How Much Is TOO MUCH for a Analog front End?


Hello All
I have a question hopefully you can help me decide.After having had the "bug" (you all know what I mean) for much of my fomative years, I have reached a point in my evolution that I've got the urge to upgrade my front end to that last step.
What I am contemplating is a purchase I am almost afraid to make. Having read soo much about these killer tables from various "cottage" companies (Teres,Redpoint,Galibier,etc) I have really got the itch.Not that my current front end isn't giving me enjoyment.It consists of a VPI HW-19 mk III in between 3 and four status, twl modded OL Silver arm,with various carts, a 103,Dyna DV-20X etc.,
but what I'm getting hot and heavy about is a Galibier Gavia,Schroder mod 2 or maybe Redpoint Medel B with the same mod 2 arm?
but were talking roughly $9-10k not exactly lunch money.
So this brings us to the question How much is TOO much for a table/arm set up? (now thinking about it this maybe the wrong place to ask this question lol) should it be in proportion to my income?
give me some input.In all honesty, I won't be able to purchase it til maybe August If I start saving now.
Please give me some indication,as I am bordering on an Intervention!!

HELP ME!
braab
braab8

Showing 1 response by t_bone

To me, it sounds like you should wait. Great TTs like the Galibier and Teres will still be around in a few years. If you are dying to change something until you feel comfortable spending the money, you might try a different angle... While the sound is different, you might try doing something like a Lenco/ROK/similar in a new plinth a la the "Home Despot" thread. From all I have read, you can get considerable quality for not huge money. You could probably buy/rebuild/replinth a Lenco, do a Ladegaard tonearm set-up and that would put you out $2k or less, leaving a lot of money for a cart, an arm which could be used on any table you wish in the future, and it would teach you a fair bit about what makes a TT work and what makes it work well.