This is extremely refreshing. When I was looking to get back to vinyl, I was almost paralyzed with indecision after being told all the things I absolutely “needed”. There’s always gatekeepers. Nothing wrong with top-end stuff, but having a realistic view of what most people can afford and will notice is important. Thanks for this!
When you tell it the way it really is, some people don’t want to hear it. If a person has more money than brains, you will NEVER convince them that they probably spent more than is practical. That video was spot on! Thanks! The audiophiles, well, some are practical and some are insane. Keep up you videos! Well done!
That video will indeed help new people coming to the vinyl community. I watched a lot of videos and finally decided on a set of powered bookshelf speakers and a Fluance RT-81. I'm perfectly happy with my set up and have zero intention of upgrading. Good job.
Craigive been following you for about 1 yr and love your down to earth, no pretentions and just a cool dude! Were probably around the same age and enjoy a lot of the same classic rock that you do and i listened to your recorded music and thought it was fantastic, very talented my friend! Keep rockin and doing what you do brother! Alan
Hello I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your posts on CZcams. You hit the head on the nail to 100% when you describe people's need for a music system. Especially since most people have limited finances. What audiophiles don't talk about is the fact that it's possible to make sound as good as you want, but they forget about important, weak links in listening. 1) Your own ears. Even though you're young, you have flaws that take the edge off audiophile gear. 2) You forget that you have neighbors who don't have the same taste in music as you. Which means you can't play at the level you want. 3) You may live next to a busy road that makes significantly more noise than the noise from a bad music system. And if not, I'm almost certain that every now and then passenger jets will fly over your residence. 4) There are also several weak links in the production chain between the played music and the final medium regardless of whether it is vinyl, CD or streaming and other. I have examples of vinyl records that are considered high end quality. But if the technicians hadn't turned the level down before the music faded out, you would have heard a horrible hum from somewhere in the signal path. And this does not only apply to music facilities. It comes up in all kinds of special interests, whatever you're interested in. Everything from motorsport to swimming. If you are an elite swimmer, you can shave off your body hair and lubricate your body with something that makes you glide better in the water. But that doesn't make an afternoon at the beach any more pleasant. So - "Let's Get Real". Some people go to bed hungry and some people buy $100,000 sound systems just because they can. Once again, thank you for your commitment to what people really need to live a good life. Thank you for reading this. My name is Ingmar, 70 years old, living in Sweden and I try to "Get Real" with my toys. Best Regards/ Ingmar ynf@live.se
I have 2 Fluance Rt 81’s, Fluance speakers, Onkyo and Denon receivers and Sony subwoofers in my den and living room. Average systems at best but the sound is fabulous! I’ll let others spend thousands. I’ll spend hundreds and be very happy.
@The Internetwanderer So true. There's a guy in a local Facebook vinyl group that has probably a $15,000 system....and a collection of maybe 20 records. He once said that he hadn't had time to listen to a record in a couple months. Can you image having a system like that and rarely using it?? For these people, it's all about the aesthetics of having an expensive system that looks pretty. We can all run laps around him when it comes to knowledge of music and the appreciation of it.
I started my vinyl journey with a cheap all in one unit that my brother got me for christmas. Good music sounded good on it, just as it would have on AM radio or through an old car 8-track player. I've since upgraded to a budget Technics I got from a junk merchant at a flea market. It'll do for now.
Hi Graig. Thank you for very good and interesting programs/videos. Specially about setting up turntable, cartridge, cleaning. I'm a user/Lover of vinyls for half a century (and CD's), but still there is some good advice to pick up from you. By the way I'm a HIFI entusiast and a sucker for expensive equipment, but I agree with you when it comes to bying, it is the cost of how far one will go. And finally it all about the love of music that drives us and how far we will go with our hobby. Thanks again. Best/Hans, Denmark
Hi from Australia,I enjoy you video,s very much,I have collected Vinyl for over 50 years and listen to them on equipment that is now called vintage.I have a pair of Yamaha NS 30 speakers that I bought 40 years ago and they still sound great to my ears,I try to salvage old HIFI gear when ever I can and repair it.I find that the experience with records is not just listening,but also the pleasure that old equipment delivers.Keep up the good work,Cheers.
I like your commonsense approach and truthful commentary. I am getting back into a home audio system and want it to include vinyl as well. I have watched a lot of videos on the fluance lineup, and it seems like you are spot on with others regarding its simplicity and reliable build quality. Thank you!
I follow youre "Vinyl" video's for some time now and find them very informative and nice to watch. I learned alot and started the hobby since 3 years now. In the '80s i sold most of my vinyl collection like many other people, and wanted everything back on cd. But i'm getting older and learned from my mistakes.....back to basic, back to analog :-) My Turntable is a Lenco 3808 sub budget player and it works fine for me with the AT95E Cartridge. I'm also on a budget and here in The Netherlands things are expensive. Keep up the good work
Thanks so much for being realistic for the average Joe getting back into vinyl. I found an old collection of records a while back, so my wife lovingly bought me an inexpensive suitcase record player to get me started listening to my albums. I've been keeping my eye out for a classic turntable for cheap and found a Technics SL-D303 for $15 at en estate sale that was dirty but was complete and the motor ran quiet steady. The matt was dried up and warped and the needle was bent way over. I gave it a 4 hour deep cleaning using alchol and q-tips, lubed the motor etc. I replaced the matt for $15, and put on a $50 AT cartridge. So for under $100 I've got a nice quality turntable that sounds great, looks awsome and plays 'Rumors' like its 1975 all over again..
For myself, I only consider changes to my setup if I can clearly hear a difference. For example I have an audio technica cn5625al cart, and although it sounds amazing for the price, I can't deny that a Nagaoka mp110 would completely blow it out of the water. And not because of the brand, but because I've done some research and I found very favorable results! Awesome video Craig, nice to hear from you as always.
this is very important video. i'm in hifi hobby for allmost 30 years, and this nice guy just bring me back to enjoy music. in the last few years i was starting to test my sound - instead of just enjoy it. it was horrible. always thinking about aexpensive decks and stops from enjoy this hobby. because of you i am now have again that joy from my stereo! thank you sir!
Great video, Craig. You made me remember my father’s turntable back in the seventies, a Garrard. It had a straight tonearm, it didn’t have counterweight or anti-skating adjustments, yet it sounded great to my ears! If some record had too much dynamic range and made the stylus jump, he’d simply stick a coin on the top of the headshell, boom. Problem solved. It was simple as that.
hey craig. thank for your videos. im a average listener like you were saying i agree with every point you made. and your videos have helped me very much. i have an lp120 and set it up just like you showed. thanks man.
I just got back into the world of vinyl music. Pulled out my old lp's and my 1974 Dual 1237 turntable, put a new Audio-Technica AT95E cartridge, picked up a Pioneer A-20 integrated amp for $199 and connected an older set of Boston Acoustic bookshelf speakers. Sounds fantastic. Your videos have been a great help.
I have appreciated your videos because you speak to the average person who enjoys this hobby of listening to vinyl. Who may not have thousands of dollars to spend on all of the equipment required to just listen to and appreciate vinyl created music. I just want to tell you, you have become my most CZcams vinyl video resource for information and instruction. Thanks
Great video! I agree with you 100% i have a simple system consisting of a Marantz 2245, Sony ps-x600 turntable w/ mp-110 cart, Nakamichi cassette deck and vintage EPI 100 speakers ... i love and enjoy the sound and have less than $1000 invested in all of it
Nakamichis are pure magic. I have a bottom of the line CR1A that's probably never been serviced but I swear some things recorded on it sound better than the original source. I know their highest end decks all have unique tunings and personalities......gems
Fantastic video Craig. Watched your videos for a while now and you really help me and other people with this hobby. I was a while ago starting to really get pissed reading over on forums and CZcams about the differences and hifi... etc audiophile this and that etc... Thanks to you and VWestlife, i woke up to the reality and i'm happy with my turntable setup these days. You should check out VWestlife channel, he really knows his stuff. Check out his video: Cheap turntables - are they really that bad?. His new video is also really good. I really appreciate your videos, thank you so much.
as i always say.. your ears are the main thing in this situation.. i'm 70yrs old & love music.. i have always been a vinyl fan really but have also gone through the link of CDs ..Tapes ..but it is what you want to do with this great hobby.. now Craig is doing a great job with all his work on Vinyl TV & i have only just recently come along to the channel & love it.. the guy is very much down to Earth & everything that he says is great.. so i will say again that we can all learn from the guy ..Paul
It’s interesting to watch videos from people that are audiophiles but your videos are far more helpful to most people. The high end stuff is cool but that isn’t where my enjoyment of vinyl lies. I just think it’s cool that a simple piece of plastic stores music, it’s fun to interact with and it reminds me of being a kid and playing my dad’s LPs. There are a lot of snobs who think that everyone who doesn’t enjoy a thing the same way they enjoy it are beneath them.
I'm an old/new record fan. Played records in the 70s and playing them again. I have always hustled to find great audio gear for penny's on the dollar. Example, bought some infinity overture tower powered speakers in New condition from original owner for 400. These speakers were 1800 a piece in 1998. They sound unbelievable. Now I bought a technics turntable with less than 3 hrs played for $525 and a mower (trade). It's like new with original box and manual. So there is a slight alternative. Hunt for expensive gear at a low price. It's out there. Will put technics turntable model on next comment.
