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
I'm glad you decided to
go for it!

I have a little story to
share about the importace
of a good table.

I sold some raw drivers to a gentleman who insisted I listen to his system in his wreckroom
downstairs.

He had three turntables, but the one that took your eye as soon as you
entered the room was a table that had a ten inch thick electric blue platter. it had the same blue color motor
which was far from the table that ran a long belt. Very beautiful/ exotic !

He proceded to play some
records on the lessor tables that had the same cartridge.

sounded good but he told me that the bigass rig
sounded about 4 or 5 times better.

I said noway!
Not with the same cartridge and simual arms.

When we twek steros we
look for 10 or 20 % differences.

I've never heard of a 4
or 5 times improvment!

So here we go, he drops the needle and instintly
ny jaw dropped to the ground.

I would never believed
how much of a difference
a table could make!

the table he bought cost him $20,000.00 the arms were nothing special just
black 9'' pivot arms that
cost $1000.00 to $1500.00. Cartriges were all the same micro rubies@ $3000.00 ea.

So there you have it, my
shocking experience with
gorgeous kickass table.

After about 10 months wait I finally recieved
my schroder arm.

It's gorgious and very easy on the eyes and always a pleasure to handle.
Now if only my magenetic bearig table would get here I will forever have a smile/grin that cannot be removed!
So... what was this magic turntable with the 10" thick electric blue platter and long-ass belt drive that made a 4-5x improvement?
Going from a quality $3000 front-end to a $10000 front-end is certain at the point of diminishing returns, IMHO. The gain from $500 to $3000 is relatively large and easy to appreciate. With the next step you must get everything perfect and then it's only a small increment.

You seem to have the bug to do it, so I'd suggest spending some of your budget on travel, if needed, to hear before buying. 10-grand is a lot of money, but it also makes the cost of travel less objectionable. I think this'll greatly reduce the chance of buyers remorse.

Dave
Braab8,

From an old Twl HIFI modder, use a dab of super glue gel to hold the weights on. Don't drip it into the bearings! ;-)

If you ever want to remove the weights (you won't) a drop of acetone will cut the super glue.

Doug