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Is it worth expanding into Vinyl???

I've been kicking around the idea of going vinyl for awhile so I figured I'd post some questions. I understand the difference between Vinyl and Digital from a sound recording and reproduction standpoint and the pros/cons of it, but I guess real world opinion specific to my situation is what I seek.

I was born in '79 so by the time I got into music, Digital had already taken over. As such, I was never exposed to Vinyl as a child and have been raised on the digital "sound". At this point, I have a fairly substantial collection of SACD and DVD-Audio which serve as my primary listening material. Genre's are very dispersed including just about everything.

If I decided to venture into Vinyl, I would want to do so with a minimal investment up front (for the hardware)...perhaps around $500-$600. I also see that one can spend over $30k on a turntable with tonearm and cartridge, so that's a little intimidating to me. I don't want to waste even my measly $500 on getting into vinyl if I need to spend substantially more to get sound that exceeds that of my current all-digital setup.

Here is my current setup, so the only addition would be that of the turntable itself, played through these components. I suppose I'm just looking for opinions from anyone who has one regarding whether a ~$500 turntable on this system can yield sonic results that equal or exceed my current capabilities (realizing that the recording itself plays a tremendous role in the reproduction).

SACD/CD Player: Music Hall Maverick (stock)
DVD-A Player: Denon 3910 (stock)
PreAmp: Outlaw Audio 950
Amplifier: Outlaw Audio 750
Fronts: Axiom M80 v2 (Bi-Wired)
Center: Axiom VP150 v2
Rears: Axiom QS8 v2
Sub: Axiom EP500 v2
Interconnects: Outlaw Audio
Speaker Wire: Monster M1.4s BiWire

I should also mention that a nice, wide and open soundstage is the most important characteristic I look for in listening. The more "real" it all sounds, the happier I am.

Any opinions or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Turntable recommendations would also be greatly appreciated!
fatgh0st
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,262 posts
 
vinyl is great but the sound of records vary greatly. I find some of my old rock albums can sound pretty bad. Anything new I have sounds terrific. Old jazz like Dave Brubeck sounds terrific.

I guess what I am saying is that in general there is a bigger variance in sound with LPs compared to CDs but when they are good it is no contest vinyl wins hands down.
kennyt's avatar
kennyt
1,226 posts
 
Jaybo,

I recently took the jump back into vinyl, oh and bought a Great Dane having never had one! Sorry, it just hit me funny you said that! I am waiting on my Phono preamp to start using my new table (Marantz TT15)
dlshifi
38 posts
 
I'll chime in here. I got my first record player (Garrard changer) in 1957, when I was 12. I believe I bought my first CD player in 1982. I enjoy both formats, but I recognize that they are two different animals. Best that you don't try to "beat" the sound of CD with a budget analog rig--you'll only frustrate yourself by trying to wring CD virtues out of vinyl. Vinyl will never be as quiet as digital, it will never be as easy, never achieve the frequency extremes, and (arguably) never be as transparent. CD will never give you the palpability of analog, nor the density, rhythm and drive. The "you are there" experience is really just a mental trick we perform on ourselves--we can get that from both formats. But surface noise can hinder that feeling for some listeners new to analog.

I think Tgrisham gave you a good description of the sonic qualities of the two formats, and good advice. I would probably change his numbers a bit by buying used: a Lehmann Black Cube can be had for $300, and some pretty good entry-level table/cart combos for well under $1000. Used records are cheap ($3-$5 at used record stores here in Minneapolis) and you can wash them with mild detergent (rinse well!) and dry them on a dishrack. Give yourself 6 months to get accustomed to the sonic and mechanical demands of vinyl replay--if by then you still haven't found a place for it in your heart, you can easily resell the equipment here at Audiogon for what you paid. It's virtually a free trial.

But if vinyl moves you the way it moves me, then I think the first response from Tvad said it best...
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Getting into vinyl is not cheap particularly if you don't have a substantial record collection. New and reissued vinyl is overpriced and in many cases very poor quality. If you have the time and wherewithall to attend record shows, record stores, and work with on-line vendors you'll fare much better. In any case, you'll need to commit a big chunk of your time to build a collection.

Also keep in mind analog is quite interactive. You don't grab the remote, hit a button, and kick back.

Lastly, as documented by previous posters, most but not all, vinylphiles find themselves in a continuous state of upgradeitis. Symptoms include frustration, confusion, and insomnia.

Which brings you back to expense and interactivity.

IMO, your money is better spent upgrading the weakest links in the system i.e. the cd player, amp, and preamp.
bdgregory
1,580 posts
 
I'm not sure I have anything new to add, but will reinforce many of the comments above . . .

I grew up on vinyl, and held out to the last minute in the 80's before buying a CD player (my local record store quit stocking vinyl). I still much prefer vinyl over CD's. That said, here are my suggestions to anyone asking your question:

Do it only if some or all of the following conditions apply:
1) You have a lot of cash, and really want to experiment.
2) You already have a large collection of vinyl setting on the shelf.
3) You have a good source of used vinyl (ie at a local record store, and you like pre-90's releases - especially Jazz, Classical, Rock that are widely available (not to say other genre's aren't also abundant). Used vinyl can be bought for $1 to $5 normally - in good to great condition. Sometimes you pay more for rare titles.
4) You have heard vinyl compared to digital and know you prefer its sound.

Realize that if you don't have a collection and intend to buy new vinyl releases exclusively, it will be extremely expensive. I personally would put that cash into improving other components or buying new s/w.

Also realize caring and feeding of vinyl is more labor intensive. You can't pause, nore skip, etc. You need to clean them and handle carefully. It's very hard to digitize to your iTunes library.
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