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
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communique1
64 posts
 
I've had for little over a year a killer table that trounced my VPI Scoutmaster in very conceivable way and it's on the south side in price and then some compared to the Prime that would allow you to get a better cartridge. Take a look at the turntables form Small Audio Manufacture a company out of Croatia! I have the Reference which I use with either The Wand 12" arm and a Origin Live Silver Mk III...it holds up to three arms. I use a Zyx 4D. These are awesome tables and I suggest you give them query...you won't be sorry. They're building quite a following. I have no affiliation with the company, only 100% satisfaction...even a free motor upgrade....
jond's avatar
jond
5,794 posts
 
@communique1 cool looking tables I checked out their site, any idea the pricing?
markmendenhall
223 posts
 

Mark, what do you have and what catridge do you use? I didn't mention Nottingham because they are talking VPI and the OP seems to have set his mind. Though there are not too many Nottinghams in the US, still you very rarely see them for sale. But I do mention Nottingham in other threads all the time. Take a look at Pear Audio turntables, they are the evolution of Tom Fletcher's ideas.Enter your text ...


Inna - I own the basic Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck with the original Spacearm loaded with an Ortofon Cadenza bronze cartridge. I've owned it for approximately 13 years.  Initially I had a Benz high output wood body MC cartridge then changed to the Ortofon - substantial improvement in all areas.  I could afford to 'upgrade' my TT, but have never felt the need nor do I have the patience at this point in my life.  Too often I've been bit by the 'upgrade' bug only to learn that what I own is already very good and all I've done is buy something 'different', not necessarily better.  The Pear Audio product looks suspiciously like the Nottingham product.  I think Nottingham is just one of those slightly 'under the radar' type products, with a slight cult-like following.  I loved my Sota Sapphire but I prefer the Nott:  blacker background, more detail, less 'warm', more neutral, equally if not more musical.  Both are great decks.  

cjmc8
8 posts
 
I would recommend the VPI Classic (1). They can be had new for around $2500 and sound even better than the reviews written about them. I would pair it with a Dynavector 20X2 either low or high output and just listen to music. With that said I want to note that I have a Classic now and don't plan on changing it for another table. I do not own a 20X2 however I do have a version of the mother of the 10X that sounds excellent. I have also heard many other Dyna's over the years.

Hope this helps. Don
Just remember YMMV
larryi
3,979 posts
 

emailist,

The insect tweak is part of a comprehensive approach I take to just about all my endeavors--If I can get away with doing nothing, that is how I will handle it.  That is why I also use "dust damping" for my turntable and other components--I let dust collect on everything based on the convenient theory that this natural form of damping will improve performance.

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