Want to play my vinyl collection - again

Turntable: KAB-modified Technics SL1200 with tonearm rewire and fluid damper. Add in the outboard power supply if it's in your budget. Replace the feet with an M6 threaded set of Soundcare Super Spikes.

Or SOTA Comet

OR Rega P3/24 + PSU

OR Marantz TT-15S1

OR Clearaudio Emotion CMB with Satisfy tonearm and Maestro cartridge

Clearaudio and Marantz include cartridge. There are several excellent cartridges in the $300-800 range for the KAB/Technics, SOTA, and Rega including Audio Technica AT150MLX or OC-9, Denon DL-103, 301, 304, Zu-103, carts from Dynavector, Clearaudio, Goldring, Rega Exact for the Rega, and Ortofon 2M Bronze or Black.

Phono stage: Musical Surroundings Phonomena II ($600) unless you want to spring a grand or so for the Slee Era Gold (which, unlike the Phonomena, doesn't do low output moving coil).

The Clearaudio Emotion solution looks like a great re-entry deal into vinyl. Nice

Here's a dumb newb question. Regarding the Musical Surroundings Phonomena II vs the Slee Era Gold, does the Maestro cartridge work with either phono stage and what would be better in case I upgraded cartridges at some point?

01-12-10: Desalvo55
Regarding the Musical Surroundings Phonomena II vs the Slee Era Gold, does the Maestro cartridge work with either phono stage and what would be better in case I upgraded cartridges at some point?

The Clearaudio Maestro is a MM cartridge with 3.6mV output, so it will work into the Slee Era Gold. I personally don't have experience with either phono stage, so I hope someone with experience with one or the other speaks up here.

About the comments made by a previous post on Consonance customer service:

Grant Fidelity is currently representing a few top Chinese manufacturers including the analog line from Opera Consonance. We also take care of product services of past Consonance product sold at regular retail price, not at fire sale price. In 2 years, we had less than 5 repair cases and all of them were solved completely with Consonance's support.

One thing needs to be mentioned that a purchase at clearance price with 'As-Is' condition doesn't qualify manufacturer's warranty. It's seller's responsibility to disclose such information to the buyer. I have received emails from buyers who bought a Consonance amp at $300 (retail should be arond $1k) but expect full factory warranty. I don't think this is a reasonable request - we see liquidation sale everywhere in North America and if you read the small print, it all doesn't include warranty anymore. It's not fair to blame the manufacturer on such a term - it's just part of the reseller's liquidation process.

I do not want to comment on the relationship between Joe and Consonance - it's their private matter. I feel sorry for some retailers or consumers are caught in between the matter. From our experience in dealing with Opera Consonance and any other Chinese factories we conduct business with for the past 4 years, customer service from Opera Consonance is no less than any other manufacturers and it is in a very fair term. They have knowledgeable staff who speaks English well and respond timely.

If you still have concern about purchasing Chinese products, please note that any products sold at regular retail price by Grant Fidelity will be warranted directly by Grant Fidelity on behalf of manufacturers. If a product sold as clearance, the original full warranty will not be included.

Thanks for reading.
Rachel - Grant Fidelity