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Help me pick a phono, pre and cart

Hi all,
My WF spending restraints are going away so I’m going to upgrade my system.
I primarily play CD, but also have an MMF-5 with Glass platter, Golding GX1022 cart going through a Clear Audio Nano to Ayre Ax-7e to Sig 2 Ce’s.

This year I’m going to Quatro CT’s and upgrading my vinyl pre and source side. Next year I’m upgrading my main pre and power amp.

I’m looking for help in picking a phono player pre and cart. My musical taste is pretty wide: female vocals, rock, blues, jazz; not much classical on vinyl. Think Amy Winehouse/Cold Specks/Pixies/Weezer/Jeff Beck/Johnny Winter/Winton Marsalis and Maynard Ferguson for you other old timers. LOL
My budget is about $8-10k

Right now my main thoughts are VPI Prime Scout or Prime with Grado Statement series cart, and an Ayre Px-5e pre.
In addition to specific item recommendations, I’m very interested in how to split the budget item wise. In other words more or less on player vs cart vs pre, I.e. Scout with Statement2 or Prime with Reference2 for example. Or go higher than 20-30% on the pre?
I lean towards spending the most on what’s least upgradeable - sorry if that’s too general or obvious.
Thanks much
Jim

jetson
bpoletti
1,566 posts
 
@almarg Al, you are correct regarding the impedance mismatch.  The OP may want to give Keith Herron a call to get his thoughts on mating the VTPH-2a to the Ayre.  Sometimes it's OK, sometimes not.  But I have always found Mr. Herron to be easy to talk to, honest and helpful.  

@dodgealum Bear Claws are supposed to work pretty well, too.  My Stillpoints came with the table so it wasn't painful.
jetson OP
140 posts
 
Thanks Al, I’ll check with him and post the reply
jetson OP
140 posts
 
@bpoletti Thanks also for the suggestion to call Keith Herron. 

As to the feet, it looks like VPI knew they needed improvement there. From one review I found:
”The four isolation feet on the bottom of the Prime, sitting in Delrin corner posts, were inspired by Stillpoints according to Weisfeld, ”
but I guess they didn’t quite hit the mark. 
jetson OP
140 posts
 
I sent an email to Keith Herron, his prompt reply regarding the VTPH-2A and Ayre Ax-7:
" We have VTPH-2A customers that are using preamplifiers with 20k Ohms RCA single ended input impedances that are pleased with the sound.
I don't recommend going any lower than that. The 2 X 12AX7, 3 X 12AT7 version of the VTPH-2A has an output impedance of 400 Ohms so it will drive the Ayre preamplifier much better."
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Sounds good!  The version he recommended, which provides the lower of the two gain alternatives that are offered, is by far the version that is purchased most often.  It should be suitable for all but the lowest output cartridges, certainly for those rated at 0.3 mv and I suspect for cartridges having output ratings significantly less than that.

My guess is that with the 20K load you'll be sacrificing a bit of the deep bass extension the Quatro CT is capable of, but since that would just be on an interim basis the VTPH-2A sounds like a plan!

Best regards,
-- Al
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