Turntable sub $4k buy decisions too many.
Good day fellow enthusiasts.
I’m moving away (sold) from my VPI Prime 21/ Koetsu Black combo to down size as my Aurender A10 is doing 90% of the music duties in my place now. I’ve been looking at tables in the sub $4k range and wow so many choices.
I’ve eliminated the Project, Technics, Rega and Thorns tables in this price range for various reasons. mostly due to looks if I was totally honest and yes looks has its thing in my house, it will sit in a prominent spot in my living area (open loft). similarly no black box’s.
If i was honest i wasn’t happy with the VPI table-Koetsu black gold line combo it was a little lack luster and frankly the quality of the VPI was not what I expected, tonearm lift didn’t work smoothly and stuck constantly, tonearm was not vertically straight with no way to adjust with out shims (gimbaled arm maybe i missed something in the set up) motor chatter every time you start if you forget to help it move etc. anyway its sold moving on. and no I don’t want a less $ one.
I’ve looked at many and had slipped upward some in my original $3k price bracket.
Tables i know i have access to through my dealers and are considering:
Clear Audio concept dark wood with Satisfy tonearm v2 cart package.
Oracle Paris with their reworked project 9 arm, in red :-). i like the hidden suspension system. ITS RED.
Acoustic Solid, Classic Wood with Rega made 330 arm. Or no arm. Canadian distributor now for this 10 year old German company.
Acoustic Solid, 113 Bubinga. ok this is just beautiful if not slightly over my budget but does it do the part as well.
Sota cosmos, maybe sapphire but that’s in the stretch area.
I may stretch for a few if compelled.
Transrotor entry tables have been recommended, maybe
Kuzma
Who have I missed to look into? Why would you not go with any of the above? Why would you go for something else?
If i get no arm option who’s arms are people recommending now in the sub $2k range?
there’s really not much on the used market right now but that’s an option as well.
Associated equipment:
McIntosh C2700 preamp, I’ll be using the internal tube phono stage. It bested my Gold Note PH10
McIntosh 275 Tube amp
Spendor D9.2 Speakers. very detail speakers....
I have a VDH MC10 MC cart and Sound Smith MI cart now but the VDH need a rebuild. so I'm open to a new cart or package.
Thanks for your input and have a fine day my friends.
Glen N
I was in the market before the price went up and was considering the following. I got the MoFi when a good deal came up. Both should be within your budget. MoFi UltraDeck with Master Tracker and Super Heavy Weight. Marantz TT-15S1, make by Clear Audio and comes with the Clear Audio Virtuoso MM cartridge. Good Luck!
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Thanks Everyone, I'm ordering an Acoustic Solid Classic Wood. I think for the money its a fine looking. made and performing table from what a few German gentleman have said in our private conversations. Well below my budget at $3500 Canadian ($2700 usd). I'll upgrade the Rega arm eventually that seems to be the week link.
Thank you all, most of the tables suggested where over my budget but that was my mistake for inputting the incorrect budget in USD. |
Love the Kuzma Stabi S/Stogi arm suggestion, but it's definitely well over $4K. In the $2k price range, the above suggested Marantz and Mo-Fi suggestion would be where I would go first. If you read the Marantz thread here, I'm on that very path. I may be off base, but it seems like there are a fair number of good $2k choices, but then not as much in the $4K price range. I think the GEM Dandy might fit the bill in that bracket. Perhaps the Luxman PD 151 as well. |
@glennewdick, Your problem if you have a VPI unipivot tonearm is the arm and Koetsu has to be the worst cartridge you could put on it. The Koetsu is very stiff. If the table has a problem it is the outboard motor and little if any isolation. @dover is right. A used Sota Sapphire would be a much better sounding table. A new one is $3975 but that is without an arm. An inexpensive Rega arm can be mounted for the time being. You can upgrade down the line. Not everyone digs the looks. Thorens makes the TD 1600 for $3999.00 and it comes with a very decent arm. You can also change it down the line if you want. The two tables are very similar. The Sota has a better bearing, platter and tonearm board. |
