As regards tt's, go and listen so some top flight rigs. Decide for yourself which drive technology gives you your preferred sonic result (belt-, idler-, or direct-drive). Then listen to a few more tt's that use your preferred drive system. Then, maybe you can ask here for opinions to help you decide among 3-4 possible choices. Otherwise, you can be prepared for the hugely divergent personal opinions of a bunch of audiophiles. And you know what audiophiles are like, me included. What I own is obviously the best.
By the way also, you cannot really divorce your choice of cartridge from your choice of tonearm. So I would choose tt first, then tonearm/cartridge as a unit. You have asked a very complex question with nearly infinite variables, but that will not stop others from telling you what to do. |
"Pod based". Do you mean like in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"?
The issue of outboard pods is yet another can of worms. There is a long thread here based on only that question. (Search on "Copernican".) Be prepared to be confused.
Why not introduce yet another variable: Are you prepared to buy used equipment? Are you prepared to buy well restored vintage equipment? |
Why is Trans-fi "thinking out of the box"? It's one of a bajillion
legitimate candidates that probably comes to the new owner in a box. |
Stringreen and Rodman, Do you mean to say that of all the turntable/tonearm combinations in all the world that can be had for $6000 or less, you would choose "VPI"? Not to denigrate VPI as a brand name in any way, but perhaps the OP would like a more specific response. After all, VPI make many combinations of tt and tonearm in that price range. And you don't think it matters what cartridge is chosen?
IMO, VPI is fine, but so too would be a dozen or more other choices. |
Curley, You are nowhere near the novice I thought you to be, based on the list of excellent turntables you have already owned. You might ask yourself why you were or are not satisfied with especially the top two or three on your list, the Basis, the TNT, and the Merrill. Did you sell them off, and do you now regret it, or are you just looking for something new and different? If the latter, and if the tt's on your list left you less than satisfied, you might try a different drive system from belt-drive. For the kind of money you are willing to spend, I would suggest you consider the direct-drive turntables from Brinkmann. There are several vintage direct-drives to think about as well, but you'd want one that is "done" and ready to use. Another option is a tricked out Lenco L75. But tonearm goes with cartridge, more than anything else, at the risk of repeating myself too often. |
Bodotes, You wrote, "I was impressed with the Pear Audio Blue turntables I saw at the recent Newport Show. They remind me of the old Nottingham decks, but the distributor claimed that they have improved materials and better construction."
Do you mean to infer that the distributor admitted there IS a relationship between Nottingham Analog and Pear Audio? Is Notts out of business? |
Bodotes, I too was a satisfied Notts user, although I've since gone on to a tweaked Lenco and several vintage DD turntables. I thought my Hyperspace was excellent, however, very open and "big" sound. After asking my question here, I did go to the Pear Audio website, and they do leave the impression that for sure there is an affiliation with Notts, if not more of a takeover of Tom Fletcher's philosophy. What I don't see in the Pear Audio product line is anything comparable in scale and ambition to the Dais or the Anna Log, let alone even the Hyperspace, if platter massiveness is any criterion. Two things I would have changed regarding the Notts paradigm: (1) More powerful motor that can start the platter from rest with no manual assist, and (2) less compliant drive belt. And of course you need the motor controller to max out the performance of any Notts; I could not believe the improvement I heard with the use of a Walker Audio Controller. |
I am sure you will be happy with your choice. |
Dear Hiho, Upon further thought, I would wish to modify my definition of audiophilia, in the interests of both fact and humor. But the OP has more responses here than he really needs.
Dfel, With $6000 to spend, one can purchase a very highly "tweaked" SP10 Mk2, needing no further work or repair. Not that I recommend such above all the other possibilities; I am just pointing that out. For far fewer bucks you can have a restored Kenwood L07D, which in my opinion would blow any VPI, save possibly the DD VPI, (and any SP10 Mk2) into the weeds and comes with tonearm. Takes a little sense of adventure to do that, I admit. |
