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What might a "sensible" vinyl playback setup look like?

Brian Hall said:
If the turntable maintains a correct constant speed and doesn't do anything to produce extra vibrations, the only part that really affects the sound is the cartridge/stylus.
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The alignment of the cartridge affects the sound, various external vibrations affect the sound, the phono preamp affects the sound. This all has to do with setting up the turntable and stylus, part of the reason why getting the best sound from LPs is such a PIA.
 
Brian Hall said:
If the turntable maintains a correct constant speed and doesn't do anything to produce extra vibrations, the only part that really affects the sound is the cartridge/stylus.
Click to expand...

The tonearm has a lot to do with performance too.
 
Ah, well, you know, it's really not that hard to get pretty good sound from a turntable and a clean slab of vinyl. Like anything in this hobby, one can tweak endlessly and spend bajillions. Or, one can just get a decent enough setup and enjoy the music.

I applaud new folks coming in to this, researching, and determining that they do not need to go down the rabbit hole.
 
rcstevensonaz said:
Who skips tracks on an LP album? That is sacrilege!!! There are streaming apps for such heathen who just want to listen to "that song". :cool:
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I know that was slightly tongue in cheek - but it is actually one of the benefits of vinyl for me : forcing the listener to listen to an album as it was intended.

It might not apply to all the albums produced post digital - but back in the day, the selection and ordering of the tracks was part of the art.
 
antcollinet said:
I know that was slightly tongue in cheek - but it is actually one of the benefits of vinyl for me : forcing the listener to listen to an album as it was intended.

It might not apply to all the albums produced post digital - but back in the day, the selection and ordering of the tracks was part of the art.
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It‘s not forcing. It‘s part of the experience, I‘m listening to the album and chilling, not working/cooking/etc and listening to tracks.
 
rank said:
What do you mean ? That by spending more you will get better? And within what limits?
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Setup includes overhang, tracking force, and anti-skating.

Anti-skating in particular is affected by stylus geometry.
 
Op's question is about a "sensible" setup. We may be drifting into diminishing returns (and hobbyism) ... all fascinating in their own way but drifting nevertheless.

I'd summarise that a financial value of £...or...$ 300 (max £500) for a setup that allows a better cartridge/stylus to be added later is sensible.
It's possible to go lower, but there are bigger compromises. It's always possible to go higher.

Enjoy the music :)
 
Petrushka said:
Setup includes overhang, tracking force, and anti-skating.

Anti-skating in particular is affected by stylus geometry.
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Yes, in my case with DENON DP-57L + DENON MC DL-301MkII (ref. here), Q-Dumping factor and Anti-Skating value are related also to stylus pressure to the LP surface.
In my post #688 there, I wrote;
As shared in my post #696, even though the recommended needle pressure for DENON DL-301II (MC) is 1.4 g +/- 0.2 g, I always use it in 1.8 g which I determined through my intensive listening tests about 15 years ago. Accordingly, both of the Q-Damping and Anti-Skating dials are now set in 1.8 position.
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even though nowadays I seldom perform my vinyl ceremonies as I wrote here.:D
 
antcollinet said:
Could use the AT VM95ML as another excellent cartridge alternative, save $70, and come in on the $500 budget. (Or drop the shell off the ortofon and save $40)

EDIT : Better yet, the Fluance comes with an ATVM95E already fitted. The ML stylus can be bought for $150 and swapped in (plug and play - cartridge body is the same) saving and additional $10 without the need to swap the cartridge.
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I’d absolutely go with the 95ML over a 2M Blue - the IGD of the elliptical is inescapable.
 
dualazmak said:
Yes, in my case with DENON DP-57L + DENON MC DL-301MkII (ref. here), Q-Dumping factor and Anti-Skating value are related also to stylus pressure to the LP surface.
In my post #688 there, I wrote;
As shared in my post #696, even though the recommended needle pressure for DENON DL-301II (MC) is 1.4 g +/- 0.2 g, I always use it in 1.8 g which I determined through my intensive listening tests about 15 years ago. Accordingly, both of the Q-Damping and Anti-Skating dials are now set in 1.8 position.
WS00005144.JPG
even though nowadays I seldom perform my vinyl ceremonies as I wrote here.:D
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I have little interest in the ceremonial aspects of vinyl. I just want to finish my digitizing project. I have a Technics 1200 with a P-mount cartridge. An AT Series VIII. Was semi-high end before everyone went nuts. It tracks everything perfectly.

