Turntable Upgrade Suggestion


Hi all! I am looking to upgrade my turntable at the end of the summer and am soliciting opinions. I really love my Rega Planar 3 / RB300 combination, but I have a few needs that are making look elsewhere. First, I'd like a removable headshell / arm tube / dual arms to support a second mono cartridge. Secondly, I'd like to have good SRA adjustment, so to help support more exacting adjustments needed for more complex stylus cuts. I will need to be able to support cartridges in the 15 cu range (i.e. my new Zyx Bloom low-output and further upgrades in the Zyx line) plus a new mono cartridge (recommendations are appreciated). I have looked at various tables, but I'm having a hard time matching up an arm / table combo that would work well. I'l like to stay in the $1500-$2000 used range for the combo.

Thank you everyone for your help!
-Marc
mre2007
Marc, I guess better means whatever best fits your goals. If you hope to one day have the supporting cast of equipment and your personal listening enjoyment would actually increase with the elevation in audio performance, plan your project accordingly. I sometimes use the "fun per dollar ratio" when I attempt to use both sides of the brain at once (how often does that happen?). Unless you have a severe case of "hardware lust" and must have it now, the next levels of TT customization can be both rewarding and enjoyable taken step by step.
Other arms some people like are the Hadcock modified unipivot said to work well with higher performance carts. Or even the wild string and magnet suspendened Schroeder 1 among others.
Check out the TNT website / listening tests / analog if you have not already for some research. And have some fun while you collect your input. Be sure you have enough quality pre-amplification to correctly match up to what ever cart you choose to use!
Enjoy your music!
Jon
Jomoinc:

Just thought you'd like to know that I took your advice and have an OL Silver on the way ;) I haven't decided if I'm up to the task for installing the VTAF, but if so, then this is an elegant solution that allows me to use my Planar 3 with an arm that will work well with my new cartridge (i.e. highish effective mass).

Take care,
-Marc
Marc Congradulations. The decoupling priciple that the OL people incorporate in the stub and headshell piece should also work well with the decoupling engineered into the VTAF. You may want to check out the 6moons article(s) using both the OL Silver and the VTAF to great effect, if you have not already. It will affirm your good choice. Hey keep us posted on the upgrade process and performance observations.
Enjoy your music, Jon
Hey one more idea if keeping your P3 is the Origin live DC motor upgrade. Who knows you may just choose to keep the thing it sounds so good! Check out the reviews....
Jon
Marc,
I found Rega has a recent motor upgrade for the P3 or P2. Also Heed Audio has a PSU for Rega and others and of course the VPI SDS could be used also. Also other Rega tweeks include a motor & spindle vibration banding with elastomer band that is said to capture and convert vibration to heat, Iron Audio, groove tracer, the Funk Firm and others make platters etc.
Enjoy the music!
Jon Morstad