Thems fightn words!

I have a Stanton T.90 USB from a dementia estate. Can someone tell me if that is crap-OK-good-great, whatever ??????

He was right for sign waves, but he’s still wrong for music.

590's are a great bang for the buck when they go on sale.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-studio-590-speaker-review.47269/

I recently upgraded speakers, so of course that triggered a desire to upgrade the rest of my system.

Think I'm gonna go with a Schitt stack. Thinking a Freya+ and a Vidar2. Might eventually toss in a Modus so I can add a Bluetooth receiver for when I don't feel like spinning wax.

Now the real question. And I'm sure it's a contentious one. Replacement cartridges. Been a while, it's probably time. What's the current hotness? Current turntable is an SL-D1.

It's basically a digital turntable which is kind of an oxymoron. It's not the worst one in the world but you can buy a couple Pioneer models for about the same money that will absolutely out perform it in every way possible.

Stanton and Numark used to offer some serious alternatives to the Technics 1200 for those on a budget, but in the last 20 years they've mostly made the same empty plastic shell full of chinese parts that everyone else offers.

For a lot of vinyl users, your Stanton would be just fine. Most people are more concerned with the looks of their setup than performance. That is why you see so many expensive home systems that are still a belt drive turntable. You are literally trusting the sound of your music to a rubber band and a tiny motor, you will not get consistency. The only people who should be using belt drives are brand new DJs learning to back spin and that's just do they don't fuck up a decent direct drive table.

For people who listen to their music on their phone, their phone hooked up to a home or car system or use "Beats" headphones they don't really listen to quality sound anyway so they can pretty much listen to anything.

For people who have a system set up so clean that vinyl sounds better than most people's CDs at an outdoor or indoor event, choice of turntable is a serious consideration. My vintage SB-S409s will clown most speaker towers that people have in their homes, but people buy shit based on looks not how things sound. It's all I need to listen to music anywhere in my house and I don't go near 11. And if people are trying to sleep I've got some nice BA studio monitors that actually sound better than some home systems I've heard.

So it really does come back to expectations, what condition your vinyl is in and how you listen to music. You can easily get there on the OPs budget, you just have to spend the money in the right place. And you can spend three times as much and still have impressive looking shit audio, but it will look cool. Futuristic looking amps, speakers with a dozen 8 inch woofers and zero midrange capability and a seriously Sharper Image belt driven turntable with glass platter.

Another consideration, I bought my 1200s in 1984, they were in heavy use to the mid 90s and they still work perfectly. I am on my second set of cartridges. Prior to that I had a pair of used SL-210s that were basically my "training wheels" tables.

Is it me or are your tables pitched way down? Looking at the strobe running backwards.

I bought a Technics in 1977 and it worked perfectly over the decades.
I don't know what model it was but it was top of the line in 77 like my HK twin power amp I bought with it
When I moved in 2013 I literally assumed it was worthless and threw it in the trash
I am beginning to think I made a mistake.

That’s one that had come up a few times in my search. Good to hear you’ve had good experiences. Think I’ll pick one up.

You can't go wrong with it, Subnet is giving great advice here. I have one on my Technics SL-Q2.

It seems that people who service turntables really like these old technics and would take them any day over any of the uturns or projeks or linns. They don't make em like they used to unless you spend a God awful amount of money. An SL-Q2 or SL-D2 can be picked up for cheap if you keep your eyes open.

Yeah but like…I bought this SL-D1 15 years ago for $25.

So an artist I like is only releasing stuff on Vinyl now. Thinking about picking up a turntable just so I can buy the records. Might regret it.

Also might have to switch out my amp for an amp/preamp combo from Schiit. And I need new headphone cables.

I think the Fluance just moved to the top of my list.

ETA: Also looking at the Audio-Technica AT-LP5X; I like that it has a USB-out if I want to make digital recordings

Ok, couldn't remember on a D2. I was hoping I was wrong.

Agreed

Im a Martin Logan request owner. Panels dip to 1.2 ohm. I want McIntosh tube for the panels. The woofer will get solid state 600 watt.

What would you recommend?  Basically bi amp. Tube for panel, solid for woofer. Xover is 120 I believe. 2x4 foot panel.

Or should I just call McIntosh?

Golden Ears on Arfcom? Huh?

My Momma was a queen
A Dad I've never seen

Anyone remember quadraphonic?

Been audiophile 30 plus years. It’s not the gear. It’s the reproduction of music that most have never experienced.

The gear, even modest gear makes it possible. That’s why analog turntable is making a comeback. 20 years and they’ve never heard a good stereo. Ever.

Sounds to me like an opportunity to try out a couple of their MC901s...  

To be honest though, yeah, asking them for their take is probably the best path.

Bump, as I am looking into getting a decent turntable with a USB out, and can be hooked up to an older receiver with pre am input.
I listen to a lot of extreme and obscure metal and it is actually easier to get some of the albums on vinyl than any other media.

Yes. I still have a few Discrete Quad 8 track tapes from back in '75 or so.
Don't have the player any longer. Had the pioneer receiver and quad reel to reel as well.
I downsized many years ago and sold off all the quad equipment.

Dark Side of the Moon was stunning in quad. (One of my remaining quad 8 tracks).