Vinyl Records & Set ups!

[heartben]

Hey guys. Hopefully I am not making a repeat thread, looked at a couple pages and didn't see anything.

Anyways, do any of you guys collect vinyl? What are your set ups like? Any cool finds recently or looking for any "grails"? - Pictures are always appreciated!

I remember having records when I was little, having a turntable with all the stereo components in the living room with huge speakers... Then CDs came out and my parents ditched the vinyl. I have wanted to get into it for a LONG time but for some reason never did... I guess I just thought it would be a hassle to build up a decent collection. Now I am finding that THAT is the most fun (to me).

My set up is not all that impressive (no pictures for now) - Onkyo TX-1500 receiver, Dayton Audio B652 speakers (I really want to get larger speakers), and a Technics D3 turntable (Shure M97xE for the cart). Nothing crazy impressive but it sounds pretty good. Would like to upgrade the speakers and then maybe check out a pro-ject debut carbon or something like that?

I recently finished my Thrice discography capping it off with The Alchemy Index, Beggars and Identity Crisis. I think I only have 3 more 45's to get before I have all the records they are on.

ANYWAYS. I am curious to hear from you guys so I will stop typing and hopefully people jump in!

[Uncle Grandfather]

Hey there.

I've dedicated two rooms for my stereo's, been working on the rooms all year during the free time and almost done One rooms all tubed gear, the other solid state. I've completely rebuild the rooms with a professional room treatment plan and changed the dimensions for better acoustics. Also dedicated electricity for digital and analogue etc. I'm a geek when it comes to listening to music I've also got a pretty substantial record and cd collection. There are three really great record stores within walking,biking distance with great selections of new and used records/cds.

Tube room:
Merlin VSM-mx loudspeakers
Atma-sphere m60 OTL monoblocks
Atma-sphere mp-3 fully balanced OTL phono/linestage
Audio Aero Capitole mkII se cdp w/tube output stage
VPI TNT mkV hr turntable
Lyra Helikon cart
ALL cables are Cardas Golden Reference. Even all the signal wiring inside the amps/preamp/tonearm/crossover is cardas.


Solid State Room
Avalon Radian HC loudspeakers
Spectral dma 180 sII amp
Spectral dmc 20 sII pre
Spectral sdr-2000 dac
Spectral sdr-3000 transport
ALL cables are MIT/Spectral
MIT power isolation and filtration products

Avalon, Spectral, and MIT worked together to make a synergistic whole system, deemed the 2c3d...two channel three dimensions. sounds good.

Headphone listening uses audio aero capitole mkII as cdp or preamp for listening to vinyl
Audeze lcd-2
Hifiman he-500
Hifiman he-400
sennheiser hd650
beyerdynamic dt900 600ohm
grado 325is
akg 702

woo audio wa22 tubed headphone amp
bottlehead crack OTL amp
antique sound labs mg head otl/transformer coupled amp
beta 22 solid state amp


Audeze LCD-2 planar magnetics with bamboo sides


Hifiman He-500 planar magnetic


Hifiman HE-400 planar magnetic


sennheiser hd650



Beyerdynamic dt900 600ohm premiums



My Grado 325is.



Akg k702



Akg k702 with Antique sound labs mkIII amp w/separate power supply. uses 12ax7 and el84 output tubes.



My Woo Audio Wa22. Uses Sophia Princess Mesh Plate 274B rectifier, 6sn7 driver tubes, 6as7 power tubes....or 7236 power tubes for 2 watt output.

[heartben]

Holy shit man. I can't even begin to understand what all that stuff is but you are obviously serious. I would LOVE a pair of super nice headphones.I have a pair of akg k240s but they aren't really luxurious..man. I am doing my best on the cheap but i am sure your stuff sounds absolutely amazing.

As a beginner in the hi-fi world - what headphones do you think would be something I should try to get next? Being affordable is really important but I am curious where you think I should go from the k240s (they probably aren't even on your radar).

I was using a cheap little lepai amp and crappy preamp before I got the onkyo and that alone was an INSANE upgrade in sound quality. I genuinely had no idea it would make such a huge difference.

Thanks for sharing your set up man. More pics once you get a chance! I need more things to drool over...

[D.o.S.]

UG posts more than one picture in a post.



Annnyway

Pioneer PL-S70 into some kind of Onkyo into a pair of 70's Altec Lansing's.


I don't really hunt down records anymore. Found a mono copy of Safe As Milk last year. That was pretty cool.

[trace]

I have an 80s technics turntable into a 70s pioneer receiver into some 70s sansui speakers. Don't remember model numbers on any of it. All yard sale stuff but it all sounds good to my ears. I'm in the process of moving but I'll try to post a pic this weekend if I get it all set up. Excited to see everyone else's stuff, UGs is cray cray as usual.

As for collecting, I used to be real big into records but now I've gone back to being fine with CDs, if not slightly preferring CDs. They're just wayyyy cheaper, easier to find, and more practical. (I listen to a lot of music in the car.) I'd say I've got maybe 1500 CDs and 300 Lps and accumulate CDs way faster. I really only buy vinyl now if its something fancy/special or vinyl only. I do have some of the fancy melvins stuff from the past few years I'm proud of

[skullservant]

I'm crude. I've got an Ion Mobile LP turntable that I'm borrowing from my stepdad that I run through my amps. It works? I'm not super picky about stuff though as long as I can listen to it

As far as records go I sold a good chunk of my collection before I joined the forum. I still have about 100-150 LP's and about 100 7's but thats about it. Mostly noise and black metal stuff.

