$2000 turntable system
I'd personally avoid the exact 2 cart... I think there are better options for around the same money or less. Of course, it all comes down to personal taste....but I was underwhelmed. Just do some research....the cart will make or break your sound. I found the Ortofon 2M's, Dynavectors, and the Shelter 201 to sound much better. |
leotis: Great calls all around. You went a little over your budget, but the upgrades are all money well spent: Jelco 750D tonearm, Vincent PHO-8, and Hana EL. The reviews I've read about the Hana cartridges are very favorable and they're consistently rated as as performing well above their price points. They evidently OEM MC carts for other brands that sell for much more money. When Herb Reichert reviewed the new Technics SL1200GAE turntable, he tried a number of cartridges on it, one of which was the Hana EL, for which he was particularly enthusiastic. |
I would recommend a VPI Scout or Vinyl Nirvana (http://vinylnirvana.com/) Ensure you do not cheap out on your phono pre-amp, the Vincent looks good. I am running a Audio Research PH3, the difference was night and day compared to a smaller solid state unit. See if you can find a used unit like that or get a Decware ZP3 (http://www.decware.com/newsite/ZP3.htm). I have run with a Denon DL-110 and an Ortofon 2M Bronze, the Bronze wins every day. Hope this helps. 2k is tough, its enough money to do some damage, but you will make some compromises in some areas. My reasonable dream setup would be:
Another great setup might be a VPI Player TT. I don't have personal experience with it, but it has a phono pre built in, its a VPI TT, and comes with a cart (2M Red) that you can upgrade in the future... maybe someone here can comment on the TT. |
