Turntables better than a Wadia 861SE w/ Statement

Gregm & All,

Thank you for your replies. It seems that properly set up and reasonably priced Turtable rigs can easily outperform decent digital in many ways.

Embarking on a turntable/arm combination seems very intimidating. Maybe it's because I don't have the experience here that I did on evaluating digital front-ends. My main questions are now:

1) Is there a particular area one should focus on? Turntable ? Arm? Cartridge?

2) Is getting an "all-in-one" system like the Nottingham or VPI whorthwhile? Does it limit upgradability?

3) How much should one spend to get something that is clearly better than the Wadia?

From what I've read, my short list would be below. Any recommendations?

Mid-End:

Nottingham Spacedeck/space arm
VPI Scout Master

High End:

Teres
SME
Basis
Kuzma

Cartrigges:

Shelter, 901
Zyx (not sure if gain is high enough)
Benz Micro-Glider, Wood

Hi Aoliviero,
your question is exactly up my alley!! :-)
Altho my Wadia 861 is stock & not the SE version, I still love it. I run it into a CAT SL1 Sig Mk3 & in turn into a pair of Symphonic Line RG4 Mk3 amps. I agree w/ Gregm that these amps are really very good sounding & a very good match for the CAT SL1 Sig Mk3. They seem to be sounding a bit better ever since I upgraded their diode rectifier bridge.

Take a look @ my TT setup - it retails for little over $4K & it handily beats the Wadia 861. It's more "organic" & the music simply flows thru it. Not that the music doesn't flow easily thru the Wadia 861. In & of itself, the Wadia 861's rendition of music is simply superb & so far I wouldn't trade it for another CDP but when compared to my TT setup, the Wadia loses. There's a "correctness" of the music thru vinyl that the Wadia cannot give. I don't think that it's the Wadia as much as I think that it's the digital format. I've worked on getting the sound out of the Wadia & I feel that I have it where I want it now. So, the Wadia's sound has been largely optimized in my system (sure there can be improvements but I think that I'm at the point of diminishing returns).
Often the recordings that sound most analog thru the Wadia are the ones that are 2-mic recordings such as "Blues Union", "Meeting by the River", those recorded thru DSD format like "Healin" & those using the JVC K2 process. Not surprising!!
I think the advice in this thread is pretty much dead-on: you don't have to spend a whole heck of a lot for the vinyl to setup to beat the digital. About half the cost of your digital setup should *easily* do it, from my experience. I personally like the Nottingham Spacedeck w/ the latest SpaceArm & the Teres designs. Superb dynamics & PRaT! The scary thing is that you have sooooo much choice, you could very easily get analyes-paralyses choosing one!!

I've heard A CAT System many years ago hooked up to a Goldmund Reference Turntable System and a special Van Den Hul Cartridge and I will never forget that unbeliveable stunning sound.Just left digital totally in the dust ,no comparison at all.
I don't thing you realize just how great a CAT can sound in a great analog rig.You're in for one great ride,and I'm sure you will end up dumping the Wadia.
I know thats a bold statement to make,BUT IMO your in for a real treat.
Personally I would sell the Wadia and throw the money into a mid level VPI deck,and get yourself a top end phono cartridge.

Bombaywalla,

Good to hear from you. I was hoping you would join in since you have a similar system as mine. Anyway, thanks for the encouraging words. Sounds like it won't take much to get some good sound.

76doublebass got me even more encouraged. I don't know about selling the Wadia. Still have 600 Cd's. Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing analog for real and getting as excited as all of you.

Thanks

Andrew

ANdrew -- re some yr questions. TT+arm combos ("all in one") are qctually quite good usually, but the uprade-ability can suffer on the cheapest offerings.

A good way of looking at making the analogue investment "longer term" to follow the order: TT, arm, cartridge.

Among the reasonably priced/great performers you have TTs such as -- Scheu (self assembled; used to be called Eurolab), Teres, Pro-ject (the top models)... Among the many tonearms, you might look at Scroeder, Moerch, Origin Live. The beginner's Schroeder is IMO outstanding BUT there's a long waiting list it seems...

Many A'goners can offer excellent advice, one of these being Rauliruegas who has an unbelievable collection of analogue gear (including more cartridges than most dealers!)
Cheers