advice for my clear audio analogue upgrade path


Ok, I ready to "tighten up" and finalize my analogue front end.  Current set up.
1. Clear Audio Performance DC w/Clarify arm
2. Sound Smith Boheme Moving Iron high out put cart
3. Clear audio Basic + phono stage 

My path is to at some point move to Clear Audio Ovation table, Clear audio Balance + phono and a Sound Smith "The Voice" cart.  
If I do all this one step at a time I'm wondering what you all would knock off in order and WHY.

Cost:
1. Table up grade $3400
2. Phono stage $2100
3. Cart $1800-$2000

GO!
128x128dhpeck

Showing 8 responses by dhpeck

Ok, so here's my thought.  My Performance DC has some room to enjoy improvements and starting with my new cart and or phono stage wouldn't be "overkill" for this table and both of these upgrades would be transferred over to new table. 

What do you think?
@williewonka great questions to consider and challenge me on.  I'm thinking jumping quite a bit up the chain to the new Cart would lend a wider, more open detailed sound.  As for the phono stage, I can't say what I'd notice to be honest, with the exception that I would be adding a balanced connection on the new phono stage.  Lastly the table, I am constantly reading that TT should be "speed" controlled which the Ovation would do.  Again in truth, perhaps I'm looking for my last table and feel the level of the Ovation would accomplish that and not leave me wondering.  Does that make sense?  I know there are many other TT brands, but based on what my dealer sells and sets up for me, Clear Audio is the one I'm most impressed with.
@stringreen are you suggesting that my path based on my choice of upgrade levels are so incremental therefore not worth the hassle cost, or are you saying that at some point we all have to sit back and enjoy?  To the latter, I couldn't agree more and perhaps have an "upgrade" bug.
@joey54 interesting.  Did you compare with the same arm/cart also?  If I jump to the ovation, I'll still have my clarify arm and existing sound smith cart (which I have no issues with) on the Ovation.  

It makes sense to solidify the "table" aspect first.
@williewonka good stuff thanks for the advice!  I'm betting my guy isn't using anything more than the clear audio template for cart set up.
@joey54  thanks for the review and also making my first step the most expensive. :0.  I'm thinking my sound smith Boheme would be able to "pedal along" with the ovation.  Even so, I wonder if my clear audio basic + stage would mute the sound.......
So after much consideration, I've decided to upgrade the Cart to Soundsmith "The Voice" and then the phono stage.  I believe I can still grab more from the table.