In my opinion, you're better off allocating as much as your comfortable with towards the cartridge. I believe you estimated 20% listening would be vinyl. With clean, undamaged lp's, retipping should be many years down the road. I have the version 1 Virtuoso on my Aries Scout, and the sound quality is fantastic. Like you, I have a low tolerance for brightness in a system. Have you considered the Pioneer PLX-1000? While I haven't heard it, there seems to be pretty decent feedback online. While not in vogue these days, a Grado Platinum or Sonata (I've owned both), might be worth considering.
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
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I was surprised to see an ad for Audioengine line of "turntable". They look nice, and the pricing is reasonable, but the models "Orbit Plus" and "Orbit Special" are pre-packed with "the same old same old": Ortofon OM5e on the Plus and the universal 2M RED on the Orbit Special Neither cartridge sends me into "orbit" Does anyone own or auditioned one of these "bad boys" ?? Thanks, SJ |
Thanks to all who have responded and provided many good TT options. However, I ran across and ad for "U-Turn Audio turntables" on a Stereophile newsletter. I have never heard of this company, but their website is impressive and offers a slide show of the manufacturing process of their tables located in Woburn, Massachusetts. They offer a few models and a "custom option" where the buyer can pick and choose features. I priced out their "Orbit Plus" table with Red plinth, acrylic platter, cueing lift, and a Grado Black cartridge (comes with dustcover and phono cables) The total price was $349.00; and $369.00 with the Ortofon 2M RED.. No matter I could replace either at some point with something much better. The pricing seems very reasonable. Has anyone auditioned or owned one of these tables. If so, would you know how the U-Turn table might compare to the Music Hall 5.1 table with their own Magic 3 cartridges.?? There are several on sale on AG, and also by some internet vendors, like Music Direct, and Soundstage Direct Thanks, SJ |
sunnyjim sez: I am not sure I want to go the modded TT route. It will or could be expensive, and do I really want a table that has dance club speed and pitch controller.I’m really getting tired of this myth. The Technics SL12x0 series WAS NOT designed as a dance club turntable. It was designed as a high end broadcast and home machine, and later *adopted* by the dance club set for its drive, ruggedness, and yes, speed and pitch matching. But there are home use applications for the speed control too. Not every album was cut at an exact 33-1/3 rpm. A famous example is side one of Miles Davis’ "Kind of Blue." In the Comments section of Michael Fremer’s review of the new Technics SL1200 GAE, when a detractor stated that the speed adjustments "were for DJs and scratchers," Fremer answered: Or...It’s also handy for musicians who want to play along with records, and either have to pitch-match to the instrument or the other way around. If your piano is out of tune, you’re better off adjusting the speed/pitch control. |
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