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
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;^)
AR ES-1 with VPI medium mass arm and AT-ML-440

Linn LP-12 with Ittok and Denon DL-103

Upgraded the Linn with Origin Live DC motor

Now have a Cocobolo Teres 245 with Morch DP-6 and Allaerts MC1b cartridge via a Michell Delphini Pro phono stage. Just found out about the signature motor upgrade-it's on order! The only other consideration is upgrading the tonearm cable, otherwise, i'm pretty well set.
In the beginning (1973)I had a Phillips GA 212 with Stanton 681EEE. Next an AR with Lustre Tonearm and Panasonic Strain Gauge cartridge. Then came SOTA Sapphire with same Lustre. Later bought ET-1 arm. Had an early Linn briefly, then went to VPI with MMT all the while using strain gauge with Rowland board. Ultimately settled on Well-Tempered Reference with full Marigo package and Audioquest 7000 into Rowland Concentra. I can't remember all the phono sections I used but Encore, Levinson, Analog Audio, CAT, Audio Research and Classe were among them.
I'm sticking with the WT Ref. indefinitely since there isn't much of anything to wear out. Maybe someday I'll need new fishline or silicone.