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Next Turntable

I've been reading, digging through archives, studying anecdotal comments, and the like, here and on the Vinyl Asylum, to figure out my next TT move. I am strictly a vinyl-only guy, and for those of you who remember my other posts, recently came back to audio after a decade long hiatus. I have been revamping my system, the only remaining piece from the early 90's being a Well-Tweaked, Well Tempered TT.
I want to take a step up in the TT world. Here are my parameters:

1. No twenty thousand plus investment. I could see 10k for a table, sans arm and cartridge, but that's about where I'm going to draw the line; obviously, if I don't have to spend this, I won't.
2. Not too tweaky. Don't want to worry about air pressure in suspensions or arms, constant adjustment, or endless fine tuning. While I'm not against the occasional adjustment, I want to listen to music, not pay homage to the equipment.
3. No overt colorations, but the TT does not have to be the
last word in technology, exotic materials, or dramatic looks. It just has to play music, and combined with an appropriate arm, give me deep bass, 'jump' or thwack, open
airy and non-bloated mids and extended highs. If I have to trade off anything, I suppose that would be the highest octave extension in favor of musicality and palpability of the rest.
4. Some of the contenders- Kuzma Stabi Reference; VPI TNT 6
(perhaps Hotrod, but the changes in the platter and bearing, given some of the negatives I've read about the HRX, make me hesitate); Brinkman- overbudget, unless slightly used; Simon
Yorke, ditto. Others might be a Basis, Sota, or Well-Tempered Reference. All are fine tables, but I think I would like to get as close to
state of the art in this step; on the other hand, I'm not
looking for this month's 'hot product' since I tend to hang on to equipment. Turntable comparisons are pretty close to impossible, I dunno, maybe a dealer would be willing to set one up in my home, but I don't see that happening even at this price point, and even if it did, having one table for a short period of time is not going to be too telling.
As to arms, I like the Graham. The Kuzma air arm looks neat, but it violates my set it and forget it rule. If I went with the Brinkman, I'd probably do their arm.
That's it for now. TIA.
128x128whart
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rauliruegas
13,101 posts
 
Dear Whart: +++++ " but I think I would like to get as close to
state of the art in this step; " +++++

What I understand for state of the art TT is a design that has: speed accuracy and speed stability in the short/long and very short run, a bearing that not only " lives for ever " but that be transparent to the signal, it has to have an external motor and external separated power supply, it has to be insensitive to any electrical AC deviations, it has to have a very good anti-vibration system and a very good system for a fast energy dissipation, it has to have high mass and be all metal build, it has to accomodate two/three tonearms, not to tweaky and do its TT job in natura/transparent way with out any " intrusion " to the audio signal. There are other issues here but what I named are critical.

Well, I think that Rockport and Walker designs almost achieve those targets and are " state of the art " designs.

Near those designs, with out those very high prices, could be: Simon Yorke, Galibier, Acoustic Signature, Transrotor, SME, etc.. You can't go wrong with either one.

For your Parnassus, I like the Ikeda, Audio Note and Brickman tonearms.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
wrp
42 posts
 
Whart,

I upgraded to an Amazon Model 1 turntable, Triplanar Mk VII tonearm and ZYX Universe cartridge about a year ago. My selection criteria were very similar to yours. You may want to do some research into this combination.

I'm very happy with my choice, and received excellent service from my local distributor, Mehran of Sorasound (www.sorasound.com).

Best of luck!
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
lots of tables have poped up in the last decade, most the best values are still the old reliables...linn, oracle, well-tempered, sota, thorens(not the new thorens). of the newer models, the origin really stands out......the best table/arm buys on audiogon at the moment is a wilson-benesch act 1 and 2. many of the new hi end tables are over-priced for what you get......the reliable rega 9 still is among the best, as are a few vpi models, but god they are a pain-in-the-a#s.
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