Best set-up for up to 9k retail?

I'd recommend a Teres 255 with battery power option($2850), an Origin Live Illustrious tonearm($2170), and a Shelter 901 cartridge($1500).

I recommend an Aesthetix IO phonostage for a setup of this kind of quality.

I think that your suggested system will likely sound very good also. However, even though I have not heard the Volvere, the Teres soundly whacks anything that is better known up to and maybe over $12k, so I am skeptical that the Volvere would do any better than the Teres. The Triplanar is a very nice arm, but I think the OL Illustrious is better, and the Shelter 901 is definitely way better than the Helikon.

IMHO

I think my suggested system will do at least as well, and probably better for significantly less money, which could then be spent on the IO phono stage.

You can spend much more, but it is still difficult to beat a Linn table and arm (it also maintains its value well). I think many of today's playback systems are more about "show" than sound. However, I have been told that the new SME table and arm are excellent.

Selecting a catridges is much like choosing speakers. There are several good ones, but they all have dramatically different characteristics. This means that compatibility with other components is critical to good music. Preamp loading is the most obvoius compatibility issue, but creating synergy with all of the components is necessary. Having the world's best components does not always mean you have the best sound. They have to work well together.

Usually forgoten, is the fact that setup is very much like tuning a musical instrument. It is as much art as science, therefore, it takes time and experience to do it correctly. I have heard a well tuned Rega P3 sound better than a poorly tuned high dollar playback system.

I wish you success!

Oh, man you gotta realy-realy love Linn to speak for it like Brookwood!

I do not attack rather than personally loving something Linn-ish but with more detail blended with music...

I'm also someway skeptical to highly priced tonearms and would still much more spend on table/cartridge. There is not too much sonic difference I heard between Michell Orbe/Kuzma Stogi and Michell Orbe/SMEIV with the same Helikon cartridge. Wilson Act.5 is also excellent budget tonearm that will work magics even with mega-priced decks. Tonearm to me, if above $1k has the smallest diminishing return in analogue playback.

Twl,
I'm skeptical to Teres! Even despite I fully believe you that it's a nice deck in general simply by the same reason you're skeptical to Volvare. I also know that not too many nice-guy dealers left to realy do a great demo job with analogue. First, it's obvious that no dealer will allow customer to play with $9...10k analogue setup and must play it himself. Second, swapping tonearms requires VTA, tracking force and other neccessary adjustements to be made to demostrate the difference(truly pain!).

That's alright Marakanetz. I understand. It is a very good deck, though. I've heard alot of decks, arms and carts.

OK TWL I'm rather curious than skeptical or better say combo of both and want to ask if you don't mind.

How Teres 225/OL Illustrious is compared to let's say La Luce or something in that class...? with the same Aestethic IO and cartridges? Can that be the last setup (225/OL)? Why not getting away even cheaper with Kuzma arms? What kind of arms can Teres accommodate?