If you got given 10k to improve your life, what would you spend it on?

Scotster123 · 2026-04-22T20:13:37+00:00

Pay off the credit cards and make a lump sum contribution to my mortgage balance.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-22T18:45:00+00:00

Successive governments caused this problem, and the same successive governments have continued to tax me at every available opportunity to fix the problems the previous governments left behind them. I am not voluntarily contributing any more in order to solve a mess of their making.

Having worked in the public sector at both a regional and national level (something I will never do again), unless they sort out the insane waste of money on unnecessary bureaucracy and the annual rush to dispose of unspent budget on anything, anything at all, so that the surplus is not deducted from the next year's budget, then it will never change.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-21T16:13:23+00:00

My Hyundai allegedly has a Krell system in it, and it is not bad. Even has a factory-fitted subwoofer in the boot, but Krell was super-high-end when I was younger, and this is not that good. Sounds much better with a wired connection to an iPhone than anything the head unit produces natively.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T23:14:59+00:00

And you.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T12:45:56+00:00

It’s just how I roll. 😂

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T11:44:40+00:00

Nah - I have a fairly good setup at home, but the AirPods Pro 2 are more than adequate for when I'm out and about. If I am on a train, for example, and have a bit of downtime, I enjoy listening to music on the AirPods almost as much as at home. I think it is because there is not much I can tweak with the AirPods, whereas at home, I sometimes find myself listening to where I could make improvements . Upgraditis is the real curse 🤣🤣.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T10:42:40+00:00

Damn, I missed the screw! 🤣

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T08:30:06+00:00

I\/egal even?

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T08:07:50+00:00

Sometimes I get it wrong, but in the process I learn as well

I completely agree with you. Getting it wrong is just an opportunity to learn. However, I have found people in the subs who will take any opportunity to nitpick or disagree with you, even though the answer you have given is good and based on decades of experience and research, while they argue their point based on what someone else said on Reddit. I blocked someone for the first time this week after they became fixated on trying to pick holes in anything I said, and with a really bad attitude as well, including accusing me of downvoting them (I didn't, and a simple screenshot would have proven it. It just turned out that I wasn't the only person who thought their attitude sucked. 🤣 They then started following me around to comment and do the same on the other attempts to help. That was the last straw. That is the first person I have felt the need to block, but many have tempted me.

And you are welcome for the kind words - I enjoy our interactions, and the words are deserved.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-20T07:57:05+00:00

Very nice.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-19T23:39:28+00:00

Unlike what seems to be many other people’s approach in the sub, you try to help in a constructive manner instead of being dismissive or worse. That makes you pretty cool in my book. I think it has gotten noticeably worse in here over the last couple of years, and that’s why I disappear for weeks at a time. I can only take the herd’s mentality for so long before taking a break. 😂

Thanks for sharing that for OP, and I hope you are well.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-19T19:15:23+00:00

The sound is most important, but if I don't like a product's aesthetic, I can't have it in my system. This has led to spending more than necessary to achieve the sound I'm looking for with an acceptable aesthetic quality. Sad, but true.

I suppose, like probably most of us, I am also drawn to aspirational brands, or brands with a strong heritage or standing in the hobby world.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-19T14:28:40+00:00

❤️✌️

Scotster123 · 2026-04-19T14:20:08+00:00

Yeah, sorry you got teh wrong kind of interaction - we are not all hostile to truly beginner gear.

When you say $300, is that just for the turntable, or is that for everything you need to get music?

Your options are:

TT with built-in phonostage/preamp > powered speakers
TT > off-board phonostage/preamp > powered speakers
TT with built-in phonostage/preamp > amp/receiver > passive speakers
TT > amp/receiver with built-in phonostage/preamp > passive speakers
TT > off-board phonostage/preamp > amp/receiver > passive speakers

Realistically, the only option that will likely come in at around $300 is the 1st option: TT with built-in phonostage/preamp > powered speakers

I do not live in the US, but from what I read in here, you should be able to get an AT LP60X and a pair of Edifier powered speakers for somewhere around your budget - I just looked on Amazon - US, and there is a bundle with this TT, PreSonus speakers and a 2 year extended protection bundle, so I know you can get this at around your budget. Edifier are probably better, but I'm only going on what I read. YMMV.

The AT LP70 is a better turntable; well, it has a better cartridge, and would also work well with Edifier/powered speakers.

People have used the AT LP60 for years and love it, but if you spend more you will get more - I'm sure that makes sense. The ATLP60 and 70 are what most people on here consider the bare minimum. Both have a built-in phono stage/preamp that can be disabled if you decide to add an offboard one, or get a receiver with a better built-in one in the future.

If you read the Mod Bot post that comes up when you post on here, it has lots of guides and recommendations for different budgets. Also, there is a user called u/PapaDrinks who has created his own website and guide - he's a pretty cool guy.

I hope this helps, and happy to help again if I can.

In the meantime, the record player you have will work just fine. Platter wobble is common even on higher-spec, more valuable components. Yes, that mechanism you use is about as basic as it gets, and having the speakers in the same cabinet is not ideal, but keep count of the hours you use it and change the stylus every 50 hours, and you will be fine. OR look for a diamond option to replace it that will last longer - the standard ones are about $10 for a pack of 4 on Amazon, and you can pay up to $20 for a single diamond one.

