Budding audiophile/vinyl questions

[LasciviousXXX]

Hey CA Fam!

I wanted to put up a thread with a few questions that maybe some of you audiophiles out there could answer for me. I've realized as I go along that more and more the quality of music is very important to me. I have almost 4,000 albums and really enjoy my music at all times of the day. Recently I've been trying to break into the realm of high quality headphones w/ a couple of higher end purchases, namely a pair of Sennheiser HD380 Pro's and a pair of Monster Turbine IEM's. These headphones really gave me a taste of what high quality audio can sound like and man was I impressed.

So in my quest to begin down this path I wanted some advice from the CA Fam on good places I should start to build a decent home system for listening to music. We've got the regular Home Theater in a Box system for the TV so this will be completely separate and built from the ground up.

Also, and this is difficult to admit, I've never really heard music played from a record player. I know I know, its more than likely a generational thing but I've always been raised w/ cassettes, CD's and MP3's so my experience with turntables is non-existent. I would like to change that. Although, I really have no clue what all components are necessary to start listening to record albums. I'm looking at a Rega RP1 on ebay right now but other than that what else should I look into to begin my journey into Vinyl?

Thanks for all your help!

[LasciviousXXX]

Oh.. and if anyone has any used equipment they want to sell, I'm in the freakin' market :D

LOL

[sam a]

i'm defiantly not the most knowlagable audiophile, but i do love me some good sound. although i am sure there are more hi-fi options out there... i had used a Tecnics SL 1200 MK2 for years with a nice tube amp that a buddy of mine built (sorry i dont know alot of details about it) and i couldn't have been happier. for headphones i've listened on a nice set of grados a few times and i gotta say i think those are the bees knees. somebody with more technical knowledge can probably chime in help you out more. and i'd be interested in learning more myself.

[LasciviousXXX]

Most Grado's have received excellent ratings so good job on those! Thanks for the info on the Tecnics. :tu

[T.G]

Answers are going to be as varied as the posters, my recommendation is to find a legitimate high end vendor in your area and explore their various listening rooms and combinations. Don't be in a rush to purchase, do your research, don't get bullied into buying something and don't fall into the mentality trap of "everything has to be from the same manufacturer".

As for turntables, I got rid of my old Marantz reference turntable (don't remember the model #, it was from the late 70's or early 80's IIRC), record cleaners, phono pre-amps, styli, etc because it was just too much of PITA to me to store the records in proper temperatures and humidity along with vacuum clean a record before play and all that crap when often I wouldn't make the time to just sit there and listen, but rather be doing something else while it was playing. Oh, and the inability to loan/borrow records unless it's from/with someone who uses the same stylus and ideally player as not to damage the groves. All too much headache for me - I wanted to enjoy the music, not be restricted by it.

[replicant_argent]

With the technology of today, going from digital tracks to LPs is the equivalent of carving your own granite for perfomance tires, isn't it? Taking a very close and accurate recording and translating it to a mechanical and error prone and wearable media? It doesn't make sense to me. Nostalgia aside, I don't think you gain anything. Someone was just telling me the other day some studios still record on magnetic tape and then take that to digitally master the CD? Again... I must be doing logic backwards.:sh
It would make sense to me to take a current LP inventory and use one of the MP3 conversion turntables to make digital copies to listen to. Storing the albums as an "original and primary backup" so to speak. Easily damaged, high maintenance items, those. For the conservation of the collection that makes sense to me, anyway.

[LasciviousXXX]

Thanks for the responses guys! Much appreciated. Adam, I am going to be heading down to a few local shops to do some listening and see what I like. Just like w/ cigars I will be doing a fair amount of research before any decisions are made but it is nice to hear what people have used and liked. Gives me a basis of comparison :tu

Pete, while I agree with you in theory I want both the experience of vinyl as well as the ability to listen to the variation in the music itself. Most vinyl enthusiasts mention the warmer sounds and more accurate soundstage when comparing vinyl to digital. I totally understand where you're coming from though. Most of my digital music is in FLAC or 320 format so I am always going for the high quality digital sound as well.

