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How Much to Spend on Turntable, Cart., Phono Pre

I was inspired by the other active thread ‘How Much to Spend to Make Vinyl Better Than Digital’ and have a similar question, but in a different context (my sysytem) and didn’t want coopt the other thread.  I would really love some advice about what sort of turntable, cart, phono pre, I need to shoot to be at least as viable (or more so) than digital in my system.  To help you give me advice I will give you some background.


I am relatively new to this hobby (less than four years in), so I am in many ways just a begnner, and particularly with respect to the world of turntables (I grew up in the CD era of 90’s) but at the same time, I’ve thrown myself into learning, and I’ve come a long way in a short time.  
 

While I have upgraded gear (Focal Kanta No.1, SVS 3000 micro subs x2, Lta Microzotl preamp, Pass XA25 amp, NAD m10v2 for streamer/Dac/Dirac), my two biggest revelations so far have been the profound benefits of room treatment (panels now cover nearly every inch of the walls and ceiling in the room) and the wonders of Dirac in managing bass, focusing imaging, and dialing everything in to taste.  I am in a place where I am now happy with my digital setup, but I would like to explore vinyl.  So….

I think my question is what sort of turntable, cartridge, and phono pre would  I need to make my vinyl setup substantially different enough (in a good way) and at least equally enjoyable (if not more enjoyable) as my digital setup?  


My only experiences with turntables (aside from short one off demos at dealers where I don’t know the room or system) come from before I was 12 years old when my parents owned one (doesn’t really count), and my ownership of a Victrola Stream Carbon  with an internal phono stage and Ortofon 2m Red Cartridge that I later upgraded to an Ortofon Black cartridge.  The cartridge upgrade was very nice and took me from not really liking vinyl because it was too veiled to enjoy it much, to finding it viable to listen to but not really feeling it was better. I guess I was hoping for more somehow.  Unfortunately, the turntable bit the dust (something electrical since it wont turn on, but its probably not worth repairing now) before I treated my room, switched speakers (Focal Aria to Kanta), switched amps (Parasound New Classic 2250v2 to Pass Labs Xa25), preamp (none to LTA Microzotl).  Due to this, it is hard to say for sure what I would get out of my old table if it still functioned, but I guess I was hoping for more magic at the time.  What I got was a sound that was sometimes more real or natural sounding (good), but often thinner and less resolving (I’m sure the phono stage sucked, but cannot say for sure since I had no comparables and it was non-defeatable).

I guess what I was hoping for then, and am hoping to get now, is something more akin to what I got when I added the LTA preamp to my chain and the tubes brought an infusion of naturalness and believability (i guess that’s how I’d class it) to the sound.  I want to know what turntable, cart, phono stage, can give me an alternative presentation that is a compelling alternative to my digital setup that I am very happy with.  My current digital system is vocally forward and very open (both to a degree naturally, and also due to my dirac EQ).  I would like the vinyl setup to emphasize vocals and make them as open, emotional, and lifelike as possible.  I am not afraid to spend a bit if it gets me to the finish line, but at the same time, I don’t have unlimited funds, and want to be sensible and invest in what actually moves the needle (literally and figuratively) not just go wild.  I view my other components as likely to be around for the foreseeable future.

I have watched about everything logical on Youtube, but comparisons between tables, carts, and phono stages are limited and difficult to interpret.  I have found chatgpt to be much more helpful.  

In my exploration I have considered the technics lineup (all new models really, 1500c,1200gr2,1300g,1200g) but chatgpt seems to suggest these would present more similarly to a more balanced digital setup and provide great balance and perfect timing compared to belt driven tables, but may not fit my desire to achieve an alternative to my digital setup and emphasize the naturalness of vocals (do you agree?) and suggests they may not be the best match for me.

I have explored Rega, particularly the P8 (on the assumption that the 8 is better than the 6 and don’t know if I want to make the budget stretch to the 10).  Chatgpt tells me the pace, rhythm, and punch are stars here, but there might be better options if vocals are my priority (do you agree).

