2. analog
  3. 126816-1644

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
bpoletti
1,547 posts
 
sunnyjim....

IMO, a properly set-up HW-19 Mk III (remove the spring suspension and use pucks, level the system, etc.) will outperform anything remotely close in price, new or used, except for a HW-19 Mk IV (typically a few hundred more).  Arms are important, but pretty much all the true Mk IIIs have good arms.  They are good tables and had good arms installed.

And the really great thing about VPI tables is that VPI is still around and supporting their products. 
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 

To fjn   Where did you audition the Wax Engine turntable??  I found there website, but they have no dealer in the USA.  

Also, the company is in China and any factory direct sale could entail expensive shipping, and possibly import and/or brokerage fees. 

I sent them an e-mail about two tables in their line: "Wax Engine": and  :"Isolde"    I am not hopeful that these tables are worth the money or possible hassles of buying directly from a foreign manufacture which I never heard of before today.  Thanks   


fjn04
1,561 posts
 
sunnyjim- In Living Stereo in NYC. Don Better in Cleveland is a dealer as well.
wolf_garcia
6,681 posts
 
I've been looking at the Pro-Ject "The Classic" (among other tables) as a replacement for my "it's gonna die someday" trusty Linn Basic/Akito rig. Anybody buy one of these yet? Reviews are pretty good and they got some Euro award…comes with a silver wired Ortofon MM cartridge…blah blah…too new to be discounted yet, but the list of around a grand seems fair. Curious.
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 

To Wolf Garcia, I have seem this model in Audio Advisor, and Sound StageDirect. But neither is dealing at this time, and even if they did, it would be only 5%.  The cartridge billed as the "Silver" Ortofon implies it is a member of their 2M line.  Possibly, but  I think it might be more like a half step above the 2M RED, but lower performance than the 2M Blue which I owned and sold because it scoops up LP surface noise like a vacuum cleaner. 

I think you would be better served for a hundred dollars, at $999  with the "bare bones" RPM 3 pre-packed with a Sumiko BP-2 MC which has received very good reviews.

 However, be careful, because Project looks like they are backing off of prepacking the table with that spike, and reserving it for the more expensive RPM 5.  I saw some evidence of this change in the new Music Direct catalogue . Good Luck,    SJ

More to discover