[sam a]

With the technology of today, going from digital tracks to LPs is the equivalent of carving your own granite for perfomance tires, isn't it? Taking a very close and accurate recording and translating it to a mechanical and error prone and wearable media? It doesn't make sense to me. Nostalgia aside, I don't think you gain anything. Someone was just telling me the other day some studios still record on magnetic tape and then take that to digitally master the CD. Again... I must be doing logic backwards.:sh

agreed... but i do think that the process itself can be the reward. nothing necessarily gained in regards to clarity of sound... and it can be a PITA for sure but analog can be fun and there is a certain warmth that it provides :2

[replicant_argent]

I don't buy into the whole "warmth" thing. I have heard the "warmth" argument many times, but I look at that as one of two things, the amp or speakers altering the signal to something that pleases you aurally, or simple self fulfilling prophecy and you "feel" that it sounds better. It's a needle vibrating in a trench. I can't logically see how that contributes anything but possible noise. Call me a cynical bastid, lol. I am by no means an "audiophile" compared with some who think they can hear the violin tuning pegs loosening in a certain passage, but look at it somewhat dispassionately. Some recordings suck, some sound engineers should never have jobs, and some musicians could be worse or better, or their instruments aren't up to their talent or what I want to hear. Subjectivity running rampant and the world keeps a-turnin', Bro.


Why am I rambling? Oh yeah.. that third pot of coffee. That will do it.
:D




How do you store that many albums? My folks had several hundred as I recall my childhood, and they don't take well to mishandling or mis-storage of any type, as I remember, having er.... uh.... made the demise of a few. ;s

[replicant_argent]

Oh, you say "Vinyl Enthusiasts"


Are their dim-witted cousins called "8-Track Enthusiasts"?




ker-CHUNK ;)


(Not trying to be a Contrarian or a Negative Nelly, Tyr, just typing my thoughts, as stupid as they tend to be. I do hope you enjoy your tunes!)

[T.G]

Pete - the studios recording on multi-track magnetic tape is actually fairly common and done intentionally for a few reasons. Remember, most studio recordings are done by placing mics in front of the stacks and not direct connects into the musicians amps which, aside from synths/keyboards would still be an analog signal in most cases, so going to tape isn't really a big deal, plus, when converting to digital later, you get much higher quality by doing multi-pass conversions that can't be achieved in real-time.

Most of those USB MP3 turntables suck ass. You're much better off with a good turntable, sound card and a copy of protools.

[replicant_argent]

Pete - the studios recording on multi-track magnetic tape is actually fairly common and done intentionally for a few reasons. Remember, most studio recordings are done by placing mics in front of the stacks and not direct connects into the musicians amps which, aside from synths/keyboards would still be an analog signal in most cases, so going to tape isn't really a big deal, plus, when converting to digital later, you get much higher quality by doing multi-pass conversions that can't be achieved in real-time.

Most of those USB MP3 turntables suck ass. You're much better off with a good turntable, sound card and a copy of protools.

Yep, I follow you, and (back in the 80's) have spent some time in studios in the MPLS area. It is a very odd world. Here is also hoping that technology (mp3 T/T) jumps by leaps and bounds, as does everything else in this amazing world of ours.

[LasciviousXXX]

Ah, let me clarify. When I said 4,000 albums I was referring to my digital music collection. I don't actually own a single vinyl album itself. Which I am hoping to remedy.

Ok, first... less coffee :p HAHA

The warmth factor, according my moderately in-depth research, has more to do with natural sound itself rather than subjective hearing preference. Main differences being the separate sound waves between digital and analog sounds. Since original sound itself is inherently analog in nature, any digital recording of said sounds are not represented wholly since they are not capturing the entire sound wave.

The "trench" itself is a direct copy of the original sound's wave form. A lossless copy if you will. A digital recording of the sound will, by default, be unable to duplicate the entire soundstage of the original music. So you're already at a disadvantage in that arena. Think of it like making a copy of a copy of a cd. Since the copy is already losing sound quality (lossy), you're just further compounding the problem by burning it again. The same principle from what I have gathered so far.

This is of course just as I understand it from the limited research I have done.

[LasciviousXXX]

Are their dim-witted cousins called "8-Track Enthusiasts"?



