I am a vinylista, although my digital set-up is slowly catching up.
For now, however, the LP still reigns supreme.
Many threads discuss turntables and arms. And some of this gear is eye-wateringly expensive. So, what could be helpful guidelines when choosing a turntable/tonearm combination?
Let me share my experience. For 30 years, I had first a Roksan (now Vertere?) and then a Townsend turntable. On both, I had an SME V tonearm, but rewired, which made all the difference. These turntables were far ahead of their time, and outsiders. About 10 years ago, I discovered Clearaudio parallel tonearms. In all subjectivity, the encounter was decisive.
By then, I had set my eyes on a Monaco 2.0 turntable, again a "minute" turntable far ahead of the competition. Lloyd, the manufacturer, understands vibration better than probably anyone in the HiFi industry. His turntable is nothing short of spectacular, also in direct AB comparisons with massively overengineered competition. But I lusted for a Clearaudio parallel tonearm, which the Monaco 2.0 cannot accommodate. I ended up buying a second-hand Clearaudio Master Innovation to accommodate the Clearaudio TT1 tangential tonearm, which I bought new. When a few years later, a second-hand Clearaudio Statement came on the market, I grabbed the occasion and upgraded. I still needed all the tricks of the trade to achieve Monaco 2.0 turntable "absolutist" levels.
So, my perhaps unorthodox conclusion must be:
1. Start with the tonearm! Make sure it is internally wired with the best wire money can buy. If parallel tonearms are your thing, as it is mine, there are interesting choices available, also in the pseudo-parallel category (Thales of Switzerland comes to mind; I have not auditioned it). If it is not, spend enough time understanding the profound differences. A good Hifi dealer, committed to vinyl, will be of great help (when on holiday in the UK 10 years ago, I visited Living Voice in Great Eaton, great people, vast knowledge; also, Orpheus Audio in Athens, where I now live, is committed to vinyl).
2. Once you have decided on the tonearm, choose the turntable. Regarding Clearaudio tangential tonearms, Clearaudio turntables are a must (Robert Suchy, who runs Clearaudio, has brought out a pivoted tonearm which he claims comes close to his tangential tonearms. I have not listened to it). Make sure that when you audition a turntable, it is properly insulated from ground vibrations (the dealer must go through great lengths to ensure this). And never discard diminutive turntables because huge, over-engineered looks better. Do the latter sound better? I doubt it. Monaco 2.0 is the living proof of it (now in 3.0 iteration).
3. Do not overanalyze: is this the sound you are after? Then buy it. Do not look back, enjoy the music.
PS: I do not go into the cartridge/arm issue, as I assume that a good dealer knows what cartridge to fit to what tonearm. And replacing a cartridge is easy. Replacing a tonearm/turntable combination is not.
For now, however, the LP still reigns supreme.
Many threads discuss turntables and arms. And some of this gear is eye-wateringly expensive. So, what could be helpful guidelines when choosing a turntable/tonearm combination?
Let me share my experience. For 30 years, I had first a Roksan (now Vertere?) and then a Townsend turntable. On both, I had an SME V tonearm, but rewired, which made all the difference. These turntables were far ahead of their time, and outsiders. About 10 years ago, I discovered Clearaudio parallel tonearms. In all subjectivity, the encounter was decisive.
By then, I had set my eyes on a Monaco 2.0 turntable, again a "minute" turntable far ahead of the competition. Lloyd, the manufacturer, understands vibration better than probably anyone in the HiFi industry. His turntable is nothing short of spectacular, also in direct AB comparisons with massively overengineered competition. But I lusted for a Clearaudio parallel tonearm, which the Monaco 2.0 cannot accommodate. I ended up buying a second-hand Clearaudio Master Innovation to accommodate the Clearaudio TT1 tangential tonearm, which I bought new. When a few years later, a second-hand Clearaudio Statement came on the market, I grabbed the occasion and upgraded. I still needed all the tricks of the trade to achieve Monaco 2.0 turntable "absolutist" levels.
So, my perhaps unorthodox conclusion must be:
1. Start with the tonearm! Make sure it is internally wired with the best wire money can buy. If parallel tonearms are your thing, as it is mine, there are interesting choices available, also in the pseudo-parallel category (Thales of Switzerland comes to mind; I have not auditioned it). If it is not, spend enough time understanding the profound differences. A good Hifi dealer, committed to vinyl, will be of great help (when on holiday in the UK 10 years ago, I visited Living Voice in Great Eaton, great people, vast knowledge; also, Orpheus Audio in Athens, where I now live, is committed to vinyl).
2. Once you have decided on the tonearm, choose the turntable. Regarding Clearaudio tangential tonearms, Clearaudio turntables are a must (Robert Suchy, who runs Clearaudio, has brought out a pivoted tonearm which he claims comes close to his tangential tonearms. I have not listened to it). Make sure that when you audition a turntable, it is properly insulated from ground vibrations (the dealer must go through great lengths to ensure this). And never discard diminutive turntables because huge, over-engineered looks better. Do the latter sound better? I doubt it. Monaco 2.0 is the living proof of it (now in 3.0 iteration).
3. Do not overanalyze: is this the sound you are after? Then buy it. Do not look back, enjoy the music.
PS: I do not go into the cartridge/arm issue, as I assume that a good dealer knows what cartridge to fit to what tonearm. And replacing a cartridge is easy. Replacing a tonearm/turntable combination is not.
