System overhaul...of sorts.

[Mystic Mac]

Hi all.
I have a system that overall I’m reasonably happy with, apart from the speakers but that’s another issue.

However, I find myself being tempted by the lure of turntables, but it’s that or an upgrade in the cdp department.

So my question for you guys is....Would spending £500 on a turntable beat £500 (plus phono) on a CD player (or transport) in terms of sound quality? Or would it just be a “different” sound experience.

Obviously I will have an audition of any equipment before plunging in, but just wanted to hear out opinions and experiences.

Thanks

[walpurgis]

Or. You could spend the money on a decent DAC. £500 (or less) should get you something pretty good on the used market.

A cheap CD player into a good DAC sounds far better than a good CD player into a cheap DAC.

[chris@panteg]

I think you could get something very good for £500, the obvious choice would probably be the Rega Planar 3, try and take a listen to one.

[wee tee cee]

A cheap lap top with a disk drive and a DAC ( Beresford SEG).

Rip all your CDs lossless-you wont look back.

The PC opens up the world of spotify and digital radio.....all within £500.

[Mystic Mac]

Or. You could spend the money on a decent DAC. £500 (or less) should get you something pretty good on the used market.

A cheap CD player into a good DAC sounds far better than a good CD player into a cheap DAC.

Hi Geoff. It is something I have contemplated, as I currently run my CDP via optical through the Node2 DAC and its far better than the CDP's DAC.
thanks

[Mystic Mac]

I think you could get something very good for £500, the obvious choice would probably be the Rega Planar 3, try and take a listen to one.

Hi Chris, that's something I plan/hope to do in next couple of weeks
thanks

[struth]

If your already into cd in a big way, then moving into vinyl will seriously screw with your mind and finances....

A better player and a dac of good quality and your getting hard to best unless you spend big.
You could also move into ripping your cds and playing them that way too

[walpurgis]

A Rega DAC might give you a shock.

My Monarchy Audio DAC would give you an even bigger surprise, but you won't find one of those :).

[oldius]

Were it not for a large vinyl collection, I would not advise anyone to begin an investment in the medium.

[hifi_dave]

The last few years, I have sold numerous Rega RP1 and now P1 turntables to newcomers to the black art. Most of these have really got into collecting and playing vinyl and some have upgraded their budget turntable to something more refined. As an example - a customer here this morning collected a Rega RP8 + Exact which he has bought to upgrade on his RP1 bought a couple of years ago. He is very enthusiastic about vinyl replay.

[wee tee cee]

I went the RP1 route then added a performance pack.

Compared it to a well set up Lenco gl75.....bought one!!!

I bought treasured albums to have a vinyl capability-it really is a rabbit hole financially.....IMHO digital with a PC/MAC/DAC is bang for buck in another league.

Vinyl done well is sublime but rather expensive and convulted....YMMV.

[struth]

The equipment Doesnt have to be tbh, but the media can be. My tt and phono, plus all the bits is maybe £750 now, although that is more than needs spending tbh. Still, in comparison to mid priced amps etc its pretty reasonable.
But, and its a big but, the media and shipping of it unless you have a good secondhand store on doorstep can mount up to serious cash pretty quickly. Ive probably got 7 grand out on vinyl, and my collection isnt big..

EDIT:..then there is a vacuum cleaner, which is needed if you want best out of it; they are expensive too..

[Sherwood]

Were it not for a large vinyl collection, I would not advise anyone to begin an investment in the medium.

+ 1

[Mystic Mac]

Thanks all.

You’ve given me plenty to mull over..... I could really do without an expensive vinyl addiction!!

[RobbieGong]

Were it not for a large vinyl collection, I would not advise anyone to begin an investment in the medium.

:)

[paulf-2007]

Thanks all.

You’ve given me plenty to mull over..... I could really do without an expensive vinyl addiction!!if you have an addiction to collecting more than enjoying music then don't start on vinyl. I only have around 50 albums but that hasn't stopped me spending a good amount on my vinyl set up, because I want my treasured albums to sound as good as they do.

[Pigmy Pony]

I can understand the lure of turntables, it's the way the tonearms wave at you...

It can be very expensive if you're starting from scratch, but if you buy a decent used deck, and maybe try record shops for good s/hand copies, it may be ok. Then give yourself a few months to see if it is for you, and then if the novelty hasn't worn off, great. If you find yourself not using it much, you can sell it on without much of a financial hit.

My turntable is the one item I will NEVER sell. It'll go to one of my daughters in my will. Then she'll have to start her own record collection, because there's no way she'll want to play my crap.

[speedracer]

Thanks all.

You’ve given me plenty to mull over..... I could really do without an expensive vinyl addiction!!

I think that that is the only kind there is!

[Vanzapp]

If you're thinking about a DAC, take a look at a used Chord 2Qute. They've just released a new one (Qutest) so 2Qutes are appearing around the £500-600 mark. Before I bought a DAC I was able to compare a few and the Chord sounded better (to me) by a country mile.

[Mystic Mac]

If you're thinking about a DAC, take a look at a used Chord 2Qute. They've just released a new one (Qutest) so 2Qutes are appearing around the £500-600 mark. Before I bought a DAC I was able to compare a few and the Chord sounded better (to me) by a country mile.


I’d like to compare it with the M-Dac, Rega’s Dac and the Nad d1050.