What all do I need to listen to vinyl?

[LiveAtLeeds]

I've decided to get a record player, but I really have no idea where to start. All I know is I need a player and some speakers, but beyond that I have no idea where to go. I'm not looking to get a set-up an audiophile would consider great, I'll settle for 'decent' as I'm not looking to spend big bucks. I guess I'll be looking for used gear on Craigslist and at record stores.

Where should I start? What are some good brand names? Thanks!

[Memphis Hawk]

Technics makes good stuff. Just get a plain jane record player. you need an amp and speakers, or speakers with internal amplifier that accept and receive RCA cables. No different than a standalone CD player.

THey also make USB record players now. just FYI

[Ed P]

The needle in the groove.

(Sorry, just couldn't resist saying it.)

[Warm Gums]

To make it worth while you need a basic but decent set up consisting of the following COMPONENTS' (avoid all in one "compact" systems).

Turntable (w/ MAGNETIC cartridge)

Amplifier or receiver, ( a receiver is a amp and tuner in one "box" and is usually easiest to find) must have a phono input for magnetic cartridge..most do.

Speakers.. Try to find some decent bookshelf speakers from JBL, Polk, AR, etc. The speakers from the component makers (see below) are usually their worst products.

Speaker cable.. iinexpensive stuff from GE is available at Target and will be fine to start with..if you want to listen to FM on your receiver pick up some cheep
" rabbit ears" at the same time.

This equipment was very popular in the 70s and 80s, and was made by dozens of Japanese companies, (Pioneer, Techinics, Akai, Sansui, etc, etc, etc. )it's cheep second hand, but the turntables often need some work, and speakers are often in need of a "refoam" or have blown tweeters.
Unless you know what you are doing it is a good idea to seek out shops ( second hand record shops often carry gear or know a trustworthy dealer) that offer a warranty or trial period.
Audiokarma is a board similar to this that will suck you in and teach you more than you want to know, and soon you will have a system in every room.

If you are in the Baltimore/ Washington area, I am allways upgrading my system and usually have a few surplus components that are looking for a new home..shoot me a pm..

[dconeill]

Originally Posted by Memphis Hawk

Technics makes good stuff. Just get a plain jane record player. you need an amp and speakers, or speakers with internal amplifier that accept and receive RCA cables. No different than a standalone CD player.

THey also make USB record players now. just FYI

Unfortunately, it IS different from a standalone CD player. Phonograph cartridges need an "RIAA preamp circuit" in the signal chain, which preamp compensates for certain irregularities in the frequency response of phonograph records. Older stereo receivers and preamps with a "phono in" section included such an RIAA preamp circuit, but I don't know if newer ones do. If the preamp or receiver you purchase does not have such an RIAA circuit, it can be purchased as a separate outboard unit.

See, for example, "RIAA equalization" on Wikipedia.

[Jupiter]

God I feel old.

[Westerly Sunn]

Originally Posted by dconeill

Unfortunately, it IS different from a standalone CD player. Phonograph cartridges need an "RIAA preamp circuit" in the signal chain, which preamp compensates for certain irregularities in the frequency response of phonograph records. Older stereo receivers and preamps with a "phono in" section included such an RIAA preamp circuit, but I don't know if newer ones do. If the preamp or receiver you purchase does not have such an RIAA circuit, it can be purchased as a separate outboard unit.

See, for example, "RIAA equalization" on Wikipedia.

Many Surround Receivers; if fact most that I am familiar with, include Phono sections.

Oh, and this includes very inexpensive ones. Of course, for those that don't there are units like this:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...FYhM4Aod43lg3A

[brewwagon]

[greggorypeccary]

Originally Posted by Jupiter

God I feel old.

I know, right? But I feel the same way whenever someone puts the word "tube" in front of amp.


I haven't seen a phono input on a receiver in years.

I know some do, but they're way more likely to have an ipod dock.

I think it bears repeating - turntables need a phono preamp (either in the receiver or external), you can't just plug it into any old input.

[fendrguitplayr]

Check craigslist - seems to be a lot of Spring cleaning goin' on...