Been out of the collecting hobby for ten yrs. Want t to say you are totally correct about turn tables. I have a Denon turn table purchased in 1987 and still in great shape (replaced stylus a few times. Klipsch Heresy speakers, 747 reel to reel and a crown power amp and pre amp. Still playing my vinyl with this equipment. Just want to say great video. Even though it's 2 years ago. I'm going to upgrade and it's not going to cost me over 1500.00. Thank you for the info.
Going to start vinyl hobby. There have been many opinions what turntable I should have. Your videos are just so good for explaining what this is all about. It’s not all about gear! It’s about music! Gear comes after. You should buy something that you can upgrade. And if you don’t want to upgrade, that’s okay. So thanks to you so much for doing these! In Finland we have saying: OLD UNION MAN. It means someone who REALLY knows what he’s talking about. YOU DO! YOUR SO OLD UNION MAN!
I'm new to your channel and have been going through them. I appreciate your approach. It's very welcoming to those of us that grew up as children having LP's in the house and never had them as adults. In my case I'll be 50 this year. I'm all in. I'm fascinated. Your approach tells me it's ok not to spend thousands of bucks. I love music. Period. I found my 1st set of passive speakers. They are Technics SB-2680's. A friend gave them to me. The foam needs to be redone. By trade I'm an auto mechanic, so I think I can bring those speakers back to life. I'm trying to find an amplifier to get me going until I can find a period correct receiver/amp that will go with the speakers. The hunt is part of the charm. Your channel is one of my favorites. I need to follow your beer channel as I drink a Blood Orange Hefe (SLO Brew Cali Squeeze)
Extreme devotees of any hobby will go to extreme lengths to justify the extreme amounts of money they spend on equipment, despite the extreme lack of proof to support their claims.
The thing is why buy equipment that is supposedly "superior" to one's hearing. Why buy a phono cartridge that can reproduce to 50,000 cycles or a turntable that has .00000295 % wow or flutter. If I can't hear it then it doesn't matter to me. I have a Pioneer VSX-90TXV Elite receiver that has 110 watts per ch, 20-20,000 Hz frequency response with no more than 0.09% THD. I've got the famous Audio-Technica ATLP120-USB turntable with a Shure M97xE phono cartridge connected and it sounds absolutely wonderful. All of this is going to a set of Harman Kardon speakers with a powered 10" subwoofer. The receiver was new and discontinued. paid $300.00 for it with factory warranty. The turntable was purchased new also from an online retailer for $250.00 and the speakers were also purchased new and on sale for $300.00. I'll put my system up against a better one any day.
Most people can't hear wow & flutter below 0.2%, and frequency response specifications are completely useless without a tolerance stated (for example, ± 3 dB). So you have to trust your own ears more than you trust the printed specifications.
Of course they can spend however much they wish to. That's not the point. If they are going to spend all of that they needn't go around bragging or acting superior just because they bought audio equipment that only laboratory instruments can distinguish the difference. Their ears are most likely no better than mine or anyone else that has a "musical" ear.
This is a breath of fresh air. I have only recently gotten into the vinyl trend, and bought a Pioneer PLX-500k from Amazon, which I connected to my Bose speaker system in my livingroom. Could I buy a big amplifier and big speakers? Sure, but it is sounding fantastic in my living room. I will get such an amplifier eventually, but for now... I am totally fine. Things I have learned before I barely started: 1) Don't overspend on a turntable, but don't underspend either. Get something with a counter weight and the ability to change cartridge if you want to. You do not have to spend a fortune, $200 gets you a decent turntable. 2) Don't collect just to get MORE records. Collect the music you actually want to listen to, not because it is a rare record that a record collector "must have". 3) Don't get fooled by "180 grams is better" or "remasters are better". It is not the weight of the record that matters, it is the quality of the master recording the record was pressed on. Weight does not fix shoddy sound engineering. Sometimes a new remaster is fantastic, sometimes the original pressing is better because they messed with the remaster too much. And if someone asks me why vinyl, I tell them this: Vinyl vs digital is like a steam locomotive vs a diesel. To get the steam locomotive to go, you need to put in a lot more work.... heat up the boiler, bring it to life.... it will hiss, it will puff, and although it gets you from A to B just as fast as the diesel locomotive, the experience of bringing it from A to B is completely different, and to train engineers.... probably a lot more satisfying. And that to me is the experience with records: Yes you have to take steps to start a record, turn it over, clean it, drop the needle etc..... but it is an experience. You sit down and listen to an album, take time to experience the story it tells. That is probably the biggest reason I got back into vinyl. Not because it was cool, or because it sounds better.... but it gave me an experience I remembered from my youth. Yes, nostalgia does play a role..... and I am fine with that.
Excellent advice, thank you! I bought the Fluance RT81 on your previous recommendation and I could not be happier. It's perfect for my needs. I have a very good mid-priced amp that does 5.1 surround for my DVDs and I have an array of good speakers, including a very nice (large and heavy) subwoofer unit, two large and heavy vintage speakers I owned as a teen (45 years ago) which still sound awesome, and several pairs of studio monitors (smaller but with excellent 'tight' sound). I wouldn't mind having a tube amp, but the amp I have now (about 10 years old Onkyo) sounds fine and powers everything with no problems. Anyway, I have a 300 - 500 vinyl records collection (now in the process of cataloging) and have recently been buying new (audiophile 180 gram limited edition) records as well as shopping for used records. The Fluance performs perfectly for my needs and yes, I consider myself the average hobbyist and I'm very content to not spend thousands of dollars on components. I do have to watch my spending on records because of 'vinyl addiction' but those reading this will know what I mean. I'm a CD guy too, with hundreds of CDs. Many thanks for recommending the Fluance RT81. I love subscribing to your channel.
I agreed wholly with your point of view in the other video. I'm perfectly happy listening to what I can afford. Never had a store bought record cleaner, always just washed them with dishsoap & water and called it good. I have a vintage BSR record changer from 1968 with a MM cartridge (Pickering V-15)m etal plinth, platter & eccentric wheel. I have a 2 year old ATLP60BT and just bought a Pioneer DJ PLX500 and I'm just as happy listening to one as I am another. Some days I just want to listen to a stack of records and so use the BSR changer. Some days I want to listen to 1 record I picked up used on ebay and just use the AT. If I'm playing a new album or new 78 I like using the Pioneer and I can listen to all three turntables and they all sound equally good to me. The BSR changer was made for my "The Fisher 125" and was originally built into the old Fisher. The Fisher is completely worn out with the pots and switches laughing at me when I try to improve them with some deoxit so I transplanted the turntable into its own stand alone cabinet and plug it into the phono inputs & ground of an Onkyo TX-8220 I bought new last fall. I use bookshelf Fluance SX6W's not because I can't afford larger speakers but for lack of room in a house that seriously needs to be downsized from "stuff", lol. I ran wires from the "B" speaker terminals to the high gain audio inputs of a 10" Polk Audio powered sub and am plenty happy with the system. Never felt the need for a record weight or anything like that. Ive always been concerned that a weight would just put undue wear on a motor. Kinda like having a truck but instead of using the bed to haul stuff you decided to hookup a trailer behind the truck to haul everything in, lol.
First of all, I would like to say how good and down to earth your videos are. How honest, logical and real. I am very critical and skeptical, but I am honest.... Craig, as to the tonearm bearing, if you had one that was "bad" compared to another, say like the one on the cheap Crosleys, vs the one you have there behind you, I can see it making a difference. The Crosley would add DRAG, and that HAS to affect the sound! Craig, it's funny that you mention people that are going to shoot you down no matter what, and that will always happen! They have nothing better to do, and sadly, I say, they "don't have a life". I will give logical sage advice when and where I can. I just don't(or try not to) pay attention to these trolls(yes, that's what a lot of them are). Your advice is sound. Yes, sometimes I believe you need to expand a bit, like my first part of this statement up top, but for the most part you are bang on. So when it comes to the trolls about cheap Crosleys, I tell people that have them, or can only afford them, that for what they have, it's ok, for casual listening. I give advice on how to upgrade, and even advice how to get the best listening experience from these devices. It's all in the attitude and context. It's funny that you mention the Sony DD...My first time I bought my turntable back in 77, I first picked up a Sony DD. Took it home, and was very dissapointed in it. I took it back and previewed the Pioneer PL-540...NIGHT AND DAY! I bought it and I was so happy! It got lost somewhere back in the day, but a couple of years ago, I repurchased one, and again, very happy with it. I had to really clean it and go over it, as it had some issues, but it didn't need any electronic intervention, and I now have my turntable back, and I haven't seen ANYTHING it's equal, except starting at the Technics SL1500 level...This line of TT is severely underated and overlooked(except when it comes to pricing if you want to buy one now. It was about $500 new)....
