advice for my clear audio analogue upgrade path

@stringreen are you suggesting that my path based on my choice of upgrade levels are so incremental therefore not worth the hassle cost, or are you saying that at some point we all have to sit back and enjoy?  To the latter, I couldn't agree more and perhaps have an "upgrade" bug.

I just recently compared the Performance DC, which I own, with the Ovation and the Ovation was dramatically better in every way. If I could afford it I would definitely buy one. Should you go that way I expect you would be very happy for a long time. I have never heard your cartridge though or your phono stage. My test was using the AMG Teatro cartridge and the Aesthetix Rhea phonostage. YMMV. Good Luck!

@joey54 interesting.  Did you compare with the same arm/cart also?  If I jump to the ovation, I'll still have my clarify arm and existing sound smith cart (which I have no issues with) on the Ovation.  

It makes sense to solidify the "table" aspect first.

Yes it was the Clarify Arm and AMG Teatro cartridge on both. I own the AMG cartridge also.

@dhpeck RE:

I’ll have to ask how my guy at the dealer sets up the carts

That would be good to know

The Boheme comes with the contact-line shaped stylus, so setup of either cartridge would also be critical.

The soundsmith cartridges do sound very good using a standard paper protractor, but they sound amazing as the precision of the setup is perfected

Have a read of http://mintlp.com/best.htm

Once I saw just how far out my initial setup was and heard the resulting improvements it made me a believer.

Why does it seem that as the audio world advances - life gets more difficult? :-)

RE:

I’m looking for my last table and feel the level of the Ovation would accomplish that and not leave me wondering

You’d better scratch that itch then :-)

@joey54 give it the thumbs up - can’t get better feedback than that

Good luck with whatever upgrade you choose.

Cheers - Steve