Upgrade from TW Acustic Raven AC-3 to what?


I have had the TW turntable (with 10" Da Vinci Grandezza arm and Grandezza cartridge) for two years. I have been happy with this TT and can live with it for a long time although i wish it wasn't as dark sounding, that the soundstage could be more spacious and the bass tighter. The upgrade bug in me is wondering for 50K ore thereabout, is there a TT that is superlative over the TW? One that would end my upgrading itch for the next 10 years?
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My Raven AC-3 has remained the same although I changed the tonearm to SME V12, and the cartridge to My Sonic Lab Signature Gold.
I bought the AC-3 back when it was first introduced and was hot. My dealer told me it practically sold by itself. I gather TW is less newsy these days while many other new brands and models getting reported at shows and reviews...I am still fine with my AC-3. The quality has held up well. I am wondering though, that since TW is offering upgrades (Black Knight feet and motor and what not), whether any AC-3 owner has taken up any upgrades and can share their experience.
Alec,

As you know, there are those who constantly tweak to a fanatic point. Those guys try everything a manufacturer has to offer, and Raven owners are no exception. I know several of them, and from what I can gather they all disagree on the merits...like always. :-D

I suppose you'll have to see for yourself, right?

Best,
Win

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Dear Alec,
Having read some of the early responses I think the idea of taking an unsuspended table and converting it into a suspended one by means of the support seems to defeat the object of the exercise ;^)

I know that this suggestion might go against the grain but assuming that you are applying the vinyl directly to the copper platter, have you considered trialling a few mats?
One reason I say this is that the mech impedance of the copper platter is dissimilar to vinyl and you may get a more acceptable result by improving the match?

Speaking from experience I was in a similar position to that which you describe. It seemed like sacrilege to add to what should be a perfect interface but I cured the problem by first of all adding the basis of the Ringmat Support System i.e. a hybrid mat consisting of a thin latex Base Mat plus the "Gold spot" Ringmat.

Further to this I also notice that dressing the cables to prevent undesirable vibration being passed into the T/T was critical. (In fact it is critical to suspended tables too but possibly more so here)

The stand I use is multi-stage (3 shelves), tri-spiked on each level (so no micro-rocking) and made not from maple but oak. It isn't massively heavy and the resonant frequency isn't too low - so it will act as a mechanical filter when situated on a concrete floor.
The spikes ensure that only a tiny proportion of vibration is passed from one level to the next and this shrinks correspondingly as you progress up the stack. By the time residual vibration reaches the T/T it has passed through 5 levels of minimal coupling (if you include 2 within a set of Stillpoints.)
Whatever is left we would hope would be dealt with by the T/T's own mass.
This basically leaves airborne feedback and the Supply/Tonearm cables as the final sources of feedback.

Airborne feedback is almost untreatable apart from a separate room or moving the T/T further away from the speakers. The T/T should handle this ok provided it isn't mounted directly on top of the speaker. ;^)
Mech cable resonance on the other hand is treatable. It's worth playing around with this factor as I mentioned earlier.
Hope my experience proves helpful in some way.
Thanks Win.
Thanks Monnglum, my AC3 is still sitting via Stillpoint feet on a 35lb TAOC platform placed on a 3 shelf TAOC rack. I haven't tried other platforms like MinusK or Vibraplane which were suggested by a few folks.
My new arm/cart did change the sound though. They are flatter and more neutral than the da Vinci arm/cart.
Hi Alec,
Glad you are winning :) The SME is a great tonearm.
If you are ever feeling reckless and feel like like using the other arm pillar you should try the Phantom ;^)
All the best,