I like your explanations and you right not everybody can spend too much money and that is also not so important. Just have fun to hear vinyl music as it is. Vinyl isn't perfect but it is more an ritual to feel the LP, to see the rotation, to hear the unperfection and tones. Thank you so much, I find your videos than helpful. regards Juergen
hello Craig.. i have a Revolver Black Ash turntable with a LINN Basik LV X tonearm.. with a LINN K9 cartridge & stylus.. running through my EXPOSURE X Pre amp.. with Monitor Audio speakers with Exposure cable..i upgraded as i went along & whatever you have is the best at the time for what you can afford & which suits you EARS.. so everyone who is coming into this way of enjoying music.. enjoy what you have until you can find the right system for you .. at my age.. i have found that... keep it up Craig .. Paul
Everything you say makes sense because it's 'street level'. It's real. Been using an ancient Sony turntable and inherited the same model from the missus' mom. That turntable is about 50 years old and works like a dream. Change the drive band and the stylus and away you go. Use one for my Marantz set up and the other one for my Yamaha set up. Happy as a pig in the you-know-what. Brilliant channel, sir. Subscribed.
I’ve always understood audio equipment to be a logarithmic curve, in terms of price vs performance. The more you spend the better the equipment but the higher you go the smaller the gap of improvement between each step up.
James Murphy: absolutely correct. once you get to a certain level of sound quality, incremental improvements beyond that are going to be VERY expensive. and even then, you will still never reach "perfection". and for me, it's not worth $100,000 to get a tiny bit closer to perfection yet still not reach it. that concept is completely ludicrous, not to mention a losing battle. i recently saw a video posted by michael fremer that demonstrated a $40,000 turntable with a $24,000 tonearm. i mean seriously....what exactly is a $24,000 tonearm going to do that is 1,000 times better than a $250 tonearm? that one half of one half of one percent improvement in "sonic magic" is simply not worth $24,000. no thanks...i'll take that $24,000 for that one tonearm and instead spend it on an absolutely no apologies needed complete system. as far as turntables go, i'm perfectly happy with my Technics SL-1200 Mk5 with a Denon DL-160 HOMC cartridge. I'm confident this turntable will outlive me (i'm 60 y.o.).
phantasm1004 I've seen that Michael Fremer video too. It's nice looking kit but seems totally impractical. What I would like to see is Mr Fremer having a proper hearing test to see how good his ageing hearing really is.
The law of diminishing returns, yes absolutely. There's a "golden zone" where price/performance is your best bang for buck and most things sound great, after that the price/performance is disproportionate and things don't sound anymore "great" just "different"
I got a free 70's counsel Turntable with radio and 8 track. Heavy as Dickens but it was free. Then to make it better I found the needle put it on and put a test record..... worked well... no adjustments just cleaning it up and running with it. Sounds better than anything else I've ever owned. Speakers are in excellent shape. And I can blast my music worry free. Bottom line, sometimes free is the best deal.
I think you're spot on with your analysis. My system is pretty basic in the grand scheme of things but I'm happy with the sound and that is what matters most. I recently did a room set-up video and it shows my room is a million miles from being a space an audiophile would be happy in, but it works for me. Keep up the great content. no trolls here.
I worked for a speaker builder who is well know and built only custom speakers .....never did we build anything is mass production This speaker shop was once on Yonge St in Toronto, I can tell you that speakers are your last line of defense.... having listened to many demo cd's or vinyl records I found that you heard different things from each speaker that we demoed from the same songs. I have pursued the best possible sound for years and found that depending on the music your playing some speakers play certain music better . I have 3 pairs of speakers in my set up that all sound excellent but some music sounds better on certain speakers . I think your correct in saying you can achieve excellent sound just by doing your research. I could easily put my Yamaha system up against any expensive system and perform as good with the right speaker. Trust me I play with the crossovers and cabinet acoustics constantly, but I eventually found happiness thru trial and error. As for the turntable I use I use the same one as you with a Ortofon 2M cartridge and am very impressed by its performance .Craig if you ever would like to demo my speakers let me know . Great video !
I am also really into vinyl and have a brewery in my basement. It's a basic brewing setup and I COMPLETELY understand both points on great beer and great sound without all the fanciness of techniques and equipment. I have a modest brewing set up (2) Grainfathers and a Fluance RT84 and I get amazing results in both areas. I also find that people respond more to our passionate explanations about brewing and music than anything else.
As usual, you nailed it! Great video. I'd say I fall in the 85-90% of people who have fallen back into the vinyl hobby. I'm still using my AT LP120. Got the Nagaoka MP-110 on it with a vintage Sansui AU-555 Solid state going to KEF Q100 bookshelf speakers and I love the sound. For me, personally, it meets all of my requirements and I think that's all you are trying to get across. Cheers!
It's good to see you back. I hope you keep making videos. For some reason, some turntables sound better then others. Very often the better sounding table is more expensive, but not always. That was a great idea to audition a table in your home. It would give someone a realistic idea of how a table would sound with there set up. A return policy is something to look for. Take care, Charles
Right there with you! I'm a firm believer in the 80/20 principle. So, what I'm after is that place where 20% of the cost gets me 80% of benefit. I'd like to know that even though my personal budget isn't even 5%. Anyway, keep doing!
You are 100% right I'm going to say this my gear is what they say and call high end I have tried mini turntables expensive turntables talking about 3000 4000 6000 expensive cartridges and I have try budget turntables we are good decent cartridge and the difference between the so expensive turntables and the budget turntables art minimal that sometimes make me think like why did I spend that much money on this turntable but you know what sometimes it's because of the Aesthetics some of them are beautiful to look at and that's one of the reasons does sometimes people like me buy the expensive stuff I'm not bragging sometimes I regret spending that much money and that's my humble opinion
19:30 I knew about the mark up for new products so I chose to buy a 1980s belt driven garrard gt25ap for $80 from local shop. I also picked up a 1980s direct drive technics slqd33 p mount for $80 as well. they were well taken care of products. I noticed the direct drive was quieter and the automatic function was nice. however My primary turntable is the garrard so the belt can be in continued use.
very well said you are 100% correct, my system is old i have a 1980 SX-780 pioneer receiver with a pioneer equalizer booster, Technics direct drive turntable with a empire cartridge, and 4 speaker set up in my basement and it sounds great, i have been collecting records and stereo equipment since i was 18 years old i am 57 now so i am not new at this at all, they are trying to bring back vinyl records again, i am also a musician and i play guitar also and a lead singer too.
There was a great TV series in the UK where 2 guys, Oz Clark, a wine aficionado and general bon-viveuer, was taking James May, a car and engineering reviewer and journalist, on a 'wine tour' of the world, explaining about tings like 'terroire' and all that. The chemistry, comedy and banter between them was amazing, largely because they were at polar opposites of the wine appreciation scale (assuming there actually is such a scale). Anyway, you could tell they really liked one another, so sometimes the banter got quite 'close to the bone' and it was tolerated and didn't seem to affect their respect and liking for each other, in the slightest. A phrase that James kept using for Oz, to his face, was that he was 'a wine-ponce' ('yes but you are a wine-ponce and I'm not', etc). Ever since, I've sometimes used that towards some people in other hobbies and interests, without meaning any sort of malice, at all. I would never seriously take the piss out of anybody for their chosen hobby, interest or passion because I believe, as human beings, we have to occupy ourselves and our minds with things that other people might see as 'the trivial'. I believe that 'embracing the trivial' in life (be it watches, wine, turntables, ballroom dancing, train spotting, kite flying... to any degree of 'drilled down' detail; it doesn't matter) helps keep people occupied, interested in life and outside the maw of depression, or worse. Having said all that: it sounds like you have crossed paths with a few 'turntable and audiophile-ponces', in your time. Good luck to them and I wish them all the luck and prosperity in the world, to be able to afford to go however far down their respective rabbit-holes, they want to go. But maybe some of them should, likewise, respect that most other people don't really want to dive down the same rabbit-holes as them, or do so quite as deeply, as them. And never get gatekeepy or preach their particular 'gospel' too hard. I think that suggestions are always welcome; when they are offered in an unselfish, kind-hearted and non-egotistical way. I also think that you and your channel, with your good sense of balance and proportion, have got that particular nut, well and truly, cracked.
The minute you put people to a blind test or an A/B/X test, you find most experts crumble. This is also true in many other hobbies/worlds... especially the wine world. I get comments all the time on some of my "Sound Advice" videos, but when I challenge these people to do a proper blind test, they fold. Even previous videos I have made some disparaging comments about mp3s, when I actually did a proper blind test, I was astounded at what I "thought" I heard and what I actually hear when put to the challenge. I have experience (as you do) in professional studios - equipment has gotten good enough in the consumer world and almost at entry level to rival some of that professional gear. Also, just as you said, most of us don't need a race car - most of us need a normal car.
Those sensitive to the power of suggestion will be taken for a ride in the specialist hifi stores! Buy what you can afford, and ENJOY THE MUSIC! That is what matters most of all!
Hi my Vinyl friend. I'm new to your channel and to me it is a breath of fresh air to see someone review more down to earth priced products. I'm also a huge Rush fan and love a lot of what you like. I owned a Clearaudio Emotion (valued at £1100 at the time) and loved it. Sold it along with other expensive items due to financial reasons. I don't have a turntable at the minute but plan to get another. Could I afford another Emotion? probably not but may go for a Pro-Ject. Anyway I want to encourage you to continue this channel and post more vids per month. The one thing I don't understand is people with more expensive turntables even bothering to be on here in the first place, as you have said it is geared up for beginners and people who can't afford the lavishly priced products out there. God bless you my friend and keep up the great work. Remember Vinyl is final :-)
Well said. Also at the end of the day, what's pleasurable to one persons ears may not sound so good to the next persons. We all have our own preferences. Also not everyone's hearing is exactly alike. But I do want an extended bass belt and a gold plated tone arm bearing . That sounds practical. LOL. Love your channel. you have helped me learn a lot. Keep up the good work your a good guy. Thank you.
