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Should I keep the Turntable or sell it?

I’ve been back and forth on this decision for about a month, and the more I learn, the harder this decision gets.

Backstory: I won the brand new Cambridge Audio Alva TT turntable in an online contest in mid-May, and while it sounds great, I decided to list it for sale a couple weeks ago. I’ve always wanted to try out a Rega P6 or P3 with a really nice cart, because I feel like I’m not getting enough out of my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. Prior to winning the Alva TT, I switched the Red Ortofon out for the Blue, and there was a great improvement in sound quality. But after comparing the Pro-Ject to the Alva TT and hearing what a $1700 turntable can sound like, I definitely am interested in exploring more high fidelity turntables. The issue is that I feel like I prefer the sound of tubes over solid state, and the Alva TT uses an integrated Alva Duo phono preamp for the RCA out, and their own DAC for the Bluetooth out if I want to go that route. I don’t have a ton of experience with tubes, and maybe it’s just the “cool factor” I actually like and I’m just having a placebo effect.

So I decided to list it for sale to try and get a Rega, because I heard so many great things about them. But over the last week or so, I’ve learned more about the Alva TT and how it uses Rega’s famous tonearm. I looked up the cart and it is listed at $500 separately, which is probably why it sounds better than the Pro-Ject w/ Ortofon Blue. I’ve also read on these boards about direct drive being better than belt, which the Alva has as well. It also has the added bonus of Bluetooth that go directly to my KEF LS50 Wireless, but I would most likely just use interconnects.

So I would love to get some advice from you all. I’ve gone back and forth about keeping the Alva or selling it, along with my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, and buying/trading for something like a Rega P3 or P6. If you had my first world problem, what would you do?
bignamehere
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
The Denon 103 sound is going to be VERY different from the Ortofon Blue/ Bronze/ Black sound.

It has a lot of support for sure but I was not impressed with a 103 I had and much preferred a Ortofon Black on the same table/arm setup.

However at that price if you did not like the 103 you could sell it, buy an Ortofon Bronze and still be well under the $1500 mark.

Means you have to tinker a little but no matter what you buy you really need to tinker as you will need verify the setup if the cart is already fitted, trust nobody!
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
I was also not impressed by the Denon cart, especially compared to what else is available for the same price.

Not a bad price for the used Emotion, but like @uberwaltz mentioned, I would change the cart. The Denon takes some knowledge, and patience to setup/mount correctly as well. Ortofon 2M carts are much easier, especially if you go with the MMF 7.3, which it’ll be premounted. Just a few minutes to double check, as you should always do.

If you liked the 2M Blue on the Project, then the Music Hall w/ 2M Bronze will make you very happy.
bignamehere OP
56 posts
 
@robelvick have you heard the Sumiko Blue Point No 2 before or Ortofon Quintet Red? The Pro-Ject Classic SB comes with one of those carts based on who is selling it. I really like the look of The Classic, and obviously all of these tables are in the Pro-Ject family, so quality will be very similar to the Music Hall, right?

good to know about the Denon 103R.




robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
@bignamehere Correct, Pro-Ject and Music Hall are in the same family, so quality should be similar per price range.  

I have not heard the Sumiko BP2, or Quintet Red, but I have owned the Quintet Black.  The Sumiko is a high output MC, which I usually don't care for, but can't say anything definitive since I haven't heard one.

Quintet Black in excellent though, but that's at the top of that range.  I'm guessing it would be similar comparing the 2M Red to 2M Black, which there is a huge difference in SQ.

I'm you like the Classic table, I would choose the non-SB version, and then pick a different cart.  Most dealers will you give you a discount on a cart, if you buy the table from them.


glupson
7,842 posts
 
Which one is Alfa TT? I thought it was Audi.
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