I recommend: VPI Prime Signature.
If you get the chance to audition it, its worth the effort.
Mando..
If you get the chance to audition it, its worth the effort.
Mando..
turntable recommendations
I'm currently running a rega rp6 with a groovetracer subplatter and a dynavector 20x2 cartridge. I quite like it, but Upgradeitis has set in. My goal is to get a noticeable improvement without breaking the bank, say $5 K absolute tops. I prefer new. Based on my search to date, my current finalists are a rega p8 with apheta 3, or a dr. feikert volare with Origin silver mk3a tonearm and a hana ml. Others I seriously considered are a clearaudio performance DC wood or a VPI prime, but with those I would have to put the Dynavector on it to stay under budget and it already has high hours on it. None of these choices are available to demo in my area (Seattle) so I'm reaching out to my audiophile brethren for your experience, to better inform my decision.
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- 56 posts total
@samzx12 I also vote for VPI Classic 3 with Manley Chinook SE MK II. that is my set up and couldn't be happier. @jss49 I stand corrected. You are correct the Audio Mirror Troubadour is my DAC :-) But hey I am down in the Caribbean trying to forget Covid-19 this week, so might have had a little too much of the rum! |
I’d add another vote for Sota. I have a vacuum model Star Sapphire with an SME V arm and it is pretty incredible. One thing I didn’t realize when I bought it, I can put it anywhere without worrying about skipping from footfalls. I can literally hit the top of the deck with my fist without it causing the needle jump. |
ryskie, would you ever buy a turntable that was not suspended as well as the Sota? It is not just freedom from footfall headaches. There are a host of other noises occurring in your house and even around your house. People think that just because their turntable is on a rack on concrete they are isolated from low frequency rumble. This is not true and the link I posted above demonstrates this beautifully. It covers various aspects of turntable and tonearm design as applied to the AR-XA turntable. People just think about it as a cheap little table from the 60's but when you realize what it was competing with at the time, big Rec-O-Cuts and Empires. TD 124's and Garrards. It was truly a landmark table. It handily out performed all of them. People were using them even in the most expensive systems. It was quieter, footfalls did not bother it, and it did not feed back. It's only serious weakness was lack of anti skating but many of the high end tonearms of the day did not have antiskating. The SME 3009 changed all that. People would remove the base of the SME and mount them on the AR-XA. |
There is a very well regarded new Pear Audio Kid Thomas/Cornet 2 & Ortofon Cadenza Black on USAudioMart priced below wholesale. The turntable/tonearm is just about in your price range. https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/impressions-the-pear-audio-blue-kid-thomas-turntable-cornet-2-tonearm-system/ |
- 56 posts total