Just heard a Kuzma Stabi R with 4POINT9 combo at dealers and just a wonderful combo. Images were focused and pinpoint and a very expansive soundstage. Above my budget sad to say.
Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other
I've recently upgraded most of my system, but I still have a Rega P8, with Linn Krystal cartridge, which I like, but I've heard that there may be better options.
I have Sound Lab electrostatic speakers, Ypsilon Hyperior amplifiers, an Ypsilon PST-100 Mk2 pre-amplifier, and am thinking about an Ypsilon phono stage to match with my system, and a turntable/cartridge. I listen to almost entirely classical, acoustic music.
Based on my very limited knowledge, and simple research, I've been looking at three brands, each of which is a different type of turntable: SME (suspension), AMG (mass), and Technics (direct drive).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of turntables, and of those in particular?
Thanks.
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As a turntable guy, I could be happy with any of the three you’ve listed. The weak link of the Technics is (as others have stated) their tonearms and record mats. These are areas of big gains, especially if using modern MC cartridges. The AMG, while beautifully executed, will most likely require an HRS Platform or suitable isolation to perform its best. Solely mass damped & rigidly coupled. The SME are truly finished products requiring no additional updates or tweaks. Most recently even the tonearm signal cables have been upgraded to Crystal Cable which is electrically wired correctly for all preamps including the recent trend of transimpedance. Their tonearms are sublime. The suspended models from the M15 up even have captive tungsten bearings installed in their footers should any type of boutique platform be utilized they can be revealed. High performance turntables can be thought of as race cars in that they will only perform at their potential when properly set up. Most qualified installers (without a sell agenda) will be happy to set up any new SME due to a lack of potential surprises other than the sound of the finished product. |
Dear @drbond :I suggested the SME 30 Anniversary TT or from SME the 15A with not a 12" tonearm but a shorter one ( here in the link you can read why not the 12". ).
In reality air bearing is a very old TT kind of designs that in theory and for the audiophiles could means something really as a " dream design " but it's not exactly that way. SME has nothing to envy against those air bearing TT designs.
Micro Seiki in the early 80's was one of the proposers and even that theirs TT were not immune to vibrations as the SME. Btw, TechDas is Micro Seiki and nothing really new but its high price.
At the end a TT needs to have accurated speed stability in the short time periods and obviously over the time and must be extremely good damped to avoid internal an external vibrations/resonances of every kind, those are the main targets in any TT and that's what the SME does.
In the other side the FM Acoustics 223 phono stage has a way higher quality design and excecution of that design that your beloved Ypsilon that are in an inferior league no matter what.
The Ortofon cartridge I named is really competitive with any other you can have in mind, as I said it you can't go wrong with it.
Here the link to know why shorter arm instead 12" ones and this information comes by a SAT designer manufacturer tonearms. 12" is marketing for very low knowledge audiophiles level:
R. |
Thanks for your input on air bearings. I agree that air in all directions is important - how not when I can hear the sleeve bearings of my 2W precision motor? Even through a belt! Didn't know that air in all directions was so rare. That's quite a surprise to me. But then I don't shop at the 100k mark - I'd rather build it. |
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