going back to a Turntable ?
Discussion
Is it the right thing to do ?
I used to listen to a lot of music and i have a fabulous record collection. I used to have a great lp12/naim/sbl system. I then had a naim CDi based system in the 1990's but then after that i sort of lost my way and only ever really listened to music on mp3 players on the train and commuting. At home now i just use headphones and mp3's playing on the pc.
A part of me would love to be able to play all my old records again but i'm worried that it will just be a fad. There is no modern music amongst them so I am also wondering if people still buy records and if they reasonbly priced ?
Also, could i add say a Naim HDX or a squeezebox + DAC to a decent hifi system ? Will properly ripped WAVs sound really good ? (like as good as the high end naim/linn/rocksan/meridian CD players) ?
I used to listen to a lot of music and i have a fabulous record collection. I used to have a great lp12/naim/sbl system. I then had a naim CDi based system in the 1990's but then after that i sort of lost my way and only ever really listened to music on mp3 players on the train and commuting. At home now i just use headphones and mp3's playing on the pc.
A part of me would love to be able to play all my old records again but i'm worried that it will just be a fad. There is no modern music amongst them so I am also wondering if people still buy records and if they reasonbly priced ?
Also, could i add say a Naim HDX or a squeezebox + DAC to a decent hifi system ? Will properly ripped WAVs sound really good ? (like as good as the high end naim/linn/rocksan/meridian CD players) ?
Do people still buy vinyl? Yes, emphatically. Current vinyl quality is top notch although you will pay a premium over CD price (inevitably). I tend to be selective on formats but do prefer vinyl for my 'proper' music...
My Gyrodec, SME IV and Sumiko moving coil combo through a good valve amp and PMC FB1s can be electrifying in its sheer presence and detail. Easily matches the Shanling valve CD player in the same system. Nearly as pretty too
My Gyrodec, SME IV and Sumiko moving coil combo through a good valve amp and PMC FB1s can be electrifying in its sheer presence and detail. Easily matches the Shanling valve CD player in the same system. Nearly as pretty too
I have decent Project turntable (6.2), but am thinking of upgrading and wondering what to buy.
On your seocnd question, I run a squeezebox into a Cyrus DAC XP+ with PSX-R power supply and it sounds very good with high quality cd transfers, if not quite on a level CDs played on my CD Xt+ and PSX R.
On your seocnd question, I run a squeezebox into a Cyrus DAC XP+ with PSX-R power supply and it sounds very good with high quality cd transfers, if not quite on a level CDs played on my CD Xt+ and PSX R.
jackal said:
I am also wondering if people still buy records and if they reasonbly priced ?
Yes, see Music Room 'The Last Album You Bought' thread for lots of records being bought.Records I bought today ranged from 50p to £25.
I make *.TAPES, *.WAV, *. FLAC and *.OGG from the record player, and listen to them on the move, that can be done as well.
Koenig
WAV? Are you from the 90s?
If you absolutely HAVE to have computer-based music, then it has to be FLAC.
I tend to play 90% of my music through my PC, everything encoded into 196bit MP3, as that's compatible with almost all hardware. If I had the choice it would be FLAC though.
(rest of music is either on SACD or vinyl - Technics direct drive, Linn Cartridge)
If you absolutely HAVE to have computer-based music, then it has to be FLAC.
I tend to play 90% of my music through my PC, everything encoded into 196bit MP3, as that's compatible with almost all hardware. If I had the choice it would be FLAC though.
(rest of music is either on SACD or vinyl - Technics direct drive, Linn Cartridge)
Gyrodec with a well-tempered arm and clearaudio beta cartridge into a Musical Fidelity X series phono amp.
A lot of modern stuff is still released on vinyl in small numbers and limited editions. Sounds wonderful and I still enjoy the manual, analogue, mechanical process - kids are fascinated by it when they first see it!
A lot of modern stuff is still released on vinyl in small numbers and limited editions. Sounds wonderful and I still enjoy the manual, analogue, mechanical process - kids are fascinated by it when they first see it!
If you already own a "fabulous record collection", then that is all the justification you need to get a good turntable. And to answer your question, there are plenty of outlets these days for quality vinyl.
I have a Mitchel Orbe, with SME arm & Ortofon Rhomann MC cartridge, which I accept is a hi end turntable, but it sounds so pure I never want to be without music reproduction this good. There are many very good turntables out there for a lot less outlay that will still be a huge improvement to whatever you listen with now. Your old LP12/Naim system was superb, I started off with almost the same system, but over time I thought the delivery was a little too "fast" & exciting for prolonged listening sessions, but if you listened to it again I guarantee you will fall in love with turntable delivered music again.
I have a Mitchel Orbe, with SME arm & Ortofon Rhomann MC cartridge, which I accept is a hi end turntable, but it sounds so pure I never want to be without music reproduction this good. There are many very good turntables out there for a lot less outlay that will still be a huge improvement to whatever you listen with now. Your old LP12/Naim system was superb, I started off with almost the same system, but over time I thought the delivery was a little too "fast" & exciting for prolonged listening sessions, but if you listened to it again I guarantee you will fall in love with turntable delivered music again.
