Personal analog evolution


Forgive me if this is repeating an old thread, but an archive search revealed nothing.

Having read a lot here recently about re-entries into analog, requests for comparisons of pretty expensive hardware, etc., I'm curious about the analog evolution many of you have taken over the years.

I have virtually none to speak of:

- my dad had a garrard changer,
- I purchased a BIC belt drive in junior high school,
- Bought a Technics SL20 / Shure M94 into Yamaha receiver when I first got married, and
- Recently moved up to VPI HW19 MKII / RB-600 / Dynavector 20XH into Plinius integrated.

I feel like I've been rescued from an deserted island, but am also sure there are many more improvements I can plan for over time. Curious to see how you all got to where you are now, where you see your system moving towards.

Tim
timwat
BSR something with ceramic cartridge
Dual 1218 with 91ED
BSR710 with Shure m91ed
Pioneer PL 71 with m91 ed, ADC something (excellent cartridge) then Sonus Blue
Teac TN400 ( fabulous table) with Stax UA7 with Sonus Blue then Ortofon M320 Super, Grado Signature, Shure V15 MR, Supex 900 Still have and use the table with most of the catridges

Lin Sondek/Ittok then Valhalla with Supex 900 then Sumiko Blue Point special
Started out, like many, with a Garrard table in 1973. Can't remember the cartridge, I think I remember a Shure Type??
Then in 1975 I got into the B&O line of turntables. I started out with the Beogram 3000 and evolved to the linear tracking 4004 (?) with the highest-level MMC cartridge (the only kind that could fit on B&O turntables).
Finally got a real table circa 1986 with a Thorens and a Grace Ruby cartridge, into the phono section of an ARC SP-14. I owned that for many years, then finally got my first Linn LP-12 in 1993, with a van den Hul MM-1 moving magnet cartridge--still into the ARC SP-14. Upgraded the LP-12 over the years w/Cirkus, Trampolin, Akito, and Lingo. Bought an ARC PH-3 phono pre in 1997 or so. Bought a van den Hul MC-One Special moving coil cartridge in 2001. The MM-1 is still good, I just wanted to try a moving coil after all these years. It sounds great!
Finally in 2001 I purchased (on this site) a full blown LP-12 w/Ekos and Archiv cartridge. Now I have two LP-12s and have decided to sell my first one. I think I only need one turntable. But I may discover I'm wrong.
Turntables: Started with a Benjamin portable all-in-one unit
Technics direct drive table (don't remember the model)
Well Tempered TT and arm (original)
Basis Ovation, since upgraded to the Debut's platter, bearing and vacuum

Arms: What came with them all, till the Basis--since then, Graham 1.5T, followed by 2.2

Cartridges: Signet MM (w/Technics)
Monster Alpha Genesis 1000 (w/Well Tempered)
Transfiguration (original low output version), Benz Reference, Benz Ruby, now Koetsu Rosewood Platinum Signature (w/Basis).

I think that the Well Tempered was key in showing me how good a turntable could sound, and how it thrashed any digital front end (in the late 80s and early 90s when I got it and owned it, and probably valid today too to a lesser extent). A great table to get started or re-started in analog.
I started with a new Garrard Zero-100 with a Shure V15 type II cartridge.

Then I got a B&O 2400 with a MMC-2 cartridge.

Next was a Linn Sondek LP12 with Basik arm and cartridge.
I moved up the tonearm line to an Ittok, and a Trak cartridge. Then an Asak cartridge. Then a Karma cartridge. I also tried out some Dynavectors, Grace Ruby, Supex, Monster Alpha, Koetsu, and a couple other carts along the way.
I kept that for a long time, while I worked at a high end audio store, and heard, sold, and set up a hell of a lot of different TTs, arms, and carts.

Then I got a Teres 135 with an OL Silver Tonearm, and a Denon DL103 cartridge. I moved up the line to the 245 TT, and kept the arm, and moved up to a DL103R cartridge.Also got the battery power option for the motor. Now I have a Shelter 501 cartridge on that rig.

So my current rig is Teres 245 DC Signature TT, OL Silver arm(with my own mods), and a Shelter 501 cartridge.

I use a Cotter MkII MC step-up transformer with it.
I concur with Rcprince. The WTT was(is) a great table for me, and helped me learn what a table should do.

Pioneer manual, belt-drive (forgot the model)
Technics manual, direct-drive
Oracle Alexandria (poor cartridge choice limited my appreciation of this table)
Mapleknoll(sp) Athena(?) linear tracking/air bearing
WTT Original
WTT Signature (not the Reference)
Basis 2800/Graham 2.2/Nightingale arm-cartridge

The Walker Proscenium has visited my dreams upon occasion, but I'm very happy during waking hours;^)