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How Much Is TOO MUCH for a Analog front End?

Hello All
I have a question hopefully you can help me decide.After having had the "bug" (you all know what I mean) for much of my fomative years, I have reached a point in my evolution that I've got the urge to upgrade my front end to that last step.
What I am contemplating is a purchase I am almost afraid to make. Having read soo much about these killer tables from various "cottage" companies (Teres,Redpoint,Galibier,etc) I have really got the itch.Not that my current front end isn't giving me enjoyment.It consists of a VPI HW-19 mk III in between 3 and four status, twl modded OL Silver arm,with various carts, a 103,Dyna DV-20X etc.,
but what I'm getting hot and heavy about is a Galibier Gavia,Schroder mod 2 or maybe Redpoint Medel B with the same mod 2 arm?
but were talking roughly $9-10k not exactly lunch money.
So this brings us to the question How much is TOO much for a table/arm set up? (now thinking about it this maybe the wrong place to ask this question lol) should it be in proportion to my income?
give me some input.In all honesty, I won't be able to purchase it til maybe August If I start saving now.
Please give me some indication,as I am bordering on an Intervention!!

HELP ME!
braab
braab8
piedpiper
753 posts
 
Great responses.

I would just add two things. I can't think of a worthier place to "start" upgrading than the analogue front end.

Second, I think it is pointless to proclaim a point at which the price is "ridiculous" and below which it is reasonable. That is obviously purely subjective. The pursuit of excellence in any field is something that with any luck will never end. The sense of balance in this pursuit is predicated completely on context which is by definition personal. Whether it is worth it to a given person to devote his life to breaking an Olympic record is their choice. At what cost is always a good question. Just be sure to answer that question honestly and then look at how you can pay that cost "effectively."
jkalman
298 posts
 
So this brings us to the question How much is TOO much for a table/arm set up?

Whatever you can afford without negative consequences afterwards...

In other words, don't mortgage your house to buy a Continuum Caliburn. ;)
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,470 posts
 
Regarding the rim drive for the VPI. I spoke to Harry about it and he said that it is a significant upgrade that is realitively cheap to add to the current Scoutmasters. The kit includes a new flywheel which has the drive wheel attached. The motors have to be reversed which means they have to come out of the assembly, and 2 wires have to be transposed. He said the sound of the lower mids and bass is much improved (he said had the power and extensions of the best CD), whereas the highs are retained as vinyl. The upgrade he suspects will be about a year in coming (I spoke to him on the last days of 07 - did he mean in a week in 08).
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,470 posts
 
You say your table is on brass cones and a stone shelf. That would seems to be a poor choice. Brass cones impart a "brassy" sound to whatever I tried, and a stone slab should just aggrivate that resonance. In truth, you simply cant rid yourself of resonances, but you can move them to a place that doesnt effect the sound. I have my Superscout on a Gingko platform which seems to do what I want. You might touch base with their website and/or speak to them. They are very nice and helpful. I have my conponents on a 1 inch slab of medical grade Ultam which I cut for each component..expensive, but the best shelf I've heard. Even then I have the components off of their own feet and on something called Pon-Tunes. These are similar to Rollerballs and I am satisfied.
rf_gumby
54 posts
 
I think if you have to save for 6 to 9 months to buy
the next upgrade, it's really not that big a deal. 6 to 9 months from now, you still won't have extra money, you'll still be 6 to 9 months older, but you'll have a better analog rig! And you'll have something to obsess about in the mean time- if we weren't all relatively obsessive, we wouldn't be reading about the gear on a forum
when we're not listening to the music and equipment. Of course, there's audiophiles who do computer stuff while they're listening, but I digress.

Go for it. Your friends and family will be glad you finally get it because they'll be tired of hearing about it (a trick I learned from one buddy dealing with his wife).

Good luck on the decision,
RFG
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