Want to start a vinyl rig, overwhelmed by information

[ssportclay]

The Technics 1200 MK2 direct drive turntable is also a very nice starter turntable. You will have to mount a cartridge but this is very simple because it has a detachable head shell. You just align the cartridge with the supplied gauge and adjust the proper stylus force. The Pro-Ject Phono Box II is the best of the inexpensive Phono Preamps. The more expensive 640P and the battery powered Hagerman Bugle are also excellent.

 

[Bones13]

I too built a flexy-shelf as indicated above. Mine holds LPs pretty well. You can mount bars on the pillars, one to either side, which will hold the LPs up. I made mine with lots of shelves - power strip on the bottom shelf, next one up holds the LPs. Then a shelf each for Phono and DAC, CD player, Amp, and Turntable on top.

You can also start Vinyl with a second hand turntable, and LPs for that matter. There are some inexpensive phono stages as well. You will need a decent amp/headphone to take advantage of the increased dynamic range you will get with vinyl.

Then of course you can spend as much money as you can conceive of also.

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBrim /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, I've seen a few recommendations for turntables (planar 3, Music Hall series - MMF 2.2? - which gets bonus points for coming with a cartridge and being available online, others?)

Actually if you have 500 dollars or more to play with it's much better to go to a bricks and mortar dealer than save a few pennies online with something like a turntable.
Even the with the Rega / Pro-ject style decks which are pretty much plug and play you still should check all the alignment..etc yourself, although using a Rega arm / cart or P-Mount as mentioned above will alleviate the need for painstaking stylus set up.

A decent dealer will let you come and listen to different turntables to decide what's best for you. They do all sound different and vinyl playback allows you to tailor the balance of sound precisely how you want it. A dealer will also usually come and set it up properly for you, often for no extra charge and support you if you need answers to questions with your specific kit which is something even with the best will in the world it's not always easy to get on here.

 

[spahn_ranch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by memepool /img/forum/go_quote.gif A dealer will also usually come and set it up properly for you, often for no extra charge and support you if you need answers to questions with your specific kit which is something even with the best will in the world it's not always easy to get on here.

I talked to a local dealer about kit price on P3-24 with cart, and he said it'll be $120 extra if I want him to set it up. Claims it can take anything up to 4 hours and oh yes, that indeed he's the best there is in town... coming from a dude who harps on about "do you like apples or pears" when asked about a meaningful description of two different carts characters. Kinda lookin' elsewhere for my upgrade.

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spahn_ranch /img/forum/go_quote.gif coming from a dude who harps on about "do you like apples or pears" when asked about a meaningful description of two different carts characters

Yeah if they take that kind of attitude you often need to mess with their heads a bit. A friend of mine had a guy recently refuse to sell him cheaper speakers because he said they wouldn't be good enough in his system. How many shops are there that you go in and say I want to buy a pair of those for $2000 please and the salesman says no they arn't good enough for you. Go away and save more money and come back to me then and we'll talk...

 

[powerslave]

Audiogon is good place to check out for used tt. You can check out seller feedback and send emails and ask a lot of questions. My revolver rebel was under $200 and came setup. The seller provided easy instructions to setup tracking weight and it has worked great. I too was nervous about getting back into LP. Just read a lot of sites, try to pick up as much as you can and over time you will be much more comfortable with what everything is and means.

 

[spahn_ranch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by memepool /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah if they take that kind of attitude you often need to mess with their heads a bit.

Did tell him I had a better deal, much better actually, which included having the kit set up. Then leaned back for a good couple of minutes to hear him explain that I'd heard wrong and in any case it didn't include the PSU and if it did it was the wrong cart, and if it wasn't it still kinda was and after all I'm talking to the best of them and I really want him to perform the task.
Went out the door saying I'll have the better deal dosh in hand within a couple months from today; so then it was call us again, ya never know with exchange rates these days.

Rather seriously, does setting up a Rega P3-24 with probably Benz Micro Ace for $120 labor cost happen in the real world? If it does take all of 4 hours, OK; but can't we plug and play this Rega yet?

