Gavin F
23-03-2010, 14:40
Hi all,
This is my second post here after my addition to the "hello" section and looking forward to some helpful advice.
I guess I should start my query with a bit of background about me and my current situation. I'm a 29 year "mature" student, I returned to education nearly two years ago and needless to say, I'm pretty skint! However, having been off the hi-fi upgrade wagon since I started back at uni I'm going through (a slightly stronger than usual) pining for a TT upgrade. My Clearaudio Enotion was my first "proper" record player, I loved it to bits when i first got it and still do now. Hence, it is with slight trepidation that I am sounding out possible upgrade options.
The main issue with changing my Emotion is that any purchase/s will have to be funded from selling my Emotion TT and that I am considering selling my guitar amp and cab which unfortunately I do not have the time to use as much I once did, particularly in a live setting, so I'm thinking of going back to my dear old practice amp. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I should hopefully be able to raise about £1200 from that little lot. Incidentally, this is highly speculative as I don't see many 2nd hand Emotion's for sale, but they retail at about £1100 these days so I guess £500 would be a fair price (although mine cost £550 five or six years ago when I got it!)?
Right, so I have done some digging around which has lead me here with queries about the Technics SL-1210 and the mods available for it although I am considering other options which I will also go into later. As I mentioned earlier I am exploring the upgrade choices with slight trepidation as I love my Emotion so much, but I also realise that there is a world of vinyl playback out there I haven't been in a position to explore. The point is, after flogging my beloved Emotion and my guitar amp rig I'd really want an appreciable improvement to my vinyl playback, you know, I want to be blown away. If that isn't achievable then I probably just won't bother! :)
Ok, so here's a list of what I see as my options, I would greatly appreciate opinions on the pro's/cons, in's and outs of these. I will also add my thoughts, feelings and questions as I go!:
1) Technics SL-1210 - I reckon with my budget I could possibly stretch to a new 1210, the Time Step PSU (is the cable from this to the TT long enough to site the PSU on a seperate shelf from the deck?) and a Jelco SA-750D from Sound HiFi, I am confident that with good instructions I could fit everything as I have some basic electronics skills and have wielded a soldering iron before. I currently run a AT-OC9ML/II so would continue with that. Finally, would I need to purchase the connecting cable for the arm or could I continue using my current phono interconnects as I do from the back of my Emotion's arm?
2) I had considered a tone arm upgrade for my Emotion, however from just selling my guitar gear I would not raise enough cash for the next step up in the Clearaudio range.
3) Michell Gyro SE - I could go 2nd hand for one of these, the dust cover is very appealing after the lack of one with my Emotion! However, I would need to buy a new hifi rack as this wouldn't fit on my current one. Not sure I could afford this unless I get a good second hand deal. Any ideas on the going rate?
A record dealer friend of mine runs one of these and I really like the sound, I am undecided if my OCD would get the better of me when setting up a suspended deck however.
4) Erm, I was sure there was something else but I think I've forgotten :doh: :lol:
5) This bit is over to you guys. Is there anything else I haven't considered? I am sure there ought to be a lot! Ideas, thoughts and suggestions as to other options extremely welcome!
Crikey, that's quite a lot to be getting on with so apologies for bombarding you all with questions. I am very much looking forward to hearing what you guys reckon!
All the best,
Gavin :cool:
Edited to Add: P.S. I wanted to re-affirm what I was saying about budget. What I can spend is what I can raise from selling and it is highly unlikely that I will be in a position to make further upgrades for a long, long time (I'm studying architecture)...
This is my second post here after my addition to the "hello" section and looking forward to some helpful advice.
I guess I should start my query with a bit of background about me and my current situation. I'm a 29 year "mature" student, I returned to education nearly two years ago and needless to say, I'm pretty skint! However, having been off the hi-fi upgrade wagon since I started back at uni I'm going through (a slightly stronger than usual) pining for a TT upgrade. My Clearaudio Enotion was my first "proper" record player, I loved it to bits when i first got it and still do now. Hence, it is with slight trepidation that I am sounding out possible upgrade options.
The main issue with changing my Emotion is that any purchase/s will have to be funded from selling my Emotion TT and that I am considering selling my guitar amp and cab which unfortunately I do not have the time to use as much I once did, particularly in a live setting, so I'm thinking of going back to my dear old practice amp. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I should hopefully be able to raise about £1200 from that little lot. Incidentally, this is highly speculative as I don't see many 2nd hand Emotion's for sale, but they retail at about £1100 these days so I guess £500 would be a fair price (although mine cost £550 five or six years ago when I got it!)?
Right, so I have done some digging around which has lead me here with queries about the Technics SL-1210 and the mods available for it although I am considering other options which I will also go into later. As I mentioned earlier I am exploring the upgrade choices with slight trepidation as I love my Emotion so much, but I also realise that there is a world of vinyl playback out there I haven't been in a position to explore. The point is, after flogging my beloved Emotion and my guitar amp rig I'd really want an appreciable improvement to my vinyl playback, you know, I want to be blown away. If that isn't achievable then I probably just won't bother! :)
Ok, so here's a list of what I see as my options, I would greatly appreciate opinions on the pro's/cons, in's and outs of these. I will also add my thoughts, feelings and questions as I go!:
1) Technics SL-1210 - I reckon with my budget I could possibly stretch to a new 1210, the Time Step PSU (is the cable from this to the TT long enough to site the PSU on a seperate shelf from the deck?) and a Jelco SA-750D from Sound HiFi, I am confident that with good instructions I could fit everything as I have some basic electronics skills and have wielded a soldering iron before. I currently run a AT-OC9ML/II so would continue with that. Finally, would I need to purchase the connecting cable for the arm or could I continue using my current phono interconnects as I do from the back of my Emotion's arm?
2) I had considered a tone arm upgrade for my Emotion, however from just selling my guitar gear I would not raise enough cash for the next step up in the Clearaudio range.
3) Michell Gyro SE - I could go 2nd hand for one of these, the dust cover is very appealing after the lack of one with my Emotion! However, I would need to buy a new hifi rack as this wouldn't fit on my current one. Not sure I could afford this unless I get a good second hand deal. Any ideas on the going rate?
A record dealer friend of mine runs one of these and I really like the sound, I am undecided if my OCD would get the better of me when setting up a suspended deck however.
4) Erm, I was sure there was something else but I think I've forgotten :doh: :lol:
5) This bit is over to you guys. Is there anything else I haven't considered? I am sure there ought to be a lot! Ideas, thoughts and suggestions as to other options extremely welcome!
Crikey, that's quite a lot to be getting on with so apologies for bombarding you all with questions. I am very much looking forward to hearing what you guys reckon!
All the best,
Gavin :cool:
Edited to Add: P.S. I wanted to re-affirm what I was saying about budget. What I can spend is what I can raise from selling and it is highly unlikely that I will be in a position to make further upgrades for a long, long time (I'm studying architecture)...