Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI

Posted by Raiderman (A) on December 6, 2005 at 08:43:42

In Reply to: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI posted by thebigtummy on December 6, 2005 at 05:19:07:

I suspect that you are talking with Brian at The Analog Room.
If not, go see him. Brian knows more about vinyl, turntables, phono preamps and cartridges, than the rest of us put together. IMHO anyway. (That being said, he definitely has his preferences, which you may, or may not, agree with. Brian knows this and while he will, of course, attempt to steer you towards his preferences, he will not insist upon it.)

If you have the money, buy from Brian, as he knows what he is talking about. (Especially if he has a demo piece! I did not have that chance.) However, if you are cash strapped, like myself, here is some advice, which I used myself.

1. Buy a used turntable and arm. (As Brian is not a VPI fan, I suggest something besides that, but he would probably help you even if you bought that.) If you can, buy locally as you won't have to deal with the hassles of shipping and possible shipping damage.
This will save you a ton of money.
(I also recommend buying the phono preamp and RCM used as well.)

2. This will now leave you with a lot of extra cash.
(Probably $500-$1,000) Double that if you bought the phono preamp and RCM used too.
Use that extra cash to buy a better cartridge, from Brian.
He will guide you to a cartridge that works well with your particular TT and arm. Buy the best that you can afford.
He will mount the new cartridge on your used table and arm for free.
(I assume for free, as that is what he did for me.)

3. Get a MC cartridge rather than a MM cartridge. It is my opinion, and quite probably Brian's (and most vinyl lovers I suspect), that MC cartridges are better than MM cartridges. You will have saved enough money by buying used equipment to afford a pretty good MC cartridge.

I recommend either a Shelter 501 or if you have the cash, one of the better Shelters like the 901 or 90X. (I use the Shelter 90X myself.) However, to be honest I prefer the Koetsu line (which as you are, or will be, aware, Brian loves.) I plan on upgrading to the Rosewood Signature Platinum at some point, but that is for the future, a I am broke at the moment. (I started out with the Benz Micro Glider 2 (a decent cartridge, but a bit too analytical for my tastes), and then upgraded to the Koetsu Black. I was then hooked to the Koetsu sound. I then got a Koetsu Rosewood Signature (RwS) and loved it. I only switched to the Shelter 90X as I got an incredible deal from a guy who was selling his slightly used one. The 90X is very slightly better than the RwS, and about on par with the Koetsu Urushi. The strength of the Shelter line is that it has good to incredible bass response, with decent to good mid-range. The Koetsu line has very good to incredible mid-range, with decent to good bass response. The Koetsu line basically increases the bass response as the cartridges get better. (And yes, the Koetsu line is waayyy overpriced, but still....) Brian, like others, including J. Gordon Holt of Stereophile fame believe that if you get the mid-range right, everything else is just a bonus. Koetsu gets the mid-range right more than any other cartridge I have heard. Brian has convinced me of this as well.)

FYI: I bought a used Basis 1400 and Brian literally took it out of the shipping box, assembled the turntable, installed the tonearm on the table, then installed the cartridge to the tonearm, (including making all the proper adjustments, including VTA, VTF, azimuth, etc..) Well worth paying him the money for the new cartridge IMHO.

Well that is my two cents worth anyway. Good Luck!!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 05:19:07 12/06/05 (45)

Try a Notttingham Horizon SE with Interspace Arn - Rudy 19:13:14 12/06/05 (1)

I meant arm sorry about the mispelling - Rudy 19:15:18 12/06/05 (0)

I had the same decision and chose Rega - T&T 17:59:15 12/06/05 (0)

You may be interested in this - emakay 16:28:56 12/06/05 (3)

Re: You may be interested in this - thebigtummy 20:54:04 12/06/05 (2)

Re: You may be interested in this - Queg 11:01:40 12/07/05 (1)

Re: You may be interested in this - thebigtummy 23:18:33 12/07/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - Queg 14:16:50 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - ScottZ 13:22:41 12/06/05 (1)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 20:53:16 12/06/05 (0)

before you get to naming your first son "brian" - J.D. 10:57:22 12/06/05 (1)

Re: before you get to naming your first son "brian" - thebigtummy 20:37:15 12/06/05 (0)

The VPI Scout is good, but........ - AnalogFan 10:57:04 12/06/05 (2)

Re: The VPI Scout is good, but........ - thebigtummy 12:06:52 12/06/05 (1)

The VPI HW-19 series was discontinued - AnalogFan 12:21:10 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - Munkie_NL 10:37:27 12/06/05 (0)

Howdy Neighbor - MintVinyl 10:00:56 12/06/05 (5)

Re: Howdy Neighbor - thebigtummy 12:02:39 12/06/05 (4)

Re: Howdy Neighbor - MintVinyl 13:34:47 12/06/05 (3)

Re: Howdy Neighbor - thebigtummy 14:22:28 12/06/05 (2)

Re: Howdy Neighbor - MintVinyl 14:41:26 12/06/05 (1)

Re: Howdy Neighbor - thebigtummy 21:01:33 12/06/05 (0)

I don't think you can go wrong with either the P5 or P7 with the Benz Ace - slate1 09:14:13 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - Raiderman 08:43:42 12/06/05 (2)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 03:56:37 12/07/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - jjqiv 12:16:35 12/06/05 (0)

Grado Hum - deaf_j 08:10:32 12/06/05 (3)

Re: Grado Hum - closenplay 18:46:07 12/06/05 (0)

Re: Grado Hum - WEEZ 15:50:44 12/06/05 (0)

My experience also - KT88 09:55:41 12/06/05 (0)

check out "Music Lovers" in Berkeley, they carry Harry. - Hugh Jass 06:41:33 12/06/05 (2)

Can somebody enlighten about this skating problem - audiophilewannabe 06:52:53 12/06/05 (1)

Do a "Text to find" on "JMW-9 skating" and you'll get - HenryH 07:36:44 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - jonb 06:40:29 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - Older Brother Gert 06:36:19 12/06/05 (1)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 08:19:44 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - kenster 06:00:14 12/06/05 (2)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 06:10:28 12/06/05 (1)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - KT88 10:17:45 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - jmc 05:58:01 12/06/05 (1)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 06:06:31 12/06/05 (0)

It is great that your dealer is "nice", but he is still using sales speak. - Dick Schneiders 05:42:57 12/06/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - srdavis2000 05:36:43 12/06/05 (0)

the important question is... - freefallrob 05:28:08 12/06/05 (1)

Re: the important question is... - thebigtummy 05:35:25 12/06/05 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - Raiderman 08:43:42 12/06/05 (2)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - thebigtummy 03:56:37 12/07/05 (0)

Re: New into records, help, Rega vs VPI - jjqiv 12:16:35 12/06/05 (0)

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