2. analog
  3. 1335327939

Choices, turntable purchase choices?

Recently I have been investigating a future turntable purchase. Not that my current JVC, QL-Y5F is a problem or not working right, but as in much of this hi-fi hobby we look to make gear changes at times. Thus, I began to think, I want to make sure any turntable I'd buy is one that I'd hopefully enjoy for a long while at least 5 years before any future upgrade or change itch may return. If I'm lucky maybe longer. This is why my budget range is above going entry level or the likes. No, I do not have a Champagne budget, but a Regular Joe beer budget range. However I want to get a rig that will give my notably solid vinyl playback quality enough to hopefully keep me happy with said table for a while.

So lots of reading and surfing the web etc has led me to a few choices I'd like to ask for opinions and if any of you own or have owned your thoughts.

1: Clearaudio, Concept $1400.00 to $2000.00 depending on cartridge options. If sans cartridge I'd look at putting my Ortophon 2M Blue on it. How does the Concept MM stack up as an alternative to the Blue? Is the Concept MC worth $500 more than the Concept MM?

2: Rega, RP6. $1500.00 to $2000.00 depending on going no cartridge or adding the Exact2. Rega definitely goes another direction to the Concept. It does come with a dust cover as standard though. Looks to have a nice RB303 arm too.

3: VPI, Scout $1800.00 with no cartridge or dust cover. Another cool tone arm though.

4: Another suggestion in the $1400.00 to $2000.00 range?

None of the choices above precludes making future cartridge changes and/or phono Preamp ones. I have a Cambridge Audio 640p running well right now.
les_creative_edge

Showing 2 responses by johnnyb53

johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Marantz TT-15S1. It's sourced from Clearaudio, has a special ebony wand version of one of its tonearms, and includes (mounted and aligned) an ebony-bodied premium Clearaudio MM cartridge (I think it's a Virtuoso) with a retail value around $850.

The whole package retails at $1499 and is available many places.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

05-03-12: Les_creative_edge
Marantz TT-15S1, does not seem to be available in Canada. Can't get it from the USA (restrictions on sales via Music Direct).

In that case, that could take you back to the Clearaudio Concept. Instead of the entry-level MM Concept cartridge, the relatively expensive MC Concept, or the substitute Ortofon Blue, consider the Audio Technica AT150MLX. It's not much more than the Blue but performs more like something in the $600-800 range. Some audio reviewers consider it to be one of the best cartridges under $1000 and The Absolute Sound named it the 2011 Cartridge of the Year.

I've been living with mine for 4 years and it's *at least* the equal of the Rega Exact. Replaceable stylus, too. The compelling testimony *is* that I've been living with it for four years and have no urge or desire to change it. As long as you give it a total capacitive load between 100 and 200 pF, it offers up a high resolution presentation that is full-bodied but not bloated, detailed but not unnaturally so.
More to discover