Nah, they're just called dumbasses :D

[BloodSpite]

Personally I love vinyl. I have probably 100 albums and I can pick them up for nearly pennies at second hand shops and thrift stores easily

I have a old Fisher MT-720. Has phenomenal sound, and has served me faithfully for years.

I even record my vinyl to CD so I get the white noise effect when I drive

Be happy to help anyway I can but good luck in this endeavor I think you'll find it very refreshing!

[T.G]

I don't buy into the whole "warmth" thing. I have heard the "warmth" argument many times, but I look at that as one of two things, the amp or speakers altering the signal to something that pleases you aurally, or simple self fulfilling prophecy and you "feel" that it sounds better. It's a needle vibrating in a trench. I can't logically see how that contributes anything but possible noise. Call me a cynical bastid, lol. I am by no means an "audiophile" compared with some who think they can hear the violin tuning pegs loosening in a certain passage, but look at it somewhat dispassionately. Some recordings suck, some sound engineers should never have jobs, and some musicians could be worse or better, or their instruments aren't up to their talent or what I want to hear. Subjectivity running rampant and the world keeps a-turnin', Bro.


Why am I rambling? Oh yeah.. that third pot of coffee. That will do it.
:D




How do you store that many albums? My folks had several hundred as I recall my childhood, and they don't take well to mishandling or mis-storage of any type, as I remember, having er.... uh.... made the demise of a few. ;s


The warmth argument is basically bunk unless you have an entirely analog system. If you have a turntable, connected to a tube pre-amp then to tube amps (McIntosh anyone?), then it has some validity because you are 100% analog, but running a record player output through a digital switcher/selector as many systems use with internal A-D and D-A back again conversion, to a solid state amp, yeah, right, any perceived "warmth" is simply the more limited range of sound reproduction from the vinyl.

[replicant_argent]

The warmth argument is basically bunk unless you have an entirely analog system. If you have a turntable, connected to a tube pre-amp then to tube amps (McIntosh anyone?), then it has some validity because you are 100% analog, but running a record player output through a digital switcher/selector as many systems use with internal A-D and D-A back again conversion, to a solid state amp, yeah, right, any perceived "warmth" is simply the more limited range of sound reproduction from the vinyl.

But are the digital copies purchased from a B&M better than iTunes and Amazon or not, Mr. Smartypants?

(I know you will actually give me a valid answer about rates and encoding now, right? ;) )

^^^ Joke.... Joke.......

[LasciviousXXX]

iTunes = low quality sadness :(

:cool:

[sam a]

honestly all great points... i kinda think of it like using a torch vs. matches or cedar spill. sure a torch is easier, cleaner, and just generally more effective (and i personally use one most of the time), but i am not necessarily looking for effective in my hobbies or passions. alot of the time i'm just looking for an outlet for my geek tendencies and sometimes the least efficient way of doing things is the most meditative or something... i dunno. is it just placebo? maybe... is it nostalgia? probably... is it enjoyable? to some hugely. (FWIW i recorded a good portion of my newest record on a reel to reel... just because i like tinkering and i am aware that that was probably a dumb idea, but it sure was fun)

[mosesbotbol]

It's nice to deal with an audio shop that will let you borrow speakers to check out. My vinyl buddies are big into Linn audio products which is pretty nice stuff. Check them out.

http://www.linn.co.uk/

[SvilleKid]

hmmm Let's see.... I'm from the "vinyl" generation. Then the reel to reel gen, next the 8-track gen, then cassettes, then cd's, then........ Who the hell knows anymore!

But, being that I started with vinyl, I still have probably 1000 LPs. I used to have a decent (but not great) Pioneer turntable, but that was "borrowed" from me when Ninja moved away. I still see it occasionally, plus the hundred or so LPs that ran away with the turntable when I visit him!

The turntable was only considered "good", not great because it is a belt drive, NOT a direct drive. However, mine has after market head and needle, which made up for the belt drive. I currently have a USB turntable that I'm using to convert many of my LPs to digital, and have replaced the head and needle that came with it for a much better unit (pulled from my 1970's stock).

