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Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

I've recently upgraded most of my system, but I still have a Rega P8, with Linn Krystal cartridge, which I like, but I've heard that there may be better options.

I have Sound Lab electrostatic speakers, Ypsilon Hyperior amplifiers, an Ypsilon PST-100 Mk2 pre-amplifier, and am thinking about an Ypsilon phono stage to match with my system, and a turntable/cartridge.  I listen to almost entirely classical, acoustic music. 

Based on my very limited knowledge, and simple research, I've been looking at three brands, each of which is a different type of turntable: SME (suspension), AMG (mass), and Technics (direct drive).  
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of turntables, and of those in particular?

Thanks.   

drbond

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

Koetsu are so good, even their "budget" entry level is magic.

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

The question came up a while back and as I recall virtually every single one of us with a lot of experience agreed the turntable and arm are more important than the cartridge.

The main reason being that no matter how good the cartridge is all it can do is output a signal that comes from wiggling back and forth. The better cartridges simply do a much better job of turning even the slightest wiggles into signal. But the cartridge has no freaking clue which wiggles are coming from the groove, and which ones are coming from the arm chattering around, the bearing rumbling, the motor speeding up and slowing down, etc etc. It dutifully turns all these into signal.

So your wonderful expensive cartridge will indeed sound better. Anyone and everyone who goes from budget to Koetsu will be floored. But what they will never know because they spent the money on the cartridge is how great their same old current one would sound on a really fine table and arm. 

That is where the experience comes in and that is where knowing the table matters more comes from.

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