Turntables

[GrantM]

Eh, I don't think any percentages apply. A thoughtful, well matched system is best, and taking into account what deals, trades, and existing equipment makes a formula impossible.

Agreed, it makes sense to either spend what it costs to get a system, or to just spend most of the
budget to get started with the best turntable you can afford now, and do the rest in stages over time.

The worst thing you can do is split the money you currently have into percentages if that amount
means you end up with nothing worth owning.

-g

[Too Tall]

Rega arrived. Boxed. Waiting for me to get home from a nice long ride.
Cr@ppy temporary integrated amp - check
Cr@ppy 30 year old temp. speakers - check
Record Wash System - check
Boogies shoes - check

[Cookietruck]

the amp and speakers will be fine
make sure you get the tracking force and cartridge alignment set up well and have some fun listening
i had a few records my cartridge wouldn't track, just a few. tried adjusting tracking force and nothing would do it. the needle would actually jump out of the groove.
i got some putty and stuck a penny on the cartrdge end of the tonearm and reset tracking force. i'm tracking those old LP's from the boss now.

next step if were you, spend monies on a nice phono preamp...

[Gattonero]

...
Boogies shoes - check

when you arrive, brush your records and your shoes

[Gattonero]

the amp and speakers will be fine
make sure you get the tracking force and cartridge alignment set up well and have some fun listening
i had a few records my cartridge wouldn't track, just a few. tried adjusting tracking force and nothing would do it. the needle would actually jump out of the groove.
i got some putty and stuck a penny on the cartrdge end of the tonearm and reset tracking force. i'm tracking those old LP's from the boss now.

next step if were you, spend monies on a nice phono preamp...

Careful.

It is true that a low tracking force (<1.3gr) is not good for the records, but anything over 2.5gr is typically not liked by many cartridges, the suspension of the stylus can get damaged.
FWIW, I have my Grado Gold on RB300 set at 1.7gr, and it does track well even the test-tracks at +16db of the HFNRR record (again, essential for a proper setup)

[spopepro]

make sure you get the tracking force and cartridge alignment set up

And this is where you can pat yourself on the back for buying an entry level rega: the alignment and tracking force are already set. There is no azimuth, vta, or anti-skate adjustment even available. That there is a plug and play, nice sounding turntable. It is part of their design philosophy.

[Too Tall]

Excited in 20895. Will report back...now where did I put my glitter and hair gel?

[xjoex]

The turntable got it's needle in your arm!


-Joe

[jonathanb]

Excited in 20895. Will report back...now where did I put my glitter and hair?

Fixed it for you!

[Cookietruck]

Careful.

It is true that a low tracking force (<1.3gr) is not good for the records, but anything over 2.5gr is typically not liked by many cartridges, the suspension of the stylus can get damaged.
FWIW, I have my Grado Gold on RB300 set at 1.7gr, and it does track well even the test-tracks at +16db of the HFNRR record (again, essential for a proper setup)

i reset the tracking force after adding the penny, so basically just added some mass to the end of the tonearm, it sounded better and tracked better as well
my tracking force had been anywhere from 1.3g to 1.9g, still wouldn't track any of those few records...
with the grado i have retipped and all that it seems best around 1.65g

this is what it looks like, pardon the dust and dog hair...

Untitled by misomad, on Flickr

[Paul]

Art Ensemble of Chicago, Third Decade? Quite an accessible album as Art Ensemble stuff goes.
I think this tune's on there, if I remember correctly.

#ThreadDrift

[Too Tall]

Thanks gents. The Rega came out of the box simple as pie.

[Gattonero]

i reset the tracking force after adding the penny, so basically just added some mass to the end of the tonearm, it sounded better and tracked better as well
my tracking force had been anywhere from 1.3g to 1.9g, still wouldn't track any of those few records...
with the grado i have retipped and all that it seems best around 1.65g

this is what it looks like, pardon the dust and dog hair...

Untitled by misomad, on Flickr

I had the same problem (low resonance <28hz) when I modified the Pro-Ject 2.1 tonearm like the OriginLive mod. It did improve a lot the sound (tempo, precision) but a low frequency it would abruptly fork the stylus out of the grooves, unless tracking at +-2.5gr IIRC. I'm not a big fan of adding mass to the tonearm, makes me think of excessive work on the V bearings; it will foul with the anti-skate, too.
Now that I have an RB300 it's all a lot easier.

Next steps, maybe making a new plinth (lexan? perspex?), upgrading and isolating the motor, recabling the arm.
Oh, some IPL transmission line speakers and a Puccini SE would do

[spopepro]

Next steps, maybe making a new plinth (lexan? perspex?), upgrading and isolating the motor, recabling the arm.

I've been really, really tempted to see what a plinth made of an aluminum composite panel (like alucobond) could do. It seems like the full extension of the rega philosophy of extremely rigid and lightweight energy dissipating design. It's naturally dampening and very, very flat.

Plus, you can get it in cool colours*.


*english for colors

[Cookietruck]

Art Ensemble of Chicago, Third Decade? Quite an accessible album as Art Ensemble stuff goes.
I think this tune's on there, if I remember correctly.

#ThreadDrift

yeah, was wondering if anyone would catch the AEC album. i listen to lots of that stuff, and sunra, AIR, anything with dolphy (i see yr avatar), early 60's mingus, the early to mid 60's coltrane, early 60's ornette...and on and on. also into krautrock too.

pretty much don't buy any cd's now, ever. i did though a while back, my band played a show with this dude named rob mazurek, i bought a cd or two because they didn't bring any vinyl with them and i wanted to support them. I ended up ordering the same thing on LP's also.

[Too Tall]

Mmmmm Sunra. You have good taste. That is another thread i would love to see.

[Too Tall]

Bringing this back to full circle.
The Adcom GCA-510 integrated amp is looking like it has a new home at casa TT.
Recommend a phono pre-amp that fits this build and budget.
Speakers are going to be my Heresys for now.

[Wisco]

Given the rest of the systems, I'd suggest looking at an entry level Rega, NAD or Pro-Ject MM phono-stage. You don't need a $500+ phono stage, it's not in your budget and your Rega isn't going to "sound better" by spending big $. Second, remember to also budget in another interconnect pair, probably from your favorite cable manufacturer. I like Kimber Kable for price/performance ratio, but YMMV. Third, get a dry brush or a full wet-clean system to clean your vinyl. You won't regret it.

Finally.... Don't overthink things and enjoy the music.

Bringing this back to full circle.
The Adcom GCA-510 integrated amp is looking like it has a new home at casa TT.
Recommend a phono pre-amp that fits this build and budget.
Speakers are going to be my Heresys for now.

[spopepro]

Toots, I think that will sound great. I'll put a word in for either the musical fidelity v90-lps or the Cambridge audio azure 651p. Both are excellent and $230.

For interconnects, go with the monoprice premium RCA cables. I used to make my own until I realized that I can't buy raw shielded cable for what they are selling finished items ($3 for 1m).

[Too Tall]

Thanks for that. Looks like a toss up to me. With what little knowledge I've been able to gather either mate well with the MM cartridge the Rega RP-1 comes with.
I've got a plan :)

Toots, I think that will sound great. I'll put a word in for either the musical fidelity v90-lps or the Cambridge audio azure 651p. Both are excellent and $230.

For interconnects, go with the monoprice premium RCA cables. I used to make my own until I realized that I can't buy raw shielded cable for what they are selling finished items ($3 for 1m).