loki993

Well I was just going to post a topic about this but since this is already here....here is my experience....my first online Vinyl purchase so I guess I didnt know what to expect, but from previous experiences with Amazon ordering all kinds of stuff from them I was expecting something pristine. I ordered the Metallica Death Magnetic 5 lp set from amazon, I know the mastering is bad on it and its not a good representation of Vinyl, but I think the set itself is cool and its a limited edition so I wanted to get one before I couldn't. Plus the price was right and the place only had 3 left....this is a third party fulfilled by amazon..not amazon itself. First one comes and the box is trashed...not the shipping box the actual box the albums are in....all 4 corners are a bit smashed and the black is rubbed off on all corners. Also the shrinkwrap is torn in multiple places. So I say this isnt acceptable and I contact Amazon everything goes fantastically. I cant speak more highly of the return process. So they say they will refund the one I got and to order another one with next day shipping and they will waive the fee for that too, I have prime, and just send the old one back. New one comes today..again all 4 corners are damaged though not nearly as badly as the first one and the shrinkwrap is also torn again...though again not nearly as badly this time. Is this a common thing with LP box sets in the mail? Is the damage due to poor shipping packaging or is this place just sending out old damaged stuff they cant sell in their store? From what Im reading here that's pretty common so I guess its probably best just dealing with this one and trying for a third is probably futile. . Im wondering if they are just clearing out the last few that have and they all have damage and thats why theyre not selling.

Plus to most of us, Id imagine, more than double the price hardly qualifies as "slightly more money".... So back to the Mani...has anyone heard this thing yet? Any comparisons?

Yeah I've checked and the 605 lacks the phono stage, no big loss Im sure because I would think in a modern AV receiver if a phono stage is included it would be merely an afterthought. As for now the Technics was the right price, free, so for the price of a belt and a new stylus that's up and running. The rest I would need regardless of the turntable. This will get me started to see even I want to keep going down this road.

Im trying to get started in vinyl on a bit of a budget. I got a Technics SL-B3 from my dad that they dont use anymore. Its been sitting for quite some time but I'm pretty sure hes had it since new. The belt is gone so that needs to be replaced. Also its been in a basement that's quite humid so I'm not sure what that does to the stylus..so lets just say it needs a new cartridge as well, or at least a stylus. Otherwise its in good shape. I have an Onkyo SR605 receiver and it doesn't have a phono preamp built in so I also need either a standalone preamp or just a different receiver that has a phono preamp built in. So I suppose first off is the SL-B3 worth messing with or would it be better just going out and getting say a Debut Carbon or something similar? Maybe a turntable with a built in phono preamp but I cant imagine a built in being as good as a standalone. Second the preamp. Do I go with a standalone unit and use my current receiver or try and find something with a phono stage built in used at a thrift shop or something like that. Thanks in advance