Turn table suggestions for a newbie

Got poisoned by vinyl during my last visit to a friend. I guess thats what analog sound really means. Planning to add a turn table.

Any suggestions for turn table, torn arm, cartridge and phono preamp? my budget is around 7-10k.

I have rega p3, roksan (forgot the model) and Project in my short list. hope that vinyl sifu here can help me on how to set up.

More importantly, go buy from a shop that actually knows how to set up the TT correctly.

RM10K is a very generous budget already. But all this won't count for jack shit if its set up poorly. Worse still, it can even damage your records permanently.

Lend your support to a proper shop that's been in the vinyl business locally. Their expertise is invaluable.

And beware of alot of opinions in forums that really have no scientific or factual backing whatsoever.

For the few true vinyl experts in the industry, there aren't many. Normally I wont list it down COMMERCIAL INFO but for your sake, here's a list for you to explore further (in no particular order or preference):
1. Mr. Rama (aka Bluesman), ex-Trikay guy who sells premium LPs at PJ Amcorp mall on the weekends, and trades and refurbishes TTs.

2. Mr. Low (or Lau, or Loh?), V&V Audio/ Nova Hifi @ Jaya-1, PJ.

3. Audio Image, The local reps for Clearaudio and Benz Micro.

4. Asia Sound Equipment. The folks doing Rega.


Mebbe someone can also contribute the vinyl experts from outside of KL/PJ as well.


If U buy from any of them, its only fair you ask them to teach you how to set it up correctly if you want to learn.

Happy hunting.

No need for me to say who is my preferred TT dealer.

what do your mean by set up?

the one i audition is rega p3 with some dynavector cartridge and a cheap looking phono amp. the owner said it cost around the price of a marantz s11 but the sound is 200% better than marantz. he also said something about set up which i dont understand.

Lamkochai wrote:what do your mean by set up?

the one i audition is rega p3 with some dynavector cartridge and a cheap looking phono amp. the owner said it cost around the price of a marantz s11 but the sound is 200% better than marantz. he also said something about set up which i dont understand.

Set-up means "how you set the turntable up". As you know by know, a Turntable is very mechanical machine that does not just "work out of a box" (unlike CD players, amps, etc etc where u just plug in the power, connect the cables, drop in a CD and music magically happens).


First, virtually ALL Turntables are packed & shipped in some form of dis-assembly. You need to "put it together" like a LEGO set.

Once done, then u got to do this and that and ..... hmm... lemme give u some links instead. (i've ran out of keyboard patience already).

http://www.turntablebasics.com/advice.html
http://www.audiojunkies.com/blog/1051/turntable-basics-a-beginners-guide-to-turntables-and-vinyl-records

Anything more, just ask mr. Google.

But remember, don't take everything you read as the absolute truth. Apply some intelligence. God gave you a human brain (instead of a mechanical CPU) for a reason. Read as much as u can find, digest as much as u can understand, then make up your own mind.


CAUTION: If you mess-up the set up, it can sound 200,000,000(fill in more zeroes to your liking...) % WORSE than a "Marantz S11". No kidding here!


Or you can just pay your hard earned money to the shop guy to "Set it up" for you and trust that he knows what he's doing. But that takes out alot of the fun of playing records, IMO.

WongKN wrote:No need for me to say who is my preferred TT dealer.

Need! And whom might that be ?

mugenfoo wrote:More importantly, go buy from a shop that actually knows how to set up the TT correctly.

I have experienced once which the shop's guy said he couldn't help me to set up TT because he forgot to bring his glasses that day. hahahaha... adui...

Luckily, my friend helped me out with that.
I needed the help as I dont have the tools and kits to set up a TT properly.

sounds difficult. thats why i havent really invest into TT yet. but now really very itch...

Lamkochai wrote:sounds difficult. thats why i havent really invest into TT yet. but now really very itch...

Do u have alot of old records as well, like someone gave them to you, or u inherited them, etc etc.
Or are you planning to buy a TT and then start buying music on vinyl ?


BTW, Have you sorted out your amp-speaker pairing problem already ?

i havent. but i think i still can live with it for a while. occasionally i connect to the proac studio 125 which is easier to drive for listening to certain music. What to do, too many things in the wish list but too little money.

i dont have any record. i will start collecting when i got my TT. The AB comparison between cd and LP using a same track i listen from a hifi shop recently convince me vinyl is the better choice for mid budget. This experience sway me from my initial intention to find a suitable amp for harbeth and now i am looking for TT first.

get a rega p5. i like regas cos they are affordable and maintenance-free other than a belt change every few years.
the p5 is much better than the p3.

how much is rega p5?

