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Is it worth it?

V

veteran

New Member
Hopefully This is in the right forum. I have been collecting Vinyl for about 15 or 16 years now. I have always had just the cheapest setup possible TT from 50-100 cheap speakers and amp. I have been doing some research on better systems and really wondering is it even worth it when all i listen to is Punk and Oi records. Basic bands with limited talent all based on lyrical content. Most these bands are broke and couldn't afford great recordings.

So basically if I am listening to basic music, could it be improved by a hi end system and be worth it.

Examples of what I typically listen to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpVfOm-gv5Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wre_zA9sPHU
 
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Tim 700 said:
Better equipment will give you the best possible sound, what ever the source.
Click to expand...

Although I concur that better equipment will give you better sound, it can be a doubled-edged sword. Good recordings can sound great, but bad ones can sound absolutely horrible as the resolution of your system gets dramatically better.

I noticed this with my own systems... there are recordings that I used to love, but are now almost intolerable to listen to on my main system... they sound good again if I back off and play them on one of my "lesser" systems.
 
Welcome to AK! :wave:

I guess the first question is what turntable setup do you have now?

With the question you asked, is it worth it to drop a grand or two on a new table? Probably not

But if we knew what setup you had, we can give you a better answer.

The margin is pretty wide with options, you could move up a few rungs on the upgrade ladder
and get more satisfaction without the possible outcome that fhawk618 mentioned.
 
Thanks for the reply's

Right now I have a audiotechnica at-lp60, my amp is a LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply. I use some cheap Pioneer bookshelf speakers I got from bestbuy i think it was $80 for the pair.

I am thinking about maybe getting a TT from u-turn audio, that way i only need to dump about $200 to see if it makes a difference.

I also have no idea what I am doing (pretty sure thats odvious) so I had no idea about what kind of amp to get i just got the best seller from amazon.com
 
Well I listen to quite a bit of early 90s low-fi screamo on a system I have sunk around $1500 into. That may be silly, but I have come to believe that making a system better cannot possibly make music sound worse, it can just make some music sound better making music recorded on a budget sound cheaper in comparison. But listening to Funeral Diner on my big rig still sounds better than listening to it on an ipod. Better equipment is usually never a bad thing.


All that aside, if you're looking into the U-turn, check out the new Pro-ject table that just came out and is the same price. I really like everything that company puts out.
 
I disagree. A good system can bring out things that are in the original recording that you havent heard before. That can definitely make things sound worse.
 
veteran said:
Thanks for the reply's

Right now I have a audiotechnica at-lp60, my amp is a LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply. I use some cheap Pioneer bookshelf speakers I got from bestbuy i think it was $80 for the pair.

I am thinking about maybe getting a TT from u-turn audio, that way i only need to dump about $200 to see if it makes a difference.

I also have no idea what I am doing (pretty sure thats odvious) so I had no idea about what kind of amp to get i just got the best seller from amazon.com
Click to expand...

Are those the Pioneer bs22?

If they are... Your choice of components for the price can't really be beat... A Uturn might make your vinyl sound better... But those little Pioneers and a T-amp are pretty nice.. Maybe add a sub, or get a better Power supply for the Lepai if you haven't done already.
 
matteos said:
Are those the Pioneer bs22?
Click to expand...

Yes they are, right now i just added a subwoofer I had sitting around in the garage a MTS 2008 series (never even heard of it before) didnt really think it was needed for my music, but it almost seems like it cleaned up the audio sounds a bit crisper or I am just crazy and hopeful.
 
If your into Punk why not run with it? When I listen to the stuff, it always seems like they're emulating a live performance. So why not grab some PA gear. Especially some speakers with horns.
The Orbit seems like a good choice, just don't forget you'll need a preamp.
Art DJpre II is a good low buck choice.

Just got done listening to the grand-daddy of them all, Never Mind the Bollocks. Made me want to get into a barfight,:D Good times.
 
veteran said:
Yes they are, right now i just added a subwoofer I had sitting around in the garage a MTS 2008 series (never even heard of it before) didnt really think it was needed for my music, but it almost seems like it cleaned up the audio sounds a bit crisper or I am just crazy and hopeful.
Click to expand...

It might well clear it up since it is taking over some of the bass duties of that 4" woofer in the Pioneer and letting that focus on the midrange, the system should also be a little louder, more dynamic and dig deeper.

