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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

 

musicmatters1206
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rauliruegas
13,101 posts
 

Dear @au_lait : Well you are a fan of Technics even in your R2R unit and you like the long tonearms. I like and have first han experiences with your Pallete and as you I own ADS speakers in my case the L-2030 modified by me.Yes, the MK3 is hard to beat maybe the lewm that has a different plynth material could or sounds different.

Plynth material for vinatge top TT seems to me that with blend of material and very good internal damping could be the solution but yours looks beautiful.

In the new Technics SP10 they choosed not wood and the SAT one neither or the Air Force.

Anyway, I really like your MK3 " presentation ".

R.

 

safebelayer
66 posts
 

If you're interested in Basis Audio, which it seems you are, I highly recommend the 2500 with the vector tonearm. That said, this option from basis is worth exploring

The debut exceeds the performance of the 2500. It comes with their best tonearm, which is as good a tonearm as one can buy and works best with Basis turntables.

 

Good luck in your search. Btw, the dynavector xv1s is excellent with the Basis.

pops
2,275 posts
 

I couldn’t agree more on the recommendation for basis tables and vector 4 tonearm.  
 

The debut above Looks like a good deal. I’ve had two basis tables I’m currently using the 2200 signature and can’t imagine a better presentation.

lewm
13,148 posts
 

Panzerholz is excellent for sure, but it is also very dense. Thus I see panzerholz as a kind of mass damping, in the same category as any other materials used to the same end. Albeit panzerholz may be the best or one of the best choices. PH for a tonearm wand is also an interesting idea but such a wand will inevitably have a high effective mass, due to the density. Reed offer PH as an option. I believe it’s their highest mass choice.

rsf507
2,335 posts
 

safebelayer looks like you are trying to sell your Basis table here on the Agon forums which is against policy. You should probably post your ad in the market place on Agon

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