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Your choice - TT, Arm, Stage, Cartridge - $5000 budget

So imagine you were just given ~$5000 and told to buy your ideal analog setup within that budget.

What would be your choice for turntable, arm, phono stage, and cartridge be? Any other accessories to consider?

How would you spend it?


Obviously I’m looking to upgrade my analog setup and am focusing on the essential components at this time. Curious how you would spend my money haha.

My current gear:
Amp - Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated w/ KT150 power tubes, Mullard and Cifte preamp tubes.
Loudspeakers - Tekton Design Double Impact

For sound,I like the idea of a balanced overall sound, and a big soundstage. But what I really enjoy most is the idea of exposing the holographic image in a recording.




128x128whacky
wspohn's avatar
wspohn
608 posts
 
No question - VPI Prime, bought new.  Or if you can extend anpther thousand, the VPI Prime Signature
whacky's avatar
whacky OP
53 posts
 
I just settled on the VPI Prime.

seller currently offering to include a new Cadenza Bronze installed and calibrated for $1600. Seems like a decent offer but is slightly more than I expected to spend initially. 

Anyone have any opinions on this Prime with that cartridge? 
nkonor
635 posts
 
moofoo,

All the great & rare vinyl that younger guys missed will be available when we pass.

Wives will sell collections that took 45yrs to build for next to nothing.

1st pressings, UK, Holland, Telefunkens, Toshiba Pro, MFSLs, other Audiophile pressings and just plain great pressings/recordings.

They are here in our collections just waiting for the future. 

The 2nd Coming of vinyl is in storage; Waiting for the next generation.


Vinyl Lives ; Tubes Rule


tablejockey
3,920 posts
 
whacky-IMO, a good score w/cart.

Mission accomplished on the table end. Good luck on whatever you decide phono stage.

Edit: considering we have the same amp along end results, I would look at maxing your budget on the phono. If your final choice is a tubed, I would go in no particular order:Allnic,Herron,Manley,Zesto....etc.Someone else will add another amp.

 Saving a few bucks:Manley Chinook, Fosgate V2.....etc..  Under $1500






inna
7,296 posts
 
Now, this is a quite good cartridge, and if it's A-stock the price is excellent. It is quite heavy, you should talk to VPI people about compatibility with the arm. And as I said, Ortofon can be bright, especially with solid state phono. You could talk to Ron Sutherland too. But it's a little overkill for your table/arm in terms of resolution, anyway.
So, I don't know..
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