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Turntable Upgrade Suggestion

Hi all! I am looking to upgrade my turntable at the end of the summer and am soliciting opinions. I really love my Rega Planar 3 / RB300 combination, but I have a few needs that are making look elsewhere. First, I'd like a removable headshell / arm tube / dual arms to support a second mono cartridge. Secondly, I'd like to have good SRA adjustment, so to help support more exacting adjustments needed for more complex stylus cuts. I will need to be able to support cartridges in the 15 cu range (i.e. my new Zyx Bloom low-output and further upgrades in the Zyx line) plus a new mono cartridge (recommendations are appreciated). I have looked at various tables, but I'm having a hard time matching up an arm / table combo that would work well. I'l like to stay in the $1500-$2000 used range for the combo.

Thank you everyone for your help!
-Marc
mre2007
mre2007 OP
90 posts
 
Maybe a tonearm compatiable with the Zyx headshell? http://www.sibatech.co.jp/ZYX/ZYXcatalog.htm

I'm not sure what arms would work, but this sounds like a good idea to me ;)

-Marc
cmo
471 posts
 
Marc,

If it were me, I'd stay away from the removable headshell tonearms...... Why not try to get a little VPI Scout/JMW 9 and a second armwand. It's really easy to swap out the wands with these designs. The arm/table is designed to TOGETHER and would probably be in your budget used. BTW, I love my ARIES.

Chris
jomoinc
62 posts
 
Another way to go would be to get the Riggle VTA quick change unit on the Planar and use your existing RB 300 for your mono cart. Then step up to a Origin Live Silver Arm (or better)and use the Riggle VTA on it also. This would allow you to very quickly swap arms on the Planar 3 and also receive the major sonic benifits of an arm worthy to take with you later to a new turntable after your budget recovers. Kind of a step by step approach. There is more gold to be mined out of the Planar 3. By going this way you still move up to new sonic plateaus while you learn to match your cart / step up trans/ phono preamp / interconnects / amp / speakers which will all show ther limits as the signal gets better and you decide you want more of what you like.
Enjoy you music! Jon
mre2007 OP
90 posts
 
Jomoinc:

I like the idea of the OL silver, as it's a relatively high mass arm (14g). By "or better" are you referring to other arms in the Origin line? Do you have any idea what an OL silver would go for used on Audiogon?

Thanks!
-Marc
jomoinc
62 posts
 
Marc, I guess better means whatever best fits your goals. If you hope to one day have the supporting cast of equipment and your personal listening enjoyment would actually increase with the elevation in audio performance, plan your project accordingly. I sometimes use the "fun per dollar ratio" when I attempt to use both sides of the brain at once (how often does that happen?). Unless you have a severe case of "hardware lust" and must have it now, the next levels of TT customization can be both rewarding and enjoyable taken step by step.
Other arms some people like are the Hadcock modified unipivot said to work well with higher performance carts. Or even the wild string and magnet suspendened Schroeder 1 among others.
Check out the TNT website / listening tests / analog if you have not already for some research. And have some fun while you collect your input. Be sure you have enough quality pre-amplification to correctly match up to what ever cart you choose to use!
Enjoy your music!
Jon
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