I need your help. I have an ARC Ref 3, ARC 110, Vandersteen 5As, but no turntable.


I am looking for suggestions for phono amp, turntable, arm and cartridge to match my existing system. The ARC110 does not have a phono, so I am stuck as to what will pair best. Thanks for your thoughts. JMW
jaym759
This is fantastic, getting so much info. While I am finding fsonicsmith particularly helpful, all responses are greatly appreciated and helpful...I have a lot to learn but this discussion is increasing my appetite for making choices that will hopefully enhance my listening pleasure. Again thanks to All of you and more info is invaluable to me.
@rauliruegas  - You are EXTREMELY BIASED toward SS and have deep financial interests in the products you promote.  
Pear Audio turntables/tonearms deserve consideration as well. Point is that turntables of the same level do not sound identical at all. We all have preferences. Judging by your choice of speakers and electronics, your taste is not far from mine. I prefer Nottingham/Pear Audio to colder sounding even if slightly higher resolving turntables, in other words on warmer and a little darker side of neutral. All good British tables are dynamic enough.
@inna 

Ralph always says direct drive Technics, that's his preference, which is fine.
We've been making a belt drive machine for about 20 years. It is very neutral but the Technics is less expensive and I think its a better machine and even includes a tone arm! I make money on the sales of our turntable, but I don't think I'll be selling any since the advent of the new Technics.
@bpoletti : "" You are EXTREMELY BIASED toward SS... "", agree and I’m biased because from some years now is the only real/true alternative to achieve the targets I posted here. Period.


" and have deep financial interests in the products you promote. "

that is totally untrue and a lie. I promote or have for sale nothing of my electronics or similar items. So, I have not any financial interests other than fulfill my home room/system targets that can honor the MUSIC needs. ThAt’s all. Got it?

Instead trying to attack me and only for a " change/fun " why don’t post a true contribution for all of us can improve our today system quality level performance by wide margin?

R.