[D.o.S.]

As for collecting, I used to be real big into records but now I've gone back to being fine with CDs, if not slightly preferring CDs. They're just wayyyy cheaper, easier to find, and more practical. (I listen to a lot of music in the car.) I'd say I've got maybe 1500 CDs and 300 Lps and accumulate CDs way faster. I really only buy vinyl now if its something fancy/special or vinyl only.

[Uncle Grandfather]

As a beginner in the hi-fi world - what headphones do you think would be something I should try to get next? Being affordable is really important but I am curious where you think I should go from the k240s (they probably aren't even on your radar).

Hey there, cool thread and glad you liked the pics.

I'd say try and check out grado sr60 or the sr80. They are 32ohm and do not need an amp. Both are under $100 and punch way above their weight class. They are open backed which means there is little to no isolation from the outside world. Someone sitting next to you would hear your music, and people talking around you would bleed into your music. These are designed, or rather, best suited for listening in a quiet room. In my opinion open back are far superior to any closed back, although there are very expensive exceptions.

In the past and in general, the big three reference headphones were the akg k701, beyerdynamic dt880, and sennheiser hd600. These are all relatively affordable...up to 500ish retail, and they are all dynamic headphones. headfi.org has really good forums and really good b/s/t.

Then there are planar magnetics. the hifiman he-400 are a planar design and simply outclass most dynamics across the board, they are $400 retail.

Then there are Stax, but these are $$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Any other questions I'm glad to share what I know. I was going to post more pics but figured the lynch mob....
All the best.

[heartben]

No one else in the forum into vinyl? I figured there would be a lot of people.

[theactionindex]

I recently finished my Thrice discography capping it off with The Alchemy Index, Beggars and Identity Crisis. I think I only have 3 more 45's to get before I have all the records they are on.

Siiiiick. Love me some Thrice.

I'm trying to finish off my Appleseed Cast discography, but Mare Vitalis seems to be somewhat elusive and I'm usually too cheap to pay what people are asking for it.

As far as a set up I honestly have no idea where to start. I've been stuck with a shitty Crosley turntable for way too long, but wasn't too sure what brands to look into, etc., etc. Any suggestions are more than welcome.

[Mudfuzz]

I'm running a Numark USB something or other [for now] with a Ortofon 2M Red stylus and I use a herbie's audio lab mat.
Stereo is a Onkyo TX-5000 [I have a love for japanese stereos from the late 70's for some reason... I just like the sound I guess] w' bose speakers.

[Achtane]

Technics SL-D2 into mediocre 70's Fisher amp into mediocre 70's Fisher speakers
I usually just listen to stuff on the PC anyway. I like having the album and hearing the differences in mixes but that's about as far as I go with it.
I do enjoy reading audiophile forums for entertainment sometimes. Dat ERS paper.

[heartben]

I recently finished my Thrice discography capping it off with The Alchemy Index, Beggars and Identity Crisis. I think I only have 3 more 45's to get before I have all the records they are on.

Siiiiick. Love me some Thrice.

I'm trying to finish off my Appleseed Cast discography, but Mare Vitalis seems to be somewhat elusive and I'm usually too cheap to pay what people are asking for it.

As far as a set up I honestly have no idea where to start. I've been stuck with a shitty Crosley turntable for way too long, but wasn't too sure what brands to look into, etc., etc. Any suggestions are more than welcome.

I love The Appleseed Cast! I only have Peregrine ‎and Illumination Ritual though. As far as brands to look into I think in general almost any Technics is pretty good but there are a lot of solid brands. If you go on craigslist you can more than likely find something for a fair price. If you want the audiophile-y looking tables the Pro-ject Debut III and the Pro-ject Debut Carbon are pretty popular. If you are ok with waiting you could also check out the U-Turn Orbit (its about 200 dollars and you would have to wait awhile to get it)

[heartben]

I'm running a Numark USB something or other [for now] with a Ortofon 2M Red stylus and I use a herbie's audio lab mat.
Stereo is a Onkyo TX-5000 [I have a love for japanese stereos from the late 70's for some reason... I just like the sound I guess] w' bose speakers.

Woot woot. I am guessing that TX-5000 is like the top of the line big brother to my lil' TX-1500. From what I have read the TX series was one of their best sounding so kudos. I would like to pick up a 2M red or blue but I have barely used my M97Xe so.. Maybe if I get another table or down the road in a couple years.

[Mudfuzz]

I'm running a Numark USB something or other [for now] with a Ortofon 2M Red stylus and I use a herbie's audio lab mat.
Stereo is a Onkyo TX-5000 [I have a love for japanese stereos from the late 70's for some reason... I just like the sound I guess] w' bose speakers.

Woot woot. I am guessing that TX-5000 is like the top of the line big brother to my lil' TX-1500. From what I have read the TX series was one of their best sounding so kudos. I would like to pick up a 2M red or blue but I have barely used my M97Xe so.. Maybe if I get another table or down the road in a couple years.

I got the TX-5000 for like $75 too on ebay, it looks like it was never used


granted I looked for months to find the right one when my fisher died