Reader’s System: Greg from Vernon
When we’re not hidden away in our music rooms listening to music, us audiophiles can be quite a sociable bunch. When we meet in a social context, the conversation invariably turns to our love of music and the gear with which we listen to it. I see Vinylphile as more than just an electronic audio review magazine. I also see it as a medium though which the community of vinyl-loving audiophiles can get together and share their passion for music. To achieve this, we’ll have a regular feature in which as reader’s vinyl-centric audio system is showcased. Some of these systems will be ultra high-end, others not so much. The key attribute they will all share is that the vinyl source will be at least as important as other sources in the system.
Our first reader’s system belongs to Greg, a Vernon-based real estate agent.
From where did you get your love of hi fi?
When I was about 17 years old, I used to listen to the radio all the time and I just really liked it. So I started saving up and I remember the first stereo that I bought. It was one of those Kenwood jobs, I think, all in one with a turntable on it. It had separate speakers, though, so you could move the speakers, so that was pretty cool.
I’ve always liked listening to music, and I like records! I always have listened to records ever since I was a young kid. A lot of my friends think I’m crazy because I still have records! I tried playing music once. The guitar—I owned a guitar for many years—but for some reason I just couldn’t ever pick it up. But I really loved listening to music so whenever I had a few extra bucks, I’d buy something.
Roughly how many records do you have?
I’ve got about 1,000 records. I also have quite a few CDs. I also have SACDs, and DVD-A discs, because the player I have plays all the formats.
Roughly how often do you listen to vinyl as opposed to your other sources?
I probably listen to my record player about once per week, and I listen to my CD player the rest of the time. I enjoy the vinyl more, it’s just the convenience of CD: when I get up in the morning I put a CD on. But when I’m sitting down reading or something, I like to listen to records. Sometimes in the evenings or on weekends, when I get a few extra minutes, I like to sit down and just spin some vinyl.
What was your first system, and how has it evolved over the years?
Well, I used to have my own business, called Vernon Audio Heaven, so I’ve had lots of different systems. Some have been quite expensive, and some have been quite cheap. There is no logic to it, because for many years I actually sold equipment, so I would get some really nice speakers and then sell them and buy different speakers, and the same thing with turntables. I’ve had Rega turntables, I like the Pro-Ject turntables. For entry level they’re quite nice—I gave my son one—so I’ve used most of the Pro-Ject turntables, and I really like the Regas. And this is my latest turntable, which I really love, the Interspace. It sounds so nice!
As for amps, I’ve had mostly British stuff. I had a Creek 5350 SE; that was a really nice amp. And then Monitor Audio, I’ve had a few of those pieces. I’ve had Linn. I like Linn quite a bit, so I’ve had Linn amplifiers, players, and I owned an LP12. I owned it for about 6 to 8 months, and then I sold it. The LP12 was a really nice turntable, but it was really fussy.
Yes, I’ve heard that they’re a bitch to set up, and a bigger bitch to keep set up. They’re not exactly set and forget.
No, unlike this turntable. I just turn it on and away it goes.
So, what’s next on your wish list?
Umm, I think I want to get some better speakers. These are nice little speakers, but they’re little. You know, just entry level audiophile stuff, so I want to get some better speakers, and I want to get a better amplifier.
Would you go separates, or would you stick with an integrated?
It depends on how much money I have! [Laughs] I’d like to get an amp/preamp combination. I really like the Moon stuff, Simaudio Moon. Or the Linn; I’d like to get a Linn multichannel amp or something.
Any particular speakers you’re eyeing up?
Not really. There’re so many out there! I’ll just have to go to [the Hi Fi Attic’s] Lyle and say, “Hey Lyle, play me something good”! So I guess speakers first of all, and then maybe another amp.
Would you consider a new cartridge maybe?
Yep, possibly.
What cartridges are you interested in?
I haven’t given it too much thought—so I don’t have any specific make or model in mind—but I’d really like to try a moving coil cartridge one day.
Equipment List
Analogue source Nottingham Analogue Interspace Junior with Ace Interspace arm.
Cartridge Goldring 1012GX (MM).
Digital source Linn Unidisk SC.
Phono stage Simaudio LP5.3.
Integrated amplifier Musical Fidelity A3.5.
Speakers Monitor Audio Silver RS6 and Epos ELS 10” subwoofer.
Cables Interconnects: Nordost Frey and Ecosse; speaker cables: Ecosse; AC: XLO ER10.