Indeed it's very good advice. I would probably substitute in the Xpression Carbon table on A-gon at $650 for its CF Evo arm, and get the HE-560 if it were my money. If you'd prefer to use the 6005's DAC as opposed to the Modi, get a W4S uLink.

Heh, I actually have an Xpression with the carbon arm as a interim table. Definitely go for that if you can swing it. The Pro-Ject carbon arm, while having a certain level of inelegance with it (the hanging weight for the anti-skate) is actually pretty darn good and scales up with better cartridges = much better than the Ortofon or Sumiko starters Pro-Ject provides (best to get upgrade carts immediately, otherwise you will be wasting a huge part of the capability of the table/arm).

The Xpression carbon arm was a clear step up to others of similar price bracket and low/med mass, Grace, Rega, etc.

Why has no one brought up the Debut Carbon?

MAXIMUM bang/buck:

Pro-ject Debut Carbon - $400
Musical Fidelity V90-LPS - $229
Wyrd+Mod - $200
Asgard 2 - $249

Total = $1078 + tax and shipping (<$1200 after)

Quote from: deniall83 on July 10, 2014, 12:53:24 PM

This is not a purchase advice thread but more of a 'what should I do?' thread. I have a small speaker system in my bedroom (Wharfedale speakers, NAD D3020). It sounds great but I find that I don't listen to it all that often. I have sold my NAD D3020 (as of tonight) and was planning on getting a Marantz PM6005 which has both a DAC and phono stage. I have a few hundred records and was also thinking about adding a Rega RP3. Both of those products will cost me $1800 (Australia) plus I would need to add a cart and USB to SPDIF converter as the Marantz doesn't do USB. Then I started thinking that I might be better off building a headphone rig. For that money I could get a Resonessence Labs Concero HD DAC and a ripper of an amp plus I'd have money to spare for an upgrade in headphones (possibly Beyer T90's on massdrop right now).

This is a very difficult decision. I miss playing records but I also don't listen to my speakers all that often so I might be better off with the headphone setup. What would you guys do?

Get both (I think USD and AUD are close). Examples:

$500 Pro-Ject RM-1.3 TT (includes Sumiko Pearl which is decent)
$200 Wyrd + Modi DAC (better than Concero IMO)
$350 HD600 or DT880-600 ohm (The Teslas sound worse than the classic Beyer high ohm headphones, the HD600 is a great headphone often forgotten)
$350 Vahalla 2 or Asgard 2 (if you are afraid of tubes).

-or-

$500 Pro-Ject RM-1.3 TT (includes Sumiko Pearl which is decent)
$200 Wyrd + Modi DAC (better than Concero IMO)
$900 HE-560
$250 Asgard 2

-or- if you really want moar treble sizzle and moar bass of the T90

$500 Pro-Ject RM-1.3 TT (includes Sumiko Pearl which is decent)
$200 Wyrd + Modi DAC (better than Concero IMO)
$650 T90
$450 Lyr 2

---

• Spending $900 + cart on a Rega RP3 isn't gonna yield better results than the "value" Pro-Ject at this price level. Both TT's are going to be in the same league. The next step would where there would be a notable improvement would have to be something around $2K with at least a $500 cart.
• Spending $850 on a Resoosoosoosoonnance "HD" Concero ain't gonna yield better results than Wyrd+Modi. In fact, I prefer the Wyrd+Modi. To make a significant jump in sound quality for DACs, you are looking at $2.5K if not more. You can spend $1200 on a DAC, and even then, it would still be a side grade to the $200 Wyrd+Modi setup.
• Getting both options (by avoiding the big names with their big marketing budgets) will allow you a real trial where you can figure out what you really want. Maybe it will turn out you will want both: a good TT rig from headphones.
• ADVICE: You are in "no-mans" land with your budget to get anything mind-blowingly great in either direction (TT or headphone rig), so you may as well split your budget and get stuff which is pretty good provided you trust us with what pretty good is. You will find that many of us here at Changstar take an unconventional view of gear. Oftentimes we run against the grain of what is considered good gear at other forums, mainly because at many all other gear review sites or other forums, everything is good.
• You may want to try Wyrd with your ODAC. ODAC needs better power.

MY PREDICTION: you will end up with a (Rega RP3) or (T90 + HD Concero).

P.S. If you wait a few months or maybe a year, there is a possibility that some mysterious audio company will come out with a value proposition TT which would be comparable to $2K-$3K TT's at a fraction of the price. I cannot say anything more for now.

Thanks so much for the suggestions. If I were to add in a phono stage/integrated amp what do you think of the Rega Brio-R? Any other suggestions for around the same money?

Nice to see another Aussie 

I'd personally go with a then TOTL vintage tt sourced from Japan, any current in production modern table under $1.2k I've tried just doesn't cut it.