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The best TT system for under 30K

Hi agoners! 

I have been floored by Kuzma Stabi XL DC with 4 points TA on a recent audition. It was extremely analog sounding, insane details with speed, beat and clarity that made me wonder if I am listening to a live concert, just can’t help my toe tapping. Was comparing the sound to the top of the line Accuphase CD player with the same rest of system and it was no contest. 

Switching from Accuphase CD player to Kuzma XL DC was sounding like adding a pair of subwoofer and going up 2-3 levels on the rest of the system. Mind you the rest of the system was Accuphase E-650 class A integrated that should favor the Accuphase same brand CD player but that wasn’t the case. The speaker was Kerr Acoustics K300 under 10K entry level bookshelf and the sound of the entire entry level system armed with Kuzma XL DC beat the hell out of the entire super high end system the dealer has on the other listening room with Avalon PM3 speakers, Accuphase A-250 monos, Audionet Stern Preamp with Accuphase CD player. 

However obviously I cannot afford the whole set of Kuzma XL DC considering I am also in the process of upgrading my existing system. What will be the closest contender in the US$30.000 retail price range that has the same sonic signature as Kuzma XL DC? 

Thanks in advance for any advices!!
uwiikz
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,575 posts
 
@terry9 

Thank you for your post. The grunge you speak of....is that more of a problem with used LP’s or brand new LP as well? 
terry9
2,353 posts
 
Recommended equipment. I use an Elmasonic P60H, sold by Fisher, a prominent laboratory equipment supplier. This endorsement is important, because if lab equipment doesn't meet spec (specification), there is hell to pay, exacted by the biggest heavyweights. So you can trust Elma (a German company) equipment not to run overpower and ruin things nor underpower and not clean things. In my unit, Quality Control is superb.

That's the tank. To rotate the records in the US bath, I use an assembly made by Vinyl Stack, a U.S. company. Quality is very high, comparable  to Elma. A well thought out product which is easy to use. Even further, they will work with you to give you exactly what you need. I use one assembly with the Elmasonic to clean, another assembly to rinse.

Cleaning one or two records at a time gives best results; whether this is a matter of power per record or the distance between them I am not sure, although I suspect the latter. For cleaning chemistry I use 5% Fisher Versaclean in distilled water, 45C, 80KHz, 15 minutes. Then I rinse 4 times, dry, and put into new sleeves. @whart @antinn @rushton and others have made valuable comments on the subject. One user summarized the above, but his handle escapes me.
terry9
2,353 posts
 
Grunge is mainly on old records - the diamond dust comes from styli now dead.

But I clean NEW records as well. Opinion is divided on whether or not new records can be contaminated with mold-release compound or some other liquid residue, but with a $10K cartridge I take no chances. No record is allowed to look at the Koetsu before it is cleaned.

Allow me to add my congratulations on your new turntable. A fine unit which you will enjoy for many years - and IMO, that's money well spent.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,575 posts
 
@terry9

Thanks for the clarification. I follow the same ritual, every new LP gets cleaned and receive MoFi anti-static sleeve. I am only buying new vinyl, even in that I’m very selective as far as record label, pressing quality, collectors editions etc etc. For everything else, I stream my music. I am not pursuing Analog in hopes for building a basement full of LP’s. Been there done that with tapes and CD’s. Only the very best and rare pressings gets my hard earned money :-)
jrussell88
15 posts
 
@uwiikz As you asked for suggestions, if you have the opportunity try to hear the Vertere decks, eg MG-1, dealers in Surabaya City and Singapore, or Roksan Xerxes 20, dealer in Singapore. 

Their own arms and MC cartridges match well; or the top Audio Technica MC models are good value.
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