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spahn_ranch /img/forum/go_quote.gif Rather seriously, does setting up a Rega P3-24 with probably Benz Micro Ace for $120 labor cost happen in the real world? If it does take all of 4 hours, OK; but can't we plug and play this Rega yet?

No it can take this long first time out with the really complicated suspended subchassis decks but for a guy who does it for a living, a simple deck like a Rega shouldn't take more than 1hr tops.
For that much money / timeframe I'd expect him to come over to your house and drill holes in the wall mount a Target wall shelf for you and level everything perfectly, set up the deck and install the cart and fine tune it with you whilst checking out your records. If he's that thorough then fair enough and I have had that kind of service but usually for more expensive decks.
If they are still selling Rega's at the prices they were last year before the UKP dropped 1/3 against the USD then they would be making a profit, otherwise their margins on these kind of decks would be quite slim and I wouldn't expect that much of someone's time without paying. It depends on the dealer though as most will look at tasks like this as an investment in a future customer since most people will upgrade from a Rega fairly quickly.

To get plug and play with a Rega you need to use one of their own carts which have a three point mount. Apart from this it's just a question of making sure it's on a good level surface with a spirit level, away from other electronics.
Mounting an MC like a Benz is a lot more nervewracking than most, as the stylus isn't removable and you need a set of non magnetic tools, and bolts otherwise the magnet in the cart can suck the little nuts into the stylus in a flash, and there goes your expensive cart. By the time you factor in all these little tools of the trade and a decent stylus gauge you could easily spend 100USD.

Setting up turntables is something of a dying art as dealers are sure to be feeling the pinch with internet sales. It takes years of experience to do it really well and can make the difference between something sounding average and jawdroppingly awsome. I'm happy I had a good dealer to help me when I was starting out buying my Hi-Fi and I grew up with vinyl. If it's your first deck and you are intimidated by the whole thing, they will usually set it up for you in the shop, and a modern no-frills deck like a Rega or Pro-Ject should be fine as long as you take it home on your lap, and place it gently on a decent surface making sure it's level .

 

[10068]

Is a phono preamp really necessary if you have an integrated amplifier with Phono inputs in the back and a Phono output "type"? (i.e. you can select Tape, Aux, CD, Phono, AM/FM)

 

[powerslave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sduibek /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is a phono preamp really necessary if you have an integrated amplifier with Phono inputs in the back and a Phono output "type"? (i.e. you can select Tape, Aux, CD, Phono, AM/FM)

If your receiver or integred has a phono stage then you don't need a seperate phono stage but you might want to research the quality as not all are created equal. Also check your manual to see what type it is, MM or MC.

 

[10068]

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerslave /img/forum/go_quote.gif If your receiver or integred has a phono stage then you don't need a seperate phono stage but you might want to research the quality as not all are created equal. Also check your manual to see what type it is, MM or MC.

Will do, thanks.

 

[Catcher]

I'm sure you know this but just because an integrated or any other type of amp has a phono output doesn't mean it has a phone stage fitted inside it. Usually you have to get this as an optional extra and have it fitted or buy one and fit it yourself.

 

[videocrew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catcher /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm sure you know this but just because an integrated or any other type of amp has a phono output doesn't mean it has a phone stage fitted inside it. Usually you have to get this as an optional extra and have it fitted or buy one and fit it yourself.

I assume you mean phono input. And this might be true on the high-end, but certainly not on the low-end. If you're talking under $1000, you can be pretty sure that phono means it has a phono stage.

 

[Catcher]

Sorry yes, Phono input. But I still think we might be talking at cross purposes. The vast majority of amplifiers at whatever end of the price scale sold in the UK might have a Phono input but would not have a phone stage fitted inside unless paid for as an optional extra.

 

[NightOwl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catcher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sorry yes, Phono input. But I still think we might be talking at cross purposes. The vast majority of amplifiers at whatever end of the price scale sold in the UK might have a Phono input but would not have a phone stage fitted inside unless paid for as an optional extra.

Manufactured in the UK, yes. With a few exceptions not so much in the rest of the world. You're also talking about audiophile stuff like Meridian, Quad, Naim, Arcam, etc. and not mass-market stuff like Nad and Rotel.

videocrew is more likely right about this unless you can let me know some makes that I'm not aware of.