Buying a new TT today

sokogear,

"15-20 years ago I had a Music Hall MMF 5 and I was going to put a Rega arm on it (RB700). When I looked at it, it was almost the same price as trading in the whole table ($7 or $800 versus $1150) for a P5, so I did it. That's how you get sucked down the rabbit hole. The P5 ended up holding it's value a hell of a lot better than what would have been a bastardized MMF 5."

Good advice, if you ever plan to sell later. Original spec plus boxes etc will get you more.

"If I had cash burning a hole in my pocket, my local stereo salesmen would be glad to help me empty it to get something that sounds better. There is ALWAYS something better (or coming out) as even Mike Lavigne knows."

I'm sure they would. 

As the OP wisely decided, it's generally best to stick to do your research, stick to your budget and accept whatever compromise that may bring.

Getting an all in package like a Marantz TT-15S1, or a Rega or any of the Technics decks seems a wise move too.

Some of us like Chakster are trying to save some cash and get as good a sound and value as possible.

@sokogear because i'm buy many of them to compare them in my system when it comes to cartridges the most, also when it comes to turntables. I have tried over 70 great cartridges in the last 7 years i believe (doing that vintage carts research for myself) and it was not an entry level cartridges, it was very hard to find top models from the past (mostly MM, but many LOMC too). 

I bought too many turntables somehow, way too many for my listening room. Also many phono stages, suts, headamps ... 

This is madness, but i want to make it rational. 
It is not about saving as you can see, but when it comes to the price for some new equipment it is simply insane (a cartridge for $5k for example or even higher, a phono stage for $10k, a turntable for $20k ... etc). There are many vintage components in perfect condition that can blown away almost any new even if the price for new one is 10 times higher. And i've seen/heard some very expensive systems that sounds like sh.... This is why the price tag is not the key to a perfect sound. 

   

chakster,

"This is why the price tag is not the key to a perfect sound."


I don't think it ever has been anything more than an extremely lazy way of thinking. 

No amount of industry encouragement to spend can ever change that. Hi-fi shows are notorious for demonstrating that. The data from blind listening tests suggests the same.

Even in the case of turntables where good engineering does not tend to come cheap, cost is not always a good indicator of performance. 


Michael Fremer (Analog Planet) put up his Continuum Labs Caliburn ("that costs as much as a house" $200k+) against the then new Technics 1200G ($4k).


These videos can still be found on his Analog Planet YouTube channel. 


Technics SL1200 v Continuum Caliburn
https://youtu.be/qY9YYkqW8ng

After the results proved inconclusive Fremer decided to offer the same comparison featuring a vocal track this time.

Vocal track comparison
https://youtu.be/QKfs5lYZuQk


There was even a later follow up video posted by another YouTuber who attempted to analyse and compare the data between these two turntables.

Analysis Caliburn v 1200G
https://youtu.be/ZEGj6iim57w

Bear in mind also that the Continuum Labs Caliburn was long held to be one of, if not the very best turntable in existence.

@cd318 I watched those videos long time ago, who will buy a $200k turntable? I have no idea who told you this is the best turntable ever made ?

Try this or this version.

When the difference in sound is very small but the difference in price is very big would you go for the most expensive one? Do you own this turntable or youtube is your reference to compare cartridges and turntables listening to the mp3 file?

Only very reach people can buy the most expensive, but the vinyl is not for reach, it’s for everyone. In my country we have people who will buy ONLY the most expensive audio gear and those people know nothing about the sound, there is a business model for such people and we have a lot of companies in High-End world serving those people needs (only the most expensive gear). Desire to have a perfect sound in your house/room has nothing to do with desire to own the most expensive high-end gear.

I appreciate the ability to build a decent audio system using reasonably priced components only (but they are still expensive). We must have knowledge and experience to do so, it is an interesting process.

The ones who just buy the most expensive without doing any research of course cannot appreciate what they own.

I am sure in certain situations the most expensive is the best, but you still need to confirm that.

Chakster - "It is not about saving as you can see, but when it comes to the price for some new equipment it is simply insane (a cartridge for $5k for example or even higher, a phono stage for $10k, a turntable for $20k ... etc)." 

As I said it is not about savings, but value. Just being a little nit picky on verbiage, but I think we are saying essentially the same thing.

You must be an active seller on Audiogon with all those cartridges and tables going in and out of your hands.