Use your own ears first.
Selecting Analog Gear Based on Music Preference?
I’m just getting into turntables and vinyl after building a fairly high-end digital system over the past few years. One thing I consciously did as I put together this system was “voice” it for synergy with the kind of music I like to listen to, which is fairly well-produced classic rock like Rick Rubin’s work with Tom Petty, Sting and the Police, Tears for Fears, etc. And I also like to listen to pop music like Sam Smith, Maroon 5, and George Michael. So I’ve built this system with a Naim NDX2/ND555PS and tube preamp/Luxman M900u power amp combo with high efficiency Volti horn speakers.
I picked up a Technics SL-1200Mk2 with an Ortofon 2M Blue just to get things started, and I have a Parasound JC3 Jr which all seem to be a great first step. But before I do any upgrades to the turntable and cartridge I’m wondering if there are better tables and cartridges for different kinds of music and listening? I don’t want to fall in love with some high end table and find out it really only sounds best when listening to renaissance lute music or acoustic guitar singer/songwriters, etc. I’m looking to get groove and resolution similar to what I’ve found with the NDX2/ND555PS combo.
I’m looking toward the $2.5-5K range, and at the top of the range I find the Dr Fieckert Volare and possibly the SOTA Sapphire very interesting, and I have a soft spot for Technics, so the 1200G is a possibility too.
Is there a direction I should be heading in if I’m looking for the best rig to reproduce a certain genre of music?
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- 19 posts total
@jsqt I like your choices of both your current gear and the items you mention aspiring to. But IMHO, the premise behind tuning to your preferred genre is not a long term satisfying path. You might evolve and expand your musical taste. The gear you have and the gear you seek should work well with all genres. Many disagree, that's fine. I know many enthusiasts who rely on tonearms with removable headshells and vary cartridges for genres...that's one to do it without radical changes. Instead, I prefer to go with the best all around performers I can afford and lean towards natural timbre, transparency and good dynamics. If those attributes are right, it works with all genres. If it helps, I have a Sota Nova and previously a Technics SP10mk2. Cheers, Spencer |
@sbank thanks - yes maybe it’s different with analogue. I found the sound of, say the Chord TT2 for example, versus the Naim NDX2 affected the genre of music I preferred listening to. The Chord DAC, being quite detailed and dynamic, I found myself listening to a lot of ECM recordings and acoustic bluegrass, etc. It sounded great but not my cup of tea. The Naim is better suited to my ears for louder, more punchy and rhythmic music. It cost me a whole lot of money to find that out, so I thought I’d ask before I jump on another gear carousel. Sounds like the turntable really doesn’t affect the sound that much. @tablejockey thanks for the comment, I missed that email in 2021. I’m all set for 2022 though thanks to your head’s up.
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I wasn't implying that AT ALL, quite the opposite. Better tables will give you more or what you seek with all genres. Understand your DAC examples; my suggestion for digital would be an R2R DAC which would give you more of the relaxed nature of the Naim with more details too, but perhaps in a less forward way...sort of THERE without calling too much attention to themselves. Denafrips, Soekris, AudioGD, plenty of options that most describe along those lines. Pontus II does the trick for me, FWIW. Cheers, Spencer |
- 19 posts total