The thoughts of others are only pointers,
Experiencing the Options that are available will be the best way to find your preferences.
If you have a selection of go to Vinyl Tracks that you are quite familiar with.
Take these along to auditions/demonstrations, it wont be long before your preferred choices start to surface.
COVID prevented interactions with other like minded enthusiasts,
not any more though, there are welcoming receptions and gratitiude a plenty for making the time to interact. |
The inquiry has gone from revealing the Devices in use and these equate to a calculation that there is probably a $1200 - $1500 TT Set Up in use in a system.
There is also a interest expressed in learning of a Budget that might need to be allocated to produce a New TT Set Up that will potentially outperform the one in use.
Within one day of replies the Budget seems to have hit 10K as a suggestion, and as a acceptable outlay.
I hope that this is not so, I hope the experiences of other Vinyl Sources are pursued prior to even condidering a Budget.
A itch is a itch, and will usually require a scratch at some point.
If this is the Case I would do as suggested, build up on a Collection of Albums, and select a choice Batch of Albums to be used at the TT demonstrations that are 'Hopefully' going to Organised.
Setting up Auditions of a 10k System from a few different Vendors will be interesting.
Different Drives of Drive Designs, Different Tonearms, Cartridges and Phonostages, will be quite revelatory.
With these Auditions imprinted in ones mind,especially how the Albums being palyed are remembered, will serve as a good foundation for other arranged visits.
Additionally arrange to visit a few other different Vendors and Audition the same as above at a Budget between 4K-6K.
If all the Auditions can be arranged across a short period of time, the impressions made will be very recollectable, and the shortcomings of a presentation, that leans away from your preferences and attractors can be cherry picked out with considerable ease.
In preparation for this experience, if this type of build up to a Purchase is chosen.
The Home System can be better prepared for the New TT's arrival,
using the already owned TT to assess any benefits to be had from the Preparations.
A Wall Mounted Dedicated TT Mounting Shelf could be installed, if not already in use.
Coming away from using the Factory Supplied Footers and using a Purpose produced Footer can produce very noticeable improvements to a TT's presentation, Bass can appear.
Trialling a Few Different Platter Mat Materials can change the Presentation of a TT with a remarkable improvement, Bass can appear with a whole new presence.
All the above methods are able to be transferred over, and be used on any New TT Acquisitions.
If the above preparations are utilized, there are additional experiments that can be tried out on the already owned TT, and when decided, these can again be quite beneficial when used on a different TT.
Revisiting a few of the different Cartridge Alignment Geometries can work to ones favor and offer a presentation that is to an individuals preferences, not all TT owners use the same Geometries.
Building in confidence and taking the Time to Dial in the Cartridge to the alignments where it really 'pops' can in some cases leave the impression a New Cartridge is in use, and Bass can be discovered.
There is very little to lose if the above is adopted.
When coming home from an Audition and putting a used Album onto your System, the findings might just show you the 'Laws of Diminishing Returns' are very prevailant and noticeably evident in your own investigations. |
Encouraging a Person to expand on their Experiences of Listening to various TT Set Ups, produced from a Variety of Permutations of a TT's and Ancillaries is a worthy contrubution.
Encouraging the OP to consider investigating how a already owned TT can be worked with in the Home System, might add a little complexity, but it is a method carried out by most TT owners, who are seeking that little extra from their own set ups.
A Cartridge Type used on a particular Set Up when well matched to the Ancillaries can in certain cases experienced, be a complete let down.
I have been to arranged meetings where the theme has been to have a selection of Cartridges lined up on exchangable MS-9 Headshells.
The only change in the Operational Parameters on the TT being the Cartridge.
Different Phonostages and SUT's have been available to see if a improvement can be made to a interface within the system.
My experience has been there are Cartridges that I don't believe underperformed in any way, their presentation has been consitent in each Audition.
The lesson learned for myself, is that there are certain Cartridges when used on a TT and Tonearm of my choice do not deliver in a manner that I consider to suit my preferences.
As a result of my Participation I use a Cartridge Design that was made known from my experiencing the Comparisons.
To be able to make such an assessment, doeas take a little foot work.
It has required making an arrangement to meet with other like minded enthusiasts, travel a little, spend time in good company and participate in a enjoyable experience of Auditions/Demonstrations.
What did I do? I did not remain insular and rest on my laurels about the position I had attained.
I humbled myself and drew on the experience of others, who had attained far more experience in such matters than myself.
The end result of such a undertaking in terms of lessons learned about the Sound Quality of a TT Set Up, with a variety of permutations has been very insightful.
What did I not do, I did not use my eyes as my guide, I left the Lure of Bling behind as a suggestion of being Quality a long time ago.
This was replaced by a much more beneficial method of investigation, where my ears have been depended on.
As an Audiophile, I work on the Basis that I am in pursuit of Sound, and the more endearing the Sound and Satisfying to my own unique preferences the better.
To suggest to a OP with a inquiry to make the time to rely on their own ears to help them learn the Varieties of Sound that can be perceived from receiving a Audition / Demonstration of a TT Set Up.
Is certainly not misguiding them.
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I own a SME IV, it sits in a Box Unsued, it has been surpassed in all Perfomance Areas by a Custom Produced Tonearm I had produced for me.
A SME V owner has done the same as myself and there are others moved on from other recommended Tonearms to acquire the Custom Producd Tonearm I am using.
The Two above Custom Tonearms will not have cost the price of a
SME IV, using ones ears is critical to make the analysis of the performance and the attractors it offers to the individual.
A Short List is best developed from experiences gathered.
Any well put together Marketing Strategy can sell an Item using an Attractive Glossy Paged Brochure, full of non important Blurb.
