Please, some advice!

OK, first some background...

My father has a HUGE collection of vinyls. More than 500, at least. Some classical, and lots of jazz (Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Django Rheinhardt, and so many others).

Sadly, being very old and ill (88 this year), he hasn't touched these records in the past 5 years. I like many of these records, too, and I would love to "keep them alive".

I had a Pioneer turntable, but it recently broke. My father still has a Philips integrated stereo system (turntable, cassette and amplifier) but it's very old and certainly not Hi-Fi.

So, I might be tempted to build a new system from the scratch. Nothing esoteric or too expensive, but I can stand the expense needed to build a good equipment.

First problem: most records are 33 RPM, there are a few 45 ones, and quite a large collection of old 78 RPMs too. Of course I would need a turntable which can play 78 RPM too, but my doubt is this: 78 RPM records seem made of a different material to me. Harder, more brittle, heavier, almost ceramic in consistency (I guess it's called "shellac"). Would the same stylus/cartridge be able to play all kinds of records in my possession? Is there one which would be able to play old (late 1940's-early 1950's) 78 RPM New Orleans jazz records, 1960's Frank Sinatra "softer vinyl" 33 RPMs, and today's vinyl releases? Or would I risk damage to the stylus/cartridge or to the records?

The turntable: I have heard great things of the Pro-Ject ones, and they are easily found where I live... Which one would be best to have good quality but without being too fanatic? And which arm? In case the Pro-Ject turntables a

The cartridge: I have read that Graham recommends moving magnet, and I have no reason to contradict him (after all, he has proven himself right on other topics so far...). A good one, again of high quality without exceeding with esoteric stuff?

And then the phono preamp... I see that some of the Slee models have equalization switches, while others don't. Can someone easily explain to me the the differences between all the models? I would like something of good quality but easy to use, a "fit for all" one. Although I fear that the "78 RPM" requirement means that the Jazz Club or the Revelation would be the only real choices (again, difference between the two?)... And I read that the Revelation is warmer and with more slam, so, again, I fear that as usual I will have to go for the most expensive option of all...

I know I have been vague, but I had never thought the world of vinyl could offer so many alternatives...

Overall budget shouldn't top 2000 EUR, unless strictly necessary to achieve my goals... And there's no urgency as I will probably make my purchases next year...

Thanks to everyone!

PS I already have a PSU1 for the Solo: can the same PSU1 power both the Solo and a Revelation at the same time (with an adapter), or would I need two of them?




Edited by Lucabeer - 07 May 2009 at 6:48pm

Yes, very good answer!

And yes, my Solo is an SRG bought in February this year directly from you, so great news! Of course I would need an adapter to power both units from the same PSU1, but I am sure that you would be able to provide one.

The "two separate turntables" option leaves me slightly worried. Or, better, space constraints would be tough (yes, even my wife says I am occupying too much space with my hobbies!).

Probably the best thing to check would be if I really need the 78 RPM option. The large part of the collection is 33 RPM anyway (luckily it's not only the largest part, but also the most interesting one!).

Leaving 78 RPM out would allow me to save quite a bit of money, because as I understand it, I would simply need an Era Gold V or Reflex (the "green" version, since I already have the PSU1) to achieve the best performance.


Edited by Lucabeer - 08 May 2009 at 8:28am

Ouch, so many new things to learn! And to think that my father and I have played all these records for years without knowing ANYTHING of this, simply placing the records on the table and listening to the music... Now I understand why some vinyls really sounded BAD and why I welcomed CDs so much! It looks like the vinyl world is not plug and play at all!

About the flipping stylus, now that you mentioned it I remember that the old turntable that we used (more than 20 years ago) had this option too. And now I understand why... When that unit broke, my father simply stopped playing the 78 RPM records because the new Philips only had 45 and 33...


Edited by Lucabeer - 08 May 2009 at 9:59am