2. analog
  3. 187532-1444

Table,cartridge,phono...where to put most of my money?

  Let me start by saying im a digital guy,to be specific a CD/SACD guy.Years ago I ventured back into vinyl only to be totally disappointed in my efforts.I wanted to hear the records I had been hauling around the country every time i relocated.I  bought a Linn LP12 and had  all the upgrades done.I never could get it sounding good,even paid to have it setup by a so called expert...Fast forward ,I tried again maybe 6 years ago.Bought a VPI super scout with a couple different phono stages(dont recall what they were)..About the same outcome,was ok but for all the fuss,time,cost I felt another unsuccessful attempt..A few weeks ago i bought at an auction a direct drive Pioneer table from the 70s for a couple hundred.It was paired with a decent cartridge.I bought a used phone amp off ebay and off and rolling i went.Its no where near my digital side across the board and i didnt expect it to be but its got me wanting more....Long story short,I have a budget of 5k/6k for everything..table,cartridge and phone amp..Yes i understand everything is important but where would you put the bulk of the budget...and what would you buy with the limited info given,,Thanks

missioncoonery
missioncoonery OP
1,223 posts
 

So if I'm reading correctly  the general concensus is cartridges are priority one followed by phono amp then table?

big_greg
6,647 posts
 

It may depend on other factors.  I have 4 subwoofers in my room and there's a lot of bass energy..  Priority one is to have a table that won't be (or will be minimally) affected by the bass.  My Sota Sapphire is a champ in that department.  I've heard entry level cartridges sound really good on the right table.  Putting an expensive cartridge on a cheap turntable won't yield the same results.  All three matter, but if I had to prioritize, it would be table, phono stage, cartridge.  

kennyc
1,532 posts
 

Maybe a MoFi Ultradeck, better if bundled with the Master Tracker cartridge or better.  Great reviews.

grislybutter
3,122 posts
 

So if I’m reading correctly the general concensus is cartridges are priority one followed by phono amp then table?

I don’t think "consensus" is word used often on these pages :) but I agree, mostly, with the caveat, repeated n times a day here....


Let’s say you have the world’s best cartridge and phono stage. If you have a cheap arm or incorrectly setup arm, the signal the needle picks up will be compromised. I think of it like a group of runners or swimmers/bikers or whatever you prefer, where the results are based on the slowest runner’s time of the group. Your weakest part will limit how good the sound could get.

Having read the OMA thread, and a lot of analog threads, my understanding is that the components between the needle and the phono stage each have a different ceiling in how good they can get. If you have a great table and arm, you can keep improving the sound with better cartridges way more than you would with better arms or plinths. (Not that I understand what an OMA turntable could do for a 100K, but maybe some day I will) So, in that sense, I’d agree with the "consensus".

ghdprentice
7,052 posts
 

OP… “So if I’m reading correctly the general concensus is cartridges are priority one followed by phono amp then table?”

 

That’s fairly safe provided the turntable and arm are not too out of class. One of my biggest upgrades was my table and arm from a ~1981ish AR to a VPI.

They need to be in the same class.. so putting a $10K cartridge on a $5K table can make amazing sound… just not putting a $10K cartridge on an inexpensive Rega. so as long as you have a decent tt and arm, then you can get a lot of mileage out of a great cartridge and phonostage.

 

 

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