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Help buying first analog rig - Clearaudio Concept or Rega P6

I am in the process of purchasing my first major analog rig since I was teen back in the 80's. My system has been digital. I had a period of about 8 years where I did not do much with audio as we were moving and building a new home. Shortly after our home was built, but before the basement was finished and the alarm was installed, we had a break in. Among the many things other things taken, they took a box of my CD's, basically all my SACD's. So when I the basement was finished and got setup again it prompted me to get into streaming. I have a dedicated listening room which is pretty big 16 x 25 and 9' ceiling on a concrete slab (i know that helps with turntables) with laminate flooring and area rug. My System is pretty straight forward digital.
-Innuos Zen mkIII to stream and play my ripped CD's along with other hi-rez digital I have purchased and some DSD's
-Chord Qutest fed with a Shunyata Alpha USB from the Zen
-PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated
-Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII 
-Purist Audio Venustas Luminist Speaker and RCA  cables, Shunyata Venom NR V10 power cables

The only small stack of vinyl I own is what I had as a teen, 80's rock which I may listen to occasionally, but I plan on buying new vinyl. I listen to a lot of Jazz - Coltrane, Davis, etc, a lot of modern bluegrass mostly female vocal like Sarah Jarosz, Sierra Hull, Alison Krauss.
The 2 tables that I seem to have gravitated towards are:
-Rega P6 with Hana EL 
-Clearaudio Concept wood with the black satisfy arm and either their Concept MC or Maestro V2 cartridge.

I know the Concept does not come with a dust cover, no big deal for me, I can always add one down the road.

Phono pre
-Sutherland KC Vibe
-MS Phenomena 2+

My budget was originally 3000 for the table/cart and pre, but I really like the concept wood ascetically, it would fit nicely in my rustic/industrial decor which has a lot of wood. I know its not about ascetics, but I am just not crazy about the look of Rega, but it does get great reviews. My rack is butcher block and iron pipe, so the table would sit on the top shelf next tot he PrimaLuna. I am the kind of person that does not mind tinkering and I understand the inconvenience of records vs digital, but I am looking for the natural, openness and beauty that vinyl brings to the system. What am I missing?
128x128jmphotography
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 
If I were you, I’d grab the Music Hall mmf-7.3 with the pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Bronze. I’d get it in the more expensive walnut finish, rather than the gloss black. Cost is $1795. It is a real bargain in my opinion. Detached motor, thick acrylic platter, round belt profile, pro-ject 9cc carbon fiber tonearm, speed box built in, dual split plinth design, tip toe feet, threaded spindle & record clamp, felt mat, quality interconnects, great 2m cartridge already mounted and aligned, adjustable azimuth and VTA, and a very nice dust cover. It is hard to beat for what you get, and it is very well designed. A stereophile recommended component. Mike Fremer mentioned that he did not feel that the mmf-9 was worth the extra money, and that he thought that the mmf-7 had a warmer more forgiving sound. He also reviewed 9 cartridges, which included the 2m bronze. He liked the 2m bronze very much for its outstanding tracking and detail retrieval. The mmf-7.3 is the sweet spot in the Music Hall line up. The walnut version would fit right in with your surroundings.
https://musichallaudio.com/product/mmf-7-3-walnut-turntable/
elliottbnewcombjr
5,617 posts
 
I would go for an arm with removable headshell, then you could have a mono cartridge option for mono jazz lps you will want to hear.

are you considering used or vintage?

just searching 'wood turntable' on ebay

your Clearaudio wood, mint (fixed cartridge)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265197423776?hash=item3dbeff8ca0:g:JDUAAOSw1Itgvi6K

marantz, DD QL auto shut off

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184873002990?hash=item2b0b4a27ee%3Ag%3AIMcAAOSwLDJgu-0t&LH_BIN=1

denon DD fully automatic

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363276686908?hash=item5494fa563c%3Ag%3A8ycAAOSwvFhgFNLj&LH_BIN=1

perhaps others could add their knowledge of these models, I just included them as examples
....................................

jvc wood plinth, tt81, mission arm (fixed cartridge)

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649697908-jvc-tt-81-with-mission-774sm-tonearm-and-custom-mexica...
....................................................................

or, build yourself a two arm TT, stereo arm and mono arm instantly ready to go. begin with 1 arm, add second later or never. 

jvc 2 arm plinth

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324409089345?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=533...

jvc TT71, quartz locked DD

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324554946167?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=533...

pick your arms




relayer101's avatar
relayer101
616 posts
 
+10 on the Concept TT but just a suggestion to consider on upgrades. The Concept Wood is a $500 upgrade over the standard Black or Silver plinth. I noted in your opening that you like the aesthetics of the wood plinth but maybe consider performance also between the upgraded plinth or an upgraded tonearm. The Satisfy Carbon Fiber Tonearm could be a nice upgrade over the Satisfy Black Tonearm that you are considering. Keeping the cartridge out of the equasion a Concept Black or Silver TT with the upgraded Satisfy Carbon Fiber tonearm is about $2300. The Concept Wood with the Satisfy Black Tonearm is about $2,500. 
Or even better go with the Concept Wood and for only an additional $300 over what you are looking at now you can get the Satisfy Carbon Fiber Tonearm. 
Regardless of what you decide on the Concept TT is a great choice. 
jmphotography's avatar
jmphotography OP
161 posts
 
Thank you all for the suggestions. At this point I am definitely leaning towards the Clearaudio Concept with Satisfy black arm and Hana SL with the KC Vibe MkII pre. Since I am not experienced with this I prefer to buy from a dealer that I know can setup the TT correctly for me. 
My only other deciding factor is what color concept. I know the wood options have an upgrade in sound from the wooden plinth, but I am concerned that neither wood would match on butcher block rack. I think the black and silver would sit well with the PrimaLuna and contrast against the wood rack. https://i.imgur.com/aaFBYjW.jpg
oldaudiophile
324 posts
 
JM, several years ago, I did a considerable amount of research and critical listening (auditioning) looking for a TT upgrade. The TT’s on your short list are both fine choices. In fact, both of them and the Marantz TT15S1 (designed & built by Clearaudio to Marantz specifications) with Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cart and the VPI Prime Scout were on my short list just prior to my purchase. I was just about ready to pull the trigger on the P6 when I ran into the Mobile Fidelity Ultradeck+M (with Mastertracker MM cartridge). As you know, Rega is a major proponent of low mass design. Although any TT should be set-up on a rock solid surface, this is critically important for a low mass design like a Rega. Have a read of reviews of the Mofi Ultradeck+M (e.g. Julie Mullins; Herb Reichert - to name but a few). Better yet, audition one if you can. I’ve been quite happily living with mine for the last 3 or 4 years or so and wholeheartedly agree with the reviewers analyses, especially Herb’s take: "The MoFi UltraDeck is one of the most lucid-, engaging-, and natural-sounding record players available for under $5000. Highly recommended." IMHO, for under $5,000 you can get a different sound signature from a few contenders but not better. The Mastertracker is the best MM cartridge I’ve ever heard; even better than some MC. Most of my vinyl collection is from the 60s & 70s and has always been lovingly cared for. I’m in the process, now, of running them through my ultrasonic cleaner and treating them with LAST. As long as your vinyl is clean and well cared for (dust is the enemy of records, TTs and styli) and you use a halfway decent phono pre-amp, you will not be disappointed with the Mofi. It’s also a great value if you live in the USA. Good Luck and welcome back to vinyl!

P.S.  I would recommend you put as much separation or space between your TT (or any TT, for that matter), your amp and pre-amp as possible.
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