I have to get me some of these. Listening to vinyl is such a different experience.

First I'll just have to buy a record player. Any recommendations? People say Technics and Pioneer are good, but I have no idea.

If this is your first record player, I would suggest this:

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=debut&cat=turntables&lang=en

I have one. It's better quality than any player from a "name brand" that you would find on the shelf today. I've seen Sony's $99 player recently and it looks like a $99 piece of shit. I would suspect that since demand is so low for turntables that each mfgr likely outsources and I would expect the quality to be suspect at best.

Other things to consider are the components you will run it through. Unless you have a power amp from the 70's possibly 80's, it likely doesn't have a phono stage. Phono output is very low and needs a boost. Old amps used to accomodate for it, now that anyone only uses Ipods, they don't build phono pre-amps into the recievers. You need to pick up a phono pre-amp. If you are running an average system, I wouldn't spend too much on one. You can pay between $50 - $5000+ for phono pre-amps.

Everything is relative with record players. Tone arms, stylus', platter composition, placement in an audio stand etc. all affect the sound. You can spend tens of thousands on record players if you are so inclined. However, a few hundred should get you a better than average turntable that will last for a long long time.

If this is your first record player, I would suggest this:

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=debut&cat=turntables&lang=en

I have one. It's better quality than any player from a "name brand" that you would find on the shelf today. I've seen Sony's $99 player recently and it looks like a $99 piece of shit. I would suspect that since demand is so low for turntables that each mfgr likely outsources and I would expect the quality to be suspect at best.

Other things to consider are the components you will run it through. Unless you have a power amp from the 70's possibly 80's, it likely doesn't have a phono stage. Phono output is very low and needs a boost. Old amps used to accomodate for it, now that anyone only uses Ipods, they don't build phono pre-amps into the recievers. You need to pick up a phono pre-amp. If you are running an average system, I wouldn't spend too much on one. You can pay between $50 - $5000+ for phono pre-amps.

Ok, that one definitely seems interesting. At 300€, it's a bit more expensive than my budget would like, but I'll keep it in mind. I was hoping to find some used one from the 80's for 50-100€.

My amp is a pretty decent one from about 10 years ago. It has a phono input, so I guess I won't need another, separate amp?

If this is your first record player, I would suggest this:

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=debut&cat=turntables&lang=en

I have one. It's better quality than any player from a "name brand" that you would find on the shelf today. I've seen Sony's $99 player recently and it looks like a $99 piece of shit. I would suspect that since demand is so low for turntables that each mfgr likely outsources and I would expect the quality to be suspect at best.

Other things to consider are the components you will run it through. Unless you have a power amp from the 70's possibly 80's, it likely doesn't have a phono stage. Phono output is very low and needs a boost. Old amps used to accomodate for it, now that anyone only uses Ipods, they don't build phono pre-amps into the recievers. You need to pick up a phono pre-amp. If you are running an average system, I wouldn't spend too much on one. You can pay between $50 - $5000+ for phono pre-amps.

Ok, that one definitely seems interesting. At 300€, it's a bit more expensive than my budget would like, but I'll keep it in mind. I was hoping to find some used one from the 80's for 50-100€.

My amp is a pretty decent one from about 10 years ago. It has a phono input, so I guess I won't need another, separate amp?

Used is always an option but you are dealing with motors, belts, stylus' etc. I would caution you to not pay more than you could spend to rebuild it. There is always a chance the motor could be weak, the stylus could be damaged, etc. If you can enlist an older person that has experience it would be wise. Your amp may have a phono preamp built in but I doubt it. Most amps from the 90's just had a phono channel (ie. an input labeled phono so a person who was used to vinyl and upgrading to digital technology knew what button to press on the front to hear records) that still required a preamp to boost the signal. Soon after, on mass produced amps the input switched to Aux and today to MP3/Ipod.

If it is in your budget, a used amp may be another way to go. It will keep the signal chain simple and "classic". An amp that would do the job possibly more adequately than your current amp, thus saving you purchasing a preamp, shouldn't run more than $100 used. Even crappy "off brand" amps from the 70's can sound better than today's "cost rationing" degraded electronics.

My advice would be to purchase a record (gently used is fine) and go to a high end equipment store. Auditioning equipment is the only way to learn. Understanding that there will be a significant difference between an lp played back on a $20 000 system and an ipod on an alarm clock, you can allocate your budget accordingly. People that spend that kind of $ on a stereo system will try to convince you that it is necessary but you would be surprised what you could pull off using a few hundred bucks and some pawn shops.