Someone who enjoys getting their system to be the best they can be (whether they've spent $300 on the lot or $300,000 on one component) and uses it to enjoy music is an audiophile. Someone who is constantly wasting money on every single little thing they (or a snake oil salesman) can think of, and/or who belittles those who only have x to spend on their own systems, is an *sshat. I aspire to be the first, and never the second. Great videos, Craig.
I really appreciate your thoughts here. I'm in the process of upgrading my stereo and as you have already demonstrated, there is a forest of what is available. I'm interested in the Fluance, even though it is built in Taiwan. My personal desire is getting just good sounding music. So when it comes to turntables, I'm between 300 and 600 dollars. That's a pretty big spread. The Fluance just as how it looks, looks great.So here I am, I can spend 300 or if I really think the extra money brings better sound, I can go up to $600. I really do like your sensible thinking though. It comes down to just this. I want the stereo to sound good.
Excellent video. Stand your ground. Be true to your knowledge and experience. No one should go in debt to enjoy music. At least, not to much debt. Our equipment should be bought for pleasure not bragging rites. If we get on that endless quest to get better and better equipment, we fool ourselves and buy right in to the trap of never being satisfied. And end up playing a game you can't win. I say get what you can afford and enjoy the vinyl.
I don't even have a dedicated "perfect" listening room. I've just smacked the whole system up under the TV in my living-room. That's why I've spent some extra bucks on the design. You have to look at it every day. I cut out round pieces of plastic styrofoam (that came with a subwoofer package) put them under each leg of my glass shelf so that it made a nice isolation from floor vibrations. What I don't like is when people say that they got perfect sound when they bought speaker cables for 5000 dollars...I mean, we have got proffesionals for such behavior. Seek help.
I really appreciate your love & passion for vinyl ... I share that love. I'm obviously one of those fussy people that has dedicated treated rooms and a very good systems (to my ears) Using Beer as an analogy, you know only to well that no two beers taste the same, and many beers will taste excellent, and many awful ... pretty much the same with Turntables, but you need a multitude of other things to be correct to allow the good differences to become apparent. I have two dedicated listening rooms (three if you count my recording studio) one is high end'ish analogue with Turntable, power Amps/preamp, phono preamp & large passive speakers, the other is high end mid field three way Active monitors, and I use super high resolution direct digital recordings bought or made in my studio. these will be 192kHz 24bit or DSD ... My analogue system sounds wonderful with that special vinyl sound. It has great resolution, low noise and pretty good dynamics. The Active Digital system is completely different. Being a recording engineer, I get to hear real instruments all the time, so when I hear a recording sounding extremely close to the original, I know something has to be right. There's nothing wrong with having a budget, and we don't need to go "high end" to enjoy music or our hobby. But things have evolved my friend. If possible, please audition a real high end Turntable system ... maybe a high end digital one too ... things have progressed beyond that cold digital sound of yesteryear. All systems sound better if you give them decent recordings ... sadly, most commercial recordings are not the best that can be achieved, but that's always been the case.
For a beginner or a person in the middle who can't spend the money your budget will determine what you can get or not get. If you can't afford a thousand dollar and up turntable your wallet will dictate what you need and what you don't. Most people don't care what audiophiles think or don't think and others are audiophiles that can spend thousands. What's best is what sounds good to you, not anyone else. This video is what the first video should have been. Good job here Craig and due diligence is your friend here.
Great video Craig, very good information. I bought a Yamaha P-250 direct drive automatic turntable at a thrift store a couple of years ago for $10. I was kinda of sceptical about buying something like that from a thrift store but for $10 I didn't have that much to lose. It played and still plays great. Someone took real good care of it. I'm cannot find online any info when this one was made, but it might be late '70s early '80s.
One thing to add to your discussion would be the age of the listener. As a person gets older, their hearing diminishes. Someone that is 18 years old might be able to notice the sound difference of different pieces of equipment that my 58 years old ears can't.
The only way to know where your hearing is at is to take a test. Ideally a professional test by an audiologist. A lot of older people have significant hearing loss in the upper frequencies. It is not unheard of for someone in their 40s to have hearing cut off at say 12K.
I'm 61 years old and I can hear the frequency produced by an electronic dog "whistle", albeit not very loudly. I can also enjoy nuances in the recordings of my vinyl records that the average listener can't hear.
I spent more on my vinyl collection than i did my sound system so far and i say so far because I'm still collecting vinyl and plan on upgrading my living room set up and bedroom sound system. The turntable i have is an Audiotechnica LP120. The system in my living room 2 large North American Sound speakers a $400 Pioneer sound and video amp and thats just for my stereo set up. 90's Sony surround speakers with Ultra Linear sub woofer. A good modest sound system and good record player will yield an enjoyable listening experience for most.
Great points for the beginners to know and learn. Also, I love the music that you linked below and I would love to airplay it through the station in WV. Right now we are finalizing paperwork for the station but I will talk to the station owner soon.
I just picked up a fluance rt81 and it is pretty nice. Playing through a Sansui 7070 reciever and JBL model 4311's .....sounds damn near perfect for me!
Even for extremely low end stereo systems a vibration free shelf will benefit your gears longevity. Vibrations are bad. Caps can leak sooner. Everything soldered to the old plastic boards that become brittle can disconnect. Solid is good. When you spend more on audio gear you will open yourself up to more music genres. Acoustic music sounds so much better over a higher end system
Right on. Great video. I’m in agreement with you. In fact I bought a Rega Planar 3 turntable earlier this year and I love it. However I still listen to many records on my Audio Technica at-lp120. I dunno, I think I just love the cartridge I put on that deck. ...its a Nagoaka mp110, an affordable cart ($130 US w/ headshell). I believe speakers and cartridges make the most noticeable differences in entry level systems. I think anyone getting into hi-fi stereo needs to gauge their components so all components are relative to one another. Myself, I am trying to upgrade over time. I’m playing the long game. I try to upgrade one major component every year. But for the average listener or even the experienced listener for that matter, you can be happy at any price point, really. Just gotta do your homework. I love watching your videos. Keep it up...take care.
I just wanted to say thank you I recently decided to sell my all in one player and get a dedicated turntable since I almost exclusively listen to vinyl so new to this I also need furniture to sit it on and I’m on a budget so having to buy things in parts to get the system I’ve decided on. Going with the Fluance RT85 decided to go with a vintage receiver because I wanted the receiver to look nice next to the turntable like you just looking to casually listen to music I’m very excited to get everything together still months before I can listen but it’s going to be exciting
I agree with you. I have a Audio Technica direct drive 120 turntable for three years hooked up to a 2 channel 100w stereo reciever + a Recotion amp. I love it Even if i had alot of money i wouldn't change anything.😊
Graig I did compare a cheaper turntable with my rega planar. The cheaper one did sound good tones are good ofcourse but the better rega I use do give more depth greater soundstage. I did choose it of course. But I never speak bad about less quality equipment. Friend of me says when I want to experience top quality I visite you and I enjoy it very much. But he says for me is a normal budget audioset good enough and when I'm at his house and listening to his set. I enjoy his set for what it brings I never poke him. Realy it doesn't sound bad for what the set is worth. Great topic on this video cheers
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This is extremely refreshing. When I was looking to get back to vinyl, I was almost paralyzed with indecision after being told all the things I absolutely “needed”. There’s always gatekeepers. Nothing wrong with top-end stuff, but having a realistic view of what most people can afford and will notice is important. Thanks for this!
When you tell it the way it really is, some people don’t want to hear it. If a person has more money than brains, you will NEVER convince them that they probably spent more than is practical. That video was spot on! Thanks! The audiophiles, well, some are practical and some are insane. Keep up you videos! Well done!
Hi Craig, You're so right what you are saying in this video. Thanks for this ! Greets from The Netherlands
That video will indeed help new people coming to the vinyl community. I watched a lot of videos and finally decided on a set of powered bookshelf speakers and a Fluance RT-81. I'm perfectly happy with my set up and have zero intention of upgrading. Good job.
Craigive been following you for about 1 yr and love your down to earth, no pretentions and just a cool dude! Were probably around the same age and enjoy a lot of the same classic rock that you do and i listened to your recorded music and thought it was fantastic, very talented my friend! Keep rockin and doing what you do brother! Alan
Hello
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your posts on CZcams. You hit the head on the nail to 100% when you describe people's need for a music system. Especially since most people have limited finances. What audiophiles don't talk about is the fact that it's possible to make sound as good as you want, but they forget about important, weak links in listening.
1) Your own ears. Even though you're young, you have flaws that take the edge off audiophile gear.
2) You forget that you have neighbors who don't have the same taste in music as you. Which means you can't play at the level you want.
3) You may live next to a busy road that makes significantly more noise than the noise from a bad music system. And if not, I'm almost certain that every now and then passenger jets will fly over your residence.
4) There are also several weak links in the production chain between the played music and the final medium regardless of whether it is vinyl, CD or streaming and other. I have examples of vinyl records that are considered high end quality. But if the technicians hadn't turned the level down before the music faded out, you would have heard a horrible hum from somewhere in the signal path.