Perhaps I shouldn’t, but I trust the markings on the arm, and the setup procedure.
 
Petrushka said:
Setup includes overhang, tracking force, and anti-skating.

Anti-skating in particular is affected by stylus geometry.
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Some arms have no anti-skating... Is a very bad configuration audible? In what proportions?
JeremyFife said:
Op's question is about a "sensible" setup. We may be drifting into diminishing returns (and hobbyism) ... all fascinating in their own way but drifting nevertheless.

I'd summarise that a financial value of £...or...$ 300 (max £500) for a setup that allows a better cartridge/stylus to be added later is sensible.
It's possible to go lower, but there are bigger compromises. It's always possible to go higher.

Enjoy the music :)
Click to expand...

More than 500$ (£ = 640...) for vinyl ? Sorry but you yourself are right in the law of diminished returns! Why 500 : like this number? 1000 is good too. Buy a ZYX cartridge (1000 to 12 500 but 12000 is a "better" number), a SAT tonearm (96 000$ approx.). (Very unfortunately the Supatrac at 3132$ sounds roughly the same : the setup certainly...). There is no end...

​

 
rank said:
Some arms have no anti-skating... Is a very bad configuration audible? In what proportions?


More than 500$ (£ = 640...) for vinyl ? Sorry but you yourself are right in the law of diminished returns! Why 500 : like this number? 1000 is good too. Buy a ZYX cartridge (1000 to 12 500 but 12000 is a "better" number), a SAT tonearm (96 000$ approx.). (Very unfortunately the Supatrac at 3132$ sounds roughly the same : the setup certainly...). There is no end...

​

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Anti-skating is not essential, but it helps with tracking at lower vertical forces. Skating is worse the more the stylus deviates from conical. Most people believe hyper elliptical styli sound better with old, possibly worn records. I suppose this is a case by case thing.

Most of my records were bought used, and after they are cleaned, I detect no distortion from wear.
 
gxleetw said:
Linn LP12 has been in production for over 40 years, with numerous official and third party upgrades along the way. Without knowing specifics (bearing, sub- chassis, tonearm, power supply / motor control) it’s like saying “I own a windows PC”.

If you had not tried it and are willing to spend some fiddle time, you can get “free” SQ improvement by playing with spring suspension a little bit. The goal is to achieve pistonic bounces when the platter / subchassis / arm board / arm / cable assembly is agitated slightly. Look for YouTube videos, or search for excellent document written by Cymbiosis of UK.
The difference is not subtle, although I don’t have measurements or could find one on the web to back this.
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1972, so make that over 50 years! A great used buy IMO as there are so many out there, and support is excellent, from dealers and Linn themselves.
 
Petrushka said:
Anti-skating is not essential, but it helps with tracking at lower vertical forces. Skating is worse the more the stylus deviates from conical. Most people believe hyper elliptical styli sound better with old, possibly worn records. I suppose this is a case by case thing.

Most of my records were bought used, and after they are cleaned, I detect no distortion from wear.
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No distorsion... Antiskate helps ?! How ?
 
rank said:
No distorsion... Antiskate helps ?! How ?
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You are not reading this correctly.

Hyper elliptical styli help with distortion by riding higher in the groove than older, conical styli. Thus not contacting the worn part of the groove.

Anti-skating helps tracking at lower vertical force. A desirable feature, but not directly related to distortion.
 
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