2. analog
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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
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chungjh OP
265 posts
 
@lewm 

Patience is not my strongest suit, but you are right. When I visited you a couple of years ago, you had the most amazing set of TTs that I have ever seen. A true audiophile.
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chungjh OP
265 posts
 

I looked at the tonearm angle more carefully and it is not 0 degree bit maybe rising 1 degree up to the platter. It should be 0 degrees, no?
mglik
908 posts
 
+1 @dover post
Send the TT to SOTA to refurbish with the Eclipse motor.
Upgrade the tone arm. Ask SOTA for a recommendation.
Then look for a new cartridge. Hana is nice and good price.
You are looking at about $5-10k+.
And a lot of work.
OR
Sell it all and, for the price of a good tone arm, buy a new Technics 1200G! Technics hit a home run with this TT and arm. Check out the reviews.
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chungjh OP
265 posts
 
I just realized that with Triplanar, I can't close the lid due to the counterweight sticking out. There is a 10 yr old SME V on sale for $2999? What do you think? I talked to SOTA and they say SMEs were one of the most popular tonearms with SOTA. But, SME no longer sells the tonearm alone.
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chungjh OP
265 posts
 
@lewm 

I get your point about upgrading the innards of my SOTA and I am going to do that. Since it is best to upgrade the table and install an arm by SOTA at the same time, I am focusing on the arm. SOTA also likes Kazuma and Origin Alive.
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