Chakster's advice on Pickering is worth serious consideration.
Which turntable should I choose?
Seeking assistance from the TT gurus here.
So far my experience with TT's has not been especially gratifying. A local dealer convinced me that the cartridge is really the only thing that mattered. So he sold me a TEAC TN-400s paired with a Ortofon 2M Black cart. The TEAC had a rather annoying hum no matter what phono-pre I used, except for the one built into the table. The cart showed every wart and flaw on the record, in other words it was not very forgiving, despite me cleaning my records well with an Oki-Nokki.
I sold both the table and cart and want to try again from scratch.
I want to keep the table under $2k. I've come across two tables in my research that interest me.
- Technics SL1210GR from HiFi Heaven. I'm not really sure what cart to get but I'm leaning toward the Hana SL Low Output Shibata. https://hifiheaven.net/shop/Technics-SL-1210GR-Grand-Class-Direct-Drive-Turntable-System
- A restored Thorens table from Vinyl Nirvana. https://vinylnirvana.com/vintage-turntables-for-sale
My current phono-pre is a Consonance PM6.
Questions:
- Will either of these table options provide sound quality anywhere approaching my digital setup (Bluesound Node 2/ Mytek Libery DAC)?
- Are there better options in this price range that I should consider?
Thanks for any and all replies.
Joe
So far my experience with TT's has not been especially gratifying. A local dealer convinced me that the cartridge is really the only thing that mattered. So he sold me a TEAC TN-400s paired with a Ortofon 2M Black cart. The TEAC had a rather annoying hum no matter what phono-pre I used, except for the one built into the table. The cart showed every wart and flaw on the record, in other words it was not very forgiving, despite me cleaning my records well with an Oki-Nokki.
I sold both the table and cart and want to try again from scratch.
I want to keep the table under $2k. I've come across two tables in my research that interest me.
- Technics SL1210GR from HiFi Heaven. I'm not really sure what cart to get but I'm leaning toward the Hana SL Low Output Shibata. https://hifiheaven.net/shop/Technics-SL-1210GR-Grand-Class-Direct-Drive-Turntable-System
- A restored Thorens table from Vinyl Nirvana. https://vinylnirvana.com/vintage-turntables-for-sale
My current phono-pre is a Consonance PM6.
Questions:
- Will either of these table options provide sound quality anywhere approaching my digital setup (Bluesound Node 2/ Mytek Libery DAC)?
- Are there better options in this price range that I should consider?
Thanks for any and all replies.
Joe
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- 16 posts total
Joe, another fellow audiogonner @luisma31 replaced his DL103 MM with this NOS Pickering XSV/3000SP (MM) on Technics GR turntable. You have to read his opinion about it. The XSV/4000 is next model from Pickering and no doubt it will put DL-110 in the dust forever :)) Stereohedron stylus is one of the best profiles ever. You can constantly upgrade phono stage for LOMC, but for MM you can use any phono stage. My advice is to sell your DL-110 before the stylus is worn. |
Some people hear excellence in moving magnet or moving iron cartridges, some do not. I am not one of those folks, its been my experience that a well executed moving coil cartridges offers greater detail, refinement, subelty, and is an improved listening experience. Of course the drawback of a MC cartridge is that the stylus is not user replaceable, so the owner has to be attentive in their handling of the cartridge. With a person new to vinyl, this is a mistake that can be made. So its best not to buy too far up the cartridge tree, unless you are assured you are able to safely and comfortably handle an upper tier cartridge. Candidates for that first MC cartridge often include the Audio Technica OC9 series, or their 33 series cartridges, the Hana offerings, the Denon DL 301 MK II, and perhaps Sumiko. Personally I would look at the OC9 cartridges, or the Hana myself. But that is just my opinion. |
- 16 posts total