2. analog
  3. 1285869517

Turntable/cartridge/tonearm suggestions

My current system:
Linn LP12 with Lyra Argoi cartridge
Art Audio Vinyl reference phono
Aesthetix Calypso signature preamp
Jeff Rowland 501 mono blocks
Wilson Duette speakers

The issue:
I had initially paired the Linn with NAIM audio gear and the fit was fantastic. As I got older, the in-your-face forward NAIM sound was getting a little too faitguing. Accordingly, I switched my gear towards the tube based art audio and aesthetix, and I like them very much. Unfortunately, the Linn looks a little out of place with the rest of the setup. Hard to describe the problem...it seems to have lost its musicality...the sound is very flat, uninvolving and seems to have lost timing.

The solution:
That's what I am hoping some of the analog veterans can come up with. I am ideally looking for a sound that is smooth, lots of separation between instruments and a little on the romantic side. While detail is important, I am willing to not be able to hear the drummer drop his handkerchief if that means the overall sounds is musical and easier on the ears. I do intend to demo as much as I can but some of the brands are not that easy to set up. I was hoping that you all can give me your first hand impressions on the following brands (and any others that I may have missed) and help shortlist the ones that will fit my preferences the best. I am hoping to spend under $10k and can go up to $15k if it makes sense.

Turntables:
VPI Classic
Avid Volvere
Acustic Raven One
Teres

Cartridge
Dynavector
Koetsu

Thanks.
lp_newbie
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
Don't buy anything until you audition a DPS/Ayre turntable. They're about $10K and have similar presentation to a $30K SME rig. The DPS/Ayre (especially with a good Lyra cartridge) always takes my breath away in the demos at my local high end store. This rig is incredibly well balanced with excellent speed consistency while conveying nuance and dynamics. Make sure you audition the new version with the DPS tonearm rather than the modified RB250 of the first version.

Since we're talking about a $10-15K investment, yes, the Ayre is easily worth a half-day's drive (or even an overnight stay) to audition if that's what it takes.
lp_newbie OP
8 posts
 
Any other suggestions? Am i asking the wrong questions?
4musica44107
520 posts
 
My primary system has the Ayre-DPS TT with Mr. Bauer's new unipivot tonearm and an EMT JSD5 cartridge. That total package retails at ~ $17K and it outperforms everything I have heard except for the Shindo Garrard 301. My Ayre-DPS et al is one heck of a great TT system, admittedly above your stated price limit preference, but there are plenty of other great cartridge options that could bring the total cost down to $15K.

A much less costly but still tremendously enjoyable option is the Well Tempered Amadeus, which I currently run with the standard tonearm and a Dynavector XX2 MKII cartridge. That is a great combo and a great value; it would set you back ~ $4.7K.

The Amadeus is very, very good. The Ayre-DPS is exquisite.
lp_newbie OP
8 posts
 
Thanks for the Ayre suggestion. It had not been on my radar and after two ringing endorsements, I should check it out.
jrtrent
45 posts
 
First, let me say that I haven't heard your phono stage or preamp, but from your description of events, it appears your system became flat, uninvolving, and lost its timing when you replaced your Naim pieces with tube gear, so I'm wondering why would you conclude that the problem is with the turntable, cartridge, or tonearm.

For what it's worth, in my limited exposure to tube gear, no, I've never heard a tube-based setup that I was happy with, whether using my LP12 or a Well Tempered Record Player. Years ago I tried conrad-johnson and McIntosh tube gear, and found the original Naim Nait far more involving to listen to. I eventually settled on the then-new Linn LK1/LK2 package and enjoyed it for almost 20 years. Recently, I brought home some tube gear that a local audio dealer was excited about and found it far less enjoyable than my much more modestly-priced Audio by Van Alstine solid state equipment.

You may well find a turntable package you like better with your current gear, but it could also be that you need electronics with temporal capabilities a little closer to what you had with Naim. By the way, how long did you use Linn and Naim together? You said your LP12 came stock with the 9CC arm, so I'm thinking you can't be that much older than when you started.
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