2. analog
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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
inna
7,296 posts
 
Yeah, Nagaoka M-500, Audio Note Io and a few Soundsmith cartridges might be just fine to begin with before jumping to Koetsu or other expensive MCs..

honeyooi
121 posts
 
May I recommend some cartridge under $1500 :
-dynavector 20x2L
-audio technica ART-9
-Hana ML
-Zu denon 103
enjoy 
uwiikz OP
89 posts
 
I also smile when people jump straight to a top of the class without having accumulated experience in small steps.
It’s like entrusting a Lamborghini to a newbie who has just obtained his driving
license ... sooner or later it will crash. LOL

If you prefer to use that analogy, well... my first sport car was a 2012 Porsche 997 GT2RS and that was immediately after driving slow JK Wrangler. I didn’t crash making use of that 623 WHP and I had loads of fun. Some people just have money to burn and smart enough not to destroy what that money bought. I hate bickering on forum but what’s up with the hate? It’s my money and my system.  
dover
2,229 posts
 
@uwiikz
Some folk have to find fault with product they cant afford or are not prepared to invest in. At the end of the day you have purchased an outstanding turntable package. I have spent much time with the Kuzma 4Point11 tonearm, and the great thing about it is that it a very easy arm to set up and adjust. If you want to play with other cartridges you can purchase additional headshells from Kuzma so that your alternate cartridges can be changed quickly and easily.
Please bear in mind the Kuzma arm is a high mass arm ( effective mass 18g ) and so that means that the alternate cartridges should be medium to low compliance = this would suggest low compliance moving coils or low to medium compliance moving magnets. The Soundsmith range includes low compliance moving iron cartridges that would work well.
you will need some set up tools to change cartrdiges - I use the Feickert protractor for cartridge alignment, its very easy to use, and you will need a tracking force gauge. Make sure the dealer provides you the complete toolset (allen keys et )  that comes with the tonearm & turntable.
I know you will enjoy the music - at the end of the day thats the goal.
Enjoy.


best-groove's avatar
best-groove
842 posts
 
It’s my money and my system.

and with this?
You asked for opinions and the members gave theirs, you cannot obtain consensus from everyone without distinction but you must also accept the contradictory ... or not?
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