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recommendation for a high end analog system

I never had an analog system until last month. I bought a 1989 SOTA TT with vacuum/Sumiko MMT arm/Dennon 103R retyped with elliptical/sapphire cantilever. My phono is Kitsune MK5 WBT that is amplified by Don Sach 2 tube preamp and Pass X350.5. My speaker are Sound Lab M545 ESL. The TT has been very   well maintained despite its age. It sounded very good until I heard my friend's system which has the same TT but with Lyra Skala cartridge and first generation Triplanar arm (Spectral pre/amp). His sounded noticeably clearer and fuller. What is the best way to get a noticeable improvement in my system without breaking the bank (or before I have to squint to hear the improvement). I would love to hear some wisdom from analog-philes.
128x128chungjh
chungjh's avatar
chungjh OP
265 posts
 
@mijostyn,

Keeping the dust cover on while playing means no TP arm for SOTA. It is not that easy to find a tonearm with an easy VTA control whether on the fly or not. I was interested in Origin Live, but the VTA control is not easy.
lewm
13,110 posts
 
So lose the dust cover. Mijostyn is in the minority who believe that the dust cover does more good than harm. I wouldn’t let the dust cover control my choice of tonearm. But better yet, make up your own mind based on listening. You might end up agreeing with mijostyn.
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
i let my equipment rack drive all my equipment choices... 🤪🤪🤪🤪
lohanimal
659 posts
 
What is it that you most like about your friends set-up - what part of his audio chain - ie amp? phono? cartridge?
To add my tuppence worth of advice have you considered an MM cartridge like the Cartridgeman Music Maker or an offering by Soundsmith? in terms of drive, body and oomph they do something far more visceral than any MC out there - very satisfying. I have a Pickering XSV4000 MM that really changed my perception of MM's - just as enjoyable as my MC's
chungjh's avatar
chungjh OP
265 posts
 
SOTA has a magnetic levitation platter. Anyone know if this makes a significant difference in SQ?
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