Vinyl

Sean Trane wrote: illustrated wrote: My friend has a turntable and a good speaker setup in his room which also connects to his stereo, and I think he has about 30 albums on vinyl now (including a recently bought mint copy of Ummagumma, which I'm jealous of). Despite all their good qualities, I know he's bought several records from a music store downtown (for good money too) which have actually been defected, like the original copy of Live Dead. He checks them and everything, but I guess that's the way it goes... I'm seriously considering getting a turntable myself, because vinyl does sound different, and the art for so many albums just blows me away. For instance, if you get Close to the Edge on CD you have to look through the little booklet to find the cool Roger Dean art, but on the record you just open it up and it's so much better. Though... I saw a copy of BSS on viynl that was very weird, with booklets in booklets, and not very practical, while the CD version was really awesome and holographic... but I read somewhere (something on H.R. Geiger's art) that the original record was holographic as well? As a 42 year old, I used to listen to  vinyls a great deal ., loved doing it and found great pleasure in sleeve artwork. But we had no choice (pre-recorded cassttes or 8-tracks were not valid choices - you might as well as made your own cassttes), that was all we had. We had to return many vinyls especially the post 73 stuff because the pressings were no good. No undue nostalgia, please: vinyl have their fair share of problems. The worst are the vinylrecord dealers asking for huge sums of money for average records in non-perfect state. (You might want to Avoid Doug Larson's vinyl section: expensive and overvalued state)  Since the early 90's I have converted to CD, was reluctant at first but the confort of CD is what converted me. Vinyls are a pain to maintain in a good condition , to handle and every twenty mins, one has to get up to change sides or record. This meant not being too drunk or high or scratches would appear quickly. 60's and 70's music do sound different on vinyl than on cd (whether it is better is another debate), but this should make no difference for music from 83 onwards. Vinyls also takes up a lot of space.

Haha, definitely some really good points. CDs work out great but I just love the cover art for a lot of the old records. And yeah, I'm still relluctant to buy a turntable/records because of the size factor and just the inconvinience in general. The copy of Live Dead my friend bought was $18.99 (Canadian) and supposedly he checked it for scratches, but none of it played when he took it home. But on the other hand, these guys have a lot of the old King Crimson/ELP/VDGG (etc) records I want which you have to order in from other music stores. I ordered in Pawn Hearts at A & B basically at the time of the New Year and found out it had gotten delayed. The second time I went back there they said that the company was going through changes and that it was still delayed, but the man who worked there looked further into it and it turned out that it had been sent to Calgary! So it was supposed to be here in a week or two and it's been at least that (I think?) and I still haven't gotten a phone call.

oliverstoned wrote: The Rega 3 is really better. Morever, the original cartridge ("super elyss") is a real good little cartridge.(unlike Denon DL103, for example, which is bad, despite it's famous).

I went to my local used hi-fi store in Copenhagen today and asked if he had a Rega Planar 3, and that I wanted to trade with my Planar 2, he said that it would be stupid "they are identical" he said. He sells them for the same price 250 - 300 dollars approx. Now I'm confused....       

oliverstoned wrote: Karnevil9 wrote: oliverstoned wrote: Karnevil9 wrote: ummagumma08 wrote: [QUOTE=oliverstoned>vynil easily beats cd get a rega planar 3 turntable you will not be disapointed[/QUOTE> Hi, I have a Rega Planar 2(the one in the picture), which I'm extremely fond of (it's way better than the numerous questionable turntables I've owned in the past.) and I wonder is Planar 3 remarkably better, or am I better off using my money on vinyl instead and keep the Planar 2? Lets just pull the Rega 2 down then...3/4" chipboard laminated with formica.A.C. Motor dangles from a black rubber belt (Motor mounting lugs are crudly bent over to accomidate this.Hinges if you like to call them that are cheap plastic efforts rivited to the lid,these break in time,to replace them you have to buy a new lid.Shame really as the lid is excellently made...Arm on the 'P2' is the Rega 'RB250' comes in many variants 'Moth''Thorens''Nad''Akai' badged,very overated but better sounding than the bigger 'RB300' found on the 'P3'... Better sounding deck then: http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/album_page.php?pic_id=922 False. The RB300 is an excellent arm. If you want to go further a Rega Planar 3, you have to take a Linn LP 12 with a good moving coil. Drop this flat earth crap we had in the '80's ok Linn 'Condeks' sound awefull...Ok.So oliver then you tell me all about specialist hi-fi .It's my hobbie has been part of my living for the last 25 years. My hifi guru is in hifi from 35 years... sorry!

Your hi-fi guru as you have, has been brain washesd by dealers & magazines over the years.Companies such as Linn rooled the roost & reviews/dealers over the years, due to exceptional marketing skills.Rega just got in there with simular marketing skills the same, as a cheap alternative to the Linn 'Sondek'...Wake up man you've just admitted you listern to your friend,who seems to know nothing himself.

I suppose he has an equally as crap Naim system?

oliverstoned wrote: ummagumma08 wrote: oliverstoned wrote: The Rega 3 is really better. Morever, the original cartridge ("super elyss") is a real good little cartridge.(unlike Denon DL103, for example, which is bad, despite it's famous). I went to my local used hi-fi store in Copenhagen today and asked if he had a Rega Planar 3, and that I wanted to trade with my Planar 2, he said that it would be stupid "they are identical" he said. He sells them for the same price 250 - 300 dollars approx. Now I'm confused....       <!-- Signature --> Dealers don't know what they tell. Rega3 is really better than rega2

Ok Oliver the 'P2' is better than the 'P3'!

