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Best sounding turntable and cartridge for $1100

I have seen a lot of turntable and cartridges packages in  $1000- $1100, such as the Project RPM3 with the Sumiko BP-2 MC.   Project Xperience 1 with a Sumiko Pearl MM;  Rega Planar 3 with a Elys II cartridge. 

 I have formerly owned a Rega 3-24 with Elys II  and a Project Carbon DC with Ortofon 2M Red (which I did not like at all) . Would like to try something different, but can live with the above brands depending on their overall performance 

Need recommendations for turntable/cartridge new or used combo that punches far above its price of  $1100.  Thank you

   

sunnyjim
stewart0722
184 posts
 
I heard from a dealer friend that he has a mint Music Hall 5.1 for 500.00  Don't know if it has the stock cartridge, but if so, it's an elliptical w/ replaceable stylii.  The price would of course allow you to put whatever on it......  I have a backup cartidge, the Ortofon Quintet Red and I have actually placed it for a couple of weeks on a VPI HR-X while I was waiting for a Transfig Proteus to come in and that little red filled the whole room with great music.......it's not for sale....
I now have the Proteus on an Oracle Delphi MK VI 2nd Gen table......
but I still love the Quintet Red.....for the $$
the guy with the Music Hall trade in is referenceanalog.com, he's also a VPI dealer.....
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 

To stewart0722.  Thank you for heads up about MH 5.1. TT  

Also, I read a few reviews about Ortofon  Qunitet Red but never was convinced it was as good as you comment.  The only concern is its low output at 0.3 mV . 

I a brand new Moon LP110 phono stage that is MM/MC. However, I would have to check if it can handle that output; I would want to crank CJ's preamp volume control up to 4'oclock high to get it loud.  

 

boofer
86 posts
 
I had a Clearaudio Virtuoso [mentioned a couple of responses above.]  Soundsmith retipping  cost $150  for  the bare  bones installation a couple of years ago and took over three months. Just this year I had  another  stylus assembly installed for $250 by the Needle Clinic in Bellevue, Wa,. with a turn around time of just two weeks.

I found  many user and other reviews of the Roundtable on the internet just by clicking the Music Fidelity Roundtable. reviews.


stewart0722
184 posts
 
In my world, lower output is a good thing, fewer windings equal
less mass and more transparency.....

If my only option was HO, I would abandon MC altogether and go
with Soundsmith MI or an Ortofon MM like the 2M Red or Bronze, but
the quintet is lower in cost.....

My solution with my current cartridge which is .1MV is a Hashimoto HM7 stepup transformer, run into my phono pre @ 47k which is giving me the most transparent and organic analog I've ever heard......but I'm sure there are phono pres out there that will handle .3MV just fine....

Thanks


helomech
1,851 posts
 
Though the Roundtable might be a good value at $300, I highly doubt it will perform as well as most tables in the $1k range. 

Since you seem to be looking for new instead of used, I highly recommend trying a Pioneer PLX1000 if you don't have an aversion to direct drives.

You might be able to find a NOS VPI Traveler for close to $1100 or you might also consider a VPI Player. 


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