John Baseley

Yes..I typed the wrong cartridge TWICE. Definitely the VM540..not the 750ML at $700.

I didn't even know that there were different types of stylus types until last week..?

@08Boss302 yes - that's the one I've seen. I'm going into this fairly blind and doing the "purchase by reviews" theory unfortunately seeing I don't have any local place to test/listen - but am getting insights from SNA as well. I've got MUCH reading to do on the Cartridge/ Arm/ Plinth/ Platter/ Mass interrelation and sound aspect of Turntables..

Hi there, Wow - the 603s2 ! Great speakers - I have the same I bought new in 2001 as well. Anyhow - the amplifiers to look at. You really didn't specify a budget, but starting out - I can definitely recommend the Yamaha RXV385 at the very bottom end, or RXV485 (More Power and grunt - buy this if you can afford it) and if you could consider the Denon range also. Like all things audio - so many factors. But these Yamahas for the price are very good as an all in one solution

Gee - I just went down a rabbit hole for 2hrs on the Net. I never considered the AT VM540ML - I have just purchased a Rega 3 from Lens Wallis (Without Cart) and was seriously considering the Ortofon 2M Blue - until I read this post. Then the hole began - looking at the VM750SH (Because it is ONLY a couple of hundred dollars more,,) and then it hit me I was looking at $700 cartridges and considering more - even worse, I even justified to myself. I think I will take the AT VM750ML route - so thankyou @aussievintage for the post. I can get the AT VM750ML for $14 more ($383) than the Ortofon 2M Blue ($369) from local Aussie stores. I think it will suit my needs after getting back into vinyl after many years off to match the Rega Planar 3. Side note - any posts or sites for TT and Cartridge setup ? Thanks.

Thanks 2B. looking forward to the interaction within the site.

Thanks Wen - I was truly amazed with Richards amplifiers . He is a very talented man.

Wow. Harbeth speakers. Lovely. Yes- I'm also an avid DIY speaker enthusiast and watched with interest on the design and construction of the harbeth drivers.

Apparently tapes are making a comeback! Yes - the new tape enthusiasts can enjoy the process of manually rewinding tapes by hand. ?

It's the one by Vance Dickason. Quite expensive now ($70?). But a great start point and overview of loudspeaker design. If your seriously considering DIY loudspeakers, this is a must have for basic understanding and principles otherwise you'll be endlessly copying other peoples projects and getting fragments of knowledge from all over the web. He might have a website now..never checked that avenue.

I have done a set - it took many weeks using several sheets of 3 ply bent and glued together with liquid nails. Took 4 sheets to make a decent thickness cabinet which used 6 sticks of liquid nails. Is it a great looking speaker? Yes. Would I do the same again? No The dream is better than the reality, but if you have your mind set on it, I'll provide more help in cabinet making advice if you like.

Way to easy. We enjoy the misery of making curved cabinets.

Hi Dan, Great question about Bluetooth speaker creations. I personally wouldn't just go the full range driver route. My advice after building many speakers is to work out the end point first, then work back. What i mean is, if you Bluetooth speaker is to be used outside, then the bass is really going to be the issue, so full range driver route might not give you tge bass kick you'd expect from some tracks. Full range drivers aren't generallythat good down low.

Oh dear..I really shouldn't have read this post and WAS in the same situation in regards to buying a turntable, then this post was written which instantly caused a dent in my bank account. Thankyou so very much for your link - I was looking at the P3, but it was getting into the 4 figure price tag.

I unfortunately got the audiobug very early in life - about 17 when I was an apprentice electronics technician and one of my friends had a home made Playmaster amplifer that sounded far better than my $300 Kenwood (circa 1990's Amp) that I bought from Brash's (Remember them?). Well - I couldn't work out why his amp had the power and drive that mine didn't and we got talking - then I started buying Hifi Magazines and it never ended from there. Next 15 years - Purchased Amplifiers from Arcam, NAD, Yamaha, built my own, Creek etc etc - started making my own Loudspeakers which REALLY got me into understanding the physics of loudspeaker design (Loudspeaker cookbook anyone?) which eventually had me making some monitors for recording studios in my later years using Focal drivers. Here is where I REALLY found out Physics and design and going directly by the book + Specs sheet doesn't always add up to brilliant sound. Well here I am now after a 16 year break - and have a vinyl collection (Need to purchase a decent TT - looking at Rega 2) with the Schiit Audio Mani going into a Amplifier which is a creation of the very talented Richard McDonald here in Mount Gambier. I will be using my Musical Fidelity E60 and Rotel 865 CD players. Using some B&W603S2 (Yes - Old) until I create something with all of the Dynaudio/Seas/Vifa/Audax/Peerless/Scan drivers I have (Basically enough drivers to make my own set of B&O Beolab 90's)/ - So in ending - hello from South Australia.