IMO LP/record collecting and playback comes down to personal listening values. When I started listening to music records was it. I stuck with them as early digital was unlistenable. For me there is nothing like pulling out an LP and spinning it. In general my collection is pristine, so no pre play cleaning is necessary, just a touch-up with an anti-static brush.
I continue archiving my record collection, and yes it is a PITA, adding LPs to my online Discogs database, ultrasonically cleaning each LP, and drying o a VPI 16.5, placing the record in a new rice paper antistatic inner sleeve, and an outer sealable mylar sleeve. I’ve been through 8,000 LPs and estimate I have another 2,000 to finish. My archiving method is a choice, and not likely would be embraced by many, but it’s my choice.
The Blue Note Tone Poet releases have reinforced my preference for LPs.
When I get some extra “hifi cash”, I’d like to get a P10. I love that Rega go their own way on the design. The plinth, the materials, super-light instead of crane required.
And the RP3000 tonearm is gorgeous.
I recently went shopping for a turntable to replace the old Rega Planar 25 (as I recall, an anniversary edition of a P5) and Exact cartridge in my second system. My main system has a Linn LP 12 that I bought used and over time upgraded pretty much to Klimax level except for the cartridge (a Dynavector TKR). I went into the dealer thinking I would likely buy a P10, based on its stellar reviews. I listened first to a P6 with Exact 2 and it sounded much like my old turntable. Next up was the P10 (they didn’t have a P8), which blew the P6 away. I was very impressed and really liked the minimalist design. They also had a Linn Majik, the most basic LP12 which cost considerably less than the P10, in the room. When they played it, it just drew me into the music in a way that the Regas had not. Then I listened to a LP12 Selekt (the middle model) and it blew the others away, at least to my taste (and I admit this is largely a question of taste). It cost considerably more than the P10 but I decided to bite the bullet and stay in the Linn family. (Linn turntables have interchangeable parts so there is an almost infinite number of configurations. I’m going with a better tonearm than the Selekt (getting an Ekos SE) which was paid for in part by the dealer giving me a great deal on a traded in power supply (quite possibly the one I traded in when I upgraded my other LP12) and subchasis.)
I went into all this in part to illustrate what a rabbit hole vinyl is. I do love it, but getting into it is not something I recommend be taken lightly. You can get a decent turntable/cartridge/phono stage for not a lot of money and be very happy. Or you can fall down the rabbit hole. Just go in with your eyes open. The records themselves represent a separate rabbit hole.
Every Linn upgrade that I made to my LP-12 was a genuine upgrade that is clearly audible and doesn’t fade as time passes. The two most outstanding were the Radikal 2 and the Ekstatik. The Radikal 2 influence is still hard to comprehend.
I agree. It took me a couple years to digest the thought of the cost of the Radikal. But i did it and I was thrilled. The same with the Ekstatik.
My interest in digital is pretty much utilitarian, so I don’t spend much on that side. My crazy expenditures are for analog and that makes me happy.
I’ve always been attracted to the mechanical look and feel of a well made turntable. Mine has an aluminum platter with a beautiful thick and polished edge. My tone arm is chrome and a thing of beauty. The whole thing looks so well made it gives me pleasure just looking at it.
I have both as well as a Linn LP 12, the Rega brings more air to the “table”.
The VPI benefited considerably with a Phoenix Eagle/RoadRunner.
The Linn has been upgraded over the years with a Kore and Lingo IV most recently. Should I decide to continue upgrades with it, which is unlikely, I’d go for the Ekos SE titanium tonearm, and a suitable MC cart.
Be happy with your VPI, I know I am!
Hope not, and at least it has no software, firmware hang-ups.
Just fired up my Pass Labs XA-25 prior to dinner at Simpsons in Waupaca. Man this thing takes some time to come into its own. Seven hours and it is just now beginning to sound like music. Well it may have something to do with the music I was playing, Sun Ra ain’t audiophile fare. Barney Wilen and Mal Waldron are more like it.
I warm up my gear for at least an hour before I start listening to it. I am not convinced it is necessary but I do it anyway. The Apex doesn’t warm the room as well as the Antileon EVO did. But the latter amp had to work harder. The Apex just says “please”.
Reminds me last spring early morning I was spinning a record I purchased for my wife as a gag. Basically it is Voices of the Loon, various calls. Damned if it didn’t stir up the loons on the lake!
