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Buying a new TT today

So I’m pretty hellbent on buying a new TT today! Or should I be?!?!? 
I started off kind of sour on vinyl several years back when I ignorantly bought a cheap TT that had a built in phono stage.... Talk about a disappointment! And a buzz kill for vinyl!
Anyway a year or so later I bought a Project Carbon Debut and it blew my mind!!!!  The step up in most aspects of the TT, carbon fiber tone arm/heavier plinth/much heavier platter/motor and remote position/better cartridge in a Ortofon m2red, along with the fact the it was now running through my Integrated’s Phono Stage was just such a leap in sound that I never expected, that now I’m looking for yet another leap like that again lol
Anyway, with pocket flush with cash and headed to two hi-fi shops I pause....
In my new price range, $2,000 or so, should I be looking for a new TT? Or a new cartridge for the TT I have ?
thoughts.
264win
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
But what ever cartridge you buy the ultimate sound you are able to get out of it depends on the tonearm and its support or turntable . Best sound quality for cartridges are in the moving coil camp which normally are low compliance so if you go with moving coil you would need a at least a medium mass tonearm and a high mass tonearm as best option .

Not every Moving Coil cartridge is low compliance, Dynavector KARAT series are not low in compliance. Most of the modern MC are mid compliance. There are even high compliance MC cartridges from the past like the Ortofon MC2000.

Also not every MM or MI are high compliance, they are mid compliance, some modern like Nagaoka are even low compliance. Vintage high compliance cartridges from the 70s are still the best and bests many modern MC.  

So mid mass tonearm and mid compliance cartridges is mainly what we have today on the market.  



thinman2
37 posts
 
my vote is for any restored Thorens, Lenco, AR, Gerrard,  Linn or Denon in place any of the new entry level painted fiberboard VPI, Clear Audio, etc with cheap DC motor and wall wart.  Buy used and restored,  may come with decent cartridge. When you sell and upgrade chances are you will get all your investment back.  Check out Audigon listings. Sort by low to high and stop when it hits 25% above your budget.
cd318
2,636 posts
 
chakster,

"I’ve been posting about it before but i want to remind that Neumann Lathemachine operates with Direct Drive Technics SP02 motor. Every record pressing production starts from this Neumann with Technics motor."


I'm glad you reminded us. These little 'details', whilst so important, can so easily get lost, forgotten or just simply ignored. 



"And the new motor from Technics now is the best you can buy. They gave their customers so many options to buy different models with amazing Direct Drive motor, starts from $1700 for SL1200GR and going higher and better in every next model."


And this is also going to be difficult to argue against. For any belt driven turntable at any price.
lcplthomas
23 posts
 
I believe you will get greater improvement from upgrading your cartridge. The impact they have is HUGE!!
melm
1,086 posts
 
I start with 2 positions that some folks will disagree with. For analog reproduction the turntable is the most important purchase. And, at a given price point (anywhere near what you would like to spend), a belt drive will provide better SQ than a direct drive.

That being said I would suggest a used VPI. Because a TT is a mechanical device you can quickly evaluate what you get (including a look at the bearing and thrust pad--ask the seller to photograph these). There are lots of VPIs out there so you should find something at your budget. There’s also lots of help out there from VPI owners, and at VPI and its forum, should you need it. They are flexible and upgradeable.

The major advantage, as I see it, of a DD TT is the "set it and forget it" ease of operation--no fussing. If you see that as a major factor then go for it.
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