And this does not only apply to music facilities. It comes up in all kinds of special interests, whatever you're interested in. Everything from motorsport to swimming. If you are an elite swimmer, you can shave off your body hair and lubricate your body with something that makes you glide better in the water. But that doesn't make an afternoon at the beach any more pleasant.
So - "Let's Get Real". Some people go to bed hungry and some people buy $100,000 sound systems just because they can. Once again, thank you for your commitment to what people really need to live a good life.
Thank you for reading this.
My name is Ingmar, 70 years old, living in Sweden and I try to "Get Real" with my toys.
Best Regards/
Ingmar
ynf@live.se
I have 2 Fluance Rt 81’s, Fluance speakers, Onkyo and Denon receivers and Sony subwoofers in my den and living room. Average systems at best but the sound is fabulous! I’ll let others spend thousands. I’ll spend hundreds and be very happy.
David Gena dont forgett about thrift store finds
Me too, I think the same way.
@The Internetwanderer So true. There's a guy in a local Facebook vinyl group that has probably a $15,000 system....and a collection of maybe 20 records. He once said that he hadn't had time to listen to a record in a couple months. Can you image having a system like that and rarely using it?? For these people, it's all about the aesthetics of having an expensive system that looks pretty. We can all run laps around him when it comes to knowledge of music and the appreciation of it.
@@ryanmigliori9142 I buy all my shit on Ebay :) There is no choice at the thrift store...
If you stop when you're happy you'll save yourself a lot of money and grief
Awesome video!!! Thx for taking time to talk about that stuff. Cheers!
Another awesome video! Always a pleasure watching!
I started my vinyl journey with a cheap all in one unit that my brother got me for christmas. Good music sounded good on it, just as it would have on AM radio or through an old car 8-track player. I've since upgraded to a budget Technics I got from a junk merchant at a flea market. It'll do for now.
Thanks again Craig. You truly are a voice of reason amidst a flurry of opinions in the vinyl & audio community.
Hi Graig. Thank you for very good and interesting programs/videos. Specially about setting up turntable, cartridge, cleaning. I'm a user/Lover of vinyls for half a century (and CD's), but still there is some good advice to pick up from you. By the way I'm a HIFI entusiast and a sucker for expensive equipment, but I agree with you when it comes to bying, it is the cost of how far one will go. And finally it all about the love of music that drives us and how far we will go with our hobby. Thanks again. Best/Hans, Denmark
Hi from Australia,I enjoy you video,s very much,I have collected Vinyl for over 50 years and listen to them on equipment that is now called vintage.I have a pair of Yamaha NS 30 speakers that I bought 40 years ago and they still sound great to my ears,I try to salvage old HIFI gear when ever I can and repair it.I find that the experience with records is not just listening,but also the pleasure that old equipment delivers.Keep up the good work,Cheers.
I like your commonsense approach and truthful commentary. I am getting back into a home audio system and want it to include vinyl as well. I have watched a lot of videos on the fluance lineup, and it seems like you are spot on with others regarding its simplicity and reliable build quality. Thank you!
I follow youre "Vinyl" video's for some time now and find them very informative and nice to watch. I learned alot and started the hobby since 3 years now.
In the '80s i sold most of my vinyl collection like many other people, and wanted everything back on cd.
But i'm getting older and learned from my mistakes.....back to basic, back to analog :-)
My Turntable is a Lenco 3808 sub budget player and it works fine for me with the AT95E Cartridge.
I'm also on a budget and here in The Netherlands things are expensive.
Keep up the good work
Thanx for making these videos. I enjoy watching all of them!
Thanks so much for being realistic for the average Joe getting back into vinyl. I found an old collection of records a while back, so my wife lovingly bought me an inexpensive suitcase record player to get me started listening to my albums. I've been keeping my eye out for a classic turntable for cheap and found a Technics SL-D303 for $15 at en estate sale that was dirty but was complete and the motor ran quiet steady. The matt was dried up and warped and the needle was bent way over. I gave it a 4 hour deep cleaning using alchol and q-tips, lubed the motor etc. I replaced the matt for $15, and put on a $50 AT cartridge. So for under $100 I've got a nice quality turntable that sounds great, looks awsome and plays 'Rumors' like its 1975 all over again..
Good sound advice. Love watching your videos. Keep them coming. 👍
Great info and very simply dispersed. As you say “keep it real” Is also among my goal.
For myself, I only consider changes to my setup if I can clearly hear a difference. For example I have an audio technica cn5625al cart, and although it sounds amazing for the price, I can't deny that a Nagaoka mp110 would completely blow it out of the water. And not because of the brand, but because I've done some research and I found very favorable results!
Awesome video Craig, nice to hear from you as always.
this is very important video.
i'm in hifi hobby for allmost 30 years, and this nice guy just bring me back to enjoy music.
in the last few years i was starting to test my sound - instead of just enjoy it. it was horrible.
always thinking about aexpensive decks and stops from enjoy this hobby.
because of you i am now have again that joy from my stereo!
thank you sir!
Great video, Craig. You made me remember my father’s turntable back in the seventies, a Garrard. It had a straight tonearm, it didn’t have counterweight or anti-skating adjustments, yet it sounded great to my ears! If some record had too much dynamic range and made the stylus jump, he’d simply stick a coin on the top of the headshell, boom. Problem solved. It was simple as that.
hey craig. thank for your videos. im a average listener like you were saying i agree with every point you made. and your videos have helped me very much. i have an lp120 and set it up just like you showed. thanks man.
I just got back into the world of vinyl music. Pulled out my old lp's and my 1974 Dual 1237 turntable, put a new Audio-Technica AT95E cartridge, picked up a Pioneer A-20 integrated amp for $199 and connected an older set of Boston Acoustic bookshelf speakers. Sounds fantastic. Your videos have been a great help.
Keep producing your great content. Thank you.!
I have appreciated your videos because you speak to the average person who enjoys this hobby of listening to vinyl. Who may not have thousands of dollars to spend on all of the equipment required to just listen to and appreciate vinyl created music. I just want to tell you, you have become my most CZcams vinyl video resource for information and instruction. Thanks
Great video! I agree with you 100% i have a simple system consisting of a Marantz 2245, Sony ps-x600 turntable w/ mp-110 cart, Nakamichi cassette deck and vintage EPI 100 speakers ... i love and enjoy the sound and have less than $1000 invested in all of it
Nakamichis are pure magic. I have a bottom of the line CR1A that's probably never been serviced but I swear some things recorded on it sound better than the original source. I know their highest end decks all have unique tunings and personalities......gems
Regardless of a system, what matters most is you enjoy music
Fantastic video Craig. Watched your videos for a while now and you really help me and other people with this hobby. I was a while ago starting to really get pissed reading over on forums and CZcams about the differences and hifi... etc audiophile this and that etc... Thanks to you and VWestlife, i woke up to the reality and i'm happy with my turntable setup these days.
You should check out VWestlife channel, he really knows his stuff. Check out his video: Cheap turntables - are they really that bad?. His new video is also really good.
I really appreciate your videos, thank you so much.
Yup, I watch his stuff. He's a smart lad.
Loved the song! Voice, music, mix, all of it!
Craig You are very talented and very humble, keep the videos coming 😀
I support your visions of sound ... pure and simple picture of audiophile passion.
as i always say.. your ears are the main thing in this situation.. i'm 70yrs old & love music.. i have always been a vinyl fan really but have also gone through the link of CDs ..Tapes ..but it is what you want to do with this great hobby.. now Craig is doing a great job with all his work on Vinyl TV & i have only just recently come along to the channel & love it.. the guy is very much down to Earth & everything that he says is great.. so i will say again that we can all learn from the guy ..Paul
I have a Rega planar 1, an Onkyo a9110 amp, and some q acoustic 3020 speakers. All in cost me £600. It sounds amazing. Glad I didn’t spend more!
Good video 👍😎 like your turntables
It’s interesting to watch videos from people that are audiophiles but your videos are far more helpful to most people. The high end stuff is cool but that isn’t where my enjoyment of vinyl lies. I just think it’s cool that a simple piece of plastic stores music, it’s fun to interact with and it reminds me of being a kid and playing my dad’s LPs. There are a lot of snobs who think that everyone who doesn’t enjoy a thing the same way they enjoy it are beneath them.
I'm an old/new record fan. Played records in the 70s and playing them again. I have always hustled to find great audio gear for penny's on the dollar. Example, bought some infinity overture tower powered speakers in New condition from original owner for 400. These speakers were 1800 a piece in 1998.
They sound unbelievable. Now I bought a technics turntable with less than 3 hrs played for $525 and a mower (trade). It's like new with original box and manual. So there is a slight alternative. Hunt for expensive gear at a low price. It's out there. Will put technics turntable model on next comment.
Been out of the collecting hobby for ten yrs. Want t to say you are totally correct about turn tables. I have a Denon turn table purchased in 1987 and still in great shape (replaced stylus a few times. Klipsch Heresy speakers, 747 reel to reel and a crown power amp and pre amp. Still playing my vinyl with this equipment. Just want to say great video. Even though it's 2 years ago. I'm going to upgrade and it's not going to cost me over 1500.00. Thank you for the info.
Going to start vinyl hobby.
