The best TT system for under 30K


Hi agoners! 

I have been floored by Kuzma Stabi XL DC with 4 points TA on a recent audition. It was extremely analog sounding, insane details with speed, beat and clarity that made me wonder if I am listening to a live concert, just can’t help my toe tapping. Was comparing the sound to the top of the line Accuphase CD player with the same rest of system and it was no contest. 

Switching from Accuphase CD player to Kuzma XL DC was sounding like adding a pair of subwoofer and going up 2-3 levels on the rest of the system. Mind you the rest of the system was Accuphase E-650 class A integrated that should favor the Accuphase same brand CD player but that wasn’t the case. The speaker was Kerr Acoustics K300 under 10K entry level bookshelf and the sound of the entire entry level system armed with Kuzma XL DC beat the hell out of the entire super high end system the dealer has on the other listening room with Avalon PM3 speakers, Accuphase A-250 monos, Audionet Stern Preamp with Accuphase CD player. 

However obviously I cannot afford the whole set of Kuzma XL DC considering I am also in the process of upgrading my existing system. What will be the closest contender in the US$30.000 retail price range that has the same sonic signature as Kuzma XL DC? 

Thanks in advance for any advices!!
uwiikz
Cartridge: You might also consider Soundsmith. The owner gives talks and makes a lot of sense (Peter Ledermann). Some knowledgeable people speak very highly of his products.
Do you not read the thread before you post ??

obviously you might also be right!
I absolutely do not agree.
not even I can agree on your disagreement, we cannot all agree on the same opinions, it would be too monotonous a world.
terry/lalitk : The OP wants a " training " cartridge, second hand is a good option for a " trainer ".

In the other side, I bougth top LOMC cartridges second hand through Agon with excellent results.
You have to make a little research about the Agon seller through his Agon feedback, you are not buying in blind condition and if you buy using Paypal and what you receive is not what the seller stated you can recovery your money.

In over 20´that I bougth here I never had the necessity to confront the seller, always been satisfied with.

Agon is a guarantee for that kind of buyers and a very good opportunity to own and listen a top cartridge as the Windfeld for only 1.5K ! !

I know that both of you can buy it new at 5K ( the new Ti. ) but in the link I posted the seller said the cartridge has 50hours of play, is almost not even " settle down ".

Why distress audiophiles about? please let us how many second hand cartridges, both of you, bougth in Agon and how many of them were a true " scam"? please show your first hand specific experiences about?

About the ultrasonic cleaner terry said " for old records " and if both of you read the Agon thread about that that was said the OP there too. The OP here will buy new records and what I don't understand very well is of you lalitk that posted the Project cleaner and suddenly change your advise in your last post  ? ?

R.






Raul, I do not think that a newcomer to the hobby should have to worry about whether or not the cartridge he received is ’as advertised’. The OP is obviously not short of a few dollars, and he can afford to let others worry about that. It’s a cost-convenience tradeoff, with knowledge tipping the scale towards one side or the other. Personally, I would only go with a trusted source - but to date I have only bought new.

As for US cleaning, I clearly stated that I US all records, new, NOS, or used, because of contaminants which can be observed on some of them, even new in plastic. Further, after playing a record for a few years, I clean it again. Don’t get enough grunge off to detect it, but I don’t want to risk my stylus.

Obviously, you disagree. Fine. Enjoy.