Should I?

[JoelSim]

I'm in a real quandry on whether I should invest in a TT.

What do you think? Is it worth it given I would have to start buying loads of vinyl?

What do you think of the Roksan Radius 5 with say an Ortofon Blue? Any other cartridge suggestions?

I know it will be a whole load of fun, the TT and the purchasing vinyl lark...

Also, recommendations for a phono stage as I have a very very limited amount of room, so the smaller the better. I've looked at the CA 940p and this looks too big, is there anything available that's really small?

 

 

[John Duncan]

It is a quandary yes, since getting a cheap turntable would have you scratching your head over what all the fuss is about, and buying an expensive one is hard to justify when you have no vinyl (and may still elave you scratching your head). So I think on this basis I'll stick with my original suggestion that you don't bother.

If you do though, I'd get the phono stage for the Arc rather than a separate one, therefore taking up no room (unless you've run out of inputs, I know you have quite a few sources).

 

[Anonymous]

It's very tempting to suggest sinking the cash into a CDP that has an analogue sound instead, e.g. the Unison Unico CD which is about £1.5k. If you want the crack then get respectable TT (Rega P3?) and a separate phono stage (Heed Audio?) and enjoy the many hours of sodding around. It's like having a sub; the more things you can adjust you more you adjust, hopefully not to the detriment of the music!

 

[chebby]

JoelSim:
I'm in a real quandry on whether I should invest in a TT.
What do you think? Is it worth it given I would have to start buying loads of vinyl

OMG! Yes, yes, yes.

JoelSim:What do you think of the Roksan Radius 5 with say an Ortofon Blue? Any other cartridge suggestions?

Ortofon 2M Blue, excellent choice. Goldring 1042, mega!

Also try the Rega P3-24 with the Rega TT-PSU. They are currently doing 'special' coloured P3-24's packaged with the TT-PSU in a range of gloss lacquer colours including Piano black...

http://www.rega.co.uk/html/p3-24%20colours.htm

The P3-24 'Colours' with TT-PSU is £598 total.

JoelSim:Also, recommendations for a phono stage as I have a very very limited amount of room, so the smaller the better. I've looked at the CA 940p and this looks too big, is there anything available that's really small?

For MM a Creek OBH-18. This will rock.

 

[DistortedVision]

I'd definitely recommend you to the world of analogue but be warned it takes some patience and attention to caring properly for records to ensure you get the best sound possible.

Personally I would get a Michell Technodec over the Roksan Radius 5. They are in the same price bracket. That said the Roksan is a nice deck - I just have a bias towards Michell. If you looking at spending more I'd recommend the Michell Gyro SE of course or the Thorens TD2030 which I am extremely tempted by for my second system:

 

[DistortedVision]

If you're budget will allow it I'd recommend the Trichord Research Dino it's small and has a really nice natural sound. Also its very upgradeable upgrading to the Dino+ PSU or NC PSU and power cable.

Cartridges depend on the tonearm which require matching.

 

[JoelSim]

If you could get a new Roksan Radius V with tone arm, but no cartridge, for £489. Would this affect your thinking?

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I'd rather pass Razor Blades than own a turntable!

We get loads of calls from people who've bought them because of all the huff and puff in the mags and they don't like the sound, the damage done by the dogs and the kids and they can't understand what the fuss is all about. However I have one dealer who no longer sells "audiophile ones" "because of all the hassle" but he does sell one for £100 that plugs into a computer and comes with a disc to help your record vinyl to iTunes. He says the customers love it and often prefer the sound to the fancy things they used to own.

Let's face it, it's old and inconvenient technology and only worth bothering with if you collect or own music not available digitally. IMO a P2P MP3 sounds much better.

Ash

 

[JoelSim]

Thanks Ashley, but I'm really not interested in computer based music. Happy with CD but just fancy a bit of tinkering and fun with a good TT.

I have an iPod and it sits in the cupboard gathering dust, unlike my hifi which is used extensively every day. Where's the fun in downloading music and having mass storage devices filling up space.

ÿ

 

[DistortedVision]

Sure it would but personally I don't like the look of it in the maple finish.

 

[John Duncan]

Then there's your answer. If it's about the experience, a turntable cannot be beaten - if it's about the quality of reproduction, it has it's pros and cons (though mostly cons, in my experience).

 

[John Duncan]

DistortedVision:Sure it would but personally I don't like the look of it in the maple finish.

Sorry, meant to say that too - ew.

(not yew).

 

[JoelSim]

What are the cons JD in your view?

ÿ

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Ashley James:only worth bothering with if you collect or own music not available digitally. IMO a P2P MP3 sounds much better.

I can't agree with that Ash, even if I do believe and follow your hard-disk based theories.

I have both, and whilst HDD is more accurate, there is a certain amount of pomp and circumstance associated with opening the lid, sliding the inner sleeve out of the cardboard, handling the vinyl gently, and putting it on - and then having 2 square foot of cover work to look at. And dare I say it, nostalgia.

