Topic: The Turntable Thread (Read 45113 times)

shotgunshane · « **Reply #170 on:** February 06, 2015, 04:30:15 PM »

About this time next year I'll be in the market for a new turntable. Currently I have a vintage Kenwood KD500/550 'the rock' with a Shure v15 III cart. My expected budget will be up to about 1k. I'm looking for suggestions to read up on and consider between now and then, maybe trying to find a brick and mortar to go listen. Models that immediately come to mind are Rega RP3 and Project Expression. I don't mind considering used to try and get a better table if the improvements are tangible and readily audible. But like the idea of buying new or open box from a local dealer, assuming Atlanta still has any.

The set up will be for desktop speakers and headphones/iems, so I'm interested in the Rag as well but may need to think about a cheaper alternative. Speakers are not purchased but thinking of going with Ascend Acoustics.

DaveBSC · « **Reply #171 on:** February 06, 2015, 05:00:41 PM »

Quote from: shotgunshane on February 06, 2015, 04:30:15 PM

About this time next year I'll be in the market for a new turntable. Currently I have a vintage Kenwood KD500/550 'the rock' with a Shure v15 III cart. My expected budget will be up to about 1k. I'm looking for suggestions to read up on and consider between now and then, maybe trying to find a brick and mortar to go listen. Models that immediately come to mind are Rega RP3 and Project Expression. I don't mind considering used to try and get a better table if the improvements are tangible and readily audible. But like the idea of buying new or open box from a local dealer, assuming Atlanta still has any.

I'm not a big fan of the RP3. I'm not much of a Rega fan in general, but I think the RP1 and RP3 seriously under perform compared to similarly priced rivals. There is somebody around here who has a connection with Marantz, and can get a TT-15S1 for around $1K. That table is basically a Clearaudio with a Marantz badge on it, and it comes with the $950 Clearaudio Virtuoso Ebony Wood cartridge as standard, which will walk all over the RP3's Elys-2 cart.

If that deal is no longer workable, Music Direct has a demo on it at $1195. Otherwise I'd go with the Xpression Carbon if you want to buy new.

There isn't too much of interest on the 'gon right now at under $1K, except for this guy, but it doesn't come with a cart. You could always roll in your Shure and upgrade later, but that of course still means more money down the road. If you're gonna be waiting awhile though, things of course always change. SOTAs for example occasionally show up at very nice prices.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-pro-ject-audio-rm-9-1-evo-turntable-2015-02-01-analog-21218-baltimore-md

JMcMasterJ · « **Reply #172 on:** February 06, 2015, 06:38:17 PM »

I've been looking at an RP6. What would you recommend in that price range?

DaveBSC · « **Reply #173 on:** February 06, 2015, 09:12:52 PM »

Quote from: jmcmasterj on February 06, 2015, 06:38:17 PM

I've been looking at an RP6. What would you recommend in that price range?

The aforementioned Marantz, Pro-Ject Perspex, VPI Scout SE or Scout 1.1 if you're not bothered by the JMW-9T.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-138728-vpi-scout-11-turntable-demo.aspx

On the used market: Nottingham Interspace Jr. I use an Ace Space 294 at home and am a big fan of Nottingham tables.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-nottingham-analogue-interspace-jr-with-interspace-arm-mint-2015-01-12-analog-27614-raleigh-nc

cizx · « **Reply #174 on:** February 07, 2015, 12:30:02 AM »

BlackenedPlague · « **Reply #175 on:** February 07, 2015, 01:28:43 AM »

http://www.micromega-hifi.com/en/products/my-range/mygroov

THD on the thousanths and RIAA within 1 db? Has to be too good to be true

anetode · « **Reply #176 on:** February 07, 2015, 03:18:34 AM »

Quote from: BlackenedPlague on February 07, 2015, 01:28:43 AM

THD on the thousanths and RIAA within 1 db? Has to be too good to be true

You'd be surprised how many phono preamps specced to within a fraction of a decibel of RIAA fail in third-party independent testing.

The THD isn't really a concern - you can have a tube amp with a thousand times more distortion and it'll still be less than what the cartridge / medium limitations introduce. Noise is a more important spec, and there this amp seems adequate, if not exceptional.

