Rega Audio

Soundsmiths were the dealers for a while but not anymore.
Dont know if there is anyone currently.
Jeeves

Isn't Sound & Vision Hi-Fi also a Rega dealer?

particleman schrieb:

Isn't Sound & Vision Hi-Fi also a Rega dealer?

No !

Cyrus
Ecosse
W/B
I think, SNV add some more.......please !

YEs, even I've been looking out for a nice Rega TT. sadly noone here now.

Shahrukh schrieb:

YEs, even I've been looking out for a nice Rega TT. sadly noone here now. :(

You could look @ Project ? Option to consider.........
Great Value products;

bhagwan69 schrieb:

You could look @ Project ? Option to consider......... Great Value products;

Yes Bhagwan, I AM looking at ProJect and the used market. Sadly ProJect is the only brand there is for my extremely modest budget.

I just wish I had other options like a Rega or a Music Hall here. They say the NAD TT design is borrowed from Rega's. Wonder how good it'll be.

Used is OK ?
There is a VPI for sale @ 50 % off. Our Forum member has 1. Satyam. p.m. him for details. I think it is a scoutmaster - not sure.
I would not recommend NAD.

I'm aware of this. Satyam told me about it at your place the last time. The Scoutmaster, I believe, is a very good turntable. I don't think I have the associated equipment to justify its performance.

Shahrukh,

I believe that some models of Music Hall are re-badged Projects. If you can live with slight agricultural looks of the Project RPM series you will be enjoying good vinyl playback.
Regards
Ani

So I've heard, Ani. I don't quite mind the looks of the ProJEct tables.

Shahrukh, how / where do you plan to get the software to use any TT ?

Internet !
Where else, it comes by post - no duty.

WOW !

Total the International price with the HUGE Shipping ( LPs are HEAVY ! ) and each LP will cost a BOMB !

Also the risk of breakage in transport...

Put that all together and it just does not gel (IMHO) for a budget user, who is looking for a low cost Turntable... No ?

You can get lots of used LP's here in India. The price varies from Rs100 to 250-300 for imported ones

Most of the imported are NOS cleared from wharehouses in Singapore etc.

Ani

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Put that all together and it just does not gel (IMHO) for a budget user, who is looking for a low cost Turntable... No ? :?

Used LP's are the way to go;
There is no risk to messing up your cartridge.

For 'Budget' guys the best option is CD's
LP's are not 'Budget'
Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage etc. etc.
The cost will surely go up.

The LP is only good when you want to do 'ultra high end'
The best CD Player cannot beat the top 15 % TT's
[please do no pelt me - digital lovers i.e.]

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Shahrukh, how / where do you plan to get the software to use any TT ?

AN, I've been collecting vinyl for some time now. And last year, I inherited a very decent jazz LP collection from someone who had passed on. So software shouldn't be so much of an issue. Plus, there's always the net for newer releases.

You can get lots of used LP's here in India. The price varies from Rs100 to 250-300 for imported ones Most of the imported are NOS cleared from wharehouses in Singapore etc.

Ani, you must tell me where this is available.

Used LP's are the way to go; There is no risk to messing up your cartridge. For 'Budget' guys the best option is CD's LP's are not 'Budget' Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage etc. etc. The cost will surely go up. The LP is only good when you want to do 'ultra high end' The best CD Player cannot beat the top 15 % TT's [please do no pelt me - digital lovers i.e.]

Well Bhagwan, sir, I agree and I disagree. While yes, I agree that used LP's are the way to go; I disagree with the fact The LP is only good when you want to do 'ultra high end'. I personally feel it's a matter of taste. I have heard TTs in the sub 50k category and they DO sound amazing. Sure a multi lakh player will sound better but that doesn't mean the budget user will not be able to enjoy the full potential of his TT.

To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... (software is the only problem).

Aah... I wouldn't go that far...!!

Shahrukh schrieb:

Aah... I wouldn't go that far...!! :)

I have atleast done the A/B between a 15k TT and 100k CDP and the TT won hands down...so I am betting on a 200k CDP as well .

abhi.pani schrieb:

To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... l (software is the only problem).