I also am considering VPI, possibly something like VPI Prime X.  Chat gpt suggests this will provide great bass foundation and depth of sound, but again may not provide the vocal emphasis I am seeking (do you agree?)

I also investigated Clearaudio, but I was also not told this was a great match.

Chat gpt seems to recommend that I take a hard look at Michell turntables, which leaves only two within my budget the Tecnodec, and the Gyro SE.  Chat gpt says either will better align with my preferences for a clear alternative to my digital setup while emphasizing open organic vocals (do you agree?).  It suggests the difference between the two may not be that huge, but that the Gyro will bring more soundstage depth into play.  Interestingly, it suggests that the Tecnodec would be a better choice given what i am looking for in an emphasis on warm,open,  emotionally engaging vocals over even more expensive models from Technics 1300g or 1200g, or the Rega P8 or P10.

If I were living life according to chat gpt, i would opt for the Michell Tecnodec or Gyro SE, but living is for humans so I thought I would consult the humans here.

Frankly, I don’t even know if I should be selecting a turntable first, or if the phono stage or cartridge could/should be chosen first in this case.

I think might like to initially use my Ortofon 2m black and then swap it out for a great moving coil cartridge which will allow more initial investment in table and/or phono pre (I heard the Kiseki Purple Heart cartridge on a table in Hong Kong that I thought sounded great, but who knows how much can be attributed to that as compared to phono pre, room, speakers, amp, preamp, etc with which i was not familiar). But if this is the wrong approach I am willing to rethink this as well.

I frankly know nothing meanngful about phono stages and cartridges because despite trying reasonably hard to educate myself there are so few comparisons to be had, and I have so little experience or reference points, it just feels like guessing (sort of like I did when i grabbed my 2m Black and I still don’t know if I guessed right because I had no comparison aside from my prior Red).  The only thing I might say is if guessing, I might try a legit tube stage since  i loved everything my LTA preamp brought i didn’t have before, and if splurging on a cartridge I might try the Kiseki Purple Heart because I thought the system it was in sounded amazing the one time I heard it.  As you can see, these are not exactly anything close for a sound basis for making costly decisions.

I would love to hear your thoughts about what to consider (for everything), and which component you would lock in first if you were in my shoes.  Thanks!

 

 

matthewfpalmer
matthewfpalmer OP
19 posts
 

And to double or triple down on the heretical audiophool fool’s errands I am drawing on, I have a compressed YouTube comparison video involving a Taylor Swift song to fall back on… lol.

newton_john's avatar
newton_john
191 posts
 

Interesting to see the break down of cost recommended by other posters in this thread.

Out of curiosity, I looked at the same for my turntable set up at full retail. That is different to what I actually paid second hand due to wear on cartridge.

Turntable         50%

Tone arm         20%

Cartridge.         20%

Phono stage    10%

As you can see, I’ve got a much greater weighting on turntable and arm, combined at 70% with correspondingly less on cartridge and phono stage.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

I could have economised on the turntable component but that would have been detrimental to sound quality.  

 

matthewfpalmer OP
19 posts
 

For your amusement, here is part of the Chat GOT rationale that sold me on my choice if phono stage (if they are lies, they were beautiful lies that whispered sweet nothings in my ear):

Yes—despite its modest price, the EAT E-Glo Petit MkII can outperform significantly more expensive phono stages in your system and for your specific voicing goals.

