Thanks! They've made everything sound better that I've piped through them. Vinyl in particular sounds spectacular.

I would love to get the center channel from the same line but I have no space for it. It's pretty bulky.

For the amount of vinyl you have and listen to, I think a turntable upgrade is in order. Also, if it has the preamp built into it, I say splurge on a separate preamp, which will give you many more options on the turntable end.

^

Yeah, maybe for Christmas.

Yes, the speaker bar. I have it. I use it for movies and music. It puts out good sound.

I think the speaker bar is a separate product, although also designed by Andrew Jones. I was referring to the center channel that goes with those L/R speakers.

Maybe sooner and I can just buy the components as I go along and save the big turntable purchase FOR christmas.

Suggestions on all?

What's your setup now?

It's the Audio Technica LP60 and it's just run through my Onkyo 705 (phono) and the speakers are some tower JBL's.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-LP...nica+turntable

If your receiver has a phono preamp built into it, then all you need is a new turntable.

I have the same turntable. What's a good step up?

Suggestions - what's good out there?

Why don't you guys give the Uturn Orbit a shot. They are shipping much sooner now. Just a couple of days. Or a Rega RP1. Music Direct always has good clearance prices on those and Project.

Those are good tables, plus the Project Debut Carbon.

You can also get a used Technics for not too much money. The SL-1200 is a rock solid performer, and the SL-1700 and SL-1800 are even better. I got a vintage SL-1800 (with original box from 1979!) on eBay and took it to a local shop to get tuned, replaced some of the cables, cartridge, stylus, etc. Whole thing cost me under $300.

Technics tables go up on eBay all the time and they're generally tanks. Set up a few alerts, be patient, and you'll find a deal.

Thanks guys!

Got Maiden Book of Souls LP ... black vinyl. Sounds really nice and cool packaging

I am a little hesitant to suggest the Porject carbon because I hear that the hum it can produce is Highly annoying. Music Hall 2.2 is probably the safer choice although the Porject comes with a nice Ortofon 2M Red.

I noticed a very slight hum with mine. I think it was the platter from what I read. Upgraded the platter to acrylic and it's gone. The Ortofon Red is a great cart although I swapped it out for the Blue

I would still recommend Project over U-turn. Though their product and offerings have improved.

Pro-ject owner here, and I love it.

Thanks!

I just got a pretty serious Phono Pre-amp. It was used but heavily upgraded with premium New old stock tubes, capacitors and Shunyata power cable. It's the Jolida JD9. Supposedly it really shines with moving coil cartridges. But Johnny Cash vocals were scary good through it and I am using my MM Ortofon Bronze still. It's probably better than my table. The settings are overly complicated but once it's dialed in right it shines. But it was a good deal so I snagged it.

The Dared I bought last year is now unused. I'd love to do a second system, I just never have the money to go all in on it. I upgrade by selling what I had it seems.

Hey, sorry if this is a thread jack - if so I can start a new one.

I don't have any vinyl, but have toyed with the idea of getting into it. I stumbled across a record store in town yesterday and was talking with the owner. I know people say vinyl always sounds better, but according to him records carry more information from studio masters than cd. True or false?

My dad has an old record player I'm thinking of grabbing to try out. It's about 30 years old; no clue if it works well. Any idea how to check? The store owner was quickly giving me a rundown of some models and features. I didn't realize all this talk of cartridges was about the needle and cost to get them fixed.
Would I need anything we to get started? What's all this Phono preamp talk?

Vinyl quality varies, like any format. Some newer vinyl is from a digital source and is generally frowned upon in the community.

Some of these guys can likely answer your other questions on equipment.

Vinyl from digital high Rez sources can sound great. Examples would be Led Zepplin remastered or the Blue Note 75s. Poor examples would be labels like 4 men with beards or grey market unlicensed European 180 Gram! Hype stickered records that come are sold at Half Price Books. Likely these are sourced by CD.

But the vinyl from analog sources? Sometimes you find audio nirvana. Music Matters Blue Notes and the Beatles Mono set are wonderfully engaging. You will be creaming your shorts.

Does vinyl sound better? It's all subjective. Some CDs sound great too. I have a CD player in the system. It's been said that vinyl is the best and most accesible way to get high Rez audio to the masses.

http://www.cnet.com/news/mastering-e...-music-format/

Maybe high Rez streaming with a nice DAC will sound wonderful. But analog is relaxing to me mentally after being on a computer all day. It makes me feel a little more grounded. It's a psychological effect on me no some of my friends I know. It's the ritual too. You gotta keep this stuff clean. But It's just fun to me.

And remember, you cant just hook up Speakers and a turn table. That's where phono preamps come in. They range from $50- $1000s and more. Or you need a receiver or integrated or pre amp that provide inputs for the turntable. The inputs went away for a while, but some companies are putting them back in like Sherwood and onkyo.

And Smaller companies are starting to to provide solutions for this in smaller form factors. Your phone will work with this guy as well as your table. I've heard it, and it sounds pretty nice. Has a built in DAC for digital sources. And I think it's sexy looking.

http://www.psaudio.com/products/sprout/

And here is great beginners guide.

http://www.turntablelab.com/pages/be...-to-turntables

A couple setup questions:

1) Although I know this is subjective, what are a handful of good bookshelf speakers that people enjoy? ($600 and under)

2) Also, what are the opinions on headphones for vinyl? I have heard Grado's are good. Curious to know if the popping and hissing that vinyl can create sometimes (which I don't mind) is a bit more annoying or severely pronounced when it's directly in your ears?

3) I have the Project Debut Carbon. If I wanted to switch the Red cart out and install the Blue cart, how would I go about doing it? Do you just pop it off and pop the blue on? Do you have to unscrew the entire head or tone arm? I've never done this and don't see a single YouTube video on it.

Thanks.

I've got a set of Audioengine A5+ speakers



I'm very happy with them. Full sound, built-in amp and subwoofer output. They also sell passive speakers if you don't need/want their amp. They're hands down the best computers speakers I've ever heard.

I can plug a newer turntable into them too. Haven't yet, but keep thinking about it.