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Help buying first analog rig - Clearaudio Concept or Rega P6

I am in the process of purchasing my first major analog rig since I was teen back in the 80's. My system has been digital. I had a period of about 8 years where I did not do much with audio as we were moving and building a new home. Shortly after our home was built, but before the basement was finished and the alarm was installed, we had a break in. Among the many things other things taken, they took a box of my CD's, basically all my SACD's. So when I the basement was finished and got setup again it prompted me to get into streaming. I have a dedicated listening room which is pretty big 16 x 25 and 9' ceiling on a concrete slab (i know that helps with turntables) with laminate flooring and area rug. My System is pretty straight forward digital.
-Innuos Zen mkIII to stream and play my ripped CD's along with other hi-rez digital I have purchased and some DSD's
-Chord Qutest fed with a Shunyata Alpha USB from the Zen
-PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated
-Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII 
-Purist Audio Venustas Luminist Speaker and RCA  cables, Shunyata Venom NR V10 power cables

The only small stack of vinyl I own is what I had as a teen, 80's rock which I may listen to occasionally, but I plan on buying new vinyl. I listen to a lot of Jazz - Coltrane, Davis, etc, a lot of modern bluegrass mostly female vocal like Sarah Jarosz, Sierra Hull, Alison Krauss.
The 2 tables that I seem to have gravitated towards are:
-Rega P6 with Hana EL 
-Clearaudio Concept wood with the black satisfy arm and either their Concept MC or Maestro V2 cartridge.

I know the Concept does not come with a dust cover, no big deal for me, I can always add one down the road.

Phono pre
-Sutherland KC Vibe
-MS Phenomena 2+

My budget was originally 3000 for the table/cart and pre, but I really like the concept wood ascetically, it would fit nicely in my rustic/industrial decor which has a lot of wood. I know its not about ascetics, but I am just not crazy about the look of Rega, but it does get great reviews. My rack is butcher block and iron pipe, so the table would sit on the top shelf next tot he PrimaLuna. I am the kind of person that does not mind tinkering and I understand the inconvenience of records vs digital, but I am looking for the natural, openness and beauty that vinyl brings to the system. What am I missing?
128x128jmphotography
jmphotography's avatar
jmphotography OP
161 posts
 
Thank you all for the suggestions. At this point I am definitely leaning towards the Clearaudio Concept with Satisfy black arm and Hana SL with the KC Vibe MkII pre. Since I am not experienced with this I prefer to buy from a dealer that I know can setup the TT correctly for me. 
My only other deciding factor is what color concept. I know the wood options have an upgrade in sound from the wooden plinth, but I am concerned that neither wood would match on butcher block rack. I think the black and silver would sit well with the PrimaLuna and contrast against the wood rack. https://i.imgur.com/aaFBYjW.jpg
oldaudiophile
277 posts
 
JM, several years ago, I did a considerable amount of research and critical listening (auditioning) looking for a TT upgrade. The TT’s on your short list are both fine choices. In fact, both of them and the Marantz TT15S1 (designed & built by Clearaudio to Marantz specifications) with Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cart and the VPI Prime Scout were on my short list just prior to my purchase. I was just about ready to pull the trigger on the P6 when I ran into the Mobile Fidelity Ultradeck+M (with Mastertracker MM cartridge). As you know, Rega is a major proponent of low mass design. Although any TT should be set-up on a rock solid surface, this is critically important for a low mass design like a Rega. Have a read of reviews of the Mofi Ultradeck+M (e.g. Julie Mullins; Herb Reichert - to name but a few). Better yet, audition one if you can. I’ve been quite happily living with mine for the last 3 or 4 years or so and wholeheartedly agree with the reviewers analyses, especially Herb’s take: "The MoFi UltraDeck is one of the most lucid-, engaging-, and natural-sounding record players available for under $5000. Highly recommended." IMHO, for under $5,000 you can get a different sound signature from a few contenders but not better. The Mastertracker is the best MM cartridge I’ve ever heard; even better than some MC. Most of my vinyl collection is from the 60s & 70s and has always been lovingly cared for. I’m in the process, now, of running them through my ultrasonic cleaner and treating them with LAST. As long as your vinyl is clean and well cared for (dust is the enemy of records, TTs and styli) and you use a halfway decent phono pre-amp, you will not be disappointed with the Mofi. It’s also a great value if you live in the USA. Good Luck and welcome back to vinyl!

P.S.  I would recommend you put as much separation or space between your TT (or any TT, for that matter), your amp and pre-amp as possible.
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
First I love the Sutherland KC Vibe. What I don’t think many know is he now has a new TZ Vibe now.This is a Micro LOCO preamp. MC only. The Little LOCO won the over all analog award back in 2018 or 2019. Same topography just scaled down. I asked the store where I was demowing the Little LOCO from to see if they could order one a TZ Vibe so I could demo it.  I think I am the first customer to listen to this preamp in the world. At $1400 it is very good. It has less weight in the sound than the Litttle LOCO but that might not be a bad thing. The other thing I love is no dip switches for setting up the MC cart. Plug and play. I was told by Ron Sutherland there are jumpers inside for the gain. + or - 6db. Which you can change it on the fly. Also, you can hook up two MC TT at the same time because there is no voltage on the inputs it reads the current instead. As far as the table I really love the Rega line a lot. Aside from the VTA they are fantastic tables. Hell, John Darko has a P2 with a ZU cart on it. If you are going to get a MC cart not made by Rega I would go with the Hana SL instead. For $750, this thing is a bargain. Regardless of the table you choose. Also as far as the fixed cables on the Rega it is not a big deal. Even MC says every connection you make degrades the sound. I believe in supporting our brick and mortar Hifi stores. If you want to listen to the P6 or the Sutherland TZ Vibe and you live near the Chicagoland area this is where I buy my gear:
https://holmaudio.com/
BTW, I am demoing the Rega P6 with the Ania MC cart on the Sutherland TZ Vibe right now. I do have to say the Ania Pro MC cart was better and I think worth the extra money due to the Diamond stylus. I hope this helps. 

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Thank you all for the suggestions. At this point I am definitely leaning towards the Clearaudio Concept with Satisfy black arm and Hana SL with the KC Vibe MkII pre. Since I am not experienced with this I prefer to buy from a dealer that I know can setup the TT correctly for me.
My only other deciding factor is what color concept. I know the wood options have an upgrade in sound from the wooden plinth, but I am concerned that neither wood would match on butcher block rack. I think the black and silver would sit well with the PrimaLuna and contrast against the wood rack. https://i.imgur.com/aaFBYjW.jpg


First, wood always works with wood. Especially since the look and finish of the CA is enough contrast anyway. But more importantly, it is only a matter of time until you realize it will be so much better on Townshend Pods, or maybe a Platform, and the PL amp as well, and then you will have the best of both worlds, the looks and the sound. 

dinov's avatar
dinov
789 posts
 
+1 on the Mastertracker MM cartridge. An amazing cartridge with great soundstage, lots and lots of bass…..surprising. I bought it “open box” from music direct for a second turntable I was working on a thorens td 165. What a great surprise. My point is moving magnet cartridges have come a long way in my opinion. 
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