2. analog
  3. 163962-155552

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
tablejockey
3,926 posts
 
"Aries Cerat Talos Signature"
WOW! That's looks pretty serious. $50K phono stage. 

The OP has quite an assortment of hi end gear.  System appears to be in a nice room, but it's not optimizing the potential of that pricey gear. What a shame. Looks like it  may sound "hot"-lots of hard, reflective surface. I could be wrong, just my observation.

If you enjoy it, that's all that matters. I can only dream of owning that level of hifi.
lewm
13,182 posts
 
For what little it's worth, my advice to the OP has nothing to do with analog vs digital.  For whatever source, the best way to figure out what you want from your audio system and how to get there is to take time enough to evaluate what you have and to advance from there in small steps.  I don't think most of us would go about it in any other way, so I don't think my opinion is any sort of revelation to most.  For example, how can you know what to do next, if you buy a new digital source or a new cartridge/tonearm/turntable in the same week that you also buy a new amplifier or speakers? 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
This topic going crazy... Not pretending for "the best", but would like to share " my moderate priced system " (this is what i am using today).

Minor rearrangement at my Lab. Find the difference... AT-616 Pneumatic insulators from Audio-Technica are great under Tannoy System 15 mk2 monitors (not designed stands yet). Zu Audio Druid speakers moved backwards and connected as a separate solid state system now. Tannoy 15 inch is my main tube system. Hello from the low level knowledge amateur. Life is good (I think I paid less than $30k for everything step by step on used market).

gear in the lab:

Gold note ph-10 phono stage + SPU-10
JLTi mk4 phono stage
ZYX CPP-1 Phono Pre-Preamp
WLM Phonata Reference phono stage
47 Labs Phono Cube (current injection) phono stage

First Watt passive preamp
Pass Labs Aleph L (passive/active pream)
Fist Watt F2J current source power amp
Yamamoto A-08s 45 tube power amp with NOS tubes from the 1930s

2 x Luxman PD-444 direct drive turntables
Micro Seiki CU-180 copper mat
Sakura Systems Graphite Mat
FR-64s with B-60 + FR7fz cartridge
FR-64fx with N-60 without cartridge now :)
Lustre GST-801 + Miyabi MCA cartridge
Denon DA-401 with Pickering XSV/5000 MM

Custom racks (my own design).
Acoustic room treatment from Vicoustic (Portugal).

More great turntables, rare tonearms and cartridges in the vault.
Many original records from the 50s, 60’s, 70’s, early 80’s.




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