u/StraightChillinSpree

Alright peeps, what do ya think. I’m new to all this. Been a audio and music lover my whole life and recently started buying records(within last 2-3 months. Figured with my birthday coming up why not treat myself to a record player and nice stylus. I got a Technics SL-1600 refurbished and recapped with an AT-VM95ML. My Schiit Mani 2 will be here next week so that’s what’s up. My table and stylus showed up this week and I had the time to put on my first ever record and wow, what a blast. I’m hooked, line and sinker. It sounds so much better than streaming, at least to my ears and brain. I can hear so much more in the music than when i stream and I’m interacting physically with the music more. Top that with being a guy that likes to tinker, I’m fascinated at the engineering of it. I’m literally in love. So what ya think about my rig. My record collection 😂 any thoughts, comments or concerns are most welcome 🙏🏼

So I may have bit off more than I can chew. I went with a serviced technics SL-1600 with a AT-VM95ML cartridge and a step down transformer so I can use the turntable here in America so with everything said and done I’m into the table $700 and change.I’ve not used it yet as the stylus will be here today. The whole time I’ve been talking to ChatGPT trying to figure out you know how to make the most of my system. It’s telling me to get a Schiit Mani 2 as my phono stage but since buying the table, I have the stylus on the way and it’ll be here tomorrow, but I’ve done more research and I’ve come to the conclusion that CD is the better format to listen to and if that’s correct then I feel like maybe I should since I have my return window return the table and the step down transformer and the stylus and go with something like the audio technica lp120x as it already comes with the VM95 cartridge so if i did want to upgrade to the ML it would be cheaper. And then run that through the Mani 2 or just use the preamp it has as I’ve only got about 15 records so far and moving forward I’m only going to buy records that are special being that they’ve been mastered by Barry Grint or the like. That way I can move forward with getting a CD collection if CD is better which I’ve heard it is, any thoughts? Then I would get a dedicated CD transport as I can use my Xbox now run into my Schiit Modi 3 as my DAC. Was suggested a Tascam for a cheap tank rackmount transport. My rack is most of my gear is rackmount and I’m going. I haven’t made my rack yet. I’ve got and I don’t know if I’m going to buy one of those premade racks that I can bolt all of my gear into and then put my record player on top because I want to be able to put all my gear in one area and have it neatly organized. My system consist of my 75” Philips TV optical out to Modi 3, future cd transport would use the coax. I’m using a denon avr3805(need advice on upgrades as well, was told schiit saga 2 as i need remote as its my home theater/stereo, only 2 channel) as my switching/preamp sending signal to to 2 Crown xls1002 powering cerwin veg SL-12’s & E-208’s with the E-208’s on stacked top of the SL-12’s for mids and highs while the SL’s handle mid bass and lows. I have a velodyne 12” sub in a ported box thats rated at 200 rms 400 peak watts but haven’t narrowed down an amp for it as I’m going to be pairing it with an identical sub so the amp would need to be able to power both. I will eventually be upgrading my speakers to the SVS premier towers, the second tier up from the lowest badass ones they make. So i want my system capable so im not buying something thats going to be a bottleneck when upgrade time comes. Also not trying to spend an arm and a leg. I mostly buy used, Really mint used equipment as justifying new is out of my wheelhouse most days. Main question is did i spend too much for something I’m gonna listen to the least or will i really appreciate all of it(record player, stylus and phono) or would i get 90-95% same with a at-Lp120x? Its literally less than half the price so… but if vinyl is better then…
Give you some background, I love my music. I love to swim in the sound and feel it too. I mostly listen to artists like bob moses, magic city hippies, the polish ambassador, nombe, rufus du sol, saint motel, chromeo, phantogram, big data, hippie sabotage, joywave, dynohunter, sts9, etc. would it be better for my audio quality and my wallet to go the CD collection route? I’m getting a wiim mini but for physical media, are CD’s the better format? I’m trying to build my dream rig and also not waste money as I don’t make that much. I’d love any and all your thoughts on any and all of this post. Pick it apart and tell me your thoughts. I’ve so many questions and there’s probably many I forgot so read into what im saying and give me your best. (I used talk to text so sorry about typos. Thanks in advance guys you rock!!

New Turntable(To me) Who Dis?New to vinyl, how did I do?

Vinyl record player or Cd Transport and separate DAC? Do I keep the technics, mani 2 and serious stylus or downgrade to a stock at-lp120x and get a cd transport with my dac and start collecting CD’s instead of vinyl?