[TeleTim911]

I really don't think you need an audiophile set up to get decent sound. If this is for your home, check CL and Ebay for used TT's (Tehnics, Panasonic, Sansui, Sony, Marantz, etc). Get a decent cartridge and needle. A phono preamp might run in the $20 range for an economy model, good enough for most home use if your receiver doen't have a phono input.

I have always preferred two things on my TT's...adjustable weight and speed.

I understand they now make USB TT's, hooks right into your computer if that's what you want to do?

[notdave]

What they said about phono pre-amp stages ^

NAD and Marantz make not very expensive but decent amps (so do Cambridge if they're available in the States). Belt drive turntable and, THIS IS IMPORTANT, the best cartridge you can afford

Personally (this is just me) I'd buy an amp not a receiver. Less circuitry is better.

[fuzzbender]

Get the best speaker cable and leads you can afford as well

[Bob W.]

Yes, you must have a phono preamp if your amp/receiver doesn't have a phono input. Vinyl records are recorded with an frequency response curve (RIAA) that must EQed for playback. The preamp or specific phono input does that, as well as presenting the correct load for the cartridge. It is NOT just a simple line input like a CD player, unless the turntable has the built-in preamp/EQ.

[waparker4]

I have this one http://www.amazon.com/PYLE-PLTTB3U-D...ywords=PLTTB3U

It was about $100 new at a store in town. It has the phono preamp built in, selectable in the back. It sounds pretty good and is easy to use. It has USB recording capabilities that I've never tried. I think one of the only complaints people have about it is that it doesn't have a sturdy, weighted frame under it, so it may skip. I have had no problems with skipping, except in the case of warped records.

The stylus is very fragile and easy to break, a fact which I learned when I broke it.

I got a receiver and a set of speakers off craigslist for I think $35. I then found another pair of old, old speakers on the curb on trash day. The speakers I bought later turned out to have no foam surround, it had all crumbled away. Replaced them with the speakers I found for now, until I repair them or get new ones.

[Torz Johnson]

Go on and enjoy the novelty of listening to vinyl. Most of us old timers couldn't wait to get a CD player when they first came out... for a number of reasons, which you will probably discover soon.

[notdave]

Originally Posted by Torz Johnson

Go on and enjoy the novelty of listening to vinyl. Most of us old timers couldn't wait to get a CD player when they first came out... for a number of reasons, which you will probably discover soon.

I've got hundreds of vinyl albums that I still listen to.

CD/mp3 might be more convenient, but the jury's still out on whether it's 'better'

[telleutelleme]

I have one of these circa 1969 in my office. Stereo Hi-Fi.




What was said earlier; turntable, receiver, speakers. Plenty of stuff on flea-bay.

The quality of the sound has a lot to do with the quality of the turntable, needle and the speakers.

[Torz Johnson]

Originally Posted by notdave

I've got hundreds of vinyl albums that I still listen to.

CD/mp3 might be more convenient, but the jury's still out on whether it's 'better'

Yes, "better" is definitely a subjective term. I only like CDs better because I got tired of skips, clicks, pops, rumble, warping and always having to run that stupid dust brush over my vinyl. Plus the records I wanted weren't on Mobile Fidelity and rarely used virgin vinyl so there were bits of paper fibers from the recycled records' labels already embedded in them. Not to mention careless transfers using a tape 3 generations removed from the master tape so the record often sounded like crap no matter what. For those reasons I found CDs better but YMMV.

[Boubou]

Originally Posted by Torz Johnson

Yes, "better" is definitely a subjective term. I only like CDs better because I got tired of skips, clicks, pops, rumble, warping and always having to run that stupid dust brush over my vinyl. Plus the records I wanted weren't on Mobile Fidelity and rarely used virgin vinyl so there were bits of paper fibers from the recycled records' labels already embedded in them. Not to mention careless transfers using a tape 3 generations removed from the master tape so the record often sounded like crap no matter what. For those reasons I found CDs better but YMMV.

I agree with the above, you also forgot to mention the 3 song skip when the dog stands in front of the turntable and decides to shake himself , also the rasp of doing mixed "tapes" with digital media vs vinyl, and the use of a remote