If you have an EXTREMELY ROCK SOLID place to install your TT with minimal vibration transfer, picking a table leaves you with a lot of choices. Suspension won't be as big of a deal so you can look at other areas of performance and design. Otherwise, the table with the best suspension for a suspended floor or if you will be placing it on a less than "gibraltar" type rack or mount is a Sota.
There is a reason that the Sota's are so heavy, as it takes a LOT of suspension and isolation to keep your arm from hopping around when boogie-ing on a floor that flexes or really like to crank the volume. A heavier platter is also "usually" a good thing too, so that also adds weight. The Sota's also have a truly excellent bearing in the Sapphire version, one which is only bettered by the newer VPI IV's ( according to "reliable sources" ). Keep in mind that these comments are based on a "working class" budget and not a "skies the limit" all out assault on analogue reproduction. I'm sure that there are better bearings available if you are willing to pay for them.
A used Sota Sapphire can set you back by about $300 - $500 without an arm, depending on shape, condition, options, etc... If you can find one with a decent arm for that price, you would be way ahead of the game and have something that a comparably priced Rega, Music Hall, etc... could not hold a candle to.
If you REALLY get into vinyl, you can upgrade the unit to a Sota Star Sapphire, which gives you vacuum hold down to minimize the influence of warps and airborne vibrations. This type of set-up gets pretty involved, as you need an external vacuum pump, a vacuum canister, hoses, etc... Not for the faint of heart or those willing to deal with somewhat of a mess in order to obtain the best results possible.
If you do find a table without an arm, you can pick up a simple yet universal arm like an Audioquest. This is more versatile than the stock yet highly respected Rega since it has VTA adjustments from the factory. On top of this, it would set you back LESS than the Rega, as i've seen these sell for about $200 used.
At the most, you know have $700 tied up in this rig. This leaves you with at least $300 to play with for a cartridge and "accessories". You will have to find out if your preamp has an MC ( moving coil aka "low output cartridge" ) or MM ( moving magnet aka "high output cartridge" ) input or both. If it is a "standard" phono section, it is probably geared for a MM type cartridge or a HIGH output MC type cartridge. If you shop around, there are several very respectable cartridges that are available in this price range.
I would also try to shoot for a record clamp and a minimalist record cleaning brush. As far as clamps go, you could get by with a used Sota or Michell clamp. These can be had for about $30 - $60 or so. A good basic carbon fiber brush will be a good start. You can check the usual sources on the web like Audio Advisor, Music Direct ( talk to Bes ), etc.. for a small variety of these. We prefer these as they do not shed ( or at least not nearly as bad ) as a Discwasher or other soft velvet type brush. Another good phono source is Kevin at KAB Electro-Acoustics. He's "straight up" and will talk "english" to you so that you can understand where he's coming from. Figure about $20 - $30 for a new brush.
This would give a very well versed yet basic system to work with. If you wanted to REALLY go the "inexpensive" route, i would suggest looking for an AR Turntable. While quite similar in design, the later models were called "The Turntable", ES-1, EB-101, etc... This is a good but basic design that has a very moderate suspension. It is highly upgradable, but you might be better off putting your money into something more upscale if you want to upgrade. These can be had for anywhere between $125 and $450, depending on shape, condition, with or without arm, etc...
Keep in mind that these are strictly my opinions and mean nothing in the real world. If i have offended anyone, belittled their gear, robbed them of their manhood ( or womanhood ) by disagreeing with their point of view, i appologize. After that modified Pioneer DVD thread, i think that i'll have to put this type of disclaimer on every post. You might not believe some of the emails that poured in off of that one.... Sean
>
There is a reason that the Sota's are so heavy, as it takes a LOT of suspension and isolation to keep your arm from hopping around when boogie-ing on a floor that flexes or really like to crank the volume. A heavier platter is also "usually" a good thing too, so that also adds weight. The Sota's also have a truly excellent bearing in the Sapphire version, one which is only bettered by the newer VPI IV's ( according to "reliable sources" ). Keep in mind that these comments are based on a "working class" budget and not a "skies the limit" all out assault on analogue reproduction. I'm sure that there are better bearings available if you are willing to pay for them.
A used Sota Sapphire can set you back by about $300 - $500 without an arm, depending on shape, condition, options, etc... If you can find one with a decent arm for that price, you would be way ahead of the game and have something that a comparably priced Rega, Music Hall, etc... could not hold a candle to.
If you REALLY get into vinyl, you can upgrade the unit to a Sota Star Sapphire, which gives you vacuum hold down to minimize the influence of warps and airborne vibrations. This type of set-up gets pretty involved, as you need an external vacuum pump, a vacuum canister, hoses, etc... Not for the faint of heart or those willing to deal with somewhat of a mess in order to obtain the best results possible.
If you do find a table without an arm, you can pick up a simple yet universal arm like an Audioquest. This is more versatile than the stock yet highly respected Rega since it has VTA adjustments from the factory. On top of this, it would set you back LESS than the Rega, as i've seen these sell for about $200 used.
At the most, you know have $700 tied up in this rig. This leaves you with at least $300 to play with for a cartridge and "accessories". You will have to find out if your preamp has an MC ( moving coil aka "low output cartridge" ) or MM ( moving magnet aka "high output cartridge" ) input or both. If it is a "standard" phono section, it is probably geared for a MM type cartridge or a HIGH output MC type cartridge. If you shop around, there are several very respectable cartridges that are available in this price range.
I would also try to shoot for a record clamp and a minimalist record cleaning brush. As far as clamps go, you could get by with a used Sota or Michell clamp. These can be had for about $30 - $60 or so. A good basic carbon fiber brush will be a good start. You can check the usual sources on the web like Audio Advisor, Music Direct ( talk to Bes ), etc.. for a small variety of these. We prefer these as they do not shed ( or at least not nearly as bad ) as a Discwasher or other soft velvet type brush. Another good phono source is Kevin at KAB Electro-Acoustics. He's "straight up" and will talk "english" to you so that you can understand where he's coming from. Figure about $20 - $30 for a new brush.
This would give a very well versed yet basic system to work with. If you wanted to REALLY go the "inexpensive" route, i would suggest looking for an AR Turntable. While quite similar in design, the later models were called "The Turntable", ES-1, EB-101, etc... This is a good but basic design that has a very moderate suspension. It is highly upgradable, but you might be better off putting your money into something more upscale if you want to upgrade. These can be had for anywhere between $125 and $450, depending on shape, condition, with or without arm, etc...
Keep in mind that these are strictly my opinions and mean nothing in the real world. If i have offended anyone, belittled their gear, robbed them of their manhood ( or womanhood ) by disagreeing with their point of view, i appologize. After that modified Pioneer DVD thread, i think that i'll have to put this type of disclaimer on every post. You might not believe some of the emails that poured in off of that one.... Sean
>