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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
uwiikz OP
89 posts
 
Oh yeah, new update for today 😁😁😁
Ex-demo A-250 monoblocks are coming in 2 hours, the dealer will also bring FM Acoustics FM155 MK II line stage for me to “survive” while waiting for the C-3900, C-47 Phono and DG-68 to arrive. 😁😁😁 Way too happy again today
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,575 posts
 
@uwiikz,

Which REL you should go for depends on your room size. Two subs are always better than one, we are talking about stereo not Home Theater where typically one sub is more than adequate. If you have room then go for a pair of S/812 or their Carbon Special. 
uwiikz OP
89 posts
 
@lalitk thanks, I will check out with the REL dealer on Monday to see if home audition is possible. I originally planned for JL because it has built in room correction. I am concerned if blending the sub perfectly will be tough without built in room correction and I like the idea of cutting the frequency going to main speaker and JL can do that. 
uwiikz OP
89 posts
 
Just updated my virtual system. Result after A-250... I am in heaven. It was unbelievable, Yuko Mabuchi’s Piano sounds very very real, Miles Davis too and everything else was magical...I ended up upgrading the cartridge to Miyajima Madake from Kansui, exact same sound just a tad more dynamics
rsf507
2,342 posts
 
@uwiikz just out of curiosity don't you get footfall issues with the Kuzma just sitting on that table? Looks like you had to use a napkin under one of the table legs so it wouldn't wobble. With such a great turntable you should be looking at some sort of isolation device. Just an opinion.
Enjoy
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