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
NOt a bad thought. The Olympus is on the high side of expensive cartridges, but the 'trade in' allowance for my Parnassus apparently takes account of the fact that it is an early one, having platinum plates sourced from unobtainium, and is what is used in the Olympos.
The dealer who sold me the TT is strongly of the belief that the Titan is the wrong cartridge for this horn system- same guy who really doesn't like the Steelhead either. I will admit that hearing the Transfiguration on the big Kuzma, playing on a pair of those JBL K2s powered by Viva stuff was pretty impressive, but i didn't know the track he played, and of course, that's one, five minute impression.
The other thing I'm finding is that the Duos are really tricky on the bass. Maybe part of it is my room, and perhaps the change in TT, arm and cartridge will make some real difference-Mark51- i've just gone through an entire reassessment of my system as you've described, and changed everything, now, including the TT--but having a selection of cartridges is probably the only real way to hear what they can do in my system.

Hey Whart, what a great choice you made!! I hope you enjoy and please keep us posted as to your comments!
Thnx, Rwd. Nice Revox (what was that, an A-77? It's been so long and that nomenclature just popped into my head). I also spied what looked like a smoked Cohiba, perhaps an Esplendido, in the ashtray. I won't ask where that cigar came from. :)
Regards, and I'll definitely keep ya'll apprised.
oracle delphi, linn sondek, origin, rega9, well tempered....if you are going used add wilson b, thorens, ar