Upsampled CD Vs Vinyl

[MDV]

So, I'm entertaining the thought of getting a turntable.

I usually listen to resampled MP3s for convenience.

I listen to an Arcam CD73 when I want to really kick back and hear some awesome.

Both through an RME fireface (using its DACs in the MP3 case, or just in and out for the arcam) and Adam A7/sub8 combo

But I thought I might get a step up again, if indeed it is, and go vinyl. Is it worth it? What should I be looking at to give me better sound than the Arcam? No point if its not better than that, see.

Thanks in advance.

[jibidy]

Unless you've got all the vinyl's you want I wouldn't bother. Try new speakers, different cd players, different cans or some other kind of upgrade.

Getting a turntable wont be much of an upgrade unless youve got good speakers, good room, and your willing to spend a bomb on it.

[MDV]

Dont need new speakers - Adam A7 & sub 8, like I said.

Have a very carefully set up and fairly well treated listening position.

Not interested in new CD players; I like my arcam

I have lots of cans

Its precisely BECAUSE I have good speakers set up very carefully and reasonably good acoustic treatment, and some nice high end headphones (Ultrasone pro 750s are my fav atm), that I want to try vinyl!!!

So, were I to do so, what would be a few sensible suggestions (not too expensive, a decent match for the gear I've listed) for a turntable?

Ta

[gingataff]

If you're entering the world of vinyl, work out your maximum budget it then triple it. 8)

You'll be glad you did though.

I'd advise looking for a second hand turntable and phono stage and don't skimp on a new cartridge. The usual suspects would be Pro-ject and Rega with an Ortofon or Sumiko cartridge, I'm not all that up on phono stages these days but I'm sure Ben will be able to add his knowledge to this thread.

For me the benefits of vinyl are the incredible sense of depth and space and massive improvements in timing (I have the Simply Vinyl edition of Metallica's black album and it actually sounds like they are playing in the same room at the same time ;)  and when I played my Classic Records edition of Miles Davis' 'Kind Of Blue' to a friend of mine I think he might have peed himself  :oops: )

[MDV]

If you're entering the world of vinyl, work out your maximum budget it then triple it. 8)

You'll be glad you did though.

I'd advise looking for a second hand turntable and phono stage and don't skimp on a new cartridge. The usual suspects would be Pro-ject and Rega with an Ortofon or Sumiko cartridge, I'm not all that up on phono stages these days but I'm sure Ben will be able to add his knowledge to this thread.

For me the benefits of vinyl are the incredible sense of depth and space and massive improvements in timing (I have the Simply Vinyl edition of Metallica's black album and it actually sounds like they are playing in the same room at the same time ;)  and when I played my Classic Records edition of Miles Davis' 'Kind Of Blue' to a friend of mine I think he might have peed himself  :oops: )

:lol:

Great, its another one of those, is it?

Thanks for your advice, though, thats just what I was looking for

Where is ben...wouldnt mind him chipping in on this...

[nfe]

When I asked Ben about tunrtables and phono stages before I bought my hifi his basic response to "about a grand to spend before speakers" his basic response was any turntable and phono stage that cost less than that were a waste of money.  :lol:

Certainly, you do want to spend whatever you can afford.

Vinyl's great though, great. And it's cool.

[MDV]

:lol:

Funny, a grand does pretty much treble what I was hoping to spend!

Ah well, alas I have other things to spend a grand on.

[JDC]

I aint got a clue about pro audio gear but on the gadget show they had mp3 vs vinyl on uber expensive gear in a theater and thought the mp3 sounded better! o_0

personally I'd upgrade the cables before going vinyl

[MDV]

Gadget show is a glorified advert, and can go $%&# itself.

Maybe some Nordost Valhalla?

My cables are fine and quite appropriate for purpose, thankyou :) (dont think I hadnt thunk of that!)

[Dmoney]

Id quite like to see that comparison of mp3 and vinyl.

I often think its quite funny listening to people go on about how vinyl is amazing for sound quality and how digital sucks.
not saying thats going on here. just in general.

 work with AES/EBU audio pre compression and mpeg audio streams for H.264 and Mpeg2 video post compression.
there are a small group of people who actually sit and listen to audio compression down from high quality and decide at what point the compression becomes noticeable. They listen to changes in compression bit by bit almost. its crazy! those people write the policy for digital audio and video (some people watched compressed video in a similar way) for broadcast. I'm not about to argue with them.

sometimes i wonder when people dig into digital if they consider how much digital equipment may have been present in the recording process? what sample rates etc was that kit running at? what is the dynamic range of wax disc on a turntable, and a CD in a cd player? according to nyquist you should be ok running at 44.1kHz. can you hear a huge difference between 8 and 10bit coding?

best recording i heard was a 5.1 recording of the proms from inside the BBC 5.1 Audio Truck. treated on the inside and nice speakers. Its just a lorry full of stuff for recording 5.1. Fibre breakout boxes etc. dude cranked it up in there. oh my lord!!

i just dont think listening to vinyl makes a person an audiophile and a lot of people seem to think it does.
not saying thats you MDV. im just having a rant.

rant over.

as far as compression goes, i don't mind sitting in work watching uncompressed high def concerts from time to time with complete AES track before they get squirted through dolby 5.1 encoders.

[nfe]

i just dont think listening to vinyl makes a person an audiophile and a lot of people seem to think it does.

Not just makes you someone who likes vinyl. It sounds different, whether that's better or worse is down to the listener.

[Dmoney]

i just dont think listening to vinyl makes a person an audiophile and a lot of people seem to think it does.

Not just makes you someone who likes vinyl. It sounds different, whether that's better or worse is down to the listener.

agreed

[tomjackson]

I think it depends on the source, lot's of more modern music may have been recorded direct to digital, or perhaps to analog tape then mastered digitally in which case I'm not sure what vinyl would add.

There's just something about a record though, the artwork, the feel, the crackle and warmth.  I've got a few hundred records I've not listened to in ages and I do plan to get a record deck sooner or later.

But I think the source recording is key, mid 60's to mid 90's stuff would benefit most from being heard on record IMO....

[MDV]

On reflection I think I'd rather have SACD.

Which basically means I wont bother. What are the players, about 2k?

Edit - no they dont.

[Dmoney]

On reflection I think I'd rather have SACD.

Which basically means I wont bother. What are the players, about 2k?

Edit - no they dont.

my old electronics lecturer had something to do with the design of the SACD.
his missus left him and he changed into a woman... dunno if he went for whole hog with that, but he's now she.
just sayin'