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Ultimate Turntable search...OMA K5 or ?

As the title says, I’m on the hunt for a statement turntable. Don’t really post on the forum so forgive me if this has been discussed already. I’ve been told that whatsbest might be another place to post about this but I’ve been a seller on this site for many years, so I figured it was a good place to start.

I’m a longtime Caliburn owner but it’s time for a change. I would like to ditch the belt drive and vacuum. I know Fremer loves the OMA K3, but the K5 has got my attention. After owning many different speakers, a friend of mine turned me on to OMA. I ended up buying a pair of OMA mini’s about ten years ago and then quickly moved up to the AC-1. I’ve had a wonderful experience dealing with Jonathan and the company and love their aesthetic. With the AC-1s, my main system has reached a level of musicality and presence I never thought possible. I’ve recently come to the conclusion that upgrading my front end is my next big move. So I’ve been doing a ton of research on turntables in this class.

Although I’ve owned OMA speakers for years, I haven’t heard any of their new table designs. Sadly, I have not been to any shows or showrooms since covid. I do plan on visiting OMA sometime in the next few months, but for now, I’m interested if anybody has real life experience with the K3/K5 and if you have listening notes or opinions to share? Also curious to hear thoughts on competive turntables in this class. I have heard many high end tables in person, but definitely not all. Thanks!

mattdrummer
thr1961's avatar
thr1961
67 posts
 

Arriving a bit late to the discussion, but having upgraded my turntable five times since the start of covid (there is probably a great research project on the effect of covid on audio upgrade patterns), I ultimately landed on a CS Port TAT1M2. While not in the same price range as those being discussed, this table combined with the Kuzma Safir and the Koetsu Blue Lace and Koetsu SUT, has been a game changer for me. This combination continues to reveal new details in both new quality releases (Aja on 45 and Bill Evans "Waltz for Debby") as well as some of my original albums ("Blues and the Abstract Truth" and the first Tracy Chapman). Most importantly, I am able to listen for hours and hours without any of the exhaustion that can sometimes occur with other systems. 

It might be worth a listen if you have a chance. 

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

 

rsf507
2,318 posts
 

Wow! Isn't that SAT tonearm mounted on front like $75,000 ? Again WOW👌

whart's avatar
whart
3,039 posts
 

@thr1961- part of the magic you are experiencing is the Koetsu. I’m running a Kuzma XL/Airline on an HRS plinth with the big Minus K isolation platform (the same technology that the Dohmann (lauded above) relies on). I used some pretty high grade cartridges before the Koetsus- Lyra (Parnasass with platinum magnets; Titan i). Airtight (both PC-1 and Supreme) and the Koetsus gave me filled in bass with dimension and texture. Obviously, everything else has to be up to snuff.

There is more than one way to achieve an objective. I still ask, when paying in the 300k dollar range for the TT, how do you effectively compare and evaluate?

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

The wonderful thing with the UK and Europe, is that there are still options to walk into a premises and share in experiences as seen in the Video Clip, or have ones very similar.

In my local HiFi Group, A member has their own HiFi Business that shares a range of products found at the videos host 'Ana Mighty Sound', there are regular experiences of loaned products for Group get togethers used in systems that are very familiar.

Phasemation and Sculpture A products are presented to the group on occasions.        

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