DaveBSC · « **Reply #177 on:** February 07, 2015, 03:55:03 AM »

Quote from: BlackenedPlague on February 07, 2015, 01:28:43 AM

http://www.micromega-hifi.com/en/products/my-range/mygroov

THD on the thousanths and RIAA within 1 db? Has to be too good to be true

The Analog Planet readers ranked the MyGroov 4th out of four in a blind test. It was beaten by another pre that cost $99. The MyDac is nothing to write home about either. There's WAY more to a good phono pre than rated specs.

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/four-phono-preamp-file-identities-revealed

audiofrk · « **Reply #178 on:** February 13, 2015, 02:33:52 AM »

Quote from: DaveBSC on February 06, 2015, 05:00:41 PM

I'm not a big fan of the RP3. I'm not much of a Rega fan in general, but I think the RP1 and RP3 seriously under perform compared to similarly priced rivals. There is somebody around here who has a connection with Marantz, and can get a TT-15S1 for around $1K. That table is basically a Clearaudio with a Marantz badge on it, and it comes with the $950 Clearaudio Virtuoso Ebony Wood cartridge as standard, which will walk all over the RP3's Elys-2 cart.

If that deal is no longer workable, Music Direct has a demo on it at $1195. Otherwise I'd go with the Xpression Carbon if you want to buy new.

There isn't too much of interest on the 'gon right now at under $1K, except for this guy, but it doesn't come with a cart. You could always roll in your Shure and upgrade later, but that of course still means more money down the road. If you're gonna be waiting awhile though, things of course always change. SOTAs for example occasionally show up at very nice prices.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-pro-ject-audio-rm-9-1-evo-turntable-2015-02-01-analog-21218-baltimore-md

Funny you mentioned that table I was just doing some random google searches and I saw it it looks nice but it her niece is calling my name. Never heard of clearaudio before this thread but now they are becoming a bit of an obsession for me. Considering skipping the technics and going for the concept, but these plans are still in the making

.

Quote from: DaveBSC on February 07, 2015, 03:55:03 AM

The Analog Planet readers ranked the MyGroov 4th out of four in a blind test. It was beaten by another pre that cost $99. The MyDac is nothing to write home about either. There's WAY more to a good phono pre than rated specs.

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/four-phono-preamp-file-identities-revealed

What's your opinion of the lounge? Heard some say it best the leahmann blackbox and that won the blind face off at analog plannet?

Puma Cat · « **Reply #179 on:** February 13, 2015, 04:21:53 AM »

So, I'm going to play the contrarian here and repesctfully push back a bit on Dave's comments about Regas.

I like Rega turntables...a lot. I have a P5 with a GrooveTracer subplatter (the one with sapphire jewel thrust pad bearing and a ceramic ball bearing). The RB700 arm has a Sumiko Pearwood Celebration II moving coil cartridge. I find this table to have excellent musicality, rhythmic drive, bass articulation and definition. It's a kick out the jams kind of turntable, and what's remarkable about is that it compares quite favorably with approximately $13,000 Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V and Koetsu Vermilion turntable. You get about 85% of the performance of the Michell with the Rega P5/Sumiko for about 1/6 the price. I also have Clearaudio Concept, and while it is quite a good table for the price, IMO, the Rega P5 is better. The performance for dollar that table provides is outstanding, in my experience. I could easily live with table as my only TT, no problem at all. I also love the cherry surround for the base.

With my Soundsmith retipped Grace Ruby

The lovely Sumiko Pearwood Celebration II...a very Koetsu-like moving coil at a great price.

Author Topic: The Turntable Thread (Read 45113 times)

shotgunshane

Re: The Turntable Thread

DaveBSC

Re: The Turntable Thread

JMcMasterJ

Re: The Turntable Thread

DaveBSC

Re: The Turntable Thread

cizx

Re: The Turntable Thread

BlackenedPlague

Re: The Turntable Thread

anetode

Re: The Turntable Thread

DaveBSC

Re: The Turntable Thread

audiofrk

Re: The Turntable Thread

Puma Cat

Re: The Turntable Thread

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Author Topic: The Turntable Thread (Read 45113 times)

cizx