There have been many opinions what turntable I should have. Your videos are just so good for explaining what this is all about.
It’s not all about gear!
It’s about music!
Gear comes after.
You should buy something that you can upgrade.
And if you don’t want to upgrade, that’s okay.
So thanks to you so much for doing these!
In Finland we have saying:
OLD UNION MAN.
It means someone who REALLY knows what he’s talking about.
YOU DO!
YOUR SO OLD UNION MAN!
I'm new to your channel and have been going through them. I appreciate your approach. It's very welcoming to those of us that grew up as children having LP's in the house and never had them as adults. In my case I'll be 50 this year. I'm all in. I'm fascinated. Your approach tells me it's ok not to spend thousands of bucks. I love music. Period. I found my 1st set of passive speakers. They are Technics SB-2680's. A friend gave them to me. The foam needs to be redone. By trade I'm an auto mechanic, so I think I can bring those speakers back to life. I'm trying to find an amplifier to get me going until I can find a period correct receiver/amp that will go with the speakers. The hunt is part of the charm. Your channel is one of my favorites. I need to follow your beer channel as I drink a Blood Orange Hefe (SLO Brew Cali Squeeze)
Cheers Monica!
Buy gear that you can afford and be happy about it,its the music that matters!
great channel Craig !
Extreme devotees of any hobby will go to extreme lengths to justify the extreme amounts of money they spend on equipment, despite the extreme lack of proof to support their claims.
please watch..proektor74.ru...atlp60 doing what it can do..with high end gear
The thing is why buy equipment that is supposedly "superior" to one's hearing. Why buy a phono cartridge that can reproduce to 50,000 cycles or a turntable that has .00000295 % wow or flutter. If I can't hear it then it doesn't matter to me. I have a Pioneer VSX-90TXV Elite receiver that has 110 watts per ch, 20-20,000 Hz frequency response with no more than 0.09% THD. I've got the famous Audio-Technica ATLP120-USB turntable with a Shure M97xE phono cartridge connected and it sounds absolutely wonderful. All of this is going to a set of Harman Kardon speakers with a powered 10" subwoofer. The receiver was new and discontinued. paid $300.00 for it with factory warranty. The turntable was purchased new also from an online retailer for $250.00 and the speakers were also purchased new and on sale for $300.00. I'll put my system up against a better one any day.
Most people can't hear wow & flutter below 0.2%, and frequency response specifications are completely useless without a tolerance stated (for example, ± 3 dB). So you have to trust your own ears more than you trust the printed specifications.
Why should they have to? If someone wants to drop 20k on a system that's their prerogative. It's their money that theyre spending not yours.
Of course they can spend however much they wish to. That's not the point. If they are going to spend all of that they needn't go around bragging or acting superior just because they bought audio equipment that only laboratory instruments can distinguish the difference. Their ears are most likely no better than mine or anyone else that has a "musical" ear.
This is a breath of fresh air. I have only recently gotten into the vinyl trend, and bought a Pioneer PLX-500k from Amazon, which I connected to my Bose speaker system in my livingroom. Could I buy a big amplifier and big speakers? Sure, but it is sounding fantastic in my living room. I will get such an amplifier eventually, but for now... I am totally fine.
Things I have learned before I barely started:
1) Don't overspend on a turntable, but don't underspend either. Get something with a counter weight and the ability to change cartridge if you want to. You do not have to spend a fortune, $200 gets you a decent turntable.
2) Don't collect just to get MORE records. Collect the music you actually want to listen to, not because it is a rare record that a record collector "must have".
3) Don't get fooled by "180 grams is better" or "remasters are better". It is not the weight of the record that matters, it is the quality of the master recording the record was pressed on. Weight does not fix shoddy sound engineering. Sometimes a new remaster is fantastic, sometimes the original pressing is better because they messed with the remaster too much.
And if someone asks me why vinyl, I tell them this: Vinyl vs digital is like a steam locomotive vs a diesel. To get the steam locomotive to go, you need to put in a lot more work.... heat up the boiler, bring it to life.... it will hiss, it will puff, and although it gets you from A to B just as fast as the diesel locomotive, the experience of bringing it from A to B is completely different, and to train engineers.... probably a lot more satisfying. And that to me is the experience with records: Yes you have to take steps to start a record, turn it over, clean it, drop the needle etc..... but it is an experience. You sit down and listen to an album, take time to experience the story it tells. That is probably the biggest reason I got back into vinyl. Not because it was cool, or because it sounds better.... but it gave me an experience I remembered from my youth. Yes, nostalgia does play a role..... and I am fine with that.
Excellent advice, thank you! I bought the Fluance RT81 on your previous recommendation and I could not be happier. It's perfect for my needs.
I have a very good mid-priced amp that does 5.1 surround for my DVDs and I have an array of good speakers, including a very nice (large and heavy) subwoofer unit, two large and heavy vintage speakers I owned as a teen (45 years ago) which still sound awesome, and several pairs of studio monitors (smaller but with excellent 'tight' sound). I wouldn't mind having a tube amp, but the amp I have now (about 10 years old Onkyo) sounds fine and powers everything with no problems.
Anyway, I have a 300 - 500 vinyl records collection (now in the process of cataloging) and have recently been buying new (audiophile 180 gram limited edition) records as well as shopping for used records. The Fluance performs perfectly for my needs and yes, I consider myself the average hobbyist and I'm very content to not spend thousands of dollars on components. I do have to watch my spending on records because of 'vinyl addiction' but those reading this will know what I mean. I'm a CD guy too, with hundreds of CDs.
Many thanks for recommending the Fluance RT81. I love subscribing to your channel.
I agreed wholly with your point of view in the other video. I'm perfectly happy listening to what I can afford. Never had a store bought record cleaner, always just washed them with dishsoap & water and called it good. I have a vintage BSR record changer from 1968 with a MM cartridge (Pickering V-15)m etal plinth, platter & eccentric wheel. I have a 2 year old ATLP60BT and just bought a Pioneer DJ PLX500 and I'm just as happy listening to one as I am another. Some days I just want to listen to a stack of records and so use the BSR changer. Some days I want to listen to 1 record I picked up used on ebay and just use the AT. If I'm playing a new album or new 78 I like using the Pioneer and I can listen to all three turntables and they all sound equally good to me. The BSR changer was made for my "The Fisher 125" and was originally built into the old Fisher. The Fisher is completely worn out with the pots and switches laughing at me when I try to improve them with some deoxit so I transplanted the turntable into its own stand alone cabinet and plug it into the phono inputs & ground of an Onkyo TX-8220 I bought new last fall. I use bookshelf Fluance SX6W's not because I can't afford larger speakers but for lack of room in a house that seriously needs to be downsized from "stuff", lol. I ran wires from the "B" speaker terminals to the high gain audio inputs of a 10" Polk Audio powered sub and am plenty happy with the system. Never felt the need for a record weight or anything like that. Ive always been concerned that a weight would just put undue wear on a motor. Kinda like having a truck but instead of using the bed to haul stuff you decided to hookup a trailer behind the truck to haul everything in, lol.
I came across your videos by doing research on tables, and honestly you have helped me in so many ways. Keep up the good work!
First of all, I would like to say how good and down to earth your videos are. How honest, logical and real. I am very critical and skeptical, but I am honest....
Craig, as to the tonearm bearing, if you had one that was "bad" compared to another, say like the one on the cheap Crosleys, vs the one you have there behind you, I can see it making a difference. The Crosley would add DRAG, and that HAS to affect the sound!
Craig, it's funny that you mention people that are going to shoot you down no matter what, and that will always happen! They have nothing better to do, and sadly, I say, they "don't have a life". I will give logical sage advice when and where I can. I just don't(or try not to) pay attention to these trolls(yes, that's what a lot of them are). Your advice is sound. Yes, sometimes I believe you need to expand a bit, like my first part of this statement up top, but for the most part you are bang on. So when it comes to the trolls about cheap Crosleys, I tell people that have them, or can only afford them, that for what they have, it's ok, for casual listening. I give advice on how to upgrade, and even advice how to get the best listening experience from these devices. It's all in the attitude and context.
It's funny that you mention the Sony DD...My first time I bought my turntable back in 77, I first picked up a Sony DD. Took it home, and was very dissapointed in it. I took it back and previewed the Pioneer PL-540...NIGHT AND DAY! I bought it and I was so happy! It got lost somewhere back in the day, but a couple of years ago, I repurchased one, and again, very happy with it. I had to really clean it and go over it, as it had some issues, but it didn't need any electronic intervention, and I now have my turntable back, and I haven't seen ANYTHING it's equal, except starting at the Technics SL1500 level...This line of TT is severely underated and overlooked(except when it comes to pricing if you want to buy one now. It was about $500 new)....
Thanks a lot for the 'down to earth' video for music lovers!
I like your explanations and you right not everybody can spend too much money and that is also not so important. Just have fun to hear vinyl music as it is. Vinyl isn't perfect but it is more an ritual to feel the LP, to see the rotation, to hear the unperfection and tones. Thank you so much, I find your videos than helpful. regards Juergen
Great video. Grounded and down to earth. At the end of the day, the best stereo is whatever sounds great to you.
