Agreed. Start with a known quantity. The AT VM540 is very good and inexpensive. It'll make a fine backup cartridge in due course.
Thoughts on upgrading TT signal chain
I have a new to me Technics 1210gr with an ortofon bronze into phono stage of a Peachtree Nova 300. I'm not as wow-ed as I'd hoped, having upgraded from an entry level 80'S p-mount technics with ortofon om20. I got the 1210 gr used and I can't vouch for the condition of the cartridge. So I began looking for a new cartridge and down the rabbit hole I went. My research leads me to trying out a denon dl 103r which needs boosted. So I think Rothwell MCL or Headspace 2. Looks like that track is about $1000.
Question here is what are your thoughts on that route vs similarly priced stand alone phono stage and a cheaper cartridge, like $80 super OM body I can put my OM20 stylus on.
Currently my set up is dead silent and introducing much noise would be troublesome. I had a project tubebox ds that was quite noisy and I can't do that again.
Question here is what are your thoughts on that route vs similarly priced stand alone phono stage and a cheaper cartridge, like $80 super OM body I can put my OM20 stylus on.
Currently my set up is dead silent and introducing much noise would be troublesome. I had a project tubebox ds that was quite noisy and I can't do that again.