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How Much Is TOO MUCH for a Analog front End?

Hello All
I have a question hopefully you can help me decide.After having had the "bug" (you all know what I mean) for much of my fomative years, I have reached a point in my evolution that I've got the urge to upgrade my front end to that last step.
What I am contemplating is a purchase I am almost afraid to make. Having read soo much about these killer tables from various "cottage" companies (Teres,Redpoint,Galibier,etc) I have really got the itch.Not that my current front end isn't giving me enjoyment.It consists of a VPI HW-19 mk III in between 3 and four status, twl modded OL Silver arm,with various carts, a 103,Dyna DV-20X etc.,
but what I'm getting hot and heavy about is a Galibier Gavia,Schroder mod 2 or maybe Redpoint Medel B with the same mod 2 arm?
but were talking roughly $9-10k not exactly lunch money.
So this brings us to the question How much is TOO much for a table/arm set up? (now thinking about it this maybe the wrong place to ask this question lol) should it be in proportion to my income?
give me some input.In all honesty, I won't be able to purchase it til maybe August If I start saving now.
Please give me some indication,as I am bordering on an Intervention!!

HELP ME!
braab
braab8
mcrheist
130 posts
 
It costs too much if:

1. You have to place it on a credit card and pay if off slowly.
2. You have to place it on a credit card and not begin making payments for a year.
3. It causes stress on your budget of any kind. Will it keep you from paying the rent? Electricity? Food? Necessities for the kiddos, wife, husband, etc?
4. You have to sell off property or valuables to fund the purchase.

I am serious and this post is not made in passing. I have read of some of the sacrifices that some audiophiles have made for a piece of equipment. Only purchase it if you can do so and not feel a financial quiver in doing so. Having said this, there is nothing wrong with saving for a piece of equipment as long as it does not prevent the purchase of a necessity in your household.

Spoken from a music lover and a mom at heart,
M
analogheaven
24 posts
 
HI all

I want to contribute my experience, but I always say - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Based on my experience, I must say that I agree that there is a great deal of difference - for the better - when you move from a 3k to 10k deck.

I had a Roksan Xerxes TT with Rega RB 300 arm, with a Sumiko Blue Point Special cart. - around USD 3k. When I changed that to a Kuzma Reference Stabi TT, Stabi Reference arm and Koetsu Rosewood Signature cart. (around 10k), the music/sound is a lot quieter, more refined, with better resolution all around. There is no way you can compare the quality of Koetsu and Sumiko cartridges. BTW, the 2 TTs were using the same pre/amps and speakers.

I am now using the same Stabi Reference TT, but with Triplanar VII arm and Koetsu Jade Platinum, and the improvement is miles better than our previous set-up.

I can not say "How much is TOO MUCH for an Analog front-end", but I have heard an A-B comparison of the Kuzma Stabi Reference and XL, using the same Benz Micro LP carts., but Triplanar on Reference and Airline on XL, and the difference is night-and-day. Both were ABed using an ASR Basis Exclusive phono, via Karan pre/power and JMLab Alto Be speakers.

I am now considering to buy my next TT, and would USD 30k for the Kuzma XL and Airline combo (without cart) be too much ?

Cheers ... Peter
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
I had a HW19/SME 4/Benz Glider and when I went to an Aries2/JMW 10.5/Koetsu Urushi this was a tremendous improvement, so it fits the price range improvement model Audiofeil mentioned earlier.
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