I don't really know what is out there these days, but in the 1970's and 80's, you needed to have a turntable that is (preferably) direct drive, with strobe light based speed adjustment to verify you are turning the exact proper RPM. the tone arm question that raged was "straight arm" verses "s-shaped" arm. I always went with an S-arm. The counterweight needed to be adjustable, with a secondary micro-adjustment weight. I had special "anti-vibration" feet that I replaced the original feet with, to minimize counter vibrations in the room from people walking, and any other actions that would transmit back to the turntable. I used standard RCA patch cords, but I used the bulky after market ones, not the tiny ones that came with the turntable. My roommate used patch cords with gold-plated connectors. I couldn't tell the difference between the cables we used.

Any LP I purchased new goes immediately into an anti-static plastic sleeve instead of the paper one in the album (used to buy them 25 at a time from radio shack). If the album liner was anything other than an unprinted sleeve, I kept it with the record. There's plenty room in the album for the plastic lined and the original sleeve. Any used albums are NOT purchased if they have significant scratching, unless it is an album I really really want (I don't have many of those). Those LP's also then go into plastic sleeves.

To extend the life of my LPs, even using the high quality needle and light-weight head, if it was an album I planned on listening to a lot, I usually copied the LP to a tape, then listened to the tapes. Once the tapes started to lose quality, I would copy another one off the LP. I used a disk-wash system that included a "zero-stat"??? (think that was what it was called) gun that reduced/eliminated the static charge in the records. Sounds like hype, but it really did

As to the other components, I never used high watt amps, I used efficient speakers that did not suck up watts just sitting there. Jeremy still uses the same 22 watt per channel (4 channel) amp that I used (purchased in 1977), and it produces sound as clear as the 250 watt amp I use with my home system.

I guess, in summary, get a reasonable quality, direct drive turntable with goods adjustment capabilities, but make sure NOT to skimp on the needle and the head. A good cleaning system helps. Most importantly, you will have to spend some serious time looking over any potential LPs you wish to purchase. Take along a good pair of headphones and listen before you buy. The surface may look to be scratch free, but the LP could have been played hundreds of times on some kid's $5 player with a big-old fat needle, and the grooves could be nothing but canyons! You can tell this immediately. Without listening, I purchased an original Floyd Cramer LP with "Last Date", specifically for that song. When I got it home and on the turntable, that song, and only that song was nothing but mush.

I imagine any amp/speaker system you buy that gives you a sound you like will suffice for the turntable, since that sound tends to be individualized anyway.

Good luck!

[smokin5]

Vinyl Junkie here, Boss!
Also reel-to-reel & cassette.
One VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR to consider in buying a turntable
is that you live in AZ, which means AVOID belt-driven models.
The heat & dryness will have you scurrying for a new belt every 4-6 months.

Make sure you get a direct drive turntable & avoid the hassle.

[LasciviousXXX]

Excellent information! Thank you Cliff, that was definitely the kind of response I was looking for. Like I said, definite newbie here so all information is helpful. You can only get so far in individual research. Sometimes you just have to glean some great info from people you trust.... and trying out equipment before you buy.


Edit - great info Eric! Thank you sir!

[MajorCaptSilly]

Neil Young on digital music:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/05/meet-the-new-digital-pioneer-neil-young.html

I remember when CDs came out. Neil was not a fan. He said the "reproduced" music was turned into bits and bytes. Each bit & byte had a beginning and end which disrupted the flow of the music you get from vinyl. I'm old.

MCS

[BC-Axeman]

CD "quality" is a problem. The sampling rate 44.1 khz is too close to your hearing range. You may not be able to hear the high frequencies but they do affect the lower ones. This may be the "warmth" issue.

Another problem with CDs is the samples are made Right-Left-Right-... sequentially. Your ears are extremely sensitive to the timing of the sound waves hitting the different ears. This is how you locate the sound. Either the sampling rate needs to be a lot faster or it needs to be parallel somehow.

MP3s slaughter the sound information when it gets encoded.

Every time analog tracks are transferred something is lost. Once it is in digital format is will only change if it is converted to a different format. Excepting damage, of course.