I think less than RM3k but without cartridge. And you'll need at least the Rega Exact cartridge with it, so above RM3.5k.

On the other hand, you can stay with the P3-24 standard, add a few more hundred for a Super Elys 2.

But let's not forget the Pro-Ject options, there is a wide range, from Rm1k-plus onwards ...

there's a shop in butterworth offering me whole package of rega p5 with original tonearm and dynavector cartridge on top of a phono amp for around rm6k. its a demo item and i am considering it. still checking on the price sold at other places esp those in kl.

any recommendation on the shops i should visit other than the one suggested by mugenfoo and wong?

which dynavector model? and what is the brand of the phono amp? how old r these, esp the dynavector?

i presume original tone arm means the rb700...

i didnt ask him the detail. after all i have no intention to buy from them yet.

lamkochai,
Since u are looking to splurge around a Rega P5 - class, may i be so bold as to suggest that you try this brand called "Clearaudio" ? The agent is actually in Penang. The shop is called Sound Concepts.
Super convenient for you to check it out.

Only reason to ask u to try is that with a Clearaudio TT, u get much closer to the ideal "best of both worlds' sound". You'll have the smoothness, warmth and organic touch of analogue sound, while you still get very good zest, dynamics & transients that's usually been the CD medium's forte.

$ for $, i think more engineering and design effort goes into a Clearaudio TT than a Rega TT of the same class. Looks very modern "modern" and its as much an eye pleaser as it is to the ears also.
Of course, this is just IMO lah.

But if you're looking for best bang-for-buck budget class with decent performance, Rega really sets the standard there.

ok. i really got no idea what to buy yet. after all the wrong investments i have had for past few years, i will window shop around pg and kl first before making up my mind. thank you

mugenfoo wrote:lamkochai,
Since u are looking to splurge around a Rega P5 - class, may i be so bold as to suggest that you try this brand called "Clearaudio" ? The agent is actually in Penang. The shop is called Sound Concepts.
Super convenient for you to check it out.

Only reason to ask u to try is that with a Clearaudio TT, u get much closer to the ideal "best of both worlds' sound". You'll have the smoothness, warmth and organic touch of analogue sound, while you still get very good zest, dynamics & transients that's usually been the CD medium's forte.

$ for $, i think more engineering and design effort goes into a Clearaudio TT than a Rega TT of the same class. Looks very modern "modern" and its as much an eye pleaser as it is to the ears also.
Of course, this is just IMO lah.

But if you're looking for best bang-for-buck budget class with decent performance, Rega really sets the standard there.

Bro Lamkochai,

Sound Concepts is Andre's. Let me know when you would like an audition..

i went to the shop last friday but its closed... wanted to listen to the odeon speakers and the local made power conditioner.

will make appt with him when i got time.

Lamkochai wrote:i went to the shop last friday but its closed... wanted to listen to the odeon speakers and the local made power conditioner.

will make appt with him when i got time.

Bro,

He only opens on appointment only..

Actually, where is the exact location of Sound Concept?
Is it on the upper floor of the current Standard Chartered bank?

Its in Island Plaza. 1st floor.

llsaw wrote:Its in Island Plaza. 1st floor.

Oh... Same place as Wisma Audio!!
I thought it is at StanChart building. aikss..

Lamkochai wrote:Got poisoned by vinyl during my last visit to a friend. I guess thats what analog sound really means. Planning to add a turn table.

Any suggestions for turn table, torn arm, cartridge and phono preamp? my budget is around 7-10k.

I have rega p3, roksan (forgot the model) and Project in my short list. hope that vinyl sifu here can help me on how to set up.

Hi, i also a newbie for the turntable. Just brought a second hand CEC turntable. Now i am looking to buy some LP album. Any idea where can i get the LP album in Penang or Ipoh?

hi , i am also a newbie for turntable. Just brought a second hand CEC turntable. Now is looking for LP album. Any recommendation where to buy LP album in penang and ipoh?

Thanks.

car o scope wrote:

llsaw wrote:Its in Island Plaza. 1st floor.

Oh... Same place as Wisma Audio!!
I thought it is at StanChart building. aikss..

Std Chartered is the office and not the showroom. I no longer see Wisma Audio @ Island Plaza

llsaw wrote:
Std Chartered is the office and not the showroom. I no longer see Wisma Audio @ Island Plaza

So fast?? I saw them still available there on Sept last year.