Taking the analog plunge...

TWL,

I'm really glad to see he did something about that tie-wrap cartridge mount. I can image that cartridge twisting while it plays. It is a rather inventive setup.

'tunz,

You're right on about the heat generation. We have had temps down in the teens on several nights here in New England and I have not once had to turn the heat on in my listening room. It stays a balmy 72 but is really dry. I sometimes have to crack a window or door to the outside after a few hours of constant listening just to let in some cooler air.

Dear Loonytunz: For your anolog rig: TT: Acoustic Signature Final Tool, PC: Sumiko Celebration and T: Moerch DP 6.

Inscrutable it's right: a tube phono stage not only limit to MM its really limit the use of any kind of cartridge: if you really take care about the quality of music reproduction stay away from tube phono stages ( ANY ).
Dan ed speak to take a step-up transformer with the tube phono stage, this will be a double mistake: 1- tube phono stage and 2- SUT it will be an additional link in the signal. BTW, the best step-up transformer is : NO STEP-UP TRANSFORMER.

Regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.

Well, if you have to stay away from tubes you might as well toss your whole system and buy SS gear. But since I'm guessing that ain't gonna happen, I'd give the EAR the nod. I used one early on, and had great luck with it. The Wright is also highly recommended.

As far as TT's go, read some of the Teres threads. You can get up the ladder including an arm & cartridge for the 3 grand+ you'll have left over after the 834P or Wright. $2500 for an unfinished 245, $570 for a OL250, and $250 for a Denon103r. That's all new pricing. You can probably do a lot better on the arm. A 150 or 160 saves a lot more.

I've got it (a diy modified 245) and I love it. It smokes any LP12 or lower end Nott I've ever heard. Don't know about the GyroSE, but IMHO that thing is not as good looking as a Teres. And I'm not a fan of any kind of suspension under my TT. But at least both are upgradeable. If you find the aesthetics pleasing, I think you'll be better off with the Teres.

I'd try the Altmann, but only with the tie-wrap!

And stepups work very well, and are dead quiet if you have to go that way. I've tried both the K&K and the Microgroove with good results. And the K&K to your list for $250.

The other thing you may want to check on is adding a phono board to your 5i. Not sure if you can, but it would be worth a call or email to find out. I know they offer all kinds of upgrades.

Just thought I'd add one more opinion to a list that should be very diverse. At least I've tried to stay close to your budget. $6500 for the last suggestion with NO phono stage probably isn't going to help you a lot. Good hunting, it should be fun!

Joe

Dan_ed, Looneytunz, Joe, et al,
Whoa big fella ... I said 'may' limit. No bashing of either tubes nor MM cartridges here. But most tube phono stages only have enough gain for either MM or posibly HO MC. Sure, you could add a step-up transformer (some tube phono pre's like the oft-mentioned 834P have them integrated). But with budget concerns as they are, I just thought he shouldn't overlook some fine SS phono pre's, such as Acoustech PH-1P or Gram Slee Gold. Or he may well be happy with an MM cartridge.

No worries here! I have nothing against SS and you're right. There are some good SS phono stages out there. From time to time I see this idea thrown out that tubes somehow limit the cartridges you can use and I don't believe it is the tubes as much as the individual phono stages themselves which may not have enough gain for some of the low ouput carts. But there is a way around that issue.