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Help with Turntable/arm/cart decision

Hello Audiogoners please help me with a NEW turntable purchase. System is McIntosh C2200 pre with MC352 amp. Speakers are Dynaudio Contour 3.0's. OK, looking for a complete new turntable with tonearm and a cartridge for under $5,000. So far I am looking at: Clearaudio Performance DC w/verify tonearm, Pro-Ject Xtension 10 w/10cc EVO arm. I would like to be able to use my MM phono input through the C2200, I would consider an external phono pre if needed. I really like MC carts over MM's not sure why.....maybe mc seems to me to be more accurate and dynamic?? Or maybe I haven't heard a great MM. Tables I have had in the past are....Thornes TD160 w/TP16 tonearm with Grado Prestige woodbody, I think. Also, Rega P3 w/RB301 tonearm and a Dynavector 10X5. Help, I want something up a level or 2 from these, if possible?
128x128mattmiller
jperry
2,454 posts
 
Matt, I have heard the Pro-ject Xtension 10 and 12 turntables many times. I think they are great price performers and will be a very nice improvement over your current setup.

I would like to know your thoughts on your new v. old setup after you have time to let everything settle in.

Good Listening,

Jim Perry
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I heard the Xtension 10 with a Shelter cart. at a guys house
and was very impressed with its performance on choral and chamber music .
cjaronica
113 posts
 
TTW Audio is coming out with a new table soon for around $3500. I have one of his tables they are built like a truck and sound great
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
The thing is the OP isn't spending that much on his table/cart set up. I'm sure the TTW table will be good. Most in that range are pretty good. The nice thing is that we have many new options at all price ranges. Thanks for sharing about the TTW table. Look forward to checking it out when it happens.
kiko65
279 posts
 
The C2200's phono stage provides 40dB of gain. The phono sensitivity is given as 4.4mV for 2.5V output at 1kHz.

The DV 10X5 would be a perfect match (Output Voltage 2.5mV at 1KHz, 5cm/sec.) for the C2200 phono stage as it should sound very neutral. The DV 20X2 ( 2.8mV at 1KHz, 5cm/sec.) should also work very well and is a much better cart than the 10X5.

You could go with either the Clearaudio Performance DC w/verify tonearm or the Pro-Ject Xtension 10 w/10cc EVO arm, both excellent TTs. That said, DV carts pair very well with VPI turntables.

VPI Prime ($3,500.00) and the DV20X2 ($900.00) would fit your budget.

No bias here as I don't own VPI nor DV.
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