Advice and recommendations needed for a turntable rig...

krelldreams

I live 35 minutes away from VAS, have become friends with Steve Leung and his son Ray, both terrific people. Steve's TT is a big VPI with the uni-pivot removable arm wands, he has several arm wands with pre-mounted cartridges, and when you buy a cartridge or have him build you a cartridge, if you pick it up, he demo's it on that TT.

I can change a cartridge and set up the replacement in twenty minutes. If I change the headshell on the one tonearm I have that uses interchangeable headshells, it takes about 10-15 minutes including the set-up of the new cartridge (the SME 309 headshells don't allow for individual overhang: that must be set by moving the arm, which is pretty simple on an SME mount). It isn't that big a deal, either way. What does matter, is that even if I achieve a 10 minute change and set-up, I cannot compare the before and after: my auditory memory is not that long.

So I approve of your two tonearm advice, with one arm capable of holding multiple headshells. When my custom Acoustand panels arrive, I'll be using four fixed headshell tonearms, and two interchangeable headshell tonearms.

@2psyop I see your OP was quite clearly stating an interest in a not too old TT deign from Project, being the X8 Evolution Model.

Well I don't know if Mr Fremer can assure one that this is there ideal TT, but if he found satisfaction from experiencing it, then I am sure you can too.

The Thread has become a ricochet, where many suggestions are putting the idea of Vintage TT's as your options, these do come with their own unique age related issues, that can quite easily be a concern.

Read my recent posts on the Yamaha GT 2000 Thread, whatever is wrote there as quality / function concerns that are risks with such purchases to be inherited extends to all Vintage TT's.   

@pindac … He said he was “Looking for advice from those who have used ‘any’ turntable set up and why.” He went on to say that he was considering the Pro-ject. I have not heard the exact model he mentioned, but I have auditioned Many Pro-ject turntables in various price categories, and frankly, I have not been impressed… EXCEPT for their RM-9, RM-10, and their entry level models, which I believe are a great value, but well below the OP’s target range. I’m not bashing Pro-ject, or anyone that loves theirs, but that’s been My experience. Regarding “age related issues”, they are certainly a possibility, but most well-designed turntables are reliable, and require little, if anything, in the way of restoring. I’m not talking about models from the 1950s & 1960s here. For example; the VPI I recommend was first available in ~2005. Not new, but other than the belt, and (unlikely) the motor, there’s not much to deteriorate due to age. New is not always better, and can actually be worse, and cost more. Just my $.02, since I am one who recommended a “vintage” ‘table. I stand by my recommendation, and many other great choices were offered. YMMV 

@krelldreams My post was not an attack on how the thread evolved, it was to inform the OP new things needed to be thought about with some of the TT's being presented, as there very very long term usage and potentially not having any knowledge of how they have been treated, creates it own new concerns.

'Caveat Emptor' - will be ones friend when treading in this area of purchasing.