Who LOVES their under $ 1000 table combination ?

Just purchased an absolutely MINT Philips GA312 for $80.00. Vintage 1975; looks and performs as new. Fitted with New Grado Black (currently breaking in). Everyone who has heard it/seen it wants one, even my die-hard CD friends.

I probably shouldnt post here since I DONT love my under 1,000 set up! But maybe some one could help me get a better sound without thrashing the whole thing...

I have a Denon 1800 TT with original marble plinth, it has the original arm (I read somewhere it is pobably better than the ubiquos rega 250 or 300 modded?) I have a Grado Platinum cartridge and a Counterpoint SA 5.1 preamp. (I think the preamp has some mods since it has the smaller bypass caps all over). I have a DIY wall mount with a sand box and 2" solid spruce wood base for the TT. A friend with good TT knowledge mounted the cartridge for me...

My Forsell-EAD 7000 III combination cd player absolutely kills it, it is not subtle even with my better Lps.

I have several MM AT cartridges I have tried and the sound is diferent but not really better..

So, how should I upgrade, the tonearm seems to be the guitly one I guess, maybe tonearm wire is to blame?

Cheers...

Can you give more info on what the "Denon 1800" is? Drive type? Era? Any pix online you could find?

I guess its an 80s direct drive TT with a strobe light and pich control, looks pretty serious, I will take some pics tomorrow and post them...

I also have a late Oracle Alexandria TT one of the latest models all balck pretty good looking, I will need a maintenance kit and a new tonearm...SME has been recommended (not a 3009) so I am looking at a 309 or an SME IV at least 1.5- 2k more for really the same cartridge and preamp!!!! I am not sure how much of an upgrade it will be...Maybe a Dynavector 20X MC-High output for an extra $650 wil help.... Make that almost 3K.

I Love my Micro Seiki MR611. I bought it 20 years ago for $AU350 and have only replaced belts and cartridges since (even the little light still works with the original globe!). It came with a Supex 900Super cart which I will get checked out soon for a retip, and a Grace F8 which I want to have checked too as it is old but rarely used. I now run an Ortofon MC15SuperII on it ($AU300) and run this through a Lehmann Black Cube Phono Stage (second hand for $AU250).

So, $AU900 and I love it. Mind you, I have discussed this model Micro Seiki with a guy on the Vinyl Engine who got his for free. There is one for sale at a second hand shop here for $AU550 which is still less than $1,000.

DS