Rega P3 RS, Michell TecnoDec, Avid Ingenium

Elliot, I think the AI comments regarding the Denon DPA100 are of the kind that will eventually lead us all to stupidity if we ignore human experience in favor of a simulation of intelligence . I would wager the geometry is Stevenson or something close to it. The Japanese have favored similar algorithms for many decades. No harm in that. Somewhere on the internet someone with a stack up their butt about Lofgren/Baerwald wrote something pejorative about the Denon geometry. AI uncritically picked up those comments and gave them more cache’ than they deserved. Do you think Denon engineers are ignorant of tonearm geometry? IMO, the AI comment regarding tonearm geometry of the Denon is best ignored. Tracking angle error is overrated anyway.

Stick, not “stack” up the you know where.

@lpluvr 

The Technics SL 1500C mentioned upthread is really rather crappy compared to your initial three considerations. If you could stretch your budget, I would look at the SL 1300G which dispenses with all the superfluous nonsense you usually see on Technics turntables and you could use any cartridge you want.

I would snatch up the P3 RS as a second turntable in an instant having owned an RP3 with a TTPSU for years and wore out several Exact cartridges on it over that time. Rega cartridges are very nice and you might consider the one equipped with the RS end game after living with it for a while but if not Ortofon has a 2MR range here https://www.musicdirect.com/shop/?query=ortofon%202mr just for the Regas because their turntables and arms are so popular. Everything Rega markets also has a lifetime warrantee even if you buy it used, though anything with modifications would be excluded.

As for the Mitchell, if the spirit moves you go for it bro! Find a reputable vendor in the US that distributes it and go with their recommendations regarding the appropriate cartridges to use with it which I’m sure includes Regas and the Ortofons I mentioned above. Covers are optional but you could find a decorative cloth or something to throw over it when not in use to protect it from dust and you might even like the esthetic.

@faustuss It really does seem to be coming down to the P3 RS or the Michell TecnoDec.  The TecnoDec package in the US includes both the T2i arm (modified RB330) and the unicover.

I remember a time when Technics turntables were considered mid-fi, and no serious audiophile would own one.  That seems to have changed since I was last in the hi-fi game.  Still, I don't think I'd spend upwards of $3-$4K on one, but maybe that's just my old outdated biases coming through.

@lpluvr 

"I remember a time when Technics turntables were considered mid-fi, and no serious audiophile would own one.  That seems to have changed since I was last in the hi-fi game.  Still, I don't think I'd spend upwards of $3-$4K on one, but maybe that's just my old outdated biases coming through."

Yeah, hang on to your "old outdated biases", they've gotten you this far and I see your preferences as sincere, rational judgements based on experience. My suggestion of the Technics follows in the same vein and I'm merely fascinated with it since it the first unpretentious product to come out under that brand except for their $20,000 top of the line two chassis turntable that I view as a serious piece of unobtanium audiophile equipment. I'm sure you'll make the best choice for you!