Hello Abhi !

I would love to take this further - however, we stay in different cities;
I will get you 2 CD Playes - 200/- K INR [each] & you get the TT of your choice - 20/- K INR & we will do a shoot out. We could invite 5 / 7 forum members to 'evaluate'
3 of my choice & 3 of your choice & Manek too as the 7th person.
The results would be rather interesting.
BTW the 20 K on the TT should include the Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage.
The Cable & Pre Amplifier shall remain common on both set ups.

bhagwan69 schrieb:

abhi.pani schrieb: To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... l (software is the only problem). Hello Abhi ! I would love to take this further - however, we stay in different cities; I will get you 2 CD Playes - 200/- K INR [each] & you get the TT of your choice - 20/- K INR & we will do a shoot out. We could invite 5 / 7 forum members to 'evaluate' 3 of my choice & 3 of your choice & Manek too as the 7th person. The results would be rather interesting. BTW the 20 K on the TT should include the Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage. The Cable & Pre Amplifier shall remain common on both set ups.

Sounds interesting!

Alright, my curiousity was piqued and now it has peaked! I would love to know more about the 20K TT as well (make & model) please. I am especially curious because I was wondering whether this is worth 30k:
NEWS: Cambridge Audio TT50 turntable available now for £350

The Debut III should be available for under 20k. Arm, TT. cart and all!!

bhagwan69 schrieb:

abhi.pani schrieb: To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... l (software is the only problem). Hello Abhi ! I would love to take this further - however, we stay in different cities; I will get you 2 CD Playes - 200/- K INR [each] & you get the TT of your choice - 20/- K INR & we will do a shoot out. We could invite 5 / 7 forum members to 'evaluate' 3 of my choice & 3 of your choice & Manek too as the 7th person. The results would be rather interesting. BTW the 20 K on the TT should include the Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage. The Cable & Pre Amplifier shall remain common on both set ups.

Interesting.... .
Ok...lets see how can we make it possible (as we stay in different cities).
But I would need a bit more liberty here..the phono stage used when we did the TT Vs CDP shootout was in built within the amp...a Denon PMA-2000. So I cannot accomodate the phonostage within 20k . But I suppose we can use a decent amp which has phonostage in built..what say ?

but how do we do it...aap wahan aur hum yahan. .
BTW, have you ever got the opprtunity to conduct this kind A/B between CDP and TT ??

particleman schrieb:

Alright, my curiousity was piqued and now it has peaked! I would love to know more about the 20K TT as well (make & model) please. I am especially curious because I was wondering whether this is worth 30k: NEWS: Cambridge Audio TT50 turntable available now for £350

Very pro-jectish to say the least!!

bhagwan69 schrieb:

abhi.pani schrieb: To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... l (software is the only problem). Hello Abhi ! I would love to take this further - however, we stay in different cities; I will get you 2 CD Playes - 200/- K INR [each] & you get the TT of your choice - 20/- K INR & we will do a shoot out. We could invite 5 / 7 forum members to 'evaluate' 3 of my choice & 3 of your choice & Manek too as the 7th person. The results would be rather interesting. BTW the 20 K on the TT should include the Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage. The Cable & Pre Amplifier shall remain common on both set ups.

will this end up like the dynaudio 1.3 se shootout.....

ani said :

You can get lots of used LP's here in India. The price varies from Rs100 to 250-300 for imported ones Most of the imported are NOS cleared from wharehouses in Singapore etc.

Hi Ani,

Can you provide me specific details ot where NOS LPs can be bought in India for less than Rs 400 each ?

This could put in in the groove ! ( Pun Intended )

square_wave schrieb:

bhagwan69 schrieb: abhi.pani schrieb: To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... l (software is the only problem). Hello Abhi ! I would love to take this further - however, we stay in different cities; I will get you 2 CD Playes - 200/- K INR [each] & you get the TT of your choice - 20/- K INR & we will do a shoot out. We could invite 5 / 7 forum members to 'evaluate' 3 of my choice & 3 of your choice & Manek too as the 7th person. The results would be rather interesting. BTW the 20 K on the TT should include the Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage. The Cable & Pre Amplifier shall remain common on both set ups. will this end up like the dynaudio 1.3 se shootout..... 8)

I didnt know you wanted it so badly..