Thank you for your intelligent and common sense reviews! Greetings from geir Røssaak, jessheim Norway!
hello Craig.. i have a Revolver Black Ash turntable with a LINN Basik LV X tonearm.. with a LINN K9 cartridge & stylus.. running through my EXPOSURE X Pre amp.. with Monitor Audio speakers with Exposure cable..i upgraded as i went along & whatever you have is the best at the time for what you can afford & which suits you EARS.. so everyone who is coming into this way of enjoying music.. enjoy what you have until you can find the right system for you .. at my age.. i have found that... keep it up Craig .. Paul
Another great informative video. I like your music. what a voice.
Everything you say makes sense because it's 'street level'. It's real. Been using an ancient Sony turntable and inherited the same model from the missus' mom. That turntable is about 50 years old and works like a dream. Change the drive band and the stylus and away you go. Use one for my Marantz set up and the other one for my Yamaha set up. Happy as a pig in the you-know-what. Brilliant channel, sir. Subscribed.
Great video, love your channel. Please take us through your record collection. Pretty please.
I love these videos, don't stop
I’ve always understood audio equipment to be a logarithmic curve, in terms of price vs performance. The more you spend the better the equipment but the higher you go the smaller the gap of improvement between each step up.
James Murphy saw something similar and if memory serves me right it's near impossible to reach 100%.
James Murphy: absolutely correct. once you get to a certain level of sound quality, incremental improvements beyond that are going to be VERY expensive. and even then, you will still never reach "perfection". and for me, it's not worth $100,000 to get a tiny bit closer to perfection yet still not reach it. that concept is completely ludicrous, not to mention a losing battle. i recently saw a video posted by michael fremer that demonstrated a $40,000 turntable with a $24,000 tonearm. i mean seriously....what exactly is a $24,000 tonearm going to do that is 1,000 times better than a $250 tonearm? that one half of one half of one percent improvement in "sonic magic" is simply not worth $24,000. no thanks...i'll take that $24,000 for that one tonearm and instead spend it on an absolutely no apologies needed complete system. as far as turntables go, i'm perfectly happy with my Technics SL-1200 Mk5 with a Denon DL-160 HOMC cartridge. I'm confident this turntable will outlive me (i'm 60 y.o.).
phantasm1004 I've seen that Michael Fremer video too. It's nice looking kit but seems totally impractical. What I would like to see is Mr Fremer having a proper hearing test to see how good his ageing hearing really is.
The law of diminishing returns, yes absolutely.
There's a "golden zone" where price/performance is your best bang for buck and most things sound great, after that the price/performance is disproportionate and things don't sound anymore "great" just "different"
I got a free 70's counsel Turntable with radio and 8 track. Heavy as Dickens but it was free. Then to make it better I found the needle put it on and put a test record..... worked well... no adjustments just cleaning it up and running with it. Sounds better than anything else I've ever owned. Speakers are in excellent shape. And I can blast my music worry free. Bottom line, sometimes free is the best deal.
Father Damien below said it all. You are doing a great job, Craig. Keep up the good work.
I think you're spot on with your analysis. My system is pretty basic in the grand scheme of things but I'm happy with the sound and that is what matters most. I recently did a room set-up video and it shows my room is a million miles from being a space an audiophile would be happy in, but it works for me. Keep up the great content. no trolls here.
I worked for a speaker builder who is well know and built only custom speakers .....never did we build anything is mass production This speaker shop was once on Yonge St in Toronto, I can tell you that speakers are your last line of defense.... having listened to many demo cd's or vinyl records I found that you heard different things from each speaker that we demoed from the same songs. I have pursued the best possible sound for years and found that depending on the music your playing some speakers play certain music better . I have 3 pairs of speakers in my set up that all sound excellent but some music sounds better on certain speakers . I think your correct in saying you can achieve excellent sound just by doing your research. I could easily put my Yamaha system up against any expensive system and perform as good with the right speaker. Trust me I play with the crossovers and cabinet acoustics constantly, but I eventually found happiness thru trial and error. As for the turntable I use I use the same one as you with a Ortofon 2M cartridge and am very impressed by its performance .Craig if you ever would like to demo my speakers let me know .
Great video !
Fantastic speaker, fantastic channel! Got Fluance RT80 with Ortofon Red and pretty happy with that!
I am also really into vinyl and have a brewery in my basement. It's a basic brewing setup and I COMPLETELY understand both points on great beer and great sound without all the fanciness of techniques and equipment. I have a modest brewing set up (2) Grainfathers and a Fluance RT84 and I get amazing results in both areas. I also find that people respond more to our passionate explanations about brewing and music than anything else.
i like this vinyl tv ,i want say, im from poland and life in scotland is cool i like listen you how you tell about vinyl
I have watched your vídeos and enjoied a lot. You seems to have a very balanced and realistic opinion. Thanks to all your dedication to us.
Thank you for all your insight into this hobby.
As usual, you nailed it! Great video. I'd say I fall in the 85-90% of people who have fallen back into the vinyl hobby. I'm still using my AT LP120. Got the Nagaoka MP-110 on it with a vintage Sansui AU-555 Solid state going to KEF Q100 bookshelf speakers and I love the sound. For me, personally, it meets all of my requirements and I think that's all you are trying to get across. Cheers!
It's good to see you back. I hope you keep making videos.
For some reason, some turntables sound better then others. Very often the better sounding table is more expensive, but not always.
That was a great idea to audition a table in your home. It would give someone a realistic idea of how a table would sound with there set up. A return policy is something to look for.
Take care, Charles
Right there with you! I'm a firm believer in the 80/20 principle. So, what I'm after is that place where 20% of the cost gets me 80% of benefit. I'd like to know that even though my personal budget isn't even 5%. Anyway, keep doing!
first time viewer.. glad I stopped in, I love albums and beer and my sony turntable works for me
You are 100% right I'm going to say this my gear is what they say and call high end I have tried mini turntables expensive turntables talking about 3000 4000 6000 expensive cartridges and I have try budget turntables we are good decent cartridge and the difference between the so expensive turntables and the budget turntables art minimal that sometimes make me think like why did I spend that much money on this turntable but you know what sometimes it's because of the Aesthetics some of them are beautiful to look at and that's one of the reasons does sometimes people like me buy the expensive stuff I'm not bragging sometimes I regret spending that much money and that's my humble opinion
I'm ready to be real. I liked the previous video and hopefully this one is just as good
the niche hobbies of brewing and creating a stereo set up is quite comparable.
8:40 this is why I enjoy listening to you. you have reasonable standards for equipment and have considerable music experience.
19:30 I knew about the mark up for new products so I chose to buy a 1980s belt driven garrard gt25ap for $80 from local shop. I also picked up a 1980s direct drive technics slqd33 p mount for $80 as well. they were well taken care of products. I noticed the direct drive was quieter and the automatic function was nice. however My primary turntable is the garrard so the belt can be in continued use.
24:00 oh yeah the placebo effect must be present.
very well said you are 100% correct, my system is old i have a 1980 SX-780 pioneer receiver with a pioneer equalizer booster, Technics direct drive turntable with a empire cartridge, and 4 speaker set up in my basement and it sounds great, i have been collecting records and stereo equipment since i was 18 years old i am 57 now so i am not new at this at all, they are trying to bring back vinyl records again, i am also a musician and i play guitar also and a lead singer too.
There was a great TV series in the UK where 2 guys, Oz Clark, a wine aficionado and general bon-viveuer, was taking James May, a car and engineering reviewer and journalist, on a 'wine tour' of the world, explaining about tings like 'terroire' and all that. The chemistry, comedy and banter between them was amazing, largely because they were at polar opposites of the wine appreciation scale (assuming there actually is such a scale).
Anyway, you could tell they really liked one another, so sometimes the banter got quite 'close to the bone' and it was tolerated and didn't seem to affect their respect and liking for each other, in the slightest.
A phrase that James kept using for Oz, to his face, was that he was 'a wine-ponce' ('yes but you are a wine-ponce and I'm not', etc).
Ever since, I've sometimes used that towards some people in other hobbies and interests, without meaning any sort of malice, at all. I would never seriously take the piss out of anybody for their chosen hobby, interest or passion because I believe, as human beings, we have to occupy ourselves and our minds with things that other people might see as 'the trivial'. I believe that 'embracing the trivial' in life (be it watches, wine, turntables, ballroom dancing, train spotting, kite flying... to any degree of 'drilled down' detail; it doesn't matter) helps keep people occupied, interested in life and outside the maw of depression, or worse.
Having said all that: it sounds like you have crossed paths with a few 'turntable and audiophile-ponces', in your time.
Good luck to them and I wish them all the luck and prosperity in the world, to be able to afford to go however far down their respective rabbit-holes, they want to go. But maybe some of them should, likewise, respect that most other people don't really want to dive down the same rabbit-holes as them, or do so quite as deeply, as them. And never get gatekeepy or preach their particular 'gospel' too hard.
I think that suggestions are always welcome; when they are offered in an unselfish, kind-hearted and non-egotistical way. I also think that you and your channel, with your good sense of balance and proportion, have got that particular nut, well and truly, cracked.