[CoreyD]

The world of vinyl and mixers and audio equipment has changed.I'm to electronic old school for this question , I got my last turntable set in 94 which was Numarks ,downgraded from my techniks, and they sit in my basement with hours of sets of various techno,drum n bass, trance vinyl. From what I have heard Tecknics are now standard but stantons are making them run for there money. Some of the trance vinyl,turntable shops I can turn you onto in Phoenix to better help your questions in phoenix may not be there but these guys are and from what I hear they are quite knowledgeable. They have new and used stuff.
Revolver Records
918 N 2nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 795-4980
I have found if you shop at a place that sells trance/electronic vinyl they are most knowledgeable in the turntable electronic scene. sometimes a skateboard/snowboard shop has employees that know where to shop.

[AD720]

With the technology of today, going from digital tracks to LPs is the equivalent of carving your own granite for perfomance tires, isn't it? Taking a very close and accurate recording and translating it to a mechanical and error prone and wearable media? It doesn't make sense to me. Nostalgia aside, I don't think you gain anything. Someone was just telling me the other day some studios still record on magnetic tape and then take that to digitally master the CD? Again... I must be doing logic backwards.:sh
It would make sense to me to take a current LP inventory and use one of the MP3 conversion turntables to make digital copies to listen to. Storing the albums as an "original and primary backup" so to speak. Easily damaged, high maintenance items, those. For the conservation of the collection that makes sense to me, anyway.

What you gain there is the natural compression of putting sound on tape, it creates a very pleasing and musical effect on the sounds.

I will say that I'll take a heavy-weight Vinyl over a low-bitrate mp3 any day of the week. Obviously FLAC or a properly mastered DVD-Audio is preferable.

[loki]

after reading this thread I've realized two things. 1: I want to get into vinyl. 2: i really don't care about music as much as i thought i did

[Beagleone]

I used to work for a major music store and sold sound & DJ equipment to many people. I was also a club and party DJ for a long time in the 80s and 90s. I still have my 2 Technics 1200s in storage along with about 1500 vinyl albums, LBs and 12" singles. Mostly old school 80s and 90s music. The Technics SL-1200s are marked for discontinued from Panasonic (parent company) late last year. They were the standard for the longest time; I've never worked a club or event that didn't have 1200s there. I would suggest getting one as soon as you can. The cost should be around $500, but used is slightly less. What can I say, they hold their value well. As for the needle, I used the Ortofon needles since they were light weight and provided a great range in sound. They were also great in design and allowed for DJs to drop the needle exactly on cue on the records. Stanton made great needles as well, but I prefer the Ortofons.

[TonySmith]

I don't have any recommendations for hardware, except Klipsch speakers. The La Scalas are pretty pricey, but a pair of Heresys would sound pretty good. I had a pair of them for many years. They are very efficent. Check some out if you can. That said, the speakers are the most important part of any system, choose carefully.

[junkinduck]

Good thread, I too realized I don't care as much as I thought I did. I want to go to tube equipment. Been looking at dynaco st 70's on eBay kinda pricely for 40 yo audio equipment. I have an old turntable out in the garage I will have to check it out tomorrow. Might want to trade it if it is any count.

[MTB996]

Analog is fantastic. I just sold my tube amp (Jolida 302b), but still enjoy my Music Hall mmf-9 table. Once you spend a little time listening you truly appreciate how much smoother and warmer analog is over CD. I have an original Mobile Fidelity DSOTM that is pure heaven in vinyl.

Just wish I had more time to spend listening in quiet.

Tons of good tables/ cartridges out there. Find some time to visit some audio shops that have decent vinyl set-ups and enjoy. Don't buy junk, but don't listen to the old nut cases that tell you unless you put a $10k TT on top of special diamond coated rubber feet it will sound like AM radio....

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa68/mtb996/IMAG0653.jpg

[SvilleKid]

I don't have any recommendations for hardware, except Klipsch speakers. The La Scalas are pretty pricey, but a pair of Heresys would sound pretty good. I had a pair of them for many years. They are very efficent. Check some out if you can. That said, the speakers are the most important part of any system, choose carefully.

Audiovox announced in January that they intended to buy 100% of Klipsch stock. Nothing against Audiovox, but I don't associate them with high quality audio components. Maybe they will leave Klipsch to their business, and not mess with a top-notch speaker! Bose make some of the most efficient speakers around. If you can find some used 901 series that are in good condition, they would be a great investment. 601 series are good bets also. Neither are cheap, though!

