I used to have a vinyl rig a couple of decades back. Being precise I had an LP12 with a valhalla drive, Basik tonearm and K9. Certainly not killer expensive.
Either way, I could see that digital was clearly the technology of the future (can't use a record in a car for one thing), so ditched my whole LP collection, the LP12 and moved to CD.
The last few years has resulted in my digital replay getting rather good. The Meridian processor I now use as a DAC means that it's definitely into the high end area and the majority of other digital sources are going to be "different" as against necessarily better.
So, onto my problem.
My uncle has asked me to sell on his deck, which is a 23 year old Walker CJ55. It's a good, but not amazing suspended deck using an entry level linn arm and cartridge. Having owned a CJ58 before moving onto the LP12, I'd put it as a budget LP12 in presentation. I'd guess that it would give a cheaper Rega a run for it's money, though maybe I'm selling the Walker short at that.
Just to make sure that I'm not selling a dud, I got it up and running today. Easier said that done when you don't have a phono stage. Or at least didn't until I realised that the Kenwood 3020se I use to power my rear effects speakers contains an MM phono stage. Couple of leads later and some vinyl from a local charity shop and we're up and running.
Sure enough, doesn't have the width or control of my digital setup, but the mid-range is simply lovely. I wouldn't mind but this is a deck that is 23 years old (cartridge is a lot newer) running via a budget level phono stage, before the signal is digitised by my Meridian processor. I was kind of expecting it to sound rubbish.
Not at all was the answer. I had a very enjoyable time listening to the cheapy vinyl that I'd bought.
Of course the real problem is that:
1. It's left me wanting to play some more
2. Whilst I don't have any genuine level of vinyl collection, I could buy my uncles from him and I know a couple of other people who'd unload there's, giving me a probably 300+ LPs for not a massive outlay
3. I know I'd end up buying a pretty good vinyl setup, and it probably wouldn't be cheap.
4. The missus has already said no.
Oh why couldn't it have simply sounded naff....
Either way, I could see that digital was clearly the technology of the future (can't use a record in a car for one thing), so ditched my whole LP collection, the LP12 and moved to CD.
The last few years has resulted in my digital replay getting rather good. The Meridian processor I now use as a DAC means that it's definitely into the high end area and the majority of other digital sources are going to be "different" as against necessarily better.
So, onto my problem.
My uncle has asked me to sell on his deck, which is a 23 year old Walker CJ55. It's a good, but not amazing suspended deck using an entry level linn arm and cartridge. Having owned a CJ58 before moving onto the LP12, I'd put it as a budget LP12 in presentation. I'd guess that it would give a cheaper Rega a run for it's money, though maybe I'm selling the Walker short at that.
Just to make sure that I'm not selling a dud, I got it up and running today. Easier said that done when you don't have a phono stage. Or at least didn't until I realised that the Kenwood 3020se I use to power my rear effects speakers contains an MM phono stage. Couple of leads later and some vinyl from a local charity shop and we're up and running.
Sure enough, doesn't have the width or control of my digital setup, but the mid-range is simply lovely. I wouldn't mind but this is a deck that is 23 years old (cartridge is a lot newer) running via a budget level phono stage, before the signal is digitised by my Meridian processor. I was kind of expecting it to sound rubbish.
Not at all was the answer. I had a very enjoyable time listening to the cheapy vinyl that I'd bought.
Of course the real problem is that:
1. It's left me wanting to play some more
2. Whilst I don't have any genuine level of vinyl collection, I could buy my uncles from him and I know a couple of other people who'd unload there's, giving me a probably 300+ LPs for not a massive outlay
3. I know I'd end up buying a pretty good vinyl setup, and it probably wouldn't be cheap.
4. The missus has already said no.
Oh why couldn't it have simply sounded naff....