Analog under 2k?

Well Joe, I'll try to help you out.

Get a Teres Model 150 in "kit form", which only requires you to finish-sand, and apply a coat of lacquer to the base. The rest is the same as the assembly of an "assembled" Teres table. Anybody who has ever sanded anything made of wood could do this with their eyes closed. It costs $1700. It has the same features and benefits of the Model 245, except it is Baltic Birch instead of Cocobolo. The sound difference is very small. It is a good value. Have them drill the armboard for a Rega arm.

Next, get a used, good condition Rega RB250 tonearm. You can get them easily for $200, or less on the classifieds.

Then get a Denon DL103 to put on it. They are $149 new. They sound like they should cost alot more than that. If your phono stage won't handle the low output MC cartridges, then get a Goldring 1012GX for under $200. That's a real good lower cost MM cartridge.

That puts you at $2049 plus shipping for the system, or maybe a little more if you choose the Goldring instead of the Denon.

That's as close as I can get you to the $2k mark, and still access the superior sound of the wood-based Teres. I can guarantee that you can't find anything for that price that will beat this rig.

PS - It would be a good idea to also get the adjustable VTA collar for $40 from OL or Expressimo. You really need to have adjustable VTA.

Used Sota tables seem to go for way too little. You can usually pick up a $2500 table for around $700.

Let us not forget Nottingham tables,new and used. Twl, putting $200 arm on a $1700 table is close to nonsense unless the man is planning to upgrade soon.Much better than the other way around though.

Yes Inna, but it is probably the best $200 arm available, and it is upgradable with mods that bring it to a higher level. And it is actually better sounding than the more expensive RB300 when modded with a low cost end-stub from OL. The RB300 is commonly put on $2k tables, even by manufacturers. So I don't think it is nonsense to do that, even if the price differential seems to indicate that.

I fully agree that there are better arms out there, but for the budget that he is considering, it is more musical to have the money in the better table, where it would do the most good.

I also agree the Nottinghams are some good tables to look at too. They would probably be my personal 2nd choice to the Teres, for the money.

The new quetion that arises now is: Should I stick with the EAR, or go with a Modwright unit? DAn has 2 in the classifieds now. Which will offer more versatility?

Joe