Right the bigger RB300 arm sounds very grey over the cheaper 'RB250' ar,so thats not better arm for a start..The only difference between a Rega 'Planer2' & 'Planner3' is absolutly nothing,with exception to the 'P2' has a 3/4" chipboard plinth & the 'P3' a 1" chipboard plinth both formica laminated,'P2' has a slightly thinner Glass platter absolutly nothing else at all in difference,except from the obvious mounted arms.Everyone knows Glass sounds crap as a platter so to increase the thickness is no great brain wave.

Stop talking crap oliver.

arcer wrote: I'll take my Linn 'Condek' as Karn calls it over most every truntable I've heard and that includes an extremely expensive Clearaudio Reference which i didn't rate at all. The only turntable I've liked more was a Michell Gyrodeck. My pretty basic LP12 with a Sumiko Blue Point (which is MC and only cost about E300) sounds great. Put them through my musical fidelity XLPS and Myriad pre and powers and it sounds pretty damn good to me (though my speakers are rubbish - need something to sharpen the warmth of the Linn + Myriads)

Sorry arcer but i get very pissed off with the claims over the years that  the 'Condek' is the reference turntable to buy...No it is not at all,as i've mentioned Ivor Tiffentwitt had the market,press & dealers by the balls.The deck is absolutly no reference deck it's too coloured in sound.The 'Condek' now is nothing but an out dated design pinched from his fathers Ariston 'RD11' & Thorens 'TD150.These past upgrades he kept flogging were nothing but a con as are linn.

I have in stock at the moment a Valhalla Linn Sondek with 'Ittock' & the same with an Alphason 'HR100S' fitted all serviced ready for the next foll purchaser,i find them both poor compared to a Pink triangle 'Anniversary' fitted with Helius 'Orion' & £700 Dynavector MC i'm presently listerning to.

I would suggest you scrap the Musical Fidelity 'XLP'.The Myrads are ok but not brilliant.Just a run of the mill trendy company thought up by an EX-Arcam guy.I know this may hurt your feelings but there you go i'm sorry,i'm not saying this to wind you up but i have a feeling you've bought this kit over the years out reviews...

What's your speakers?

I agree that Linn toaday is a bad brand, and their best LP12 are from 1978. Today, there are less good.
The only good product they have is the Cd player Ikemi, the rest is mostly crap and over rated, i agree.

About my friend, he has not been wash brained, he knows to think by himself and he's one of the biggest audiophiles of the world.
He has the best devices, like marantz 10b (the best tuner of the world),several Nakamichi 1000 zxl, he has real amps like Conrad jonhson for highs and the biggest goldmund for low freq.
The biggest Mark levinson preamp, 30 000 dollars Infinity spaekers and he biggest transparent cables which is the best brand for interconnect.(120 000 dollars, just for speakers cables ("Transparent OPUS")).
Also the best Levinson drive + convert which costs 30000 dollars...
I don't even know the brand of his turntable cause it's too esoteric.
The price of his cartridge is the price of your whole system!
The result is incredible...
Nothing like a naim system or your your homemade system !!!
Do you have electric dedicated lines?

[/QUOTE]

Regardless of what age the 'Condeks' are they are still overated tosh.

I may have mentioned over the past treads at sometime i run a buisness manufacturing vintage turntable surrounds/plinths as well as buy & sell specialised audio equipment.

I am lucky enough to change my system around on a regular basis if need be.

I actually own the Marantz 10B with the day sequera display gagetry as i do own the classic Yamaha 'CT7000' tuner as well. these two in my view were probably the greatest tuners in the world & i would never part with them even though i never use them.

& a have a Nak 1000 which is a new old stock unit.as well as one for repair.also a nice 'Dragon'.

But your now going into high end gear with the mark levinson etc...most of this is very overated & seems you ears may be mis judging yourself.I've shifted a few Levinsons & agreeable are very good but i personally own a Audio reaserch 'SP9' tube pre-amp & in my view probably the best pre i've ever heard.

I have a pair of Krell 'KSA100' power amp which are excellent but at the time over priced.

Forget about esotecric deck such as Goldmund etc most sound worse than the supposid best CD players in the world & your paying for the material involved in the construction.You usually find the high tag refects on that fact that they aint gonna sell many either.

Yes i have a dedicated Ring main in my listerning room.

I have 5 'Koetsu' , 2 Kesiki,2 Lyra's'& a top of the range Benz Moving coils amongs others.

So please don't try to impress me.It's not a bragging thread.

I'm fully aware of what is overated & what is not.

Over the years of dealing with custommers buying this type of gear is the higher majority have more money than sence & are born show off's.

Expensive = not brilliant most of the time.

only the very few are the buisness.

SP9

oliverstoned wrote: ...and, btw, you have to have one electric line per device... With bigger diameter lines(4mm2) for amps It's essential.

Oliver

I never said the Yamaha had anything to do with the Marantz.How can it have Marantz were an American Company at the time i was just stating that the Marantz '10B' & Yami 'CT7000' were the best sounding tuners in the world.

Yes i' know the Counterpoint 5000...You've gotta be a prick to pay $3.500 for one although they sound great.

Regarding the cabling.Oliver either get you head out of those high end hi-fi mags or stay away from your friend cos it's doing you no favours.

I've been through all that when i was a little boy.The only thing that works is Russ Andrews (RATA) way in the UK for me.

BTW you lot in france getting all this high end gear imported in then.'YBA'(Yves Benard Andr'e) gear not any good for you?

oliverstoned wrote: Radioactive Toy wrote: hey lets take an look at this.. yeah great teddy also! I've had to buy it all... trade etc... Nice bed!

wanna have a go?

Radioactive Toy wrote: oliverstoned wrote: Radioactive Toy wrote: hey lets take an look at this.. yeah great teddy also! I've had to buy it all... trade etc... Nice bed! wanna have a go?

Yes Tidy your records up youg man