Have a google for what walwart power supply you can switch out for that Lepai, that should be a very cheap and worthwhile upgrade. The included 2 amp power supply can't actually deliver the specced power. Here's a link although it focuses more on switching out caps it mentions the 12v 5 amp power supply they replaced the included power supply with, around $10 I believe.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?226235-Modding-the-Lepai-T2020A
 
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fhawk618 said:
Although I concur that better equipment will give you better sound, it can be a doubled-edged sword. Good recordings can sound great, but bad ones can sound absolutely horrible as the resolution of your system gets dramatically better.

I noticed this with my own systems... there are recordings that I used to love, but are now almost intolerable to listen to on my main system... they sound good again if I back off and play them on one of my "lesser" systems.
Click to expand...

I second this and also have recordings I cannot listen to (despite the fact I love the music) simply because the system reveals all the flaws.
 
barkerd said:
I disagree. A good system can bring out things that are in the original recording that you havent heard before. That can definitely make things sound worse.
Click to expand...

I agree, a good recording will sound awesome on my rig, and i can hear things a never heard before, (some of it good, some of it bad) then with a poor recording it will sound terrible and i can't even listen to it....
 
fhawk618 said:
Although I concur that better equipment will give you better sound, it can be a doubled-edged sword. Good recordings can sound great, but bad ones can sound absolutely horrible as the resolution of your system gets dramatically better.

I noticed this with my own systems... there are recordings that I used to love, but are now almost intolerable to listen to on my main system... they sound good again if I back off and play them on one of my "lesser" systems.
Click to expand...

I agree
 
While I agree with the comments posted above, I also think that it is possible to get far better sound and NOT have the downsides you reference above. But the key is that you cannot be in pursuit of ultra-high resolution and do so.

If you go for a really nice sounding system with a more "romantic" temperament, these can often make even some very poorly recorded recordings sound enjoyable.
 
veteran said:
Hopefully This is in the right forum. I have been collecting Vinyl for about 15 or 16 years now. I have always had just the cheapest setup possible TT from 50-100 cheap speakers and amp. I have been doing some research on better systems and really wondering is it even worth it when all i listen to is Punk and Oi records. Basic bands with limited talent all based on lyrical content. Most these bands are broke and couldn't afford great recordings.

So basically if I am listening to basic music, could it be improved by a hi end system and be worth it.

Examples of what I typically listen to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpVfOm-gv5Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wre_zA9sPHU
Click to expand...


Yes!!
 
veteren:

I think your on the right track with upgrading your TT to the U-Turn. As long as you understand this is a Manual TT. You must physically place the tonearm on the record and lift it off carefully. It's no big deal. You will need a Phono Preamp with this unit, Best Buy has this well regarded model for $20 that will meet your needs.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/behring...eamp/3182764.p?id=1218382966488&skuId=3182764

Those Pioneer speakers are fine, and the amp too. That U-Turn TT can be upgraded later with a better cartridge when ever you see fit.
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I have not noticed many of my CD's or LP's sounding any worse when I upgraded my stereo system. I really didn't know what to expect when I switched out my NAD preamp/tuner & Audio design power amp with my Bryston integrated amp driving Energy Pro-22 monitors at that time. I have found, dispite far better resolution than my NAD could ever hope to achive, My Bryston amp sounds way better with 90% of my music. The other 10% doesn't sound good on any system. If your best system doesn't sound better with most recording's, Then I suggest your doing it wrong. Either that or you've had very bad luck with picking out CD's or LP's.
 
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Veteran,

It is absolutely worth upgrading your turntable. The vast majority of the music I listen to is Oi and Punk as well. I don't know anything about your record collection, but I've got many albums that are worth $$$ and would upgrade just to avoid damaging them. I'm currently using a vintage tt but was also thinking about picking up an Orbit. Not really an upgrade over what I'm using but it interests me and I'd like to support U-Turn.
 
Thanks everyone, you have all been really helpful. Since yesterday when i made my original post I have bought a 12V 5A AC Adapter For DVE DSA-60W-12 1 LCD Monitor Charger Power Supply Cord for my lepai amp, a DJPRE II Phono Preamplifier, and u-turn orbit basic turntable also got the Qup auto tone arm lifter for it.
Most stuff should be here in a few days the u-turn doesnt ship till march.

A serious thank you to everyone that gave advice, awesome community you guys got here.
 
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