Who’s using a turntable with their 222/300/250 new classic set up. How does your TT compare to the 222 as a source. My trusty but ageing Rega P3 doesn’t really cut it relative to the 222, interested to hear about other set ups.
I would say my LP12 which is around Selekt level is better than the streamer. That being said the streamer is still a very enjoyable listen and it is only when you do a direct comparison it is really noticeable.
Thanks that’s very interesting given the price level of a Selekt LP12. Ignoring the age old discussion of vinyl vs digital, I want to listen to records occasionally but when I do so I want the sound quality to be at least at a comparable level to the 222, sort of how you describe.
A similar performance level to Selekt can be had for a lot less, if you have a good Linn dealer build you a deck, using some pre-loved parts…
Indeed - if I went LP12 route I’d talk to Peter Swain
That is what I did. I got my dealer to upgrade my 79 vintage LP12 that is fitted with an Ittock. Going for Lingo 4, Keel and Karosel plus a few other bits, cost me around £4k which is significantly less than a new deck. A very cost-effective way to get a significant upgrade.
Are you using the 222 phonostage Paul, or something else?
I am using the 222 phono stage, which works extremely well with my Dynavector 10X5. My dealer was really impressed with the 222 phono stage with a few different cartridges and particularly so with my cartridge. I was surprised at how good it is, being a significant step up from the Fono I used with my Star. I think to get a better external stage you would be looking at something like the Rega Aria, which is around £1K I believe. When the cartridge reaches its end of life, if I go for a low-output MC then I will look at different phono stages. But I am resisting this as it has been an expensive year so far, next year after I upgrade my 250DR to a NC250 is when I will start thinking about this.
BTW I think if I didn’t have the Linn already, I would have likely gone for Rega 10 or 8 because I do play a fair amount of vinyl.
That’s one good answer - but not the only one…
I have seen people mention Moorgate Acoustics, as offering a similar build-you-an-LP service.
There may well be other Linn dealers who can do this…
Technics 1200gr with Rega aria phono stage and a good moving coil cartridge will give you just what your looking for at a fraction of the cost of an LP12 they are way overrated IMHO.
I agree, there are many other excellent people who set up LP12s, John at Audio T Brighton is as good as anyone and I would always choose him as my first choice to work on my Linn as he has been doing for a few decades now.
The most obvious would be a Rega P8, though the P10 is even more marvellous.
The new Technics direct drive decks are receiving a lot of love on this forum and elsewhere.
Finally, I would strongly recommend an audition of the Vertere DG-1. There’s a choice of a good MM cartridge or an outrageously good MM cartridge (at about £800 though…), so no need to buy a phono stage - just use the 222’s internal one.
All of the above options are excellent.
Hope this helps, BF
Exactly. Support for local/nearest/favourite one…!!
Fortunately - or otherwise - my nearest happens to be the one most often cited on here, located nr. Leicester…
But… others do exist…!!!
Maybe an interesting outlier for me, I’m one of those who always see these as DJ decks, but I’m picking up loud and clear the love that these seem to be getting at the moment. When I first got interested in HiFi it was all about belt good, direct drive bad.
Yes, thanks. I think I need to see the Vertere in the flesh, not sure how I feel about the looks, but hey if it sounds good. Key thing is that I sense that it sounds as good or better (different is ok) than the 222. If I’m left thinking I may as well listen to the stream, then what’s the point.
Having personally used various DV 10X carts with Naim phono boards since 1982… I am not really surprised…
You’re going to have to spend a heck of a lot on a turntable to get that. My LP12 Select Plus (recent LP12 with Kore, Karousel, Lingo 4, Ekos 2, Lyra Argo i) is about on par with my HDX!
Many views…
Add my voice to those saying that a s/h/ built LP12 is a serious VFM contender, in the way that a new one probably isn’t.
If you must buy new, Rega P8 or P10, Vertere DG-1, Clearaudio Emotion/ Performance/ Innovation, Technics 1200, Well Tempered Simplex and Origin Live Aurora/ Swift are all sensible options. Why not go and hear 3 or 4 of these (and think how they would look in your living room)?
Indeed - and all very interesting. Obviously there’s an audition to be had and that looks like a great list to select an audition short list from - many thanks. I suspect a new basic LP12 with selected second hand components may be the likely outcome, but there’s still the question of how much will I have to layout to equal the 222. As per usual, only listening will tell me, but this is all useful insight.
I guess if it required too much, let’s say 5k, to equal 222/300 combination then I might think whether it’s worth doing at all.