TT/ cartridge recommendations $1000

Oh, yeah...impressive...but it's still belt drive. I love Quartz DDs...

Back to sound, I don't want anymore an endless qwest for sound quality. Just want to recreate the 'spirit of the music' in a little apartment living room. My humble JMlab Tantal 509s are looking and sounding good on top of the Lovan Ballet III stands, I'll have my Proton pre and dual mono amp serviced and later buy a high end preamp. Not bad for what I'm spending. No need to spend more, either.

If you want to get into used stuff, I bought a Proton 600T Preamp/Video Tuner, its remote and the model 690 decoder for $40 at a pawn shop! Also a mint Audio Control 520 EQ for $20. I am going to have audio and video in the same room, but as separate systems. Got to stay realistic. That deal will never happen again...so setting up systems based on used prices is not fair. I could get an Oracle from a crackhead for $20 if I'm really patient..

Get my point of view?

hi psychic,

belt drive is an *adwantage*, imho... prior to getting my oracle, i *almost* bit at a nakamichi dragon - prolly wooda done it if it were belt drive insted of direct-drive... :>) re: the endless quest for sound, i'm also done... at least in the turntable dept... ;~)

re: setting up systems w/used components, no, i *don't* get yer point of view. only my subwoofer system is comprised of components bought gnu, cuz i tink they're a bargain, even when compared w/the competition at used prices. patience *does* pay off - what yure looking foe *will* turn up, sooner rather than later. while i doubt yude *ever* get an oracle for $20, there *is* one f/s rite now on a-gon, a mk-lll, w/a linn itok arm, asking price is $1450, been here for 16 daze now... a mk-l, like the one i got, w/a lesser arm, is *not* at all uncommon for $1k. also, a couple linn sondeks, vpi's, a reddy-to-go rega 25 w/dynawector cartridge, & a bunch of others for $1k or less.

i can understand the feeling ewe have for that 1200; cool - i have the same affection for my oracle. the fact that it totally smoked my way-more-than-decent highly-modded cj walker 'table that it replaced was icing on the cake - i bought it for its looks! ;~)

regards, doug *cheap* sedon

At the risk of inducing a littany of negatives (don't care), I'll give my .02. To answer the question of whether or not a *good sounding* (subjective assessment) TT/arm/cartridge can be had for this system, I'd say probably not. Why would you set your sights so low for the front end after putting together a pretty damn decent pre/amp/speakers?? I firmly believe in putting the lions share of resources into the source. I'll steer clear of cliches' here, but I would strongly recommend taking additional time to save, scrimp, whatever and put about 3k (if possible, but at least 2K) into a good analog front end. Oracle, VPI, Linn (god forbid), Basis etc can be found used in this price range, and the musical satisfaction wrought by the additional investment will well be worth it in the long run (IMHO). Cheers, -John

Musicdoc.I disagre.For 1K used I bought a Well Tempered clasic with the Clasic tonearm and a BenzMicr Glider with low hours on it.
I have had CD/DAC combos worth 3/4k which where trashed by the 1K viynl rig.

Thanks for all the feedback folks. You're right Music Doc I have but some bucks into this system. I don't want to totally cheap out on this but on the other hand every person has their limits and $3K is just too much for a new front end for me. I might spring for $1500 at most. Most of my listening will still be CDs.

Could any of you share your thoughts:1) on a Rega Planar 3 with the Rega Elys cartridge vs the Shure V15VxMR vs a Goldring 1042 ?
or would I be better off to

2)Go to a good reliable source(dealer) for a used Well Tempered or VPI ?

Thanks again. I have learned a ton on Audiogon and appreciate all the thoughtful comments. Big O