[MTB996]

One other point: If your looking at equipment, don't be afraid of low wattage tube stuff. It can be finicky sometimes (tube biasing, etc.) and require certain types of speakers to really sing, but IMO it gets no better than a 300b SET tube amp through a decent set of speakers.

Your room and music taste (volume and content) will dictate the system more than anything else. If you don't have a huge room and aren't going to rock out at insane levels, smaller systems can sound very sweet at a fraction of the price. If you know what you want, look at audiogon dot com for used equipment.

For not much $, a Jolida integrated (I just sold mine used for $350 with new tubes) and Soliloquy 5.3 (used < $1k) speakers are incredible.

Enjoy the search.

[sam a]

also... i've been shopping with www.turntablelab.com for years and they are great and have tons of great toys. and their reviews are pretty trustworthy imho.

[TonySmith]

Audiovox announced in January that they intended to buy 100% of Klipsch stock. Nothing against Audiovox, but I don't associate them with high quality audio components. Maybe they will leave Klipsch to their business, and not mess with a top-notch speaker! Bose make some of the most efficient speakers around. If you can find some used 901 series that are in good condition, they would be a great investment. 601 series are good bets also. Neither are cheap, though!

Sorryto hear Klipsch has been sold. I also hope they leave Klipsch alone to continue making their great speakers

[BloodSpite]

also... i've been shopping with www.turntablelab.com for years and they are great and have tons of great toys. and their reviews are pretty trustworthy imho.
:tu This

I've bought replacement needles from them for quite a while

[kickerb]

CD "quality" is a problem. The sampling rate 44.1 khz is too close to your hearing range. You may not be able to hear the high frequencies but they do affect the lower ones. This may be the "warmth" issue.

Another problem with CDs is the samples are made Right-Left-Right-... sequentially. Your ears are extremely sensitive to the timing of the sound waves hitting the different ears. This is how you locate the sound. Either the sampling rate needs to be a lot faster or it needs to be parallel somehow.

MP3s slaughter the sound information when it gets encoded.

Every time analog tracks are transferred something is lost. Once it is in digital format is will only change if it is converted to a different format. Excepting damage, of course.i agree with all this, but 99% of people cannot pick up on this. most people cannot tell the different been and 320k mp3 and a CD.

[kickerb]

i don't consider Klipsch speakers to be high quality. they are plain and simple loudspeakers. i own a whole set. yes, i like them. but i would not say they are high sound quality. just my two cents.

[BC-Axeman]

CD "quality" is a problem. The sampling rate 44.1 khz is too close to your hearing range. You may not be able to hear the high frequencies but they do affect the lower ones. This may be the "warmth" issue.

Another problem with CDs is the samples are made Right-Left-Right-... sequentially. Your ears are extremely sensitive to the timing of the sound waves hitting the different ears. This is how you locate the sound. Either the sampling rate needs to be a lot faster or it needs to be parallel somehow.

MP3s slaughter the sound information when it gets encoded.

Every time analog tracks are transferred something is lost. Once it is in digital format is will only change if it is converted to a different format. Excepting damage, of course.

i agree with all this, but 99% of people cannot pick up on this. most people cannot tell the different been and 320k mp3 and a CD.
99% of the people who care to try, maybe even. 99% don't even care to try to hear the difference. Once you learn to hear the difference you can't unlearn it. Then age sets in.

+1 on the speakers being the most important component. That's what you are ultimately getting the sound from. It doesn't matter how good you kept the sound quality, going through the system, if it gets mangled by the speakers being sent to your ears.

[mosesbotbol]

i don't consider Klipsch speakers to be high quality. they are plain and simple loudspeakers. i own a whole set. yes, i like them. but i would not say they are high sound quality. just my two cents.

Agreed. Klipsch is primarily a mass-consumer brand. They do have some higher end models, but are priced accordingly.

i agree with all this, but 99% of people cannot pick up on this. most people cannot tell the different been and 320k mp3 and a CD.

