highEndguy
New member
Bienvenido !!
Turntable Shopping - Need some opinion.
- Thread starter Paul
- Start date
Paul
Senior Member
- Thread Author
- #222
Hi Welcome to AS and thank for chime in.
Lately I've beeb busy with speakers and still points lol
Anyway my answers are below :
One thing I did not see in the thread thus far is what are your listening preferences. What kind of sound are you searching for.? Looking for a musical table or a analytical one? - Musical table all they way ~! - Are you after a tweaker's table or do you want something that you set and forget. Are you capable of any DIY? - Nope lol - Do you have any preferences to belt, idler, rim or DD types (because there are good tts of all types out there)? - As long as it doesn't sound like clinical-
Soo many choices. How about a McIntosh MT5? Complete with arm, cartridge....$6700 or so.- I like the looks and it will really pair nicely with rest of my gears but I didn't hear good thing about it though-
Oh no mention of your budget was made...- We don't have a budget in here at AS
... JK well low as possible ...I guess but don't mind to spend for quality -
budget is the first thing we ignore when giving suggestions .lmao!!!Hi Welcome to AS and thank for chime in.
Lately I'm just busy with speakers and still points lol
Anyway my answers are below :
One thing I did not see in the thread thus far is what are your listening preferences. What kind of sound are you searching for.? Looking for a musical table or a analytical one? - Musical table all they way ~! - Are you after a tweaker's table or do you want something that you set and forget. Are you capable of any DIY? - Nope lol - Do you have any preferences to belt, idler, rim or DD types (because there are good tts of all types out there)? - As long as it doesn't sound like clinical-
Soo many choices. How about a McIntosh MT5? Complete with arm, cartridge....$6700 or so.- I like the looks and it will really pair nicely with rest of my gears but I didn't hear good thing about it though-
Oh no mention of your budget was made...- We don't have a budget in here at AS
Oracle-309
New member
Thanks for the welcome folks...
You know, perhaps one table that would be idiot-proof (as in ano-brainer, I am not suggesting any here are idiots....), might beone of George Merrill's Replica ES-R1 turntables. Even with a digital motor drive WAY under $2k, and pretty much a hedge against high cost ($6k +) turntables. You may be able to sub out the arm if you like (a Jelco that George says is very good comes with it, or re-sell the unused arm...). Buy the best compatible cartridge for the particular combination you might end up with. I might suggest a very sound investment and unlikely to cost you much should you not like it (see if any in TO are Merrill dealers). At worst you'll end up with a newly made /modified AR turntable for used /modded (and maybe not in great shape) turntable. This seems to me to be (an almost) no brainer.
Some tables perhaps worth considering:
And sorry for harping the price point. How does one make any suggestion without knowing what the limit might be? I can help you spend $100k on an analog front end if you like
You know, perhaps one table that would be idiot-proof (as in ano-brainer, I am not suggesting any here are idiots....), might beone of George Merrill's Replica ES-R1 turntables. Even with a digital motor drive WAY under $2k, and pretty much a hedge against high cost ($6k +) turntables. You may be able to sub out the arm if you like (a Jelco that George says is very good comes with it, or re-sell the unused arm...). Buy the best compatible cartridge for the particular combination you might end up with. I might suggest a very sound investment and unlikely to cost you much should you not like it (see if any in TO are Merrill dealers). At worst you'll end up with a newly made /modified AR turntable for used /modded (and maybe not in great shape) turntable. This seems to me to be (an almost) no brainer.
Some tables perhaps worth considering:
- a "built" (modified and improved) heavy platter Lenco (inexpensive if you can DIY), Garrard/Thorens idler drives. (a custom Jean Nantais built up Lenco comes to mind...)
