Bayou

There's tons of media (vinyl LPs) available for a turntable, almost none for a reel to reel tape recorder. Perhaps the original AR XA table would be a good choice.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like my comfort zone, but I also like a challenge. When I encounter a problem, I stick with it until I resolve it, or I realize there is no solution. Fortunately, since I retired, I have time to waste.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I too have a large collection of vinyl. Some are in good condition some not so. Jazz, broadway shows,folk, etc

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

I am also interested, pm me the same info

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

I don't know why you can't have both? I had an amp, receiver, equalizer, turntable, reel-to-reel, cd player. and cassette deck in the system I had before we moved. It also had 4 speaker cabinets and an amplified bass speaker.

will

Canisdirus

I don't know...I gave all of that away years ago to a neighbor...thousands of lp's...and two stereo systems.

I don't keep things much as I go through life...it's all very temporary...like me.

LP's are big again...not reel to reel's.

But if you are going for looks (many do)...reel to reel...nothing tops that visually.

I've since built a few systems...all digital...all amazingly low cost...the fun was in the research to find the right marriage.

The new digital is amazing...not unlike photography lenses...vintage means...very different design complexity and performance.

analogman

Gentlemen, the results are in and the turn table has won. The acquisition of a turn table will lead me down a perilous journey for which I have no idea of it's completion. Should any you care to share in the journey of just talk about audio systems feel free to contact me at: dlender2@aol.COM. Your input has been gratefully acceoted.

Good day,analogman

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

We have a local guy who collects and sells LPs. He puts signs up on the roads when there are more people in the area - holidays and long weekends. It's such a finicky market, though. If the guy has a red guitar, the album is worth $1 million. If he has a blue guitar, no one wants it. I never got involved with that.

Enrico Verdi Loc: Sand Brook, NJ

Owned a few Revox R2Rs and dumped them 15 years ago. It's become difficult/expensive to source tape.
Only reason I can think of to refurbish/keep the revox is that you have a load of tapes or plan to do more taping.

I resisted the big leap to digital, but, seriously, it really works. Can do studio quality recordings with a laptop provided you have mics, preamps etc.

Go with a TT. Just my opinion. May be totally without merit!

Good Luck

Tote1940 Loc: Dallas

Love that Shure V15 , have MR version, now on second JICO stylus. Bought second after 2k hours, old one still may be OK but who knows
My set up started with Dual 1219 but idler developed a flat, same cartridge Onkyo direct drive but never able to properly align cartridge, arm too long
Couple of years ago Pro ject turntable with Sumiko MM. hated sound too harsh no bass, back to Shure.
My LPs date back to early 50s , now raiding Antique shops, roughly 2000 mostly Opera but many gendres
Burn to CD then to Mac Music as Apple loss less , probably this is heresy but so convenient to have over 3500 CDs and LPs like in giant jukebox
Highly recommend getting a good turntable, a disc washing setup and hitting used LP stores and antique shops
Never did reel to reel but a good CD burner I think more convenient. Not advocating MP3 captures although to my over 80 year ears limited well below 10Khz they sound pretty much the same
Also the pleasure of handling librettos in full 12” print is amazing
Best recordings to my ears late 60’s , most gorgeous packaging of LPs early 60s . Have one even with score!
Good luck and lots of fun

Tote1940 Loc: Dallas

Addendum Stand alone CD burners are pretty scarce nowadays.

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

You should be able to digitalize any LP with that set up.

Tote1940 Loc: Dallas

Yes!
45’s also , next need to get set up for 78’s

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I second the turntable

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Warning - I’m going to utter some audiophile blasphemy here. If you like the particular sound of LPs or have a big collection and aren’t bothered by the noise and inevitable pops and clicks (no mater how careful you are) and/or want to recreate a classic stereo system, then pick up something like a Thorens turntable and a Shure V15 III or IV. Get a Diskwasher, a Staticmaster brush (the one with the Polonium source) a turntable weight (to hold the LP flat) and add a Dbx 3BX expander set at 1.2 expansion to fix the dynamic range. If you want a wider sound stage, you can add a Carver Sonic Hologram generator. There are even devices to remove scratches electronically that actually work, at least on big scratches, such as the Burwen/KLH noise reducer.

But, if you want the best sound possible and an unlimited library for the least amount of money, get an external DAC for your laptop or tablet and sign up for Apple’s lossless music service. The DAC doesn’t need to cost much - I use a $199 THX Onyx USB plug in with a 3.5mm headphone Jack output which you can use to drive your amp/preamp or headphones directly - looks like a thumb drive. Apple’s lossless service costs $11.95-$16.95/month depending on how many members you sign up. It has literally millions of albums and individual cuts, many of which have been remastered and digitized from the original master. You’d be hard pressed to think of anything it doesn’t have available of any music genre. And the quality is as good as it gets. This is not MP3 - it’s CD/SACD quality. I’ve A-B’d it cut-for-cut against an SACD, and it’s just as good and noticably better than the best Command 35mm direct pressing LP.

I know this is audiophile heresy, and yes, I have a good turntable, a good cartridge, a 3BX and a Carver and shelves of LPs, but this is the best audio quality I’ve been able to find. And just to show you my audiophile heart and ears are in the right place, I use it to drive separate quad KT88 monoblock tube amps.