This is true until heard on high end audio equipment. Once speakers get into the top tier, it's hard to find a recording that does not show faults in the recording or format. It's like buying music that sounds good on the stereo instead of buying music that is appealing on its own.

[Blueface]

I have lots of vinyl albums stored from the way back then days.
It is only after I got into quality digital that I realized the amazing sounds I was missing on vinyl.
While nostalgic, not something I would want over the convenience of digital, with no storage issues for albums.
I had not played one of my vinyl albums in so many years that I ultimately got rid of my turntable, which was a very high end, DJ type Technics.

[BlindedByScience]

i don't consider Klipsch speakers to be high quality. they are plain and simple loudspeakers. i own a whole set. yes, i like them. but i would not say they are high sound quality. just my two cents.
Years ago, I was in the audio business and was fortunate enough to travel to Hope, AR and actually met and chatted with Paul Klipsch. The Klipsch speakers of today are a far cry from the speakers that were being built when Paul was around. That was back in the day when people actually LISTENED to their audio systems.

I recently read an article that said the "death" of quality audio reproduction was largely do to the increased availability of it. Folks don't sit and listen anymore; they jog, work out, do housework, etc. with their i-Pod on and don't "really" pay attention anymore. It's his opinion, but I did find it interesting.

When I was in the retail home / pro audio business, we sold McIntosh, Klipsch, JBL, Nakamichi, Denon, ADS, B&W, B&O, Thorens, etc....solid, high end analog stuff. It was a fun time. After that, I built and engineered in recording studios for a living for a few years. I can honestly say I have heard the best of the best when it comes to recording and reproduction. Stupid expensive Neumann microphones through custom preamps and modified consoles, onto a Studer analog tape machine with Mark Levinson modified electronics pulling 2" tape running at 30 ips, through a pair of full custom speakers in soffets with 4Kw of McIntosh power behind them....real bliss. Every time I worked in that room, it made me try harder and harder to make recordings of the quality that the system and room was capable of. Fun times....

Oh yeah, we were talking about turntables, weren't we...??....:D

Cheers - N.F.H.

[357]

Oh.. and if anyone has any used equipment they want to sell, I'm in the freakin' market :D

LOL

My dad has some 25,000+ albums and tons of turntables and such. He's willing to sell some of it. PM me if there is something specific you want and I'll ask him.

[shilala]

Duddy, true audiophiles pay $1200 for specially tuned wooden knobs for their receivers. This thing is crazy.
For me, I found a point where "the rubber meets the road". Klipsch speakers on a Denon receiver sound great, and you can add all the crap in the world to it, if you like.
So far as a turntable goes, vinyl pops and cracks. That's the ambiance of vinyl. It's freakin cool. I've listened to tons when I was younger, and I can't say a Sesame Street lunch box turntable with a built-in speaker sounds any better or worse than the best turntable I've heard. My point being, don't spend a lot of money, go to yard sales. Make sure there's a needle in the deck and make sure the belt doesn't slip (there should be some tactile feedback when you spin the deck, sometimes the arm must be engaged to start the deck, so you may have to bring the needle close to the turntable).
Just have fun, bro-jam. :tu

[BlindedByScience]

For analog turntables / cartridges / styli replacements, this guy (http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/Turntables) seems to have quite a selection.

They are styli...NOT "needles"......:D

[TonySmith]

i don't consider Klipsch speakers to be high quality. they are plain and simple loudspeakers. i own a whole set. yes, i like them. but i would not say they are high sound quality. just my two cents.

I don't know which speakers you own. When I bought my heresys, they were the cheapest speaker that Klipcsh made ($240 per speaker in 1979). The high end Klipschs are very expensive. I would put La Scalas against anything made today. :2

[hammondc]

i don't consider Klipsch speakers to be high quality. they are plain and simple loudspeakers. i own a whole set. yes, i like them. but i would not say they are high sound quality. just my two cents.

+1. The lower in the line-up you go, the worse they make your ears bleed. Even the reference stuff is extremely bright.

[mosesbotbol]

For analog / phonograph music, I like speakers with a detailed natural mid-range. Mid-range is where the music is. I think the Brit's have it down with speaker design even though my region the audiophile Mecca for North America.