Edited by Speedracer329 on Friday 4th June 11:12
Speedracer329 said:
If you already own a "fabulous record collection", then that is all the justification you need to get a good turntable.
That is all the justification you should need. Speedracer329 said:
Your old LP12/Naim system was superb,
My ears and opinion was that it was a very compromised piece of poor engineering that required so many upgrades and meticulous setting up in-situ and still failed to deliver what simpler, well engineered turntables could.Le TVR said:
My ears and opinion was that it was a very compromised piece of poor engineering that required so many upgrades and meticulous setting up in-situ and still failed to deliver what simpler, well engineered turntables could.
Zzzzzzzzhere we go... read the thread, it wasn't an invitation to start a "naim vs." war
Speedracer329 said:
Your old LP12/Naim system was superb,
Fair enough, the Naim entry level amps can be improved upon, but as Jackal doesn't specify which he had, for all you know he could have had pre, power, hi caps, or any number of combinations, & again, your description doesn't really fit that equipment. In any event, an LP12 / Naim powered system is very, very good, better than most people would want.
Edited by Speedracer329 on Friday 4th June 15:44
Edited by Speedracer329 on Friday 4th June 15:45
it sounded superb to me at the time
(lp12/ekos/troika/ hicap+250)
and yes, i actually worked in the trade at the time so heard and sold the competition, knew the reps, visited the manufacturers like michell at borehamwood, roksan and the xerxes, the voyds, audionote, exposure, sugden, elite rock, quad etc etc...
lp12's do need a good setup though. Chris Thomas from Audio Venue used to do mine, he was widely regarded as one of the best there was. He used to stop by in his white 309 GTi as well, a fellow car nut
(lp12/ekos/troika/ hicap+250)
and yes, i actually worked in the trade at the time so heard and sold the competition, knew the reps, visited the manufacturers like michell at borehamwood, roksan and the xerxes, the voyds, audionote, exposure, sugden, elite rock, quad etc etc...
lp12's do need a good setup though. Chris Thomas from Audio Venue used to do mine, he was widely regarded as one of the best there was. He used to stop by in his white 309 GTi as well, a fellow car nut
Edited by jackal on Friday 4th June 17:39
I'm with Le TVR on this one, although I can't comment on the engineering aspect.
Back in the early 80s I spent some time doing a comparison between the belt driven Linn Sondek table (which I had set my heart on) and a Denon DP 60, which is direct drive. Used different high-end cartridge, phono-stages, pre-/power amp, speaker set-ups and in the end I opted for the Denon. Far simpler to set-up and sounded the best to my ears. I still use it today, wouldn't be without it. Wouldn't mind the loan of a Brinkmann La Grange for a few months though!
But if you've an lp12 in your set-up you should be using it, and get that vinyl spinning.
Back in the early 80s I spent some time doing a comparison between the belt driven Linn Sondek table (which I had set my heart on) and a Denon DP 60, which is direct drive. Used different high-end cartridge, phono-stages, pre-/power amp, speaker set-ups and in the end I opted for the Denon. Far simpler to set-up and sounded the best to my ears. I still use it today, wouldn't be without it. Wouldn't mind the loan of a Brinkmann La Grange for a few months though!
But if you've an lp12 in your set-up you should be using it, and get that vinyl spinning.
what arm did you use ?
The thing you must remember with an LP12 is that it performs pretty badly against most turntables unless it has a very good arm on it.
I remember when the Xerxes came out with just the basic Rega arm. An LP12 with an expensive Ittok (many many times the price of an RB230) still wasn't as accurate or speedy. The same could be said against say a Gyrodec with an simple RB230.
Go to the Ekos though and the turntable moves into a different league altogether IMO.
The thing you must remember with an LP12 is that it performs pretty badly against most turntables unless it has a very good arm on it.
I remember when the Xerxes came out with just the basic Rega arm. An LP12 with an expensive Ittok (many many times the price of an RB230) still wasn't as accurate or speedy. The same could be said against say a Gyrodec with an simple RB230.
Go to the Ekos though and the turntable moves into a different league altogether IMO.
jackal said:
Also, could i add say a Naim HDX or a squeezebox + DAC to a decent hifi system ? Will properly ripped WAVs sound really good ? (like as good as the high end naim/linn/rocksan/meridian CD players) ?
Properly ripped WAVs can indeed sound *really* good. If you end up going down this road be sure to check out the Linn DS range as well as those you've mentioned. I have an Akurate DS and it's really quite a phenomenal source. Linn Records also have a growing number of high resolution content to purchase, if you're into classical and jazz, and I understand there are growing numbers of other websites offering similar.Edited by theboss on Friday 4th June 21:31
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