I can assure you that it is easy to fall prey to. |
@audioguy 85
Thank You for offering the OP your experience with similar equipment.
Your experinces gathered and your unyielding commitment to maintaining very similar Devices as owned by the OP is hopefully received by the OP, as reassuring, and encouraging a time out and furthering a investigation before Spending in a Substantial Manner.
Your added Ancillaries to use in conjunction with the TT are of Interest, and your sure footedness about the suggestion to consider these as methods has got my attention.
Your type of report is one I would use to help others make a decision about the choices they have for their own Vinyl Chain.
Nearly all the usual contributors to Analogue and Vinyl replays, have not offered the support you have come through with.
The OP has asked,
"If I wanted to take the next step, in Analog playback , at what level and price should I be looking at".
The usual contributors have overlooked the information where the OP has informed that they are informing of a re-start to Vinyl Replay, that is at present being enjoyed.
The Posts speedily entered the suggestions that 10K is a required sum.
Where no consideration has been shown to the OP’s experience, or how they have the TT Set Up in the Home System.
Lets assume the most ludicrous, that the OP is very fit and agile, and the TT is sitting on the floor made up of very bouncy floor boards.
All the encouragement so far is suggesting that the 10K TT Set Up is brought home and placed in the environment that the TT in use at present is set up in.
Your Post definitely covers important points for the OP to consider. I am feeling very sure that your additional methods that incorporate the ancillaries being reffered to, will produce a change that can be referred to as the ’Next Step’.
There has not been a request by the OP, to ask how to attain a level of Vinyl Performance in a System that gives the very best value for a 10K Budget.
The OP has been encouraged from the earlist Posts to think in this way.
My curiosity about your chosen methods can hopefully be answered, if the following could be replied to:
Did you bring the TT to the Home System with these added measures waiting to be used with immediacy ?
Are these thought through changes to use as New Measures, and were added incrementally to work in conjunction with the Purchased TT over time ?
What is your assessment of the impact of the added Ancillaries on the Performance of the entirity of the Vinyl Chain within your system ?
As a Ball Park Figure how much did these additional measures cost to put in place ?
More Importantly if you were to make a change to the TT Model that is in use, from your experiences gathered, how much do you think you would need to spend on a TT that will surpass your TT Set Up in use at present ?
Again if you did discover a different Model of TT that was totally to your liking, and was to bring it into the System for a Trial, how many of the added ancillaries would remain in use, being seen as Critical to producing the Best Interfaces for the Vinyl Chain in your system ? |
I use Solid Tech Feet of Silence, they have proved to be the most effective feet in my System when combined in the assembly along with my my Differing Tiers of Construction, that are used to produce a Presentation that is very satisfying to my Personal Preferences.
These are the Footers that are in direct contact with the TT's Plinth, and also the Footers that have superseded all my Previous Methods. |
As said my Solid Tech Feet of Silence have superseded all other used footers.
My AT 616 are used under a Sub Plinth and are no longer used to be the Footer that is in contact with the TT's Plinth.
The Feet of Silence when used in the Construction of Materials to support the plinth has bettered them, when my ears are used to assess the effects.
I do use AT 616 under Cabinet Speakers and the effect that they have is quite satisfactory and I see no reason to change this as a method.
No fancy measurements at my end to convince me of my decisions for the use of Footers, The Method used is to Buy, Trial, Trial, Trial, in various permutations, Keep or Discard, using my ears as the Tool to make the choices.
When the Footers referred to above are under the radar, the purchase costs do creep upwards to be able to assess such devices.
As difficult to believe as it is, even for myself when first experienced,
my Home Built Aerated Suspension Sub Sub Plinth was to have an effect on the above Tiers in the Support Structure, that really allowed the TT's Presentation to be quite special, and showed the real difference between the AT 616 and Solid Tech's |
'Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder'
The Aesthetic of the Solid Tech is certainly not their problem.
The Aesthetic might not be to all tastes, and this totally acceptable.
If a Concern about a Solid Tech Feet of Silence is to be raised, as a user,
I will say one has to be mindful of the loading, as it can be set up to take extra weight, but the Projections that are the Cantilever Suspension Points, may become compromised where they connect to the Main Body.
I will additionally say the Foot Print would benefit from being a Little Wider, to give a reassurance that the Supported equipment is undoubtedly stable.
This is not the result of the supported device being able to be in a state of Flotation.
It is that the Diameter of the Base in relation to the Height of the Footer seems to suggest it would not survive and unwanted contact/force applied to the Device being supported.
If my Set Up was not in a Dedicated Room, where movements around the equipment are quite limited and carried out by respectful types, i.e, not the Grand Children.
I would have had an additional Footer Plate produced to give the sense of a improved Stability being available, and not compromise the Function.
As the Solid Tech does a very good Job, it would be worth the extra investment, when used in certain environments.
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Whilst Viewing the Isonoe Footers.
It is noticeable that the Footers share a similar Suspension Method, to the Solid Tech 'FoS'.
Looking at the Method of attachment of the O Rings it does seem possible to increase the Diameter of the O Ring to produce a improved weight carrying Footer.
What is likeable is the Easy to Remove / Threaded Attachment,
Contact Point for the Plinth or Equipment.
I was intending at some point on producing a New Contact Point for my
Solid Tech 'FoS' , that could then have a option to trial with other shapes and Materials, the Isonoe would make the Intended New Method much easier to produce a exchangeable part to experiment with.
As the Base of the Footer is not interfering with the Operation of the Footer, the available option of adding stability Base Pads/Shoes are a welcome option.
In my view if these are not too expensive they will be worth a Trial. |
