crap you bought to play and use vinyl, you can then feel good that you have finally contributed to all the vinyl lovers backlog of used stuff on the market...
If you feel the need to ask, it is not for you.
(Personally I dumped LP for CD. went 20 years no LP. Then started buying ultra-cheap mountains of LPs 14,000 or so.
Then I had to MOVE! and dumped (right tossed out!)a LOT!
Now I have 6,000 and two cheap midfi TTs, two pre pres, and use both LP and CD whenever I feel like it.)
(My main concern with PLAYING all those LPs is cleaning them before use (at least the first time)
azjake's avatar
azjake
277 posts
 
My two cents worth...
Based on your vast collection of cd's and sacd's, if you REALLY listen to all your collection from a to z starting tomorrow, there's a good chance you'll be dead or at least so old as to barely hear ANYTHING long before you play your "new" medium!

My suggestion? Scrap your present digital set-up and get a new digital front end for about half of what you spent, then take the monies from your sale and invest in analog! Table, arm and cartridge of surprising quality can be had for this sum and you will have plenty left over for lp's!
a. your cd quality will still be 80 to 90% of your emm labs gear and
b. you will hear the truth and musicality that ONLY a MUSIC, not storage keyed medium can deliver...
BE BOLD!
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,699 posts
 
So Genesis168 for 1500 bucks what would you recommend? I have been kinda looking at Linn Lp12's when they come up for sale.

Chuck
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