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Post by deniall83 on May 7, 2016 12:19:49 GMT
Even though vinyl is objectively worse than digital I still enjoy collecting and playing vinyl records. I need to buy myself a new audio system and I'm really struggling to find the sweet spot between cheap rubbish and pseudoscientific nonsense. It seems the cheaper turntables, cartridges and phono pre-amps suffer from problems such as audible motor rumble, poor speed stability, inner groove distortion and audible hum/noise due to poor design. So my question is, how does one objectively evaluate analog gear when almost no one publishes measurements? Does anyone know of any good value gear that performs well without the problems I listed? Are there any advantage to MC cartridges over MM and MI? Thanks.
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Post by Ethan Winer on May 7, 2016 19:32:18 GMT
I'm pretty sure even budget record players won't have audible rumble or speed problems. Years ago I had an inexpensive Sony direct drive turntable which was fine. Cartridges do vary, but it's been so long since I dealt with records that I have no idea the state of current products. MC is theoretically better than MM, but (again) I don't know how modern products compare. My best advice is to pick a store you know / hope is ethical, and ask them what they suggest. Tell them how much you're willing to spend, and if they're competent and honest they'll get you the best value for that amount. And be sure you can return whatever you buy if you don't like it.
--Ethan
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Post by deniall83 on May 8, 2016 10:46:40 GMT
Thanks Ethan. I appreciate the reply.
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Post by arnyk on Aug 8, 2016 9:33:10 GMT
Even though vinyl is objectively worse than digital I still enjoy collecting and playing vinyl records. I need to buy myself a new audio system and I'm really struggling to find the sweet spot between cheap rubbish and pseudoscientific nonsense. It seems the cheaper turntables, cartridges and phono pre-amps suffer from problems such as audible motor rumble, poor speed stability, inner groove distortion and audible hum/noise due to poor design. So my question is, how does one objectively evaluate analog gear when almost no one publishes measurements? Does anyone know of any good value gear that performs well without the problems I listed? Are there any advantage to MC cartridges over MM and MI? Thanks. Remember that almost all LP's have grain noise added during plating and preparation for pressing, and to many that sounds like rumble. You're right - almost nobody does technical testing of LP players, and that's because they all measure pretty horrible by modern standards. Furthermore many of the flaws in inherent in the media, so everybody's gear beyond a certain point measures (and sounds) pretty much the same, placebophiles and placebophilia notwithstanding. My first shot at buying a new turntable ( I have an old Rega/Shure/Grado set up I almost never use) would be one of the better $300-500 DJ turntables (Pioneer, Audio Technica) with a Shure M97XE cartridge. Shure cartridge design article |
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