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Best turntable under $4000

I am looking to take the next step in my analog journey. I currently am using a Fluance RT85 with ortofon 2m blue. I have a Rogue Audio cronus magnum iii. I am running them with Kef 104/2 's. Fluance seems to get alot of hate on here. I was considering a cartridge upgrade but I am hesitant to upgrade more then the cost of the table. I don't hear much background noise and like the sound. I guess I am wondering if I don't know I hear noise because I have not heard a turntable that eliminates that noise? When I went from my Onkyo to my Rogue Sphinx iii I realized I had been missing a whole lot of sound. Then I ditched my rebuilt EPI M150's and heard hidden instruments in tracks I have listened to for years. I am looking for that in a turntable upgrade.  Apperance is important. I have interest in the following:

Clear Audio Concept Wood w/ maestro v2

Mofi fender precisiondeck w/ mastertracker

Stretching my budget is:

Dr. Feikert Volare no cartridge

Gold Note Pianosa no cartridge

These take me out of my budget once I get a cartridge

Any other reccomendations 

I will miss the autostart function for those buzzed listening nights. I would like the 4k to include a cartridge. Any opinions are welcome. Anyone think I should say screw the "rules" and get an Ortofon black?

 

Thank you in advance

cpdkee
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
899 posts
 

I’ve been using the following for 35+ years:

- VPI HW 19 MK IV with SAM

- Sumiko MMT

- Koetsu - started with (“the old”) Black, currently the Onyx (“the old” onyx, made by The Madter)

curtdr
348 posts
 

$4000 for a turntable?  lol

That's more than I spent for the used Lexus that I've been driving for the past seven years or so... 

I have an old Sansui turntable that still performs just fine... I think I spent $100, maybe, plus a decent cartridge.  It's mainly nostalgic clutter, now, though... and I'm considering getting rid of it. 

To each his own, I guess.  ... values and priorities... some like bling, some prefer practicality or investments that actually go up in value - I'll take that 4k and drop it into an S&P 500 Index fund, thank you very much.  

 

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 

Thank you, Curtdr for your thoughtful and incredibly helpful point of view. Next you can tell me how you walked to school uphill in the snow both ways when you were little. 4k is a drop in the bucket compared to most vinyl rigs on then site. Have fun being a curmudgeon.

lewm
12,540 posts
 

Have fun listening to the S&P 500. The premise here is you don’t need the income you could otherwise earn from $4000, and/or that there is more to life than making money. 

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,492 posts
 

@curtdr

Why would a hotshot big investor like you come on an audio site and give your opinion on anything? Enjoy that old sh---t box that you been driving for the past 7 years. Go get ’em big spender!!

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