- the Micro-Seiki DX1500 and up;Technics SP10 or SP15 (in a good plinth) DDs
- all the Linn-a-likes (I had a Heybrook TT2 that was SO musical, I should have never got rid of it), any of the JA Michell tables, AcousticSignature...oh and Roksan. If my experiences with an original Xerxes with a pimped out RB250 (internal/external wiring,Techno-weight, VTA adjuster nut ) is any indication of what the current tables are, they are fine indeed. The Xerxes has the best finished bearing I have ever seen on any turntable
And sorry for harping the price point. How does one make any suggestion without knowing what the limit might be? I can help you spend $100k on an analog front end if you like
Oracle-309
New member
This forum will not allow me to post a direct link, so do a search for idler-wheel-drivewith whatever search engine you like. Currently available, Sony 2250 in heavy Classic plinth.
Paul
Senior Member
- Thread Author
- #226
Ok....Any one have a McIntosh MT5 ? Any thoughts ?
I mean I think is no brainer in my system. I do understand I do have to pay extra $$ for the brand name. However they comes with the full package and I like that idea ( Including cartridge , Clamp and cover as well )
I mean I think is no brainer in my system. I do understand I do have to pay extra $$ for the brand name. However they comes with the full package and I like that idea ( Including cartridge , Clamp and cover as well )
being the mac guy that you are, i would have thought you would already own one of these. i have heard from a couple people who i trust that they are not near the best table you can get in that pricerange. but i heard one ,once and thought it was pretty nice. and pretty cool looking. was run on way nicer gear than i had. would i buy it?? probably not. but you are a macintosh guy and i would think if i had a room that had all the same matching meters and blue macintosh stuff, i would probably already have one.
do you want the best performance for you dollar, or to match everything else. i think you need to figure out what is most important for you. and im guessing with a nice cartridge and nice phonostage it would sound as good as anything else with that setup.
but i am not well versed in mac gear.
Oracle-309
New member
sorry, no experience with the McIntosh MT5. I don't even know of a single serious review out there. I still like the thought of the classic American turntable (the George Merrill's Replica ES-R1) that can be upgraded to sky's the limit levels....
RedSectorA
New member
Made by Clearaudio, so listen to a Clearaudio and you will know if it's for you
RedSectorA
New member
Paul, love you man but me think you are going at this all wrong! Turntable is only one component in an analog setup, and not the most important IMHO. You seem to be spending ginormous amount of energy on it without a thought about the arm, cartridge and phono stage which are of the upmost importance. Analog is really the sum of the parts, and a plan is necessary to make it sound the way YOU want it. So my comment to you is start by deciding what you want and get into it, or buy a used more affordable kit from a reputable person/dealer that can get you going knowing full well it's not your last setup.
Oh, analog is amazing once dialed properly!
Oh, analog is amazing once dialed properly!
Well said. Paul - since you're not a big fan of VPI, start with something simple, but still sounds terrific, like this:
This table/arm: http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=xtension&cat=turntables&lang=en
This cart:
http://www.ortofon.com/products/cartridges/moving-coil/cadenza/cadenza-black
Make sure the tubes in the MC part of your preamp are up to snuff (Joe, Bruce and I are loving the Tesla E83CC's.)
Once you are loving vinyl, you can later add a nice separate phonostage.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
This table/arm: http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=xtension&cat=turntables&lang=en
This cart:
http://www.ortofon.com/products/cartridges/moving-coil/cadenza/cadenza-black
Make sure the tubes in the MC part of your preamp are up to snuff (Joe, Bruce and I are loving the Tesla E83CC's.)
Once you are loving vinyl, you can later add a nice separate phonostage.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Jack
Active member
Or you can buy Rob's setup and you both win. Leaves you plenty of room to move up it you want, but also a chance to experiment with the format. Rob will have taken the depreciation hit. He's even got a buyer for the phono stage separately.
Oracle-309
New member
guys, where can I list my equipment (so that others can view my equip and garner whatever information that they can), and my past audio experiences (I've reviewed stuff, designed stuff and sold stuff).
In your signature - under settings
Oracle-309
New member
Mike,
thanks for the point in the ight direction. Hopefully the edited signature works from now on.
thanks for the point in the ight direction. Hopefully the edited signature works from now on.
RedSectorA
New member
I perused Rob 's tt and would agree it to be a nice kit for you with your Mc pre. Just need to have it shipped in Buffalo and pick it up one weekend. Otherwise ship it home and pay the taxes (don't use ground shipping if you ship it home though). After you have it for awhile then decide where you want to go, little if any loss to you if you decide to sell. Then again you could also keep it as a mono rig ( lots of mono stuff in older jazz).
