Spin the Black Circle - An
Intro Vinyl (as in Records)
Rick Vugteveen
Barcamp Vancouver ‘09
@rickvug | rickvug.com

Our Little Nook

Huh? Didn’t Records
Die in the 80s? Why?

Why?
• CD’s sit on the shelf. Rip once into iTunes.
• MP3/ACC not physical, not same perceived
value (Piratebay!)
• LP sized artwork
• Cheap
• Collectible

Digital vs.Vinyl (let’s get this
out of the way)
• Sound quality:
• Highly subjective
• CD is better in most cases.
• Records take more work to sound great
• Don’t buy into hype about records
sounding so much better. They don’t.

Sound Quality...
• CD: Perfect digital sound. Does not
degrade. Information is exact.
• CD: lower noise floor
• CD: loudness wars
• Vinyl: “warm”
•Vinyl: theoretically unlimited resolution

We all listen to MP3s.
Audiophiles Don’t live
in the real world

"I find this sound quality stuff both
fascinating and ridiculous. It’s like the
pixel resolution of digital cameras:
higher numbers are better, but that
discussion always pushes the actual
photography to one side, somehow."
Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead

Formats
• Speeds: 33 RPM, 45 RPM, 78 RPM
• 12” - Long Play (LP). Normally 33 RPM.
• 7” - Single or Extended Play (EP). Normally
45 RPM. Note big hole... need an adaptor
• 78 RPM. Don’t know anything about them.
Normally 10”. Pressed in Shellac. Whatever
Wikipedia says!

45 Adapter

Building a Collection on
the Cheap

Where to Look
• Craigslist
• Garage/Yard/Estate Sales
• Auction
• Swap Meets
• Thrift Stores
• Swap meets, Flea Markets

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagillet/3754095975

Buy Lots to start. WAY
cheaper per LP! ($0.30
- $3 per album)

Sell or trade doubles
and unwanted albums.
Keep the good copies.

Have patience.

Always check for
scratches (but take
chance if cheap enough)

Keep a want list
(Rolling Stone Top 500
albums)

Thriller is the highest
selling album of all
time. It is worth $1, not
$735!

Buy new albums on
Vinyl. $5 more than
CD. Many come with a
free download.

Beatles, Stones, Pink Floyd,
Zeppelin, Who, Beach Boys,
Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead,
The Who (60s - early 70s)
are great for resale. Pickup
for cheap even if you already
own the record.

pipes.yahoo.com/rickvug/
vancouvervinyl

Getting Setup

Turntable Buying Advice
• Look for heavyweight turntables from mid
70s - present.
• Brands: Linn, Technics (SL-1200),Thorens,
Dual, Onkyo, Sony, Denon, Rega, Music Hall.
• Not sure about USB turntables.
• Belt Drive vs. Direct Drive

Cartridges + Stylus
• Shure M97Xe, M78S
• Grado (gold, blue)
• Audio Technica AT95E / 110E / AT440MLA
• Goldring 1000 series ( 1006,1012 etc)
• Ortofon OM and 2M series (Red)
• Stanton 668

Moving Magnet (MM) vs.
Moving Coil (MC) (low output)

Phono Preamp
• Amplify from line level input (RCA
connectors)
• Built into old Receivers. Likely not in your
5.1 setup.
• For best sound or compatibility with newer
systems, you need a separate pre-amp.

Budget Phono Preamps
• My shopping list: is.gd/3UFeA
• NAD PP-2, PP
• Cambridge Audio Azur 540P/640P
• Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII
• Rega Phono MM
• Music Hall MMF

Bottom Line
• +/- $100 for old turntable + receiver (shop
around)
• $500 for a solid budget setup
• Sky is the limit on potential cost for
Audiophiles

Storage & Care

Ikea Expedit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monfresh/3232713525/

Other care tips
• Get outer (+inner) sleeves for LPs you care
about
• Store vertical
• Avoid moisture
• Dust and dirt is enemy #1 for audio quality!
• Google “record cleaning”

Dorky Stuff I Couldn’t Fit In
• Crazy cases + art
• Posters
• Colored, holographic vinyl
• Lock groove (Sgt. Pepper, Atom Heart
Mother, Ga Ga Ga)
• Delicious Library
• Could always become a DJ!

Thanks! Let’s talk.
Rick Vugteen
@rickvug
rickvug.com (excuse the dust)