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$ 2500 -- Best Way to Spend It Today ?

Okay, here's a great hypothetical question, which may indeed help me reach a purchase decision. I've got a $ 2500.00 total budget for a new analog front end. What's the best way to spend the dinero ?

..... $ 1500 for a new rig and $ 1000 for a whole lot of new records.......or $ 2500 for a new rig, and enjoy (maximally, of course) the LP's that I already own ?

An example of the $ 1500 front end would be a Music Hall MMF 7.1/Goldring Eroica H or a Rega P5/Dyna 10x5. A possible $ 2500 front end would be a VPI Scout/Benz Ace H.

..........Let's hear what you think, and then recommend a great $ 1500 front end and then a great $ 2500 front end to get my juices flowing. The cash outlay needs to include table, arm, and cartridge (MM or high output MC, as I want to keep my current phono stage). I'm looking forward to some wonderful suggestions on how to spend the moolah. Thanks, and Happy Listening !!
adam18
lewm
13,092 posts
 
I've got to agree with Oregon. You can find a mint Lenco L75 or L78 or a Goldring-Lenco for under ~$300. Then ditch the standard tonearm and invest in a Rega or some equivalent, and you'll still have plenty of money left over. What's more, there is enormouse upgrade potential in the Lenco, if you want to build a CLD plinth, dampen the chassis,etc. Other vintage tables are great too, e.g., Garrard, Technics, Denon, etc, but they all cost a great deal more than the Lenco.
sinisterporpoise68
63 posts
 
Buy the P5/10x5 and hit the record stores with the rest.
racamuti's avatar
racamuti
362 posts
 
Go to the Quest For Sound website and take a look at the Consonance LP 6.
Comes with a Rega arm, and sells for around 1700.00. I have the LP 2 and really enjoy the sound as well as ease of setup. Which is why I sold my Linn-Too fussy!
piedpiper
753 posts
 
I would recommend spending the $2500 on the best table/arm you can and put a $50 cartridge on it with an eye to upgrading within a year. You won't be wasting anything when you do upgrade and you won't need to upgrade the table/arm ever perhaps, and if you do the better table/arm will give a better frame of reference for judging upgrade contenders. Buying LPs is ongoing and needn't be part of your budget. They can also be gotten used quite cheaply.

What floats your boat at that budget is too much a matter of taste to narrow it down to one recommendation. Also, are you thinking used or new?
les_creative_edge
174 posts
 
How I would spend $2500.00 today?

1: Buy a KAB USA modded Technics SL-1200MKII with Carads arm rewire and fluid damper. about $1,000.00

2: Buy a Denon DL-160 H.O. M.C. cartridge which will fit nicely to the Technics about $200.00

3: Buy a Sumiko head shell for cartridge about $60.00

4: Buy a vacuum cleaning record machine VPI or Nitty Gritty about $600

5: Buy a Cambridge Audio 640p phone preamp about $250.00

6: Maple shade product Turntable platform about $350.00

Total:$2500.00 as a rough total cost.

You'd be set with a nice vinyl setup
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