What's the cost of an entry level vinyl setup?

08-03-10: Clio09
Why would the OP necessarily get on an escalator to higher and higher expenditures?

A cursory search of the analog threads will reveal several reasons why: quest for better sound, quest for "fixing" a perceived deficiency, insecurity, general dissatisfaction..."keeping up with the Jonses"...the list goes on and on.

I think this is one case where the OP could assemble a nice budget sub-$1000 vinyl set-up and be happy with it.
Clio09 (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

Clio9, if he does, and if he stays with it for even six months, then he'll be the first in these threads to have done so as far as I can tell.

BTW, having owned a Technics SL-1200, I don't believe one can get a satisfying, long-term, "entry level" set-up based around this table (or a Rega P-3, or Music Hall MMf 7.1, or...) for less than $2K (including table, arm, cartridge, phono preamp, interconnects, platform/base, set-up tools, and cleaning supplies).

Sorry for being the persistent dissenter here, but sometimes folks deserve a reality check from those who have been down the road and discovered brambles among the roses.

I was interested in finding out if it was possible to do vinyl with a budget that was within reason compared to my existing system. It sounds like it could be.

Mceljo (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

I agree that it could be. The question in my mind is if you are the type of person that will be satisfied with what the $1000 buys, or if you are the type (like most here) that continue to upgrade.

That's the question I hope you will honestly answer before you start writing the checks.

I was interested in finding out if it was possible to do vinyl with a budget that was within reason compared to my existing system. It sounds like it could be.

I've also noticed that I'm at a level of audio that is essentially picking up scraps from the kitchen floor compared to the average audiophile on this forum.

As I've said a $1000 set-up including cleaning equipment and some vinyl to spin would be a fair expenditure considering the overall value of your system IMO. I also think you're the type of person, based on your posts, that can be satisfied with that investment, as well as the sound it would produce, and avoid riding the escalator.

As to your other comment, let me share an experience from this past weekends Bay Area Audio show. There was a room using "scraps" that included an Audiolab 8000 integrated amp ($300 used) and a Magnavox CDP ($50 used). I won't mention the speakers, but I will say the sound in that room was in my top 3 of the whole show.

Clio9, if he does, and if he stays with it for even six months, then he'll be the first in these threads to have done so as far as I can tell.

I have faith in him :)

BTW, having owned a Technics SL-1200, I don't believe one can get a satisfying, long-term, "entry level" set-up based around this table (or a Rega P-3, or Music Hall MMf 7.1, or...) for less than $2K (including table, arm, cartridge, phono preamp, interconnects, platform/base, set-up tools, and cleaning supplies).

As you were a SL-1200 user you obviously have more experience with this table. However, it keeps getting mentioned in "budget" threads and that was my point.

I'll disagree with the Rega P-3, or for that matter the refurbed/modified AR or Thorens tables such as those that can be found on Vinyl Nirvana. As a B&O user I'll say an 8002 refurbished by Soundsmith can be an extremely satisfying table.

Clio09, my comment regarding the Technics SL-1200, Rega P-3, MMF 7.1, and any other "budget" table one wants to include in the list was not intended to offer a judgment about the sound of the tables, or about whether an owner would find their sound satisfying.

My use of the word satisfying was probably poorly chosen, but my intention was to suggest that with an investment of $2K, one might be less likely to want to change one of the elements to something more expensive (more expensive cartridge, arm, table, interconnect, phono preamp, etc.).

Of course, whether one desires to upgrade is open to many factors with the most significant factor being the personality of the owner.