2. analog
  3. 126251-489

My final table , hopefully !

Back in the 80's I was seduced to the digital side ! At first it was lovely . But then , I became hooked , it got cold and ugly .  After a lot of work and many years , I was able to get onto the recovery road to analogdom .

I returned with a MMF 5.1 turntable and stock cartridge . Oh that warm cozy feeling , I missed you so ! 

 But now , as luck would have it , I want MORE !  More dynamics , more detail , more extension , more rich tone and above all else more of that sensuous musicality . I've grown old , fat and out of shape since I quit tapping my toes , bobbing my head , playing air guitar & and dancing around the room ! I'm greedy and I want it all !

Unfortunately , my addictions have forced me to the land of the small budget . I need to stay in the 2K + 3K range . If I can trade in my MMF 5.1 table and cartridge , that would help .


I would like to spend a majority of my money on the table and arm . I need a faithful dog , a table that will stick with me through thick & thin and never leave my side . To grow older with me without the need for attention . I am a set it & forget it / plug n play kind of guy . I want to listen to music , not futz with stuff . I am not able to go out and hear a lot of stuff so my ideas come from the net ...and my help comes from you !

I have read that different manufacturers tables have different sound characteristics . How much of this can be attributed to the arm and cartridge used ? How much can it be altered ? I prefer classic rock , singers & songwriters , contemporary blues , Detroit soul and classical . Not much for Disco ,  Rap , Techno or Hip Hop .

While most tables have an upgrade path , I would like to refrain from taking it . Again the plug n play / set it & forget it attitude .


Here is what I have come up with , in no special order :

VPI Prime - the most expensive , comes with the 3D arm .

Well Tempered Amadeus MKII - comes with the golf ball arm .

Avid Diva II

Sota Saphire V - no real need for a suspension system as I am on a slab .

Sota Saphire III - refurbished , again no real need for the suspension system . 

Origin Live Calypso MkIII

Looking at the Jelco 750D arm for some of these tables .


Thank You .

Saki70


saki70
saki70 OP
907 posts
 

First and foremost , I want to thank everyone immensely !

The responses have been terrific and far more than I could've hoped for .

There is a lot of good information here that should help many others .

I decided to rule out anything used from a private party due to many horror stories about shipping damages . Also anything that came with a recommendation of an immediate upgrade or part change .


Sota - Obviously an excellent product with a great reputation  . But it was stated that it works best with different types of music than what I desire and I have no need for a suspension system . tdybare1 speaks of his Nova with the vacuum hold down but that is above my price point . So I ruled out Sota .

WT Amadeus MKII - Very well respected . I thought long and hard on this one . But considering my waning dexterity and the operation of the tone arm without the aid of lifting devices , I had to decide against it .

Avid Diva II - Nobody spoke to this one .

That leaves the Origin Live Calypso MKIII and the VPI Prime .

The Prime has garnered quite a few accolades , gets spoken of frequently , does not have any recommended upgrades and is 'Made in America' . So I ordered one today .

 Again , thank you to everyone . 

saki70

exron
111 posts
 
If I were you I would look into the ProJect RPM-10 Carbon.  I recently bought one after comparing against a bunch of others including the VPI Prime and I thought the Carbon 10 sounded better and had the better design.  It's just my opinion, check it out.
berhart
32 posts
 
Thank god somebody mentioned Nottingham!! 
Besides Rega RP8+
Your opinions are marginal at best!!
berhart
32 posts
 
VPI= Honda Accord 
terry9
2,354 posts
 
Orpheus, my experience is too limited. I’ve tried to move up a lot with each change, so that I have lived with only a half dozen TT in the last 20 years. Of course, I've auditioned quite a few, but that's not the same at all. 

Simplifying a bit, I went from a Rega to a Linn Basik, because the LP12 seemed to be not that much better than the Basik. To get that jump, I had to wait for Nottingham Analogue, then heavily modified it (another big jump - NA plinths are their weak point, IMO). Then my own air bearing design. At each stage, I got increased definition and decreased noise, without compromising sweetness and euphony. 

Berhrt, Inna, as you can see, I agree that the NAS Dais is also a good buy, but have no experience of NAS in the $2K-3K range.

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