I’m picturing @AnnStBomber by the end of the night
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I’m thinking about getting a Project EVO 2 for my first turntable. Anything better value in the price range or cheaper? Upgradeability and quality look like this would be a good choice.
I understand I will need a integrated amp and would like some bookshelf speakers (maybe ELAC Debut 3.0?) to sit on (or beside) a Kallax shelving unit from IKEA.
Happy to hear any recommendations 
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I use a Project but it’s an older one, the Debut Carbon, so I can’t vouch for the quality of an EVO 2.
A quick search and it seems the cartridge and stylus with the EVO is decent, and it looks like you should be able to swap it out and upgrade if you found yourself getting serious about replacement or little sound improvements down the track.
For example, mine came with an Ortofon Red cart which I used for years, and then a couple of years back when I felt the needle might be wearing I stepped up to an Ortofon Blue which definitely sounded better, and even handled grooves of records which made the Red jump at times.
I use bookshelf speakers too, as I have to keep it modest in a small room with the neighbours’ house only a few metres away. Mine are Dali Zensor which I’ve raved about on here before. It seems kinda similar to what you’re looking at (ELAC) with a quick search, if you wanted to go deeper into a side-by-side of reviews of both and whatever might work out to be better value. I’m not in Australia, so not sure how things are priced.
Hope some of this might help.
Haha! Opinions are like ■■■■■■■■…licorice pie is the best record store in Australia.
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Moonrisers. Harsh And Exciting
A sort of instrumental Hillbilly Gothic Doom Folk offering. I like it.
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Ash’s Free All Angels came out on double LP in Germany with different artwork. No extra tracks, just wider grooves to play in, and it goes louder and deeper than the UK cut. I’d been hunting this one for a while.
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My Revolver box set arrived this morning. The mono version of Im Only Sleeping is incredible.
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The mono pressing is all kinds of wonderful.
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@Doggatron which is a good Robert Johnson to start on
Well Im no expert but from what I understand theres only really the one group of recordings all from the same recording session. So like literally any Robert Johnson record you buy will pretty much cover his career/recorded output.
I guess the only real variables would be what is presented sonically superior. Im not sure whats deemed the best as far as pressing or complications go.
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A google search states there was actually two recording sessions.
There will definitely be double record comps out there that give you everything available.
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I’ve got this CD box set that I purchased in the early 1990s.
It’s got everything, with more than one recording of most songs. 41 tracks in total.
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And if you don’t want to hear the same song twice in a row with different takes, people swear by the King of the Delta Blues Singers, Volume I and Volume II compilations. 16 songs on each.
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Just had a romp through the swamp of my vinyl racks and realised I have Volume II which has a release date on the label of 1970. It’s an Australian pressing by Avan-Guard music, released through CBS. I would have bought it in the mid 70s.
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There’s a story about teenaged blues fans Keith Richards and Brian Jones, living in a squalid bedsit in Edith Grove Chelsea, listening to a Robert Johnson record and trying to work out who the second guitarist was. Minds were apparently blown when they realised it was just Robert.
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@Doggatron and everyone else thanks
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Coming up in a local hall near you in 2026. “BIG VINYL DIG” (Essendon 2026) click on link.
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