2. analog
  3. 166435-98013

recommendation for a high end analog system

I never had an analog system until last month. I bought a 1989 SOTA TT with vacuum/Sumiko MMT arm/Dennon 103R retyped with elliptical/sapphire cantilever. My phono is Kitsune MK5 WBT that is amplified by Don Sach 2 tube preamp and Pass X350.5. My speaker are Sound Lab M545 ESL. The TT has been very   well maintained despite its age. It sounded very good until I heard my friend's system which has the same TT but with Lyra Skala cartridge and first generation Triplanar arm (Spectral pre/amp). His sounded noticeably clearer and fuller. What is the best way to get a noticeable improvement in my system without breaking the bank (or before I have to squint to hear the improvement). I would love to hear some wisdom from analog-philes.
128x128chungjh
larryi
4,109 posts
 
SoundSmith sells sets of headshell screws with different weights for this purpose.  The bad news is that the screws are quite pricey, something like $40 for a set of four different weights:

https://sound-smith.com/accessories/ez-mount-cartridge-screws
dover
2,263 posts
 
You can get headshell spacers/weights on eBay.

Google "Pats Audio Turntable Headshell Weight - 3 grams" from Scottsdale Arizona.
chungjh's avatar
chungjh OP
265 posts
 
Thanks gents for the info on the headshell weight. I talked to Triplanar and he told me that the TP tonearm on AG is actually MK3, not updated MK6. It is from 1997. Do you think it is worth it for about $3200? It can be upgraded to MK7 for $1600.
chungjh's avatar
chungjh OP
265 posts
 
Thanks gents for the info on the headshell weight. I talked to Triplanar and he told me that the TP tonearm on AG is actually MK3, not updated MK6. It is from 1997. Do you think it is worth it for about $3200? It can be upgraded to MK7 for $1600.
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
We use Ortofon Concorde style.  So easy to swap carts.  Unscrew tonearm bit, remove, lightly push on new headshells,...few slight adjustments to counterweight  and tracking force, and back in business. 
   I’m under tracking force weight as what’s in the specs for the cartridge.     When recording LPs’, usually add an extra 1/2 or 1 gram to record, depending on the sound. Will play some songs to hear, before I record. 
More to discover