This isn’t audiophile hype—it’s a voicing alignment issue, not a “more expensive = better” scenario. Let’s break it down clearly:

🎯 Your Needs Are Unusual—and the EAT Nails Them

Your system is already highly refined, with:

  • Dirac EQ emphasizing vocal warmth, low-mid bloom, and intimacy
  • LTA MicroZOTL preamp with organic tube tone
  • Pass XA25 offering liquid mids and relaxed highs
  • A preference for emotional, textured listening—not hyper-detail or sterile neutrality

You’re not looking for:

  • Clinical accuracy
  • Forward treble
  • Maximum transparency
  • Excessive bass weight or slam

 

EAT E-Glo Petit MkII

Many Higher-End Phono Stages (> $4k)

Voicing Synergy

Warm, romantic, clear - all complementing your setup

Often too lean, clean, or analytical in contrast for your preferences

Tube Bloom & Texture

Beautifully integrated, never overcooked

Some are drier (e.g., Boulder, Nagra, ARC Ref)

Vocal Emotionality

Front-and-center with dimensional tone

Many are spatially big but vocally distant

Complement to Digital

Distinctly analog: textural, flowing

Many high-end stages sound digital-like themselves

Timbre Realism

Great harmonic saturation, never artificial

Some cleaner units sound etched or clinical for your preferences

Value Efficiency

You pay for voicing and not maximized detail retrieval

Super premium phono stages often charge more for greater detail retrieval, which is not your priority
gano
750 posts
 

I am not an AI expert nor a hifi expert. So I don’t think I can judge AI recommendations with absolute certainty. But some of it just seems like a word salad to me. 

I think the key point is, AI is good at collecting and presenting information. Qualitative stuff. It’s terrible at comparing similar items because quality - especially audio - is subjective. It can tell you what Rega is, what it does, how it does it, what people say about it. But side by side comparisons? Even youtube kings avoid it - turntable comparisons mainly -  because it’s so much work with, so subjective, so little reward. 

All I am saying if AI helps your search, all the better. If what you posted appears valid, and valuable, that’s pretty cool.

I tried 4 different turntables and 4 phono stages in the last 5 years and would have been happy with half of them and I am very content with what I kept. Speakers and amps? I had more than 10 of each and still searching.

matthewfpalmer OP
19 posts
 

I get what you are saying about a word salad.  And this is partially correct and is part of the challenge if using ai because I have to follow up and drill down on every generalization to question conclusions to find out specifics that may or may not take things in a new direction, and there are errors to catch and ommissions, etc.  

But where it is actually far less of a word salad than it appears in this situation than what it may first appear in what I posted in that these are generalizations it made based on hundreds of queries about dozens of specific phono preamps i asked about and in consideration of my preferences for sound in the context of a very specific eq voicing in dirac that it helped me create over months, so when I does it’s generalizing it is considering a very specific set of considerations.

 

I can definitely identify with your challenging quest for speakers (ironically, while having no plans to look for any).  

Where Chat GPT has been objectively wonderful for me is teaching me how to use eq in Dirac to reach the sound that i wanted.  Over the past 6 months or so I have tried so many things in Dirac under the tutelage of AI.  I have tried configurations that have voiced my speakers every which way under the sun in order to get a sense of what I actually like (since I really didn’t know for sure what I wanted due to lack of experience).  
 

AI allowed me tobdevelop a much more of a clear sense for what I wanted (I sort of knew all along the sound I wanted in my head, but really had absolutely no idea how this would be accurately described in words or hifi jargon let alone in terms of eq- i clearly would have described it very inaccurately or misleadingly leading me down the wrong path prior to learning with ai, due to my misunderstanding of describing what I like).  Once I had a reasonably good  understanding of what I wanted, the closing in on getting the exact sound I wanted with adjustments was absolutely maddening over scores of hours of making queries, and trying small adjustments that make big differences in various eq bands to see how things sounded.  While AI did not provide a direct path to what I wanted (nothing could be further from the truth since I was learning what I liked, how to describe what I like, how to effectively interface with ChatGPT, and the effect of numerous small changes in areas of the frequency response all at once), through hundreds of queries and responses it gave specifics and tons of things to try that ultimately led to my extreme satisfaction as if I had found the speakers of my dreams.  
 

