kannibal

I compared them both blindly (literally blindfolded *kinky*). My wife play In bloom 3 times one from 1 record and two times from another. I guessed properly which one was played twice, got which one was the 20th and the ORG mixed up. It was just for fun but it was very cool. The 20th sounds good to me, but MOST people, and I agree, consider the ORG Nevermind to be the best pressing out of all issues of this LP.

end of the day it sort of comes down to aesthetics... once you choose how much money you are going to spend on each item, everything within that price point sounds pretty much the same with a few minor tweaks here and there...

just my two cents.

Couldn't disagree more. Speakers are the most diverse sounding of the playback chain. Some have more treble, some have more bass (or no bass in the case of satellite speakers), some have emphasized (not the same as just "more") highs, mids, or lows. Some are completely neutral and flat (in EQ). It doesn't matter whether you are spending a lot or a little, there is a noticeable difference in any range of speakers between brands, style, and models even. That doesn't mean everyone will care, but if one does care, always compare with other speakers to see if you like the sonic characteristics of the speakers in your price range, or if you like one over another.

The Carbon has the ortofon 2M Red. Still entry level, but much better than the OM5e on the DebutIII.

Having a better foundation (less resonance and vibration) will give you exactly what you described where everything sounds tighter, especially bass. With the low and mid frequency tamed and controlled, it makes everything sound fuller, without clouding the sound like wild, loose bass and mids will do.

A different way of getting similar results or a way to extend your results even further is to place your turntable in a manner that helps to avoid vibration. I know that space may be an issue for some, but it doesn't have to cost you a lot. For an isolation platform, buying a thick piece of wood or gluing together a butchers block from Home Depot and buying some spikes from Amazon is not only cheap, but can be a fun project.

For speakers, get these:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290202

They sound very good and will hit low for bookshelf speakers, so a sub is not necessary. That is priced for the PAIR and has free shipping.

You should also check if you have a moving coil (MC) or a moving magnet (MM) cartridge. I have an MC and the user guide says that it does not require a phono pre-amp. I have it connected straight to the phono input on my amp. Though, the signal is a bit low compared to the other digital devices hooked up the amp.

What you have written here is very incorrect and misleading. when you say "phono pre-amp" you must mean step up transformer which means your cartridge is a "High Output MC" that outputs signal levels near that of MM carts and therefore does not require any additional amplification beyond the most common phono pre-amps. You still have your turntable connected to a phono pre-amp, it is just built into your receiver.

I am looking for a way to make sure my tonearm is properly balanced without buying any fancy/expensive devices.

I was told by someone that if it balances a penny that the force is good, but all that did was remind me that I am supposed to to put a coin on my tonearm to fully enjoy my Texas Is The Reason record.

Is the penny balancing a legit way to get the balance/force correct, or is there a better way to do this?

Thanks!

Keep those pennies away from you tonearm! What is your turntable/tonearm/cartridge?

My recommendation to anyone that has a DebutIII is to upgrade the cartridge. No amount of tweaking or accessories can fix or improve that thing, which is the weakest link on the DebutIII and RP1 IMO. First change the cartridge(or at least upgrade the stylus to the OM10 or 20), then think about other things to improve your setup.

I could immediately hear the difference.

What difference did you hear? please describe.

Also, I wouldn't take the site as gospel when it says that the US pink vinyl is the original when it's actually a repress.

Right.

Not all tables worth buying use weights like that. But some method of anti-skate and adjustment are definitely essential.

Mine arrived an Friday. I listened to it a couple of times last weekend and it really sounds great. The LP mastering is so far beyond the CDs it's not even worth listening to the CD anymore. I may track down a vinyl rip to listen to on the go.

I've finally finished my basement. I was gonna do my home office downstairs, plus have a room just for my records (and do some cool bins like in a record store)...but when we found out that my wife was expecting our 2nd child, we decided to double the play room space for my daughter and soon to be born son. (family first!). So I combined my office and records!

I'm not done yet, I still need to reorganize a few things and hang my framed posters and records on the other walls (not pictured). But so far I do enjoy having my records in my office, I found myself working from home more often!

Great looking room, love the displays, but now it may be time to invest a bit more into your playback system!

not interested in $500 machines that's just lunacy.

It's not lunacy, It's called taking care of your records. If you can't afford one, or just don't want to pay for one, that is one thing, but RCMs are the best way to make sure your records sound their best and last a long time. A home brew is fine is you don't want to pay for a RCM, I did that for a year or so, it's OK, but I just broke down and bought a RCM, and I can tell you, a home brew and rinse with microfiber cloths just doesn't compare.

I know it's a tough pill to swallow, but with over 1,000 records, 99% of which are used, a RCM is the way to go.

BTW, if you don't mind me asking, what audio equipment are you using for playback of your records?

And ajxd, your comments on this site are right on, both on this thread and the record space pic thread, but you should consider the site your posting on. I just don't think most people here care enough in the first place to even listen to you. Pearls before swine...

Are you open to buy used or vintage? I don't want anyone to buy either of those turntables.

But why even consider the Debut now that the Carbon is out?

Sorry, I should read the whole thread before I start asking questions.

Oh, I think it also has a thinner plinth.

The essential uses a totally different tone arm design. A unipivot. VPI makes exceptional unipivot tonearms, considering this is on Pro-jects ultra budget table, i'd say it's a downgrade from the tonearm on the Debut. But why even consider the Debut now that the Carbon is out?

Wow. I am glad i didn't (or wished I had earlier ) see that MAstodon box. $140? i would have bought it. Now I have my priorities re-aligned to a much larger investment.

Go hastings sent me two shipments in bubble mailers. One was a picture disc with PVC sleeve, so it was fine. the other was bent to hell and back. It was a cheap easily replaceable record so it didn't bother me, but still a very poor packaging choice.

Shipping conformation was in my inbox this morning! Now I just have to wait a week for media mail from AZ!

oops. dp

I would rather see the QotSA reissues done by Ipecac/RekordRekords(or whatever JH's label is). The self titled reissue was great quality and low price. Not to mention had extra tracks. The MOV LtP had tracks removed.

I wouldn't mind having this WZ, but I don't like MOV releases, especially for the prices.

Thanks Travis. Will be buying from HT.

...aaaaand bumped to 7/10.

Damn. That's twice after I pre ordered. Something tells me it's NOT because they wanted to make sure that the release is maintaining super high quality standards.

Yeah, I agree, it doesn't sound bad, but at best it's the CD pressed on vinyl, not to mention a bootleg. I would not have bOught mine had I known.

There were two official Issues, both on Black vinyl and both are VERY expensive. ALL the colored copies are bootlegs. I have a bootleg and it sounds fine, but honestly, I would just go for the CD of both Aenima and Lateralus, unless you must have vinyl.