I just replied to your other thread about Hana SL. Now that see this discussion my approach would be to pick up a Hana Umami Blue and spend the rest on Origin Live tonearm in that budget. There is going to be a massive difference between SL and Umami Blue. I’d get the Silver then focus more on cartridge and phono stage. Even Origin Live Silver with the Umami Blue will be jaw dropping good.
Keep or replace Oracle Delphi
Vinyl playback is turntable, tone arm, cartridge. After 30 years with Oracle Delphi, Eminent Technology, and different cartridges. If I have a budget of $ 5,000.
1. I can buy a new Technics SL-1300 and a nice Hana SL MkII. And retire the Oracle.
2. I can buy an SME M2-9 / Origin Live or similar tonearm for the Oracle and the Hana SL MkII for the Oracle Delphi.
Should the Oracle stay or retire?
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New is always fun. 1300G will be a set and forget. Skip the Hana-way better cart in every way and not much more Audio-Technica AT-ART7 cartridge NOS 1st gen ART7. Specs/performance of a super cart without the price. As long as you have 65-70db gain in your phono you're good to go. |
An Oracle is an iconic table. I would never choose a current generation Technics over it. The Eminent Technology is a fiddly arm, but it also is a fine piece of kit if you are willing to spend time setting it up.
If the Oracle has been refreshed, I would keep it. If it has not, then that is a great starting point. Changing an arm is fine, and Origin Live makes a nice arm. I use the Agile on my SOTA Cosmos and am quite happy with it. If I was changing cartridges I would think the Umami is a fine choice. I also would explore the Audio Technica ART 9 and ART 20. Personally, I would even keep the ET II arm and put one of those cartridges on it. |
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