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Refurbish or Buy New Turntable

I have a question to put out to the forum. I have a Oracle Delphi mark ll turntable with an early Graham arm (Excalibur) and a Monster Apha Genesis cartridge (very low output mc .29mv). It has been in storage and I am ready to spin my vinyl once again. The table needs a belt and perhaps some suspension springs. My BAT VK 31SE preamp does not have enough gain to handle this cartridge and I was thinking of getting a higher output mc or a mm depending on compliance with the Graham arm.

My budget for the project is $ 1600 to $ 2000. In your opinion
will this old combination hold up against the new inexpensive table/arm combinations of today? Should I move on and look at Rega or the like combos?

Thanks in advance for any help!
ck
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Hi, you will still need a phono pre amp to go with your vk31se, even with a higher output cartrige. Please factor that into your budget.

I have not heard the oracle's next to the newer tables. But I guess for your budget reasons, refurbing what you have makes a lot of sense. Then maybe a new cartridge and a phono stage.

A lot of old cartridges have issues in their suspensions, and need to be rebuilt or replaced.

Good luck!
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the oracle is still one of the greats. a high output cartridge and you're in business.
amater
56 posts
 
Stick to your Oracle Delphi mk II and Graham Excalibur. To jump up to a higher class would cost you more than $ 2000. It would be better to invest money in a fine new cartridge and/or new phono pe-apm. As you mentioned, you would need higher output MC cartridge (I have/use also high output cartridge - Benz Micro Ace H). The alternative is (with low output MC cartridge) an additional phono pre-amplifier. Re-wiring with better phono wires can also improve the sound.
A.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,943 posts
 
You can buy an "Oracle Maintainance Kit" for $150 that has new springs and washers and dampers and all kinds of stuff to update your Delphi...

It's well worth the investment.
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