Newbie starter setup for vinyl

[migliz]

Hi - what would be a good starter setup for playing vinyl? Budgeting around about £600 to begin with, but would like to integrate upgradability. Thanks

 

[nads]

What kit have you got now?

 

[migliz]

Nothing, starting totally from scratch.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Do you have any vinyl?

 

[migliz]

A couple of albums, was really hoping to build up a collection.

 

[Gray]

A couple of albums, was really hoping to build up a collection.

In the year 2023, you're in an enviable position.
Because, in terms of value, there's never been a worse time to be starting out with vinyl.

When most of us started out, there was no real quality alternative to vinyl - CDs came along, but were so expensive, they were very much the luxury option.

Times have changed.....massively. Your alternatives for music playback are better than vinyl, both in quality and value.

Maybe you've decided already, but I would advise you to look at the cost of (worthwhile) quality vinyl equipment, checkout the setup faff involved and the cost of the discs themselves before starting out.

I speak for others when I tell you that, if I was starting out today.....my choice wouldn't be vinyl.
If money / value was no object, I wouldn't mind the faff (12" vinyl played at 45 rpm is a fantastic experience - as good as vinyl playback gets).
But otherwise, nope.

 

[daytona600]

Pro-Ject Primary E Phono + Stereo Box S3 BT + Speaker Box 5

Primary E Phono – Pro-Ject Audio Systems (project-audio.com)
Stereo Box S3 BT – Pro-Ject Audio Systems (project-audio.com)
Speaker Box 5 – Pro-Ject Audio Systems (project-audio.com)

 

[Birdseed007]

That's a very tight budget and as others have said vinyl is the most expensive format to collect music on however here's what I would buy:

Aiwa Turntable - £249 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Tech...ocphy=1006878&hvtargid=pla-672199403473&psc=1

Naim Nait 3 - £299

Epos K1i loudspeakers £199. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25451754...8DUjsxTdPeZIWG2Ys%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675

I've blown your budget by £147 here, but you could shave a bit off that by buying these:

Epos ES11 £165 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16591570...460&brand=Epos&_trksid=p2351460.c100667.m2042

Or to meet your budget target how about these:

Mordaunt Short MS20i £64.99 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40402865...I9DBLRCQJVcbb3o09SP/IgGog=|tkp:Bk9SR9KAvbnOYQ

Lots of options if you're prepared to consider secondhand. The point is I think this little system would give you a really solid foundation and some quite desirable and well made gear. The Aiwa is a really nice starter deck with a very decent arm which means a later cartridge upgrade is well within its abilities. It's really a Technics SL1200 copy. The Naim amp will give you an exciting sound and plenty of flexibility and the Epos or Mordaunt Short loudspeakers are both quality loudspeakers that although a few years old are well respected and well made.

Birdseed007

 

[plastic penguin]

Some words that spring to mind with vinyl, such as realism, satisfaction and joy. There are other words to describe plastic spinny things: Pit, money and potential.

If I was starting again, I wouldn't go near vinyl.

The OP needs to give us more info, such as floorstanders or standmounts, room size & acoustics blah blah blah

With his budget I demo some actives and budget for a phono stage.

 

[DCarmi]

If you don't want to go into the second hand market...

Amazon (and possible elsewhere) have the Denon DM41DAB with matching speakers for £349
They also have the Sony PS-LX31BT turntable with a built in preamp for £229.
WhatHifi have a review of both items.

https://www.whathifi.com/denon/d-m41dab/review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-ps-lx310bt

The Denon unit gives you RCA input which will allow the Sony to be connected using the inbuilt preamp. It also gives you a CD player, DAB/FM radio and Bluetooth input. I've had this unit in my bedroom for 4 years now and it is good. Makes a decent radio alarm, too.

If you stretch your budget you could either improve the speakers or up the turntable to something like the Rega 1 Plus, but that is about £150 more. Richersounds have the DM41DAB unit with Dali Spector 2 speakers for £399, which would be a decent upgrade on the Denon ones.

As others have said, vinyl is an expensive hobby, which those of us who indulge know only too well. At least the Denon gives you the option of CD as well, which would be a much cheaper addiction.

 

[Al ears]

Agree with most posts so far.
i wouldn't be starting a Vinyl based system from scratch today purely on financial grounds.
New vinyl is not cheap....
it f you must then buy good second-hand amp and speakers but a new turntable for the warranty alone.
upgrading a vinyl based system means the ability to replace the cartridge with a better one and that you need to be able to do yourself if your dealer vis going to charge for doing it themselves.
i am not saying it cannot be done but often vinyl setups done on the cheap often disappoint.

 

[nads]

Nothing, starting totally from scratch.

Mmm I would then build a set up based on streaming. but maybe make sure the amp has a built in Phono stage(amp) and then look to add a turntable. Buying records can get very expensive. And if you go cheap used ones a decent cleaning machine it almost a must.

just think 3 records is about £100. That’s a year streaming?