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Advice on turntable decision: Mac MT10, ProJect HL Signature 10 or Clear audio Ovation

Hello Agon community. Looking for some guidance on choice of a TT.

By way of background I am presently running four systems in my home, two which presently have an analog front end. One is a C-J ART based system with a SME 20/12 and an urushi black Koetsu cart. Another is a Pass INT 20 driven system with a PS Audio Stellar Phone (awesome BTW) driven by a ProJect Xtesnion 12 with a Sumiko pear celebration II cart.

The system that this perspective TT will be used is a Mac based system, namely a C2500 preamp and 452 amp. I will be using the phono stage included in the C2500 - at least to start. Plus, if it helps the analysis I actually like the phono section of the C2500. I am less of a transparency guy and more of a midrange guy. The speakers for this Mac system are Raidho C2.1's with Odin cabling.

I have an opportunity presently to purchase any one of the above listed decks used but in excellent condition, and all priced within $1500 of one another give or take. I will be selecting my own cart so that should not be a variable in this equation at the moment. My listening room is 22 x 17 with 20 foot cathedral ceilings (but I have a REL sub so I don’t lose ALL the bass in the room).

I love the transparency and dead quiet from the SME. But I also love the surprisingly great and engaging pe4rformance of the ProJect Xtension 12. Of course, it is obvious that the MT10 looks absurd with the meter but I am a Mac guy so I love the look, especially since you can turn off the alien green acrylic platter. I am aware that the Mac TT is really just a rebranded Clear Audio Ovation, souped up by Mac, but the looks of the Mac are not a deal breaker for me. The Innovation Wood is very nice, but the ProJect is, to my eyes, the best looking of these three high mass heavyweight tables. All of these companies are well established so good service and support should be across the board. Resale is not a large factor but they all have been around for years and shall have more or less good resale.

What do I do?? I thank the entire Agon community for any help you can provide.
heshafran
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
There is no "motor noise" from any good vintage high-end direct drive i own/owned like technics sp10 mk2, denon dp-80, victor tt-101, luxman pd-444 ... 

This problem is a myth, even $1000 units (drive only) does not have anything like that, they are very well ingineered btw. 


heshafran OP
8 posts
 
So I went with a Pro-Ject Signature.  The price difference between that and an Innovation or tricked out Frieckert blackbird allowed me to include two cartridges, a Sumiko Palo Santos AND a Kiseki Purple Heart NS.  Not sure why so many people look down on the ProJect.  Well made, great tech, ultra quiet, reliable speed control and tracking, absolutely awesome tonearm and, to these eyes, one of the best looking TT out there at any price.  Really does rival my $24K plus SME 20/12 rig and, in certain ways, more engaging (but that may be the cart, SME has an Urushi black). Anyway, hard to get these now but price point for what you get makes it a great value.  Final shout out to Butcher Block Acoustics on their TT platforms.  Best tweak for the money I ever did. 
eric5kim
44 posts
 

How are you enjoying the Signature 10? 

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