Who would have guessed? As the CD falls, vinyl rises again. Online readers have probably noticed Stephen Mejias diving deep into the black art this year. What about you? Have you spent any money on your turntable rig (not including records) in the last 12 months?
COMMENTS
I just purchased a new needle for my Grado gold. I had thoughts of replacing the Grado but decided that I truly enjoy my current set up. I discovered Jazz from the late 1950s onward in recent years and feel my money is better spent building the collection. I have no doubt that I'll upgrade in the future.
I started the year with upgrades for my old table, then bought a new table and have been upgrading and modifying it. Most of my effort, however, has been going into cartridge alignment, because it doesn't matter how much you've spent if the cartridge isn't getting everything out of the groove that it possibly can.
I bought my dream turntable just over 12 months ago so it falls just outside the survey date. It's an SME 30 which I had lusted after for many years, with a Kondo wired SME V arm and a beautiful Clearaudio Goldfinger cartridge. All were ex-demo or new trade-in items before anyone thinks I've a bottomless pocket. For me it brings so much unalloyed pleasure each time I use it, that it has been a very worthwhile purchase. The only front end change I anticipate making will be the Goldfinger which won't last forever, but that's part of the pleasure of vinyl.
Just got my Rega P3-24 with a Bellari VP 129 yesterday! It brought back my old memories when I used to listen my uncle's Philips turntable connected to a AIWA stereo. When you play a vinyl you just sit back and listen to the music, no fidgeting with your remote skipping and scanningit adds so much to the musical experience!
No, my VPI TNT VI with appropriate upgrades works very well and I love my vinyl. When they replaced those bladders, everything works like a charm and nothing need be changed. Why look for something better than perfect? As long as they sound so nice, why change a thing? Long live vinyl!
After purchasing pricey new turntables that failed to please my ears, I had my early 1980s Phase Linear 8000 linear-tracking turntable refurbished in June. It sounds as good as new, which means wonderful. Also purchased three new phono cartridges, including an Audio-Technica 150MLX. The A-T cartridge is terribly underpricedit should sell for at least $600, not the $259 I paid. It's exceptionally smooth, sweet, liquid, detailed, and neutral. CD players, regardless of cost, have never sounded as good as my Phase Linear and Audio-Technica combo. After a long digital hiatus, the goosebumps are back.
Well, I haven't actually spent it yet, but I am actively shopping for a new turntable and cartridge, and will hopefully complete this in the next few weeks. In preparation for this I have been accumulating new vinyl at an astounding clip.
Several times over the past 12 years I inquired about a Rotel RP900 wich sat on various shelves in a local hi-fi shop, the dust cover still had the plastic bag over it. Each time I was told it was not for sale. Recently I gave it one more shot and was told that the reason it was not for sale was it required a square belt(?) and none were available. Then why not sell it cheap and get rid of it, I asked. Twenty five dollars later it was in my car, and as for the belt, one phone call and one day later a (round) Rega belt was on my mint Rotel version of a Rega P2. Persistance pays.
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