Used is always an option but you are dealing with motors, belts, stylus' etc. I would caution you to not pay more than you could spend to rebuild it. There is always a chance the motor could be weak, the stylus could be damaged, etc. If you can enlist an older person that has experience it would be wise. Your amp may have a phono preamp built in but I doubt it. Most amps from the 90's just had a phono channel (ie. an input labeled phono so a person who was used to vinyl and upgrading to digital technology knew what button to press on the front to hear records) that still required a preamp to boost the signal. Soon after, on mass produced amps the input switched to Aux and today to MP3/Ipod.

Ok, I guess my amp doesn't have a separate preamp curcuit for the phono input. The phono channel consists of the RCA inputs and also a ground connector. But the amp (far from the cheapest shit at the time) does sound great for CD's, so there's no way I'm replacing it.

I could consider a separate preamp, but why, exactly, do I even need it? The phono input implements the necessary frequency equalisation, and my amp should easily have enough power to drive the speakers loud enough...

you would be surprised what you could pull off using a few hundred bucks and some pawn shops.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I've gotten the rest of my stereo gear so far.

EDIT: The specs of the amp say that the sensitivity of the phono input is 2.5 mV, compared to 200 mV for the other channels, so there's certainly some preamping going on, even if the word "preamp" is not explicitly mentioned. I should be good to go, then, right?

Vinyls + Devin = pure epic awesomeness
i searched the whole web for townsend vinyls bout didnt find anything...i was thinkin bout letting them press by a little factory in china...which would have cost me a fortune...but now....i feel like the world stopped turning for a moment

Used is always an option but you are dealing with motors, belts, stylus' etc. I would caution you to not pay more than you could spend to rebuild it. There is always a chance the motor could be weak, the stylus could be damaged, etc. If you can enlist an older person that has experience it would be wise. Your amp may have a phono preamp built in but I doubt it. Most amps from the 90's just had a phono channel (ie. an input labeled phono so a person who was used to vinyl and upgrading to digital technology knew what button to press on the front to hear records) that still required a preamp to boost the signal. Soon after, on mass produced amps the input switched to Aux and today to MP3/Ipod.

Ok, I guess my amp doesn't have a separate preamp curcuit for the phono input. The phono channel consists of the RCA inputs and also a ground connector. But the amp (far from the cheapest shit at the time) does sound great for CD's, so there's no way I'm replacing it.

I could consider a separate preamp, but why, exactly, do I even need it? The phono input implements the necessary frequency equalisation, and my amp should easily have enough power to drive the speakers loud enough...

you would be surprised what you could pull off using a few hundred bucks and some pawn shops.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I've gotten the rest of my stereo gear so far.

EDIT: The specs of the amp say that the sensitivity of the phono input is 2.5 mV, compared to 200 mV for the other channels, so there's certainly some preamping going on, even if the word "preamp" is not explicitly mentioned. I should be good to go, then, right?

Well, the best way to find out is to try it. I can't elaborate on the mV ratings as it is beyond me. Worst case scenario, you will need to pickup a preamp. Best case, you won't. If you are adamant that you are keeping your current power amp, those are your only options. As I said before, a preamp can be purchased new from anywhere between $50 and $5000+. It won't be an expensive addition should it be required. However, I've been told (and I tend to believe it as I have auditioned varying qualities of preamps) that the preamp is the 2nd most important factor in your signal chain after the stylus. Something that I've always thought was a great idea was this:
http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=phonoboxusb&cat=boxes&lang=en
It will allow you to have a decent turntable and still digitize the record. I wouldn't buy a usb turntable. I have .flac's of some half-speed masters and audiophile pressings of albums that sound far superior to their CD counterpart.

I especially enjoy scouring pawn shops for speakers. If it is a place that specializes in gold, sometimes, you can find a real bargain on some amazing speakers. Friends of mine have pulled out classic PSB's Missions etc. for next to nothing.

Awesomeness!!!! Terria and Ocean machine on Vinyl... just as a taster b4 the remainder of the catalogue... hangoe just going to get sme tissues..............

I got one of the 500 Alien Records to come out on vinyl... and its nice thick blue vinyl too hand numbered...

Plus Opeths 'Ghost Reveries" a great album on vinyl!! Amongst otheres that is so far my favourite... tho terria will quickly surpass it for me...