And I think that, (whilst making sure the kids are in bed and the dog in the kitchen) is part of the charm. Old records that you can't get on digital media are one thing, but I do like the whole rigmarole...

...And I still think my Beatles LPs sound better than those horribly-mastered CDs from the late 80s...

 

[fatboyslimfast]

JohnDuncan:DistortedVision:Sure it would but personally I don't like the look of it in the maple finish.

Sorry, meant to say that too - ew.

(not yew).

OY!

 

[chebby]

Ashley James:I'd rather pass Razor Blades than own a turntable!

Excellent idea. Let us know how that goes.

Ashley James:We get loads of calls from people who've bought them because of all the huff and puff in the mags

So let me get this right.. you are an agony aunt for dis-illusioned turntable owners?

Why would someone who was unhappy with a turntable ring a PC speaker manufacturer to whine about it?

Ashley James:Let's face it, it's old and inconvenient technology and only worth bothering with if you collect or own music not available digitally.

...and sounds lush and gorgeous and has timing that a CDP can only aspire too and has a tactile sound that touches places that digitally 'perfect' music canot reach. (Yeah, its not ideal and the technology is fundamentally a century old and it's fiddly etc etc but it 'gets you' in the gut, the heart and the groin rather than the lab measurements!)

Ashley James:IMO a P2P MP3 sounds much better.

Well, my USB DAC is doing a fine job playing iTunes lossless CD rips through the hifi but, good as it is, the vinyl stomps all over it. iTunes+ 256kbps downloads are very nice too but can't touch vinyl for making me want to get out of the chair and play air guitar. Computers and DACs for convenience, vinyl for the soul!

 

[John Duncan]

a) It's really difficult to get a turntable set up correctly for every single record you've got and
b) It's really difficult to get a record totally clean and keep it that way.

I was playing Hounds of Love on 180g vinyl recently (played only perhaps two or three times before) and the CD was quite obviously better in terms of its ability to play the vocal without distortion. And that's on a turntable and cd player that ought really to be on a par, if received opinion is to be believed. Now the issue could be with either of a) or b) above (or even my gotham cables!

), and almost certainly is, but I'm not sure I've got the time to find out.

Don't get me wrong, I love playing records and have a huge amount of vinyl that isn't replicated in my CD collection, but if I have both I generally won't bother with the LP - I'd spend more time worrying about whether my isolation platform was doing its job or whether the azimuth was correct than actually listening to music.

If you see it as a route into very cheap music (via charity shops and eBay, certainly not new), then that's a different matter, but be prepared to accept that it will probably sound sub-par compared to your Arcam.

 

[John Duncan]

fatboyslimfast:JohnDuncan:DistortedVision:Sure it would but personally I don't like the look of it in the maple finish.

Sorry, meant to say that too - ew.

(not yew).

OY!

Well it is a bit IKEA. The perspex one is admittedly gorgeous (though nothing trumps a gyro, obv).

 

[JoelSim]

Interesting.

I can't bring myself to press the buy it now button as I don't really have any space for ÿthe phono stage. Bespoke racks don't allow for little things like that!!!

Going to think long and hard about this as I would want to spend ages getting the right cartridge and then would need to go scouting for records.

Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

ÿ

 

[John Duncan]

I personally would spend less (a P2 or P3 or mid-range Project) s/h, and get a few records that you really love on top quality new vinyl - then you can decide for yourself. I say s/h since you can at least sell it on for what you paid for it.

And I say again, your Arcam can have a pretty good phono stage fitted (if it hasn't already) for the same price as a 640p (give or take).

Then if you're sold on the whole thing, you can upgrade to your heart's content......

 

[JoelSim]

The Roksan is on at £479 brand new.

 

[John Duncan]

Yes, but £479 is a lot if you have no records and find that vinyl's not all it's cracked up to be when you do get some, that's all I'm saying.

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Yes, but £479 is a lot if you have no records and find that vinyl's not all it's cracked up to be when you do get some, that's all I'm saying.
...but could be resold...

 

[JoelSim]

igglebert:JohnDuncan:Yes, but £479 is a lot if you have no records and find that vinyl's not all it's cracked up to be when you do get some, that's all I'm saying....but could be resold...

The risk is certainly minimised. Blimey I'm sounding like an accountant now!ÿ

 

[survivor]

Hi Joel. Hope you`re well.

I`d always say yes to getting a turntable and I`m going to say yes again here. Just one quick word though. Please keep in mind that you presently have a stunning system. I`ve never heard a system that can match yours for vocals and for bass. I read with interest your experience of listening to a high grade system and feeling disappointed with the sound. That says a lot about your Arcams. It`s natural to want to look for ways of improving your system but I guess there can come a time when it can be difficult to do so.

Whilst saying all of that I know this has been on your mind for sometime and there really is only one solution and that`s to get one! I hope you enjoy the sound but even if it doesn`t quite live up to your expectations I`m sure you`ll still enjoy the experience of buying and looking after records.

One way or another this will at least get this out of your system! (pardon the pun)