Turntable options

@hambon said:

I can’t get on the DD Technics wagon.... maybe I need to learn more about there stuff.

Being an educated consumer is essential. Sure, you can achieve great satisfaction with esoteric gear. The problem is that you may never experience the peak potential satisfaction unless you look analytically at the challenge. It’s all in the details. And then there is the matter of articulating yourself to the product specialists. So much can be lost in communication. (their? .... there? .... they’re? ....) If you are serious about your pursuit, invest the time to learn the rationale behind why Technics direct drive turntables are so widely accepted. (It isn’t because of all the rappers that destroy them!). Take some time and investigate what a moving coil can do, compared to a moving magnet. Don’t let other people make up your mind for you. And lastly, decide if you could fill your needs at a lower price point - many less expensive turntable / cartridge / phono stage solutions can perform every bit as well as (or better than) much of the stratospherically priced gear. That money you could save might buy you more financial security in retirement if you put it into your investment portfolio. Just a few thoughts.

Thanks DJFST. 

Not a fan of VPI. To me, the quality and engineering isn’t comparable to a lot of the tables I’m looking at. Granted I only had the VPI Prime. But much of their stuff is recycled in many of their tables. Also not a fan of their tone arms. 

Suspension. Do you need it?

My TT's live on a concrete floor sited on rock. Miles from the nearest highway. I don't need suspension, so I don't pay for it.

Like a Nottingham Analogue Dais TT. I have the previous model with the Dais bearing, and I upgraded to the latest motor/power supply combination (Wave Mechanic). For a tonearm I went to the air bearing TransFi Terminator (yeah, yeah, I didn't name it). Buy it in spite of its name. Both of these punch far above their weight, and within your budget.

I run this TT with either a Mayajima Zero mono or a good MM for casual listening. The combination will support a higher end Koetsu, but this normally sits on my DIY air bearing.

Don't be afraid to check out the smaller manufacturers, who sometimes give you a whole lot more for the money. Like NA. I suggest that you spend most on the TT (to eliminate bearing noise), then the tonearm (to get precise registration of cartridge to vinyl), and last on the cartridge, which is a depreciating asset.

Good luck!

@whart 

What Koetsu did you decide upon? Welcome to the Promised Land!