In terms of a player for it.. well i got one.. it aint greeat but it works... tho i dont think i'll ever play them anyway considering i have em on CD already... more of a collector item yes?

Awesomeness!!!! Terria and Ocean machine on Vinyl... just as a taster b4 the remainder of the catalogue... hangoe just going to get sme tissues..............

I got one of the 500 Alien Records to come out on vinyl... and its nice thick blue vinyl too hand numbered...

Plus Opeths 'Ghost Reveries" a great album on vinyl!! Amongst otheres that is so far my favourite... tho terria will quickly surpass it for me...

In terms of a player for it.. well i got one.. it aint greeat but it works... tho i dont think i'll ever play them anyway considering i have em on CD already... more of a collector item yes?

Not for me. I'm getting these with the hopes they'll improve upon the spotty recording quality of some of Dev's albums.

hmmm. depends 'how' they make these vinyl...

are they cutting direct from an uncompressed format..... or are they just ripping CD's to Vinyl?? As i believe the Alien Vinyl was just that; a digital format cut to vinyl.. therefore nothing better than the CD just it was on vinyl and there were only 500 of em.

if it is true analogue (allas; terria wasnt recorded on tape was it??) then it will sound better. But if just a cut from the CD nothing gained except a bigger booklet... something shiny to show off.. and something awesome to add to the collection.

I agree that Devs music demands more than CD quality.. and will buy these vinyl releases.. tho I just hope it is put on vinyl in vinyls true fashion... unlike the alien record i got... even though i love that i have it.

hmmm. depends 'how' they make these vinyl...

are they cutting direct from an uncompressed format..... or are they just ripping CD's to Vinyl?? As i believe the Alien Vinyl was just that; a digital format cut to vinyl.. therefore nothing better than the CD just it was on vinyl and there were only 500 of em.

if it is true analogue (allas; terria wasnt recorded on tape was it??) then it will sound better. But if just a cut from the CD nothing gained except a bigger booklet... something shiny to show off.. and something awesome to add to the collection.

I agree that Devs music demands more than CD quality.. and will buy these vinyl releases.. tho I just hope it is put on vinyl in vinyls true fashion... unlike the alien record i got... even though i love that i have it.

indeed, this was the issue i brought up earlier in the thread. i've got fingers crossed that Dev is aware of the issue and is considering going back to properly create a vinyl master for the albums; he surely recorded everything at 24/96 from the tapes (assuming he used tapes pre-Terria, at least) or the direct sources, so there's plenty of bit depth and the sample rate is high enough to warrant putting on vinyl.

a remastered CD rip does not make a good vinyl listen, that's for sure.

Holy...WOW!

I'll be getting these for certain!

hmmm. depends 'how' they make these vinyl...

are they cutting direct from an uncompressed format..... or are they just ripping CD's to Vinyl?? As i believe the Alien Vinyl was just that; a digital format cut to vinyl.. therefore nothing better than the CD just it was on vinyl and there were only 500 of em.

if it is true analogue (allas; terria wasnt recorded on tape was it??) then it will sound better. But if just a cut from the CD nothing gained except a bigger booklet... something shiny to show off.. and something awesome to add to the collection.

I agree that Devs music demands more than CD quality.. and will buy these vinyl releases.. tho I just hope it is put on vinyl in vinyls true fashion... unlike the alien record i got... even though i love that i have it.

indeed, this was the issue i brought up earlier in the thread. i've got fingers crossed that Dev is aware of the issue and is considering going back to properly create a vinyl master for the albums; he surely recorded everything at 24/96 from the tapes (assuming he used tapes pre-Terria, at least) or the direct sources, so there's plenty of bit depth and the sample rate is high enough to warrant putting on vinyl.

a remastered CD rip does not make a good vinyl listen, that's for sure.

in total agreeance...

but no matter what way its done... i'll buy them anyway im a sucker for large formats...

Anybody heard any recent updates about any of them vinyls ?

No.

I found this yesterday but for some reason I couldn't connect to the forums:

http://www.cmdistro.com/Item/Strapping_ ... Set-/33147



City, Strapping Young Lad's amazing album is now in a very limited box set.
Each album comes in one solid box including:

A limited LP version of the album on 180g vinyl in full color sleeve and printed inner sleeve.
A band t-shirt in size large
The latest CD version of the album in plastic sleeve.

I'll be ordering it ASAP as long as it doesn't cost anymore than 40-50€ (seems already a little expensive but I don't have this album aside for a promo copy in cardboard sleeve and a t-shirt would be great).