How Much Is TOO MUCH for a Analog front End?

Headsnappin, yes, I've heard a $10+k SME and some VPIs in the middle price range and, of course, several Linns (in the middle). Of that experience, I'd say my TT/arm/cartridge system gave better results than half of those and was slightly less resolving than the other half.

Problems were that none of those comparisons were A-B, in my system. As a practical matter that's extremely hard to do, since few of us are set up to be reviewers, so we go listen to someone else's system or in a store and don't bring our equipment along. Still, my aural memory is pretty darn good and what I'm saying is as accurate as 99% of what you'll read here.

Proper set up of a TT is at least as important as its price point. I'd love to hear four or five TTs set up by the same tech with the same cartridges in my system (with somebody to swap things out while I sat back and relaxed). Unfortunately, that's pretty unlikely to happen, so, like most of us audiogoners, I have to move around between systems and locales to hear different TTs.

BTW, I respectfully disagree with you and feel like the difference between a $500 rig and a $3000 rig are much larger than between a $3000 rig and a $10000 rig, based on my own listening.

Dave

If one had a highly resolving system and good listening skills it would be apparent that the differences between $3000/$10,000 table/arm/cartridge are much greater than $500/$3000 table/arm/cartridge.

That's a fact, not a matter of opinion.

Thank you.

01-03-08: Audiofeil said:
"If one had a highly resolving system and good listening skills it would be apparent that the differences between $3000/$10,000 table/arm/cartridge are much greater than $500/$3000 table/arm/cartridge.

That's a fact, not a matter of opinion."

Well, no one can acuse you of having anything short of extreme arrogance. Do you live in Colorado? I'd love to show you otherwise.

Dave

It costs too much if:

1. You have to place it on a credit card and pay if off slowly.
2. You have to place it on a credit card and not begin making payments for a year.
3. It causes stress on your budget of any kind. Will it keep you from paying the rent? Electricity? Food? Necessities for the kiddos, wife, husband, etc?
4. You have to sell off property or valuables to fund the purchase.

I am serious and this post is not made in passing. I have read of some of the sacrifices that some audiophiles have made for a piece of equipment. Only purchase it if you can do so and not feel a financial quiver in doing so. Having said this, there is nothing wrong with saving for a piece of equipment as long as it does not prevent the purchase of a necessity in your household.

Spoken from a music lover and a mom at heart,
M

HI all

I want to contribute my experience, but I always say - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Based on my experience, I must say that I agree that there is a great deal of difference - for the better - when you move from a 3k to 10k deck.

I had a Roksan Xerxes TT with Rega RB 300 arm, with a Sumiko Blue Point Special cart. - around USD 3k. When I changed that to a Kuzma Reference Stabi TT, Stabi Reference arm and Koetsu Rosewood Signature cart. (around 10k), the music/sound is a lot quieter, more refined, with better resolution all around. There is no way you can compare the quality of Koetsu and Sumiko cartridges. BTW, the 2 TTs were using the same pre/amps and speakers.

I am now using the same Stabi Reference TT, but with Triplanar VII arm and Koetsu Jade Platinum, and the improvement is miles better than our previous set-up.

I can not say "How much is TOO MUCH for an Analog front-end", but I have heard an A-B comparison of the Kuzma Stabi Reference and XL, using the same Benz Micro LP carts., but Triplanar on Reference and Airline on XL, and the difference is night-and-day. Both were ABed using an ASR Basis Exclusive phono, via Karan pre/power and JMLab Alto Be speakers.

I am now considering to buy my next TT, and would USD 30k for the Kuzma XL and Airline combo (without cart) be too much ?

Cheers ... Peter