I would recommend a Verdier Plantine table, Morch arm and Koetsu cardridge. I have had this set up for over ten years and had very little adjustments and this set up can hold it own against any set up. I also use a Rhea.
Turntable Purchase Suggestion
I am going to add an analog front end. I have Bat 50se Pre and 75se amp driving Mezzo Utopia speakers. I cannot compare a variety of tables/arms. I have heard a Spacedeck only, but without comparisons, how am I supposed to know. Here are the suggestions I have had thusfar: Spacedeck w/spacearm.....Scoutmaster w/JWM arm.....Basis 2001 w/Vector arm.....Rega P-9 w/Rega1000 arm. Is there actually a best one or perhaps some other? I am trying to get the best sound (organic, focused, clean, dimensional, and smoth top end with solid bottom end) while spending no more than $8000. Phonostage suggestions include: BAT P10, Whest (double box version), Ayre and Brinkman.
- ...
- 12 posts total
Going against the conventional grain, I would strongly suggest you look at a Scheu Premier II (Eurolab) TT, in the config seen here i.e. with the highest platter. Alternatively, a Teres TT that you can peruse here. In both cases, a Schroeder arm would be most advisable; the drawback with these arms is the waiting time... Other arms, recommendable for both TTs include the Scheu Tacco, and its cheaper stablemate Cantus, the Origin Live, the Moerch (either unipivot or regular bearings). This will offer an excellent sounding TT set-up, for a reasonable outlay (by hi-end standards). I would further recommend you start your vinyl journey with a good, but not outrageously expensive, cartridge (Denon 103, Shelter, Clearaudio Virtuoso, etc, many other good choices out there). Phonos are a real problem; few perform really well and those are frighteningly expensive (see some excellent choices above). Among the less expensive reasonably good performers that I happen to know are, the EAR phono (tube) and the ASR mini basis (ss); of course there are diy choices out there too (if you're into that). Cheers |
As another newbie, still building my turntable, my opinion may not carry much weight, but here it is anyway. :-D I will "third" the recommendation for you to get a Teres turntable. I could only afford the Model 160, birch base and lead-filled acrylic platter, but it is still pretty impressive. I also got the Teres VTA adapter to make the adjustments a lot easier, and the battery option. Chris of Teres is very easy to work with and loves what he is doing. In his opinion, the Model 160 actually sounds closer to the Model 255, i.e., better than the 245. With your budget, I'd say go for the 255! I auditioned various tonearms with Chris, including the Morch UP-4 & DP-6. The Morch DP-6 is a definite winner; I got the DP-6 with a 12" armwand. I matched it with the Zyx R100H cartridge - their basic model, but all I could afford. It sounds wonderful with the turnatble and the Morch. You would be able to get the Zyx Fuji, or maybe even the Airy, if you decided to go with Zyx. Mehran of Sorasound sells the Zyx right here on Audiogon and he will give you a great price - I paid about $200 below retail price for my cartridge. I don't know much about the phono stages; I ended up getting a Holfi Battriaa Signature phono stage because the price was right, but if you can afford it, I would say go with a tube phono stage. The Hagermann Coronet sounds really nice Well, I started with a $3000 dollar budget and more than doubled it - I'm probably going to have to get a part time job to feed my habit - but I am very happy. Good luck and enjoy your search for audio nirvana! |
- 12 posts total