How Much Is TOO MUCH for a Analog front End?

To me, it sounds like you should wait. Great TTs like the Galibier and Teres will still be around in a few years. If you are dying to change something until you feel comfortable spending the money, you might try a different angle... While the sound is different, you might try doing something like a Lenco/ROK/similar in a new plinth a la the "Home Despot" thread. From all I have read, you can get considerable quality for not huge money. You could probably buy/rebuild/replinth a Lenco, do a Ladegaard tonearm set-up and that would put you out $2k or less, leaving a lot of money for a cart, an arm which could be used on any table you wish in the future, and it would teach you a fair bit about what makes a TT work and what makes it work well.

Maybe you should just play CDs for a month or two. I'd bet that when you return to playing LPs on your VPI it would sound unbelievably fabulous just as it is.

Another consideration: Is you VPI modifiably to their new rim drive? Maybe that would provide that extra weight and pace that gives people the urge to turn to a mass-loaded turntable such as the ones you mentioned.

Ned
This is a valid point I've often thought about but never got atound to. Currently my 19 rests on 3 generic brass cones glued to the base, sitting on a 5/8" slab of marble,all ontop of a Target wall mounted shelf.what are your thoughts?

TBone
first off I envy you but love you system,I sit here with my eyes closed dreaming about what it must sound like.Funny you should mention this regarding the Lenco as I had a chance to buy one and declined b/c all I could think is now I have this table but not the know how to build/replinth.
these type of projects have always interested me .
Does any one know of a suitable builder to accomplish this?

Johnny
I have not heard of this from VPI I must research.

Thanks
but I'm still saving :^)!!

For us working Joe - $10-15K should get you there close to Nirvana. Ridiculous table like the Continuum Caliburn is just that - plain ridiculous. For the money, the Teres 340 with the Verus drive is an excellent choice and great value; throw in the Graham Phanthom or Triplanar VII and a Lyra Titan and you are there; I was plenty happy with that combination for a long while till i found my custom TT with the Kuzma Airline.

The Schroeder i am sure is very good but not worth the wait and i don't think can beat the Air bearing tonearm. Also, once you heard a good mass-loaded Turntable (i am sure to get some hate mail now), the VPI or Oracle is NO match !!

So to answer your question, how much is TOO MUCH - well it depend on your pocket book but anything above $30-40K is too much in my opinion...

Not too long ago I went from a very respectable table setup that was tweeked to sound much better than stock.

I went to a Raven One/Graham Phantom (using the same cart I had on the old table).

A fanastic analog front end is the best purchase I could have made. I will most likely never upgrade (Unless I suddenly came unto a ton of money)because the amount I would have to spend to significantly better that system is just way out of range. Sure I'll consider a better cart, possibly an SRA stand, who knows possibly even upgrading to the stand alone motor, but not the table and arm. I believe the level of improvement from a top end analog front end is so profound, that the results would be audible even on a mid fi system!

Now I'm not suggesting someone drop a $10K turntable/arm onto a $5K system, but I think even a modest $10K system would sound that much better with a $10K table/arm - even with a cheap cart!

The cart can always be upgraded down the road, but you would have the building block of a reference system. I doubt that many of us here who actively play LP's wake up thinking "damn I should have just kept my old table."

Not to start any wars, but if your were thinking of dropping $10K on a digital front end, I would not have the same advice for you. In fact I'd tell you to probably get a $1000 PS Audio Dac driven from a computer or perhaps their new $1500 transport.

Analog is mature, fantastic sounding, and a top rig can easily keep you happy for the next 15 years or more while the rest of your system evolves.

And believe me, I am by no means loaded.