For many years Presto has been my preferred vendor choice for classical music but the recent rise in postal charges to the US has made me look to other options when available.
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Thanks for the links Serhan.
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I totally agree. They need to reconsider their shipping methods / pricing.
You may well be right. @Rudolf_Appel also has a good point in that there are so many high quality recordings, there is reduced appetite for more.
Classical was the marketing basis for launching CD. It was heavily promoted with the backing of Herbert von Karajan, who sold more records of anyone in any genre. There was the thing about getting Beethoven 9th on one disc so it could be listened without a break. Classical listeners dropped vinyl far quicker than others, but there were a few milestone vinyls, such as this one from 1987.
Agree on Herbert von Karajan.
My dad searched whole Europe and websites to find this original 1962 recording (released 1963). My parents gave it to me for my 50th birthday. It’s a jewel. All the booklets and records in the original status in the box.
I think the Thorens TD1601 will be worth it, but on these records I was able to recognize the improvement of the Ortofon OMB 30 cartridge on the old Thorens TD 105 cartridge immediately.
@stevensegal I am a real wood affiniado myself, the table top is a solid 4 cm (~1 1/2“) walnut bespoke table top. My brother in law owns a carpentry company in Germany which manufactures bespoke front doors and furniture. I love going there. The fumes of the wood, the passion with which the workmen/ladies craft the products. It’s an art really.
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Nice, very nice.
I’m surprised it took so long to find a set. I sold most of my classical records, but I kept that set and a few others.
It’s fun going to my mate’s carpentry shop. My wife went with him to choose the veneers and the kitchen will be made of solid oak. He does the weirdest things. A few weeks ago he was doing a fishing locker room and the arms of the furniture were carved leaping salmon. There was a drinks cabinet that was a wooden replica of a 1950’s petrol pump, with nozzle, dials and meters. Paul likes carving things!
He also did the interior of a rather nice boat.
My former audio cabinet is very budget by comparison, it was basically to keep everything under wraps to as I do not like looking at hifi and it avoids damage, so more practical than anything else.
I just found an old phono with a couple of PS Audio components in it.
The shelves here were temporary mdf, Simon made me some nice slatted white ones.
p.s. anyone near London with a van, it’s for sale.
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You can find these 1963 Karajan Beethoven boxes second hand, but not many are complete, and without scratches, tons of dirt or wobbles.
Insiders know it’s a collectors item, so mostly the boxes in poor status are for sale.
Dressing ships especially sailing yachts is about the most challenging task a carpenter can meet, no dimension in its space is the same they need to mate straight weir curved all the time and no curve is the same. It’s an art and it is impressive.
@robertedwards Don’t tempt me… 
I can barely afford Digital nevermind going backwards to Vinyl again. Love the sound but not the care, feeding, & money involved.
Hey, tell me more about those pucks/footers pictured under you kit here.
Please/TIA,
SEE
If I were starting my audio system anew from scratch I seriously doubt I’d entertain vinyl as a format of choice. In addition to the negatives you mention, a vinyl collection consumes a great deal of space. I’ve been collecting vinyl for fifty years and I’m a bit fed up with the amount of wall space the collection is taking up. I’ve made a retirement goal of getting rid of the vinyl I haven’t listened to in many years and know I’ll probably never bother with again. I’m really glad I purchased most of the stuff that I’m interested in years ago because the cost of decent used vinyl has just become silly expensive IMO.
Heh . . . heh . . . heh . . . 
You will be assimilated . . .
I do know what you mean - starting from zero records, and now up to about 60-70, I’ve been much more . . . targeted in what I’ve bought. So far, every record I’ve bought was one I had before and was listened to frequently. I’m also buying mostly used - like many, I’ve been surprised/disappointed at how expensive new vinyl can be.
Once I get the turntables sorted out I’ll do more record hunting - but I’ll most likely stop in the 300-400 range, as that’s how many albums I find myself playing, whether vinyl or CD (not a big streaming person - I use a Chromecast Audio into my Naim nDAC/Pardo TXPS when I want to stream, which is rare).
Life is short - might as well enjoy music as much a possible!
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Yes, which is why I keep my distance from listening to good turntable setups, makes it hard to listen to CD’S afterwards.
So why don’t I own a turntable? As it stands my OCD just dealing with a CD based HiFi system system is all I can handle.
Hi Bob, If you have not already, check out https://paradisefoundrecordsmusic.com/ in its new location on Pearl. I found their prices and quality to be pretty good. It’s the latest incarnation of Bart’s.
They were a set from DMSD designed for turntables. My local pro audio dealer was given them as a sample set and he sold them to me for about $60. I found them useless and sold them online for a profit.
I’ve used a Townshend podium for 4 or 5 years and it is brilliant, provides complete isolation.
10-4.
Thank you.
SEE
A couple of years ago I heard the top of the range Brinkmann with the best Lyra can offer, through Wilson Sasha DAW.
Every time at night I walk past a bank, I check to see if they forgot to lock the doors.
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I also stay away from playing the lottery. Besides the obvious reason, ridiculous odds of winning, if I ever did win the big jackpot I’d spend it all on stereo equipment and house big enough to accommodate it all. Then when I lacked the funds to maintain the place and pay the bills, I’d end up homeless and stereoless on the streets, mumbling to myself, my god what have I done!
I told myself if I won the lottery I’d put it all on a horse. Given I know nothing about horses, I did bother with the lottery.
Thanks! I was there the day before Record Store Day. Still have to hit Wax Trax and Jerry’s . . .