Oracle-309
New member
Paul,
do you have a complete list of your existing equipment? Can't seem to find one....
thanks,
stew
do you have a complete list of your existing equipment? Can't seem to find one....
thanks,
stew
Oracle-309
New member
Paul,
It appears to be a top drawer system! I still haven't seen a true budget suggested, but if the MT5 is in your budget, good for you! (I know I'll be stuck as a bottom feeder until the day I die, if there is an afterlife, I hope I end up somewhere with great music to listen to).
Because you have been sitting on the fence for a while, I still would highly recommend the Merril Replica ES-R1 turntable (George Merrill's very own product sold via his "Gem Dandy" brand). Current pricing for the turntable, dust cover, and digital speed controller is USD$1814. Add the tonearm of your choice (something suitable to the quality of the turntable, say a Rega RB301 hot-rodded or something in the $1k range) and a suitable cartridge (say $1k as well) and you'd have something that would no doubt rock your world. Particularly if you love music. Else buy something used and live with it until you can decide. Even the lowly Rega turntables can be completely re-vamped into something pretty astounding. But you need to have access to reliable reviews and know what the listening biases of the reviewer (and the editorial biases of the review site or magazine).
The other alternatives suggested (including the obvious MT5) such as the VPI tables et al, are what I might call "spectacular" sounding. The antithesis of the LP12 and similar tables. One table that had been suggested to me that had some of the attributes of the American tables, was the original Roksan Xerxes, but they suffer from the "sagging" plinth. The Xerxes 20 does not. And it is a similar price range as the MT5.Except of course a tonearm and cartridge are required. CAD $5350 without arm or cartridge. Allow $1k each and you're at about CAD $7.5k. And not too many tt's on the planet would outperform it.
The old Xerxes (MkI) I bought suffered from the sagging plinth. An easy to do fix is available. That turntable is typically under CAD $600, usually with an arm and sometimes a cartridge. The biggest hassle may be the power supply, as the caps and resistors may have shifted values over the last 30ish years. Of course this assumes a used piece would suit until a "permanent" turntable choice is made.
It appears to be a top drawer system! I still haven't seen a true budget suggested, but if the MT5 is in your budget, good for you! (I know I'll be stuck as a bottom feeder until the day I die, if there is an afterlife, I hope I end up somewhere with great music to listen to).
Because you have been sitting on the fence for a while, I still would highly recommend the Merril Replica ES-R1 turntable (George Merrill's very own product sold via his "Gem Dandy" brand). Current pricing for the turntable, dust cover, and digital speed controller is USD$1814. Add the tonearm of your choice (something suitable to the quality of the turntable, say a Rega RB301 hot-rodded or something in the $1k range) and a suitable cartridge (say $1k as well) and you'd have something that would no doubt rock your world. Particularly if you love music. Else buy something used and live with it until you can decide. Even the lowly Rega turntables can be completely re-vamped into something pretty astounding. But you need to have access to reliable reviews and know what the listening biases of the reviewer (and the editorial biases of the review site or magazine).
The other alternatives suggested (including the obvious MT5) such as the VPI tables et al, are what I might call "spectacular" sounding. The antithesis of the LP12 and similar tables. One table that had been suggested to me that had some of the attributes of the American tables, was the original Roksan Xerxes, but they suffer from the "sagging" plinth. The Xerxes 20 does not. And it is a similar price range as the MT5.Except of course a tonearm and cartridge are required. CAD $5350 without arm or cartridge. Allow $1k each and you're at about CAD $7.5k. And not too many tt's on the planet would outperform it.
The old Xerxes (MkI) I bought suffered from the sagging plinth. An easy to do fix is available. That turntable is typically under CAD $600, usually with an arm and sometimes a cartridge. The biggest hassle may be the power supply, as the caps and resistors may have shifted values over the last 30ish years. Of course this assumes a used piece would suit until a "permanent" turntable choice is made.