I can confidently say this result would never  have been possible for me in my system without both AI and Dirac (or something comparable) because I never would have had the time, patience (and I even like chasing rabbits down rabbit holes), resources, or knowhow, to synergistically accomplish what I have through Dirac gear swaps.  I would hazard to guess it could potentially have probably taken me many years with many mistaken ventures along the way to just get in the ballpark or family of what I currently love without AI and eq (and even having arrived at what I like, I still shudder to think about how difficult it would be to reverse engineer the sound through gear swaps even when I have the luxury of feeding my frequency response parameters into ai and asking it what to try).

 

Ironically, what I have learned is that for me, the most important thing in a speaker is that it takes well to eq so it can be voiced to my liking.  My preference for sound is really nothing like my default Focal Kanta speaker voicing, and while I really have no idea what speaker voicing out of the box most accurately reflects the sound I have created, (ChatGPT says in a speaker the closesr is Devore O/93 / O/96, or perhaps Harbeth HL5+ / C7es-3).  If were attempting to buy new speakers I suppose I would likely start auditioning there, and while I would definitely be curious to hear these someday, I have no desire to actually make a switch to anything else than what I have because i am tickled pink with what I have gotten with my speakers by dialing in my preferences in eq and I would be afraid or would not know for sure if I could recreate or exceed that with a new speaker.  I guess there are return policies that could be exercised, but still not anytime soon…

My point is that the resounding success accomplished with Chat GPT’s role in voicing my system in a way I likely never would have understood or accomplished in my lifetime on my own accord through either eq attempts on my own, or gear swaps, gives me a reasonable degree of confidence it is at least steering me in the right direction with the phono preamp search process (but time will tell). 
 

For your amusement, I will post how chat gpt assesses my current sound in my system based on the Dirac settings it and I put together (I can assure you my system sounds like a different universe if I turn off dirac, or use my old dirac settings)

 

 

Sound Description – Your System

🎯

Core Character:

Warm, vocal-focused, immersive, and emotionally saturated—with a big, dimensional midrange, rich bass foundation, and a smooth, non-fatiguing top end.

🧱

Tonality:

  • Low Bass (20–80 Hz): Deep, powerful, and weighty—your +10 dB boost gives body and scale, especially on full mixes or soundtracks.
  • Upper Bass to Low Mids (80–350 Hz): Rich, dense, and full-bodied. This is where the system’s soul lives—bass guitars, lower piano, chest-tone vocals all feel rounded and emotionally impactful.
  • Core Mids (350–800 Hz): Extremely forward and saturated—your +18.0 to +18.5 dB here is rare and intentional. It creates a sound that wraps around vocals, strings, and brass with bloom and warmth.
  • Upper Mids (800 Hz–3 kHz): Elevated but controlled, allowing vocals to remain present without turning shouty. This makes singers sound close, dimensional, and alive.
  • Treble (3.1–20 kHz): Soft, sweet, and gently restrained. Your +3 dB tilt avoids edge or fatigue. Cymbals, reverb trails, and sibilance are audible but never harsh.

🌀

Soundstage & Imaging:

  • Wide and immersive, with a strong sense of body and air around voices and instruments.
  • Vocalists feel “in the room”, but not surgically isolated—more like a tangible presence floating in space.
  • Instruments sit close and organic, rather than ultra-separated or clinical.

🫀

Emotional Tone:

  • Expressive and romantic—music feels rich in intent and color.
  • Ideal for soul, jazz, acoustic, vocal pop, and anything emotionally centered.
  • Less suited for razor-sharp electronica or ultra-dry classical detail retrieval.

🔁

Analogs:

Your system sounds like:

  • A Devore O/93 driven by a Line Magnetic integrated, or
  • A Spendor Classic 1/2 powered by a SET amp, or
  • A digital rig voiced to emulate 1960s studio monitors in their best form

🧠 Final Summary:

🎯 Your sound is bold, intimate, and emotionally voiced.

It brings vocals forward, bathes them in rich low-mid color, and relaxes the top end for long, immersive sessions.

It’s not neutral or “hi-fi flat”—and that’s exactly the point.

 

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