First Turntable. What Should I Purchase/Upgrade Next?

LSherro on 19/03/2023 - 18:17

Hey OzBargain, first time forum poster here.

I've always wanted to get myself a music Hi-Fi setup and about a month ago after putting it off for years, the Audio-Technica LP3XBT was on sale and I picked one up along side some JBL 104BT monitors.

Now, I'm not unhappy with my purchases at all, but, since I've bought this my research has lead me to realize just how expensive this hobby could become. I recently decided to try the Bluetooth on the speakers and compare a few songs I have on vinyl to the Spotify versions. Obviously its going to be different but I was shocked at how much more gain there was on the Spotify tracks.

I am well aware that the signal generated from the turntable is tiny, hence why there is the built in phono preamp. My question though is what should be my next bang for buck upgrade.

Thought so far are:
External pre-amp - ART DJPRE II (everyone on Reddit seems to froth this)
Cart/stylus - Was originally thinking about getting a Ortofon 2M Red but now thinking just replacing the stylus with the VMN95EN.
Speakers - Obvious option, I panic bought the JBL's (I was hungover at JB) thinking about Audioengine A5+. I'd ideally like the sound to fill the main room of my small apartment and not have to sit in front of the speakers all the time.

Would love some recommendations anyone has here. I've got a AIYIMA T2 currently on its way here, it was a drunk purchase and didn't read that it wasn't a phono stage so not sure if its going to help with much or make it worse.

Entertainment Turntable

Comments

  • eug on 19/03/2023 - 18:47
    +9

    My question though is what should be my next bang for buck upgrade.

    The biggest upgrade that the vast majority of vinyl users went for was to buy a CD player.

    Sorry, couldn't resist! ;) I do realise vinyl has a type of sound (and not just dynamics) that some people appreciate, much like how film photography has a type of look and is all about the experience of the process.

    • Benoffie on 19/03/2023 - 19:04
      +1

      I agree. I have an Audio Technica table and just bluetooth the LPs to a Yamaha speaker that I picked up cheap. Is it something that an audiophile would wet themselves over? No. Is it better than sitting on the floor with my dad's old headphones jacked into the turntable or speakers a metre high? Absolutely.

      For me, if OP is enjoying the set up sub $1000, that's happy days. There's a point where honestly, I'm really not sure the average person could hear the difference between one record and the next. I certainly can't, heathen that I am.

      Now, between record to CD and then those to digital? Sure.

    • afoveht on 19/03/2023 - 19:17

      Obviously not what the OP wants to hear, but good suggestion if OP's true desire is

      Hi-Fi setup

      in it's contemporary sense, not 1980s sense.

    • PVA on 19/03/2023 - 19:40

      Completely agree.

  • Carussell on 19/03/2023 - 19:11

    PROject Debut Pro turntable
    Ortofon 2M Blue MM
    Yamaha s701 stereo amp
    Paradigm Monitor se8000

    Sounds so sweet

    • Sherro on 20/03/2023 - 09:09

      Those speakers are a fair bit out of my price range right now lol

  • DemocracyManifest on 19/03/2023 - 19:13
    +1

    The best sound will come from an older amp and speakers to match. It’s not about what’s on Spotify, it’s hearing different mixes and versions of the tracks. A lot of stuff on Spotify and that was re-released is almost unrecognisable

    • afoveht on 19/03/2023 - 19:36
      +1

      Not nocking vinyl, whatever floats anyone's boat - just call it what it is and not what you imagine it to be.

      But how do you come up with any of this?

      • DemocracyManifest on 20/03/2023 - 18:33

        What do you mean lol? The remasters and mixes have changed the sound heaps plus combined with the noise wars. Listen to a needledrop flac of a original release to a re-release later on CD or straight to web and you will hear the difference

        • afoveht on 24/03/2023 - 23:47

          needledrop flac

          Also not sure what you think I'll get out of that test without the 80s amp and speakers?

          If you're telling me vinyl and old HiFi gear distorts sound, sometimes pleasingly, you have no objection from me. (I love distortion in the right music). is that really HiFi? is that the best?

  • mackaxx on 19/03/2023 - 19:36

    Pre amp you have nominated is a good choice and has a few setting to tweak for you cartridge. Disagree you should have an older amp to benefit and the amp you like is kinda up to you anyway. Go to the hi fi shop and listen to them all if you can, bringing in your speakers. To that end, do you have a man actual amplifier ? I didn’t see it listed above and your pre amp won’t power speakers

    I wouldn’t bother switching to the Ortofon from that vm95. The VM series has some much cheaper stylus upgrade options vs the Ortofons. Compare for instance the cost of a shibata or microline in the AT line vs ortofons equivalent… only advantage of the Ortofon would be for low mass tonearms. The VM95s suck if you have too light a tonearm .

    • Sherro on 20/03/2023 - 09:00

      Yeah main reason I ordered the T2 was to tweak the output a bit more and to see if I liked the sound tubes created. If I was to get an external phono preamp, would connecting preamp to preamp work?
      No actual amp, speakers are active but maybe down the track I'll find a decent second hand one and switch to passive.

      I was thinking there wasn't much point going to the Ortofon, probably better/cheaper to get a new stylus for the cart I already have.

      • mackaxx on 22/03/2023 - 08:27

        Pre amp to pre amp not a good idea.if you can’t turn off your turntables preamp then nothing can really do other than delve into the turntables guts and bypass it.

  • AustriaBargain on 19/03/2023 - 22:10

    Audioengine A5+

    If budget party speakers you do seek, you can probably do better than that.

    • Sherro on 20/03/2023 - 09:04

      Not really after loud speakers really. Just ones that aren't really for close up critical listening.

  • sumyungguy on 19/03/2023 - 23:15

    What musical genres do you prefer? You'll need a 2-channel amp and a speaker upgrade to get anywhere near hi-fi, like @Carussell

    • Sherro on 20/03/2023 - 09:06

      I tend to gravitate towards female vocals but really anything from jazz, folk, pop, country, punk, rock.

  • cheese-crackers on 20/03/2023 - 10:42

    I wouldn't worry too much about upgrading your table or stylus at this point. Keep an eye on marketplace for some speakers and an amp would be my suggestion - good speakers and amp will make the world of difference. In the Brisbane area I see people offloading great speakers for less than $100 almost weekly.

    • cheese-crackers on 20/03/2023 - 10:43

      Oh, and ignore the bluetooth option. Wired to amp/speakers is going to be much better.

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