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Turntable advice / opinion on setup / sound.

Hello all you analog experts. I am seeking some advice, opinions and direction to try, based on my tastes and setup. 

I’m not loving my current TT sound but there are variables that could cause this. For reference, my favorite TT I ever owned was the ClearAudio Champion Level 2 (wish I never sold it) because it was warm and had a huge stage. 

  1. I listen to every style of music, smooth jazz to hard metal. 
  2. I have to turn the volume way up to get the get the level I like which at times has hiss and a tiny bit of hum. Compared to digital sources which have none of these issues. 
  3. I find this setup to lack huge stage and warmth. 

My current system is:

  1. Rega Planar 8 w/ Alpheta 2 MC cart.  
  2. Cambridge Audio -> Alva Duo Phono Pre amp
  3. Mark Levinson -> No 585 Amp. 
  4. Martin Logan 15a Renaissance -> 8FT apart/ 3ft off the front wall and 3 FT from each side wall. I sit 9FT away from the speakers.  

The turntables I am considering are:

1) Musical Fidelity -> M8XTT

What cart would you use?

2) Michell Audio -> Gyro SE Turntable

3) Clear Audio Champion Level 2

Thank you all in advance for any guidance and opinions you can offer. 

necrosuit
durkn
109 posts
 

I would go with a VPI. 

I have a Prime 21, tube phonostage, and Soundsmith Zephyr Mk3 moving iron cart.

I’m running a tube preamp that has a phonostage but am running an external phonostage with it because I get no hum when turned up.

dayglow
2,443 posts
 

@tablejockey     Hate to hijack the OP's thread but here goes...Have only listened to the P10/RB3000 a few times on a casual basis. Not sure about the level of refinement(spaciousness/air/less coloration) it has over the P9. Have never seen the Naia in person but assume a complete Rega setup-Cartridge/Phonostage would maximize it's potential. Sometime this year I plan on serious demo time with the PL10/Naia/Avid Relveo and SME Model 8. Have almost always favored UK made decks due to the high level of PRAT/engagement despite some obvious colorations.

dirkbusche
24 posts
 

Its the cambridge duo phono, not the level of the other components

elliottbnewcombjr
7,741 posts
 

All this Rega Praise,

//////////////////////////

Yet, who can/will answer this?

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It would be nice to know what the RB880 arm’s null point distances are, for people who do not have the protractor

overhang is 14.5 mm

inner null point _______ mm?

outer null point _______ mm?

lewm
14,669 posts
 

It might be nice to know those values but not necessary if you know P2S and overhang and own any decent protractor. Without a protractor it would be tedious at best to work backward from null points.

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