Why no turntable?

I actually have four sources, but really only listen to two. I listen to digital and I listen to vinyl. I will probably be listening a bit more to digital in the coming days :)... after breaking a stylus I know I need to be much more careful when playing vinyl. It is not that I feel one is better than the other; I enjoy both for very different reasons.

I also have a very nice tuner. I don't listen to radio often but sometimes I like having it mainly in the background. I also have a CD/SACD spinner. This I never spin a disk with. I use it for the occasional rip of a disk (SACD) or if a friend brings over a silver disk they want to listen to; again this is very rare.
 
Randy Myers said:
I actually have four sources, but really only listen to two. I listen to digital and I listen to vinyl. I will probably be listening a bit more to digital in the coming days :)... after breaking a stylus I know I need to be much more careful when playing vinyl. It is not that I feel one is better than the other; I enjoy both for very different reasons.

I also have a very nice tuner. I don't listen to radio often but sometimes I like having it mainly in the background. I also have a CD/SACD spinner. This I never spin a disk with. I use it for the occasional rip of a disk (SACD) or if a friend brings over a silver disk they want to listen to; again this is very rare.
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How did you break a stylus Randy?
 
Oh it was not good. There was alcohol involved and I decided to change stylus and put the bronze on. No big deal there, but putting the stylus guard on (a really stupid design I might add) I slipped and the rest is history :(... At least I have the bronze so I am still up and running...
 
Randy Myers said:
Oh it was not good. There was alcohol involved and I decided to change stylus and put the bronze on. No big deal there, but putting the stylus guard on (a really stupid design I might add) I slipped and the rest is history :(... At least I have the bronze so I am still up and running...
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.
Thanks for your honesty Randy! It's usually the maid.
 
Randy Myers said:
Oh it was not good. There was alcohol involved and I decided to change stylus and put the bronze on. No big deal there, but putting the stylus guard on (a really stupid design I might add) I slipped and the rest is history :(... At least I have the bronze so I am still up and running...
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I had the Bronze some time ago as well. And I was always afraid to use the stylus guard. Botched design.


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I am thinking that I will live with the bronze for a while. I think the black may sound a bit better, but it was very close. The bronze does have a bit less surface noise, so not sure I want to spend that much on another black stylus.
 
Ah, stylus guard design. The Ortofon Cadenza / Kontrapunkt / Jubilee / Windfeld guards always made me nervous as hell. An ancient Ortofon MC20 with permanently attached flippable visor was the exception - very easy to use. Ortofon could surely stand to focus on more "user friendly" guards for its newer models. Koetsu guards are great - really easy to use, even drunk as hell (lol). Shelter guards are good too, at least until the metal prongs get bent slightly out of the perfect tension - then they suck. And the various Benzes didn't even have one! Made mounting them an anxious endeavor.
 
Both the Ortofon 2M series (what Randy is using) and Cadenza series (what Kuoppis had) stylus covers are not worth re-applying to the cart IMO. Too much risk, sober or not of damaging the stylus/cantilever. Same with the Dynavector 20X2 carts as I know too well with a 20X2H cart that got one LP's worth of playing before I farked it up attempting to place the cover in place. Instead, I just don't attempt it any more.
 
So after giving some run in time and settling on various components (in budgets I can afford) I have a few more thoughts.

First off I still think my digital is amazing!
Secondly I find myself drawn to the vinyl side. I truly can't put my finger on it, but the vinyl is being a bit addicting to me right now.
Third, the Rega analog pieces have insane synergy. Obviously designed for each other.
 
Randy Myers said:
So after giving some run in time and settling on various components (in budgets I can afford) I have a few more thoughts.

First off I still think my digital is amazing!
Secondly I find myself drawn to the vinyl side. I truly can't put my finger on it, but the vinyl is being a bit addicting to me right now.
Third, the Rega analog pieces have insane synergy. Obviously designed for each other.
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Well said. Your second point is bang on!


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I think it’s vinyl as a whole experience. The intricate tech, ability to play with it and adjust all the parts, getting to master it, hearing differences between carts, collecting vinyls, the ceremony of playing, the sound with the details and nuances.
 
Mike said:
...I’m part of a few groups of vinyl lovers... But there are dozens of vinyl groups. Hell, there is a group dedicated to just Music Matters pressings - and there are only about 165 (I have them all). There are groups just for MOFI pressings. Vinyl collector groups are everywhere. That’s the fun.

My point is that it becomes more about the collecting of the records and the listening to them, then who’s got the best turntable. In fact, most guys don’t give a shit which turntable you have. They’re more interested in your take on a particular new pressing or a rare old one....
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in terms of adding LPs to a collection, it would be great to know of online groups like these. what groups do you frequent and find helpful for the identification / discussion of titles and pressings?
 
aKnyght said:
in terms of adding LPs to a collection, it would be great to know of online groups like these. what groups do you frequent and find helpful for the identification / discussion of titles and pressings?
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The MOFI group on FB is very good for that. There’s a few others too like Anything MOFI or other great albums. Vinyl: the dead wax society is also good.
 
aKnyght said:
in terms of adding LPs to a collection, it would be great to know of online groups like these. what groups do you frequent and find helpful for the identification / discussion of titles and pressings?
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stevehoffman.tv has a lot of threads that discuss pressings. There are several that get pretty deep into jazz pressings. Sometimes the posters there can be harsh so "buyer" beware. But, the information is very helpful.
 
I rely on the stevehoffman forums mostly and then go to Discogs.com to search for the specific pressings.

I'd rather do this than just buy a bunch of $5.00 lp's and hope that something sounds good. I'm not much of a record store browser, but others truly enjoy that process.
 
I love all my sources. I’ve always had a vinyl rig so to me it’s just part of the experience. My best vinyl still sounds better to me than my best digital, which is mostly DSD.

I think the vinyl setup learning curve is pretty steep. That may put off some folks. I learned setup from Bert Whyte (rip) and that knowledge has served me well. You do have to listen to get it right, so some people may not have the confidence to pull it off.

I think digital is no less tweaky BTW, it’s just different.
 
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