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Time to upgrade my turntable?

I'm thinking about getting a new turntable to replace my 4 year old Pro-ject Debut Carbon with an acrylic platter and 2M Blue cartridge (with about 600 hours on it). My budget right now is about $1000 but would consider spending a bit more for right turntable. Currently my system consists of a Sansui B-2101 2 amp (200 wpc) powering ADS L1290 speakers (the speakers will be upgraded shortly to ADS L1590's when I find and replace a couple drivers). I am using a Yamaha DSP A1 as the preamp (I like the DSP sound fields that imitate jazz clubs and concert halls). I do have the matching Sansui C-2101 preamp but it is not currently in line.  I also use a DBX 3BX DS impact restorer and expander/compressor. 

I listen to classical music and jazz.

What would you suggest? I might prefer to stay within the Pro-ject line as I could reuse the acrylic platter (if one is not provided with the recommended turntable). Perhaps the debut pro or X1?
128x128cspiegs
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,924 posts
 
The biggest upgrade you could make would be to ditch all of that signal processing for a good two channel integrated amp. A lot of newbies think they like the gimmicky sound fields, but once you’ve heard two channel done right, you won’t worry about all that hokey stuff.
+1 @ozzy62
This is my thinking as well after looking at your system. Forget the TT & get a proper preamp. If you like the DSP over your Sansui C-2101 preamp its a good indication that the caps (among other things) are dried up. IF the caps haven’t been replaced in the amp, get it recapped as well. As others have said, your existing TT matches the system. New caps in amp and new/used preamp will improve that TT a lot.

mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Ok, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and recommend a tt system. Keep in mind these are similar components to what the OP has, only upgraded and better sounding. IMO. And all within his budget.

Turntable: Rega P2
Cartridge: Nagaoka MP-110
Phono preamp: Schiit Mani

I have heard all my recommendations, and also what the OP currently has. I know there can be many other worthwhile recommendations, but these are some I am familiar with.

Just my 2 cents worth, nothing more, nothing less.
Hope I can be of some help to the OP.


inscrutable
312 posts
 
Re stylus life …
Most of the research I have done … and of course some you take with a salt lick … std elliptical usually go north of 1000 hours (but less than 2000, some a lot less) IF you keep the stylus and records clean. Ortofon themselves say fine at 1000 and distortion by 2000. If you look at a number of users especially those that have examined with a microscope, I see a range of 1000-1500.
Conicals won’t last as long … hyper elliptical, line contact, Shibata will last longer.
Thats what my research has yielded, take FWIW.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,628 posts
 
Stylus life!
https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/how-long-will-my-stylus-last/
inscrutable
312 posts
 
And my $0.02 …
I do think your system is pretty well-balanced, which is a 2-edged sword … makes it hard to get a big improvement for $1000. Others have said this. I don’t THINK your stylus is worn and needs replacement, but then I don’t know how/if you clean your stylus and records. Best to examine it. If truly warn, then yes you can get a decent margin of improvement with a new stylus … believe blue is the end of the line with that body and need a whole cartridge to get to bronze or black, so that also opens up other possibilities.
I would suggest you consider SoundSmith Carmen … it is really good, at your $1000 budget, AND they will retip for only 20% ($200) so you can double it’s life.

If stylus is good, I would save up more for next component, and I think preamp or phono preamp would be next. (Or by that time, it may be replacing your entire table, but I do think otherwise you have other weak link(s), and wholesale table/arm/cart will put you in the $3k range unless going used.

Again, FWIW and YMMV
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