The minute you put people to a blind test or an A/B/X test, you find most experts crumble. This is also true in many other hobbies/worlds... especially the wine world. I get comments all the time on some of my "Sound Advice" videos, but when I challenge these people to do a proper blind test, they fold. Even previous videos I have made some disparaging comments about mp3s, when I actually did a proper blind test, I was astounded at what I "thought" I heard and what I actually hear when put to the challenge. I have experience (as you do) in professional studios - equipment has gotten good enough in the consumer world and almost at entry level to rival some of that professional gear. Also, just as you said, most of us don't need a race car - most of us need a normal car.
Those sensitive to the power of suggestion will be taken for a ride in the specialist hifi stores! Buy what you can afford, and ENJOY THE MUSIC! That is what matters most of all!
Hi my Vinyl friend. I'm new to your channel and to me it is a breath of fresh air to see someone review more down to earth priced products. I'm also a huge Rush fan and love a lot of what you like. I owned a Clearaudio Emotion (valued at £1100 at the time) and loved it. Sold it along with other expensive items due to financial reasons. I don't have a turntable at the minute but plan to get another. Could I afford another Emotion? probably not but may go for a Pro-Ject. Anyway I want to encourage you to continue this channel and post more vids per month. The one thing I don't understand is people with more expensive turntables even bothering to be on here in the first place, as you have said it is geared up for beginners and people who can't afford the lavishly priced products out there. God bless you my friend and keep up the great work. Remember Vinyl is final :-)
I think the biggest change in sound is your speakers
Great video and just common sense. I’ve gone from a very cheap turntable to a AT LP120 and very pleased with it and that was a marked improvement.
Well said. Also at the end of the day, what's pleasurable to one persons ears may not sound so good to the next persons. We all have our own preferences. Also not everyone's hearing is exactly alike. But I do want an extended bass belt and a gold plated tone arm bearing . That sounds practical. LOL. Love your channel. you have helped me learn a lot. Keep up the good work your a good guy. Thank you.
Someone who enjoys getting their system to be the best they can be (whether they've spent $300 on the lot or $300,000 on one component) and uses it to enjoy music is an audiophile. Someone who is constantly wasting money on every single little thing they (or a snake oil salesman) can think of, and/or who belittles those who only have x to spend on their own systems, is an *sshat. I aspire to be the first, and never the second. Great videos, Craig.
I really appreciate your thoughts here. I'm in the process of upgrading my stereo and as you have already demonstrated, there is a forest of what is available. I'm interested in the Fluance, even though it is built in Taiwan. My personal desire is getting just good sounding music. So when it comes to turntables, I'm between 300 and 600 dollars. That's a pretty big spread. The Fluance just as how it looks, looks great.So here I am, I can spend 300 or if I really think the extra money brings better sound, I can go up to $600. I really do like your sensible thinking though. It comes down to just this. I want the stereo to sound good.
Excellent video. Stand your ground. Be true to your knowledge and experience. No one should go in debt to enjoy music. At least, not to much debt. Our equipment should be bought for pleasure not bragging rites. If we get on that endless quest to get better and better equipment, we fool ourselves and buy right in to the trap of never being satisfied. And end up playing a game you can't win. I say get what you can afford and enjoy the vinyl.
I have a few vintage turntables, in my experience the heavier the plinth the better.
I don't even have a dedicated "perfect" listening room. I've just smacked the whole system up under the TV in my living-room. That's why I've spent some extra bucks on the design. You have to look at it every day. I cut out round pieces of plastic styrofoam (that came with a subwoofer package) put them under each leg of my glass shelf so that it made a nice isolation from floor vibrations. What I don't like is when people say that they got perfect sound when they bought speaker cables for 5000 dollars...I mean, we have got proffesionals for such behavior. Seek help.
I really appreciate your love & passion for vinyl ... I share that love.
I'm obviously one of those fussy people that has dedicated treated rooms and a very good systems (to my ears) Using Beer as an analogy, you know only to well that no two beers taste the same, and many beers will taste excellent, and many awful ... pretty much the same with Turntables, but you need a multitude of other things to be correct to allow the good differences to become apparent. I have two dedicated listening rooms (three if you count my recording studio) one is high end'ish analogue with Turntable, power Amps/preamp, phono preamp & large passive speakers, the other is high end mid field three way Active monitors, and I use super high resolution direct digital recordings bought or made in my studio. these will be 192kHz 24bit or DSD ... My analogue system sounds wonderful with that special vinyl sound. It has great resolution, low noise and pretty good dynamics. The Active Digital system is completely different. Being a recording engineer, I get to hear real instruments all the time, so when I hear a recording sounding extremely close to the original, I know something has to be right.
There's nothing wrong with having a budget, and we don't need to go "high end" to enjoy music or our hobby. But things have evolved my friend. If possible, please audition a real high end Turntable system ... maybe a high end digital one too ... things have progressed beyond that cold digital sound of yesteryear.
All systems sound better if you give them decent recordings ... sadly, most commercial recordings are not the best that can be achieved, but that's always been the case.
For a beginner or a person in the middle who can't spend the money your budget will determine what you can get or not get. If you can't afford a thousand dollar and up turntable your wallet will dictate what you need and what you don't. Most people don't care what audiophiles think or don't think and others are audiophiles that can spend thousands. What's best is what sounds good to you, not anyone else. This video is what the first video should have been. Good job here Craig and due diligence is your friend here.
Great video Craig, very good information. I bought a Yamaha P-250 direct drive automatic turntable at a thrift store a couple of years ago for $10. I was kinda of sceptical about buying something like that from a thrift store but for $10 I didn't have that much to lose. It played and still plays great. Someone took real good care of it. I'm cannot find online any info when this one was made, but it might be late '70s early '80s.
One thing to add to your discussion would be the age of the listener. As a person gets older, their hearing diminishes. Someone that is 18 years old might be able to notice the sound difference of different pieces of equipment that my 58 years old ears can't.
Even at a younger age most people can hear to about 18,000 hertz.
The only way to know where your hearing is at is to take a test. Ideally a professional test by an audiologist. A lot of older people have significant hearing loss in the upper frequencies. It is not unheard of for someone in their 40s to have hearing cut off at say 12K.
Yeah but what 18 year old do you guys know that has thousands of euro to spend on a stereo system..
I'm 61 years old and I can hear the frequency produced by an electronic dog "whistle", albeit not very loudly. I can also enjoy nuances in the recordings of my vinyl records that the average listener can't hear.
Well that's good for you if you think so I guess!
I spent more on my vinyl collection than i did my sound system so far and i say so far because I'm still collecting vinyl and plan on upgrading my living room set up and bedroom sound system. The turntable i have is an Audiotechnica LP120. The system in my living room 2 large North American Sound speakers a $400 Pioneer sound and video amp and thats just for my stereo set up. 90's Sony surround speakers with Ultra Linear sub woofer. A good modest sound system and good record player will yield an enjoyable listening experience for most.
I agree completely with you
Great points for the beginners to know and learn. Also, I love the music that you linked below and I would love to airplay it through the station in WV. Right now we are finalizing paperwork for the station but I will talk to the station owner soon.
I just picked up a fluance rt81 and it is pretty nice. Playing through a Sansui 7070 reciever and JBL model 4311's .....sounds damn near perfect for me!
A decent cart, holds speed and is reasonably isolated and you are good to go.
Even for extremely low end stereo systems a vibration free shelf will benefit your gears longevity. Vibrations are bad. Caps can leak sooner. Everything soldered to the old plastic boards that become brittle can disconnect. Solid is good. When you spend more on audio gear you will open yourself up to more music genres. Acoustic music sounds so much better over a higher end system
Right on. Great video. I’m in agreement with you. In fact I bought a Rega Planar 3 turntable earlier this year and I love it. However I still listen to many records on my Audio Technica at-lp120. I dunno, I think I just love the cartridge I put on that deck. ...its a Nagoaka mp110, an affordable cart ($130 US w/ headshell). I believe speakers and cartridges make the most noticeable differences in entry level systems. I think anyone getting into hi-fi stereo needs to gauge their components so all components are relative to one another. Myself, I am trying to upgrade over time. I’m playing the long game. I try to upgrade one major component every year. But for the average listener or even the experienced listener for that matter, you can be happy at any price point, really. Just gotta do your homework. I love watching your videos. Keep it up...take care.
I just wanted to say thank you I recently decided to sell my all in one player and get a dedicated turntable since I almost exclusively listen to vinyl so new to this I also need furniture to sit it on and I’m on a budget so having to buy things in parts to get the system I’ve decided on. Going with the Fluance RT85 decided to go with a vintage receiver because I wanted the receiver to look nice next to the turntable like you just looking to casually listen to music I’m very excited to get everything together still months before I can listen but it’s going to be exciting
I agree with you. I have a Audio Technica direct drive 120 turntable for three years hooked up to a 2 channel 100w stereo reciever + a Recotion amp. I love it Even if i had alot of money i wouldn't change anything.😊
Another great video, would love to see you do some reviews on drums , now that would be a good topic !!
Graig I did compare a cheaper turntable with my rega planar.
The cheaper one did sound good tones are good ofcourse but the better rega I use do give more depth greater soundstage. I did choose it of course. But I never speak bad about less quality equipment.
Friend of me says when I want to experience top quality I visite you and I enjoy it very much. But he says for me is a normal budget audioset good enough and when I'm at his house and listening to his set. I enjoy his set for what it brings I never poke him. Realy it doesn't sound bad for what the set is worth.
Great topic on this video cheers
thanks for this video filled with so much truth!