marantz 6350q turntable budget cartridge?

Ed, I don't think the entry-level turntables you mention are an improvement over the Marantz, they just sound different. The Marantz will beat all the turntables you mention in speed accuracy and consistency. The virtues of a one-piece straight tonearm over an S-curve with removable headshell are overblown as well.

Johhnyb53,

I tend to agree. I'd keep the Marantz if it were you or me. But...

(1) In Terrapin70's case, his receiver just isn't cutting it. So I think he has the opportunity here to take his system to the next level by selling the Marantz and getting into an integrated so he can enjoy all of his sources more.

(2) Also, he says he's uncomfortable with turntable setup. As we both know, setup makes a big difference and a nice Rega P1 or something with a pre-mounted cartridge may actually offer better performance in real world terms than an improperly set up, 30-year-old Marantz that probably needs some TLC.

Now, if either of us were smart, we would have told him, "Yeah, the Marantz is a real piece of crap. I'll take it off your hands for $40 to spare you the embarrassment." But you just can't do that to a fellow Audiogoner.

Good points, Ed.

I just hate to see him sacrifice the Marantz for one of the entry-level MDF turntables. I do agree that better electronics would be an improvement.

It'd be nice if he could Terrapin 70 could spring for an Onkyo A-9555 integrated. I like it better than the similarly priced Brit-designed integrated's. More power and current, subterranean noise floor, and a very nice MM phono section to boot.

Terrrapin70, what are your current speakers?

Keep the marantz great find and superior build to starter regas etc sell yammie and look 4 older nad or rotel intergrated these will have better phono stages some sensible sound advice on carts here

hi all... thanks for the responses!! first, about me and my system... i'm not picky and vintage style means almost as much to me as the sound... just want to be able to hear and feel the guys in the bands enough to enjoy the music and i need stuff that looks good in my 70's bachelore style pad. modern and expensive stuff doesn't interest me.

my speakers are KLH 900B 8 ohm 3-ways with 50-20,000 hz frequency response for use with 5-120 watt amps (per the label). i'm in a upstairs apartment in a quiet building and rarely rock out totally anymore with a few occasional exceptions. I am looking to replace them though, as well as the receiver... and, i just say this deal on craigslist and it kind of excites me:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/ele/1221285617.html

it's a 80-84(?) 60 watt JVC R-S77 Digital Synthesizer Stereo Receiver Super-A w/ killer looking 4-way jvc(?) mark V Speakers and it's local so i can hear it all first.

as for the cartridge... howard at audio specialist in studio city, ca suggested a $70 grado and offered to install & align it for $40. my main concern was that i had picked up a neat looking but poor sounding TT that no cartridge upgrade could fix.

Thanks to your comments i feel better about the TT choice and i think i'll go with the grado.