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Best turntable under $4000

I am looking to take the next step in my analog journey. I currently am using a Fluance RT85 with ortofon 2m blue. I have a Rogue Audio cronus magnum iii. I am running them with Kef 104/2 's. Fluance seems to get alot of hate on here. I was considering a cartridge upgrade but I am hesitant to upgrade more then the cost of the table. I don't hear much background noise and like the sound. I guess I am wondering if I don't know I hear noise because I have not heard a turntable that eliminates that noise? When I went from my Onkyo to my Rogue Sphinx iii I realized I had been missing a whole lot of sound. Then I ditched my rebuilt EPI M150's and heard hidden instruments in tracks I have listened to for years. I am looking for that in a turntable upgrade.  Apperance is important. I have interest in the following:

Clear Audio Concept Wood w/ maestro v2

Mofi fender precisiondeck w/ mastertracker

Stretching my budget is:

Dr. Feikert Volare no cartridge

Gold Note Pianosa no cartridge

These take me out of my budget once I get a cartridge

Any other reccomendations 

I will miss the autostart function for those buzzed listening nights. I would like the 4k to include a cartridge. Any opinions are welcome. Anyone think I should say screw the "rules" and get an Ortofon black?

 

Thank you in advance

cpdkee
spatialking's avatar
spatialking
610 posts
 

I would look at a cartridge upgrade first.  I have the Blue and it is good but not the best of the four cartridges I own.  Denon 103, ADC VM760, Grado Sonata, and the Blue.  The others definitely beat the Blue in all parameters.  

You asked for the best TT in the $4000 price range.  Frankly, I don't think there is such a thing as "best" in the upper price ranges.  What you do have are differences that will influence your decision on one over another.  I would look at all of your choices carefully, find one that fires your rockets, and put your money into a better cartridge.  Do make sure the compliance is suitable for the arm you have or will buy before you send that backhoe into your wallet.

overthemoon
421 posts
 

I agree the term ‘best’ is vague. And I think you should consider the analog chain - table (including tone arm), cartridge and phono stage. 
 

I believe you have an internal phone stage with your Rogue so I’ll focus on turntable and cartridge. First of all - I recommend only buying what you have listened too or can audition. Second I have been happy with Rega and most recently P8 with Ania cartridge which is just under $4k. I appreciate the set it and forget it nature. There are other options from manufacturers such as VPI that allow more adjustments and tweaking. 

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

i don’t know what is best, been through many over the years, though certainly haven’t tried them all, and i streaming more these days

but my favorite two tt’s are the oracle delphi (i have a nicely restored v2 with a brilliant origin live arm) and then the well tempered labs amadeus

grislybutter
3,128 posts
 

I had the RT85 and found it very good, for the money. But I was willing to spend a few hundreds more and get a Rega.

If I had 4K, I would look at

  • Rega P8
  • Clear Audio Concept Wood
  • Dr. Feikert Volare 
  • and Thorens
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