Shahrukh schrieb:

The Debut III should be available for under 20k. Arm, TT. cart and all!!

Many thanks for bringing this to my attention, Shahrukh! Really appreciate it. I would have foolishly looked elsewhere and wasted my money. I will try to collect LPs over the next 8-10 months and then go in for something like this.

Particleman, while the Debut is great for the money, I'd suggest u listen to the Expression and the RPM 5. Much better (albeit pricier) options!

bhagwan69 schrieb:

abhi.pani schrieb: To me...a 20k TT beats a 200k CDP... l (software is the only problem). Hello Abhi ! I would love to take this further - however, we stay in different cities; I will get you 2 CD Playes - 200/- K INR [each] & you get the TT of your choice - 20/- K INR & we will do a shoot out. We could invite 5 / 7 forum members to 'evaluate' 3 of my choice & 3 of your choice & Manek too as the 7th person. The results would be rather interesting. BTW the 20 K on the TT should include the Table + Arm + Cartridge + Phono Stage. The Cable & Pre Amplifier shall remain common on both set ups.

IMHO This will be more a preference thing than an accuracy thing !

There is no way a telarc or chesky cd playing on a 200k cd player will be beaten by a 20K TT playing the same LP in a high-end setup. If it is a fully tweaked Linn LP12 or something similar it is a different story altogether.

So much talk of the Turn table, and not a word about the Cartridge ?

The CARTRIDGE is what generates the sound.

The Tone Arm and the TT play supporting roles, trying their best not to add colorations to the cartridge...

THEN there is the RIAA ( Phono Input ) Pre .....

The TT and the tone arm are actually mereley supporting partners. The music comes from the cartridge ( yeah, and the Record ! )

Rs 20K on the TT and Rs 2 K for the cartridge...

BTW, have you ever got the opprtunity to conduct this kind A/B between CDP and TT ??

I am not so sure;

Have done Meridian 808 / vdH
SME 30 / Teac P70 + D=70
Cobra [full set] / Teac P3 & D3
Vyeger / Audia [Flight]
I am sure if I think hard, I will find many more;

However, the case in point is US $'s 500/- TT against a US $'s 5,000/- CD Player.
Now that has never been attempted.

Another small clarification - If I may - the rest of the reproduction chain [Pre + Power + Speakers + Cables] should have the ability to play to a level that can 'show the difference' That is very very important.
If you put a 5 K US $ CD Player in a 1 K Pre / Power [each] & 1 K Speaker, then the CD PLayers ability will never be tested.
The seperation / layering / purity of tone / bass [speed and accuracy] midband opensess etc. etc.

Abhi - forget this, it may never happen. When ever you get the chance, do several listening tests in different set ups. You for your self will know what the differences are. Trust me, the TT is a great product. A 5 K US $ TT will give many 15 K US $ CD Players a run for the money - sure, but 500 $ TT SET UP - I am not so sure.....

There is a guy named Mr. Raja in Cochin he is from chennai, who gets lots of Lps for me, pls PM me for details. He claims to have a shop in chennai too.

The TT vs CD discussion is getting hot, I would like to pour more oil into it.

1) Rs.20k TT beating a good CDP would be great news !!

2) From my limited experience a decent TT setup that can beat a CDP of the same price level starts somewhere from Rs90k plus

3) The equation tilts in favour of CDP in the Rs 200-300k range.

4) Rs.500k range I havent heard a TT setup


To me TT Vs CDP it is all what you want to hear not what is being played !!

Regards
Ani

Thanks ani for the info on Raja.

However, since I rarely visit Chennai, I guess there are no practical implications for me. ... Sad.

Dear Ampnutji,

There must be guys in Mumbai dealing in old LP's, assuming so because it is the commercial hub of India.

I think if we can spread the word around may hidden treasures can be unearthed.

