Well for sure check out Pure Fidelity. Absolutely love my Harmony/OL Conqueror combo. Choose a lower arm in the range and you are close to your budget. I’m running a Charisma Signature One which is awesome at $4K check out the review that just dropped on Stereo Times. The PF tables are really well made and lovely to look at with gorgeous veneer and paint options. Good luck!
End Game Turntable suggestions
Hello all, looking for insights to help me narrow down to some core choices; I am open to new or preowned. My system details can be seen under my profile.
In summary I have significantly expanded my vinyl collection and as of now I am looking to purchase an end game turntable appropriate for my setup. As you can see I use Mola Mola Kaluga Monos, and I really like the Zesto Pre and Phonostages. I find the class D/tube pre combination very pleasing.
I would appreciate suggestions for around $5-8K (table + arm), new or used. I will have separate budget for cartridge. One preferred option (but not must-have) is universal voltage, as I may move the unit to Europe later. My current vintage turntable (Project Perspective) is 22 years old, and while I don't know how to compare to something really amazing, I can say that my setup is lacking detail and bass. The tonearm is terrible to keep aligned. Based on visits to Axpona and Cap Audio Fest and other research, I am thinking of a few in my budget, but will really value your suggestions of other brands:
- Origin Live Sovereign
- VPI Signature
- SAM Sinner
- Thorens TD 1601 (semi automatic)
Visual appeal is important to me (which is why Technics 1200 is not on my list despite great reviews everywhere). I love the idea of set it and forget it DD tables, but unfortunately mostly out of my budget (eg VPI HW-40 going for abt 11K used)....
Sorry for the long post but my hope is this background and help solicit good suggestions. Thanks
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@boothroyd , The OP stated he won’t consider the SL1200G because of the looks which is very important to him. I would also recommend the SME 6, or a VPI Prime Signature with the gimballed arm. There are many others which I can’t think of that may also be to your liking. I owned a Rega Planar 3 and very much disliked the TT. It sounded light with no body but I was using a Blue Point Special at the time, hence I do not recommend Rega. |
Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far and please keep it coming. @vinylvalet i will definitely add SME to the list, As for Rega,.....i am sure they sound good but i have this bias for mass that i will need to overcome. @dodgealum I will check out Pure Fidelity, was unaware of the brand. @tablejockey VPI HW-40 is also 110-240v, which is a huge plus, not very common among US makers from what i see. If i can stretch the budget it really does check every box in my list. Also I heard it at a show last year, but of course how they sound on 200+K systems is a different matter... |
Dear @musicmatters1206 : " End Game Turntable suggestions " End game? really?. It's almost impossible to have " end game " but the RP-10/tonearm combination is really near to and with a Lyra LOMC cartridge from Kleos to Atlas then Icould say: you are done.
But in my opinion you have a severe tweak system link with that phono stage that not only as 10k on output impedance that goes mainly but not only the HF range but additional its critical and way important to achieve a high quality system levels performance ist that the invese RIAA eq.curve has a high frequency deviation swing of 1db that affects not only the discrete notes but harmonics too and puts a colored/distorted sound reproduction. I know that you like it and my opinion is only that.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
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