How Much Is TOO MUCH for a Analog front End?

If you are going to consider going to that level, a much more audible improvement can be had by a different route for your LP playback. Get someone to upgrade the resisitors your phono section; This is completely independent of the brand, how much it costs, etc, since there are NO manufacturers out there that are doing the entire signal path all with Vishay resistors. They are not cheap (I guess its relative........they are compared to the 5 figures you are considering for a new table), but will give you resolution you never even knew existed on the LP. They also lower the noise floor a ton.

John

Braab, There seem to be various views on the best way to mount components, from very rigid to not rigid. On another forum (the crooked path) there has been an ongoing thread about this. One person - a recording engineer who has obviously spent a lot of time and work on setting up his room and system - believes that ground vibrations are a main culprit in degrading sound. Therefore, do NOT strive for rigidity from the component to the ground. He recommended the pneumatic idea, in addition to which he uses a type of ball bearing assembly under components. The pneumatic aspect takes care of the vertical vibration while the ball bearings allow the energy from the lateral vibrations to disipate harmlessly. I haven't tried the bearings yet but will. And, by the way, he especially believes that isolating digital components this way is beneficial. But just using the tube under my TT has - I do believe - improved the performance noticeably. I think this works. The bearings idea is still theory to me, yet to be tested.

12-28-07: Braab8
Johnny
I have not heard of this from VPI I must research.

Here's a closeup picture of the feature, and here it is on the VPI Super Scoutmaster Reference Turntable. Supposedly it'll be available separately as an add-on option, but details are sketchy. It's shown and listed as a separate add-on in MusicDirect's hard copy catalog, but it had no determined price and few details at that point.

I'd say whatever your reasonably comfortable spending should be the limit... i.e. there is obviously no set limit.

Some folks have lots of money and the thought of spending many thousands doesn't fly, others I'm sure have excellent tables in more modest homes for example. It's all about priorities.

I'm moving from a Scoutmaster to a Raven AC, (finally decided on that over Raven One), as over time I have changed my perspective on upgrades. I used to like incremental upgrades but now think it makes more sense to take a big leap to your "dream" component, (assuming you can fund it), and stay there for much longer. Fewer bigger steps if you will. No right or wrong way, just my opinion.

So, for me the cost of a Raven is about what I'd look at as the upper end. If I can't get what I want out of analogue for that I ain't getting it as I don't see me ever sinking more into a table. I may change it one day but for me I think that is more than adequate and enough that most of the general population would think me an imbecile. ;-)

I'd say, get into a good table/arm combo in that range, particularly if you're lusting after it anyway, and enjoy it for the long haul. You'll have a solid cornerstone to your system and appreciate improvements elsewhere.

Best of luck whatever you do.

Great responses.

I would just add two things. I can't think of a worthier place to "start" upgrading than the analogue front end.

Second, I think it is pointless to proclaim a point at which the price is "ridiculous" and below which it is reasonable. That is obviously purely subjective. The pursuit of excellence in any field is something that with any luck will never end. The sense of balance in this pursuit is predicated completely on context which is by definition personal. Whether it is worth it to a given person to devote his life to breaking an Olympic record is their choice. At what cost is always a good question. Just be sure to answer that question honestly and then look at how you can pay that cost "effectively."