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
LOL! Folks take it easy. All good here, I don’t feel ripped off at all by my purchase. I can appreciate good product. I used to be a canvassing salesman many years ago and my ex boss have a saying that I will never forget, he said “salesman can lie but price tag will never lie” meaning good products are usually expensive and cheap products are rarely good.

I admit I was a bit hasty when deciding about my latest entire audio system but who doesn’t when just going back to a dear hobby after a very long hiatus? I quit my audio hobby some 17 years ago not because I am bored with the hobby, like I said upthread I quit because I have to grow up and stop getting money from my dad, so it was financial issue really and my mentality dictates that I’d rather be “audioless” than having low end audio so I survived 17 years with portable Bose or Sonos. Took me 17 or so years of hard work and crazy stress to be able to go back to this expensive audio hobby so I just want to enjoy what I can, even my wonderful wife approves. However, right now, I am no way in any shape or form is hasty. The initial excitement has died down and now I am a lot more cautious in selecting my next upgrade, if you look at my other threads you can tell that I am in the stage of researching deeply about my upgrade path but so far I only pulled the trigger on the Kuzma XL DC and I think the decision I made on the Kuzma XL DC is a wise and good one. Especially the fact that I am paying exactly a hair under $30.000 for everything. I am a happy camper. In fact, a day after I paid the down payment for the Kuzma, somebody from a nearby city offered me a Kronos Pro with Black beauty tonearm and cartridge (can’t remember the cart), it’s supposed to be a $65.000 setup and I can have it for $28.000. I didn’t even blink an eye.... that’s how content I am with the Kuzma XL DC after the fact that I have auditioned the sound extensively and I loved it more than anything I ever heard before. That’s enough for me, I’ve heard MY best so I don’t need to hear anything else (same mentality I treated my wife FWIW) 

I am waiting for my custom table to be delivered in two weeks time before I can install (with help) the Kuzma. I realized I have zero possibility of installing the Kuzma on my existing el cheapo plywood table. I will post pictures after everything is setup, it’s gonna be beautiful on top of a custom solid teak wood table.

Thanks for everyone’s suggestions, I think the wisest “preventative” steps I could take right now is to; first buy a cheaper cartridge to familiarize myself on operating one safely and store the expensive Miyajima until I am confident enough then buy the record ultrasonic cleaner.

Peace everyone and please keep this thread peaceful and civil ✌️
@chackster
You have nice gear. But wow it's interesting your take on business. Do you not markup a record you press or resell? Is that not part of your business? Or a cartridge you resell?


@chakster , you really need to lighten up. And that paragraph about a $3K used machine outperforming the big Kuzma is a matter for medication.
@terry9 , I did some research on your recommendation on the ultrasonic cleaner... damn I want that, all in or all out right? For the meantime I am looking for cheaper cartridge to learn with, care to suggest? Not looking to spend more than $1500 for the “learning phase” cartridge and perhaps on this case I’ll heed to the “buy used” suggestion suggested by @chakster .