2. analog
  3. 981478262

Need Turntable advise

I have a CJ Sonograph CD player, a CJ PV-8 preamp, Golden Tube Audio SE-40 amp on the top end, and a Pioneer Spec 4 anp on the low end. I'm driving a pair of Snell A-3's. I have just put this system together and am using Geortz and Monster interconnects and straight wire speaker wire borrowed from a friend for now. I have a Technics 1200 Mk2 direct drice turntable with a Yahama MC cartridge.
My question is - is this a good high end turntable? Should I be using a belt drive table? What is a good inexpensive high end table? Any advise will be appreciated.
richardzerambo
sedond
1,387 posts
 
i have no direct experience w/the technics, other than i know it's a top-choice of dj's...

most *audiophile* folks prefer belt-drive, but there have been some excellent direct-driven 'tables out there - nakamichi & micro-seiki come to mind.

for the best bang for the buck, i'd recommend a used 'table, there are many to choose from - while i prefer my oracle (naturally!), there's linn, basis, sota, yust to name a couple of the more common ones. also nice are kuzma, pink triangle & well-tempered. there was yust listed on a-gon's classified a linn w/a grace tonearm for $550 - if it's in good shape, this would be wery nice for the money...

good luck, doug

jaica
81 posts
 
I would first ask: What are you using as your Phono Pre, and what is its gain in db? What is your budeget? On the low end a Music Hall MMF-2($300 list including cartridge), new or a used one, the MMF-5 is a worthwhile upgrade($500 list including cartrige). This tables come with phono cartridge and are pretty good. I listened to the MMF-2 against a $4000 cd player, and it beats the pants of it. The sky is the limit. State budget and phono pre and we will help some more.

With your present table a new cartridge is an alternative. As a rule direct drive turntables are more noisy (background noise) than belt drive ones. The main bearing is the heart of the turntable, mediocre bearing, meadiocre turntable.

I also own an Oracle, but there many other excellent turntables for less money out there.
jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
I'm with Doug, I love my Oracle tables (Delphi IV in my main rig, Alexandria in my home office system). The list above is pretty comprehensive; if you want to get a quality turntable at a reasonable price the list ought to also include Rega, SystemDek IIX (I have one in my system at work), or even some older Thorens (TD147 or TD160). Jeff
vtvu
97 posts
 
Rega is a very popular choice for an entry-level TT but my favorite is Thorens. Very high quality and you can find cheap ones on the used market for less than a Rega. I have owned both and prefer the full-sounding Thorens to the lean sounding Rega. My budget TT now is a Thorens 320 MkII with the built-in arm and a Dynavector 10x4 cartridge. You can get a setup like that for about $600-$700.
More to discover