2. analog
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The best TT system for under 30K

Hi agoners! 

I have been floored by Kuzma Stabi XL DC with 4 points TA on a recent audition. It was extremely analog sounding, insane details with speed, beat and clarity that made me wonder if I am listening to a live concert, just can’t help my toe tapping. Was comparing the sound to the top of the line Accuphase CD player with the same rest of system and it was no contest. 

Switching from Accuphase CD player to Kuzma XL DC was sounding like adding a pair of subwoofer and going up 2-3 levels on the rest of the system. Mind you the rest of the system was Accuphase E-650 class A integrated that should favor the Accuphase same brand CD player but that wasn’t the case. The speaker was Kerr Acoustics K300 under 10K entry level bookshelf and the sound of the entire entry level system armed with Kuzma XL DC beat the hell out of the entire super high end system the dealer has on the other listening room with Avalon PM3 speakers, Accuphase A-250 monos, Audionet Stern Preamp with Accuphase CD player. 

However obviously I cannot afford the whole set of Kuzma XL DC considering I am also in the process of upgrading my existing system. What will be the closest contender in the US$30.000 retail price range that has the same sonic signature as Kuzma XL DC? 

Thanks in advance for any advices!!
uwiikz
terry9
2,353 posts
 
@uwiikz, @lalitk 

About record cleaning, the machine @lalitk recommended looks like a variant on the VPI 16.5. Much better than nothing, but not consistent with your investment in vinyl front end, IMO. I had one of the VPI machines - after cleaning with the VPI, my ultrasonic system removed as much grunge again. Difference in sound was even greater. Some unlistenably noisy records became pristine, high M-, if you can believe it.

The issue with record grunge is that even a tiny amount is unacceptable, since an analysis indicated equal portions of grease, diamond dust, and household dust (don't have the reference). That is just about an ideal industrial grinding compound, ready and able to re-shape your expensive, precision stylus into a blob. Using the VPI alone, one of my styli was utterly destroyed after about 1500 hours, vs almost new after 1000.


honeyooi
126 posts
 
congrats for your new TT ,
have fun and joy listening to lot records .Im too love miyajima cartridge ,I guess at that price maybe yours is madake .
be careful and always care and clean the stylus !
Advice :not to let kid or maid/pembantu clean your table , accidents you want to avoid ...Cartridge very fragile .

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,575 posts
 
@terry9 

Thank you for your post. The grunge you speak of....is that more of a problem with used LP’s or brand new LP as well? 
terry9
2,353 posts
 
Recommended equipment. I use an Elmasonic P60H, sold by Fisher, a prominent laboratory equipment supplier. This endorsement is important, because if lab equipment doesn't meet spec (specification), there is hell to pay, exacted by the biggest heavyweights. So you can trust Elma (a German company) equipment not to run overpower and ruin things nor underpower and not clean things. In my unit, Quality Control is superb.

That's the tank. To rotate the records in the US bath, I use an assembly made by Vinyl Stack, a U.S. company. Quality is very high, comparable  to Elma. A well thought out product which is easy to use. Even further, they will work with you to give you exactly what you need. I use one assembly with the Elmasonic to clean, another assembly to rinse.

Cleaning one or two records at a time gives best results; whether this is a matter of power per record or the distance between them I am not sure, although I suspect the latter. For cleaning chemistry I use 5% Fisher Versaclean in distilled water, 45C, 80KHz, 15 minutes. Then I rinse 4 times, dry, and put into new sleeves. @whart @antinn @rushton and others have made valuable comments on the subject. One user summarized the above, but his handle escapes me.
terry9
2,353 posts
 
Grunge is mainly on old records - the diamond dust comes from styli now dead.

But I clean NEW records as well. Opinion is divided on whether or not new records can be contaminated with mold-release compound or some other liquid residue, but with a $10K cartridge I take no chances. No record is allowed to look at the Koetsu before it is cleaned.

Allow me to add my congratulations on your new turntable. A fine unit which you will enjoy for many years - and IMO, that's money well spent.
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