Internet is not the right place, majority of the crowd is too young to own LP's

I have found that old members of premium clubs of town very helpful in this regard

regards
Anil

There is this ONE guy somewheer in VT...

Shahrukh schrieb:

There is this ONE guy somewheer in VT...

Hey, I've heard of this guy from many people too - he is "world famous"! I have scoured the length and breadth of D.N. Road with no success. Actually it was my friend who was keen on it as he had a TT back then. We did find a guy near "Computer Bookshop" but it was a modest collection on a cart like other sellers there. If memory serves he was charging around 400 or so for some. Is that the guy you meant, Shahrukh?

Like you, even I haven't really seen the guy. But I believe he's somewhere near McDonald's. And yes, he's supposed to have this H U G E collection. His name is Imran Bhai or Mushtaq bhai or something!

Amp_Nut schrieb:

So much talk of the Turn table, and not a word about the Cartridge ? The CARTRIDGE is what generates the sound. The Tone Arm and the TT play supporting roles, trying their best not to add colorations to the cartridge... THEN there is the RIAA ( Phono Input ) Pre ..... The TT and the tone arm are actually mereley supporting partners. The music comes from the cartridge ( yeah, and the Record ! ) Rs 20K on the TT and Rs 2 K for the cartridge... :.

Sir, I have heard two schools of thought here. One says that the cart and tonearm are everything. Another says that the actual TT is the most important. Arm, cart, RIAA are all secondary.

True ...,. Just as you will have opinions that :

1. The Source Is The Most Important ( a-la-LINN, in their TT era, I dont know if they trumpet the same tune now that they make amps & speakers too )

2. The Amplification Is The most important

3. The Speakers are the MOST Important, because they have the widest range of tonal presentations ( Colourations ) and the source of the Highest distortion in the Hi Fi Chain.

.
.
.
.
Oops ! Almost forgot .... The ROOM !

The point is that its the entire chain that counts, and typically, when a TT is sold, the cheapest ? cartridge is bundled with it... if bundled at all ...

Change the cartridge and it will CERTAINLY change the sound / tonal characteristics to a greater degree than a change in the Turntable, for the same money spent in the change / upgrade....

AN Ji. that is precisely the reason which has always scared me most about LPs..of course availability of music i like on LPs, their maintainance and the sheer space they could occuppy are others.
more no of moving parts means more possibility for upgrades`
I am having enough problems with a transport-Dac-Int Amp-Speaker already.

Ani has made a very moot point. for those who already have a collection of LPs it does make sense to get into it.

maybe someday i will get a great deal on used LPs and then might think of venturing into analogue as well

About Linn.. as you mention their "Source is most important" is a quote often misquoted . these days the more pragmatic opinion is your weakest link is the most important..of course Identifying that link is a problem in itself for most of us

Arj schrieb:

..of course Identifying that link is a problem in itself for most of us ;)

Not so. In my case it is clearly my wallet! Sorry, carry on, good people.

Hi all,
Overall balance is what makes a system play music.

TT+Arm+Cartridge+Phonostage is what we can call as a Vinyl source.

Total cost of above has to be considered when comparing the same to CDP.

Dont forget the space needed to store and the vacuum cleaning machine and time needed to clean them once in while

Regards
Anil

particleman said:

Not so. In my case it is clearly my wallet! Sorry, carry on, good people.

Super ... a VERY REAL Problem for Most of us

While on this topic, I wanted to share...

A couple of years ago, I took home a CEC Belt Drive CD Transport for a home audition.

What engaged me was the ceremony required ... Slide open the Top Loading copartment, remove and refit the CD Puck and close the door dor, before the CD spins up ( and being able to see the CD spin away.

Reminded me of mt TT days.... and brought back romantic nostalgia.... That is an Extra element that Records privide over CDs.

Its like being part of a tea ceremony, rather than gulping down tea served in a cup....

Vinyl still has a romantic charm to it for me, not to mention the radically different sound possible by just changing the cartridge...


P.S: I did not keep the CEC Transport
( It would not read CDRs, since it was from a pre-CDR audio disc era.)

I guess the time one dedicates to it is half the romance of the format!!