AudiogoN Forums: Dense, powerful sounding TT, decent top $3500 max?

Dense, powerful sounding TT, decent top $3500 max?

I've had a VPI HW-19 Mk.III table for donkey's years. Several of my other components have been upgraded, and I'm looking to possibly acquire a new table. I listen mainly to classical music, and like a sound that is dense, powerful and supple as opposed to rigid/electronic, and with some decent top end extension. I am staying with my SME IV.Vi tonearm. Maximum I want to spend for the table is $3500. Thanks very much.

Opus88 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-18-06

Responses (1-15 of 15)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

11-18-06 Like you i listen mostly to classical music and my arm is an ... Jtimothya

11-19-06 Your mkiii is a great table...for the money, you'll be going ... Jaybo

11-19-06 Avid volvere. about 1k more than your budget but works very ... Rello

11-19-06 Thanks, fellows, for your thoughts so far. jtimothya: i've c ... Opus88

11-19-06 How about an idler-wheel drive especially for classical.chec ... Stefanl

11-19-06 Forgot to mention...i have the supratek cortese preamp and a ... Opus88

11-19-06 Lots of options at your price level and easy to blow away th ... Audiofeil

11-19-06 You might want to hear the michell orbe se. it does very wel ... Hi5harry

11-19-06 Look at the new tw acustic raven one. it is a bargain. Dgad

11-20-06 If you are looking used(???), and like the sound of your vpi ... Cmo

11-20-06 See if you can find an aries 1 - not the ii or iii. it is a ... Cleopatra52

11-21-06: Dougdeacon
I'll second Jtimothya and AudioFeil. A Teres easily outplays an HW19 or an Orbe. I suspect a Galibier Serac would too. These will come closer to being worthy of your tonearm, which you've never heard to full advantage due on your present table.

You're seeking solidity and a low resonant signature. High mass, unsuspended tables excel at these things, and the drive belt used by Teres and Galibier provides better speed stability than the stretchy, elastic belts used by most of their competitors. This gets you closer to the pace accuracy of idler wheel and direct drive.

Those other drive modes can be superior to belt drive, but I don't think you'll find one with the black background, solidity and resonance control of a Teres/Galibier for $3500, unless you're willing to tackle a DIY Lenco rebuild. The Loricraft 501 mentioned by Stefanl would do it, but that's about $25K.

Dougdeacon (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-21-06 For me, the combination of table, tonearm, tonearm cable and ... Opus88

11-21-06 You might keep an eye out for a used maplenoll ariadne signa ... Piedpiper

11-21-06 Keep your eyes open for a used micro seiki rx 5000. tough to ... Rcupka