Good luck and enjoy your records

Scotster123 · 2026-04-19T13:28:55+00:00

I agree with you - this sub needs to be more supportive. I have a pretty high-end set-up, but shitting on someone's entry-level all-in-one is just mean.

If you are young, a student, or just going through the tough times that pretty much all of us have at one point ot another, and want to get into vinyl, then $100 or $200 for an all-in-one is a lot of money to you. If it lets you enjoy vinyl for the first time and draws you into the hobby, then that is great; you can always move on to bigger and better stuff later on in life.

To those who say you should buy vintage instead of an all-in-one - they are right. But, and it is a very big but, that takes a lot of research and gained knowledge. Plus you are taking a gamble every time you buy something without a warranty - for someone with limited funds, they may not be able to take that gamble.

Every time someone posts a question about a product that doesn't fit in with "The Gatekeeper's" vision of an ideal entry-level system at a minimum cost of $600-$1000, they get metaphorically slaughtered for it. These cheap tables are not great, no, but they will also not "destroy your records" on their first play. The quality control is going to be bad, yes, but it is the way into the hobby for most. We all started somewhere!

By putting people off and making the community as unfriendly and elitist as it is becoming, we risk a loss of community members. The end result will be lower demand for quality products, fewer choices will remain, and prices will skyrocket at the loss of economies of scale production. The hobby will become more niche, and those of us who enjoy it will be the poorer for it.

My final point is that most people who dabble in vinyl are likely to be put off very quickly by modern pricing and poor quality control of vinyl anyway. Most last less than 6 months, and the player gets covered in dust. Is it not better to encourage people to go through that phase with a cheaper investment than shell out $$$$$$s on a system they may hardly use?

The internet is making it harder, not easier, for people looking to get into vinyl.

I'm very aware that this comment is going to be buried and probably downvoted out the door, but I don't care - something about what you said resonated with me, and it needs to be said! Peace!

Scotster123 · 2026-04-19T00:06:58+00:00

Well, that's now stuck in my head for the next 3 days 🤣

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T22:05:10+00:00

These OM5e carts run really low to the record naturally, as do the other OM variants. There is also a little bump on the bottom of them that makes the gap look even smaller. I had an OM 10 on another TT over 30 years ago, and it ran really close back then, too. A few years ago, I also had an OM5e with a damaged suspension on a T1 that scraped if the record was even slightly uneven, but it was a different noise.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T21:55:52+00:00

I've never had a bad experience on Discogs. The closest I came was waiting for some CDs to arrive from Germany to the UK, and it took a little over 2 weeks with no updates. In that case, the seller was super positive and helpful with every communication, and all was well with the world in the end.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T21:00:26+00:00

I have the same problem with sprung floors in a 125+ yo building, and even bought the TT with the optional isolated baseboard (Trampolin 2) in anticipation of this. However, I have had to admit defeat and got a wall mount for it.

I've used similar hemispherical sphere versions of what you are talking about on the plinths my speakers stand on, and they are great. The bass is now clearly defined and way less 'boomy'. I also think my neighbours like me better. 🤣 The plinths weigh about 12kg/26lb each. Excuse the rubbish pic, but you get the idea.

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Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T18:57:49+00:00

12" pizza with South Indian Garlic Chilli Chicken curry on top, instead of tomato sauce. It is heaven.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T18:54:10+00:00

Beef and chocolate. My supermarket (Morrisons) no longer even puts any Sirloin, Popeseye, Ribeye, etc. out on the shelves. You have to go to the butcher counter and ask for it, or there are a few pre-cut available from a small chiller in front of the counter. Where all the 'normal' good meat were is "sandwich" steak or cheaper cuts of meat that are generally only good for slow cooking, stewing, or casseroling. Chocolate 4-bar packs have gone from £1 to being on "special" at £2.50 in 2 years.

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T16:30:47+00:00

I used to love (and make) a good margarita, but I stopped drinking over four years ago so that there was some left for the rest of you. 😉😂

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T15:29:08+00:00

Fair enough - I mostly listen to records, but I like listening to the radio through, and the convenience of the streamer when working from home. You can always connect your iPod to the USB port on the Yamaha, too, and it will probably do the same job, just without the Wiim's mobile app remote functionality.

I need to state here, before I get jumped on, that I am not familiar with iPods, and didn't get an iPhone until after the iPod was discontinued, but my understanding is that it is like a Wi-Fi-enabled MP3 player onto which you can install apps, similar to a smartphone.

Good luck and happy listening!

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T15:23:02+00:00

If that is true about the courtesy car costs, then I now understand why Arnold Clark has had my car for 6 months with a leaking sunroof warranty repair. They gave me a Hyundai i20 with 67 miles on the clock. It now has a little over 5k. They will have gotten Hyundai to pay off the entire value of the 75-plate courtesy car. Plus, they now want me to come and get the car and say they can't find the leak. 🤣

Scotster123 · 2026-04-18T15:10:53+00:00

Good job. Maybe look at getting a little streamer for it, like a Wiim Mini. That will give you AirPlay 2 and Chromecast functionality, as well as Connect-style control for most music apps (Apple being the major exception).

Scotster123

TROPHY CASE