The RPM is a good place to start - lots of bang for the buck I suppose.
I had one when they first came out (RPM 9 actually but similar)- stylish, easy to set up and sounds good.
As far as high output MC or MM cartridges, you'll find that they can be pretty comparable to one another in many ways- I would suggest that getting into a "real" low output MC is a different animal altogether, but as we all know requires so much more gain that any noise, hum, cables, preamp, etc. become a real consideration and next thing you know you're down that rabbit hole looking for a good pairing of MC Preamp and cartridge and (no offense honestly) the RPM1 simply doesn't warrant a high end MC cartridge or MC preamp.
In other words, by the time you get a nice MC cartridge and preamp to suit it, it would be hundreds more than what you probably have invested in the turntable. The step up from a Sumiko Pearl or a BP#2 HOMC on that table probably isn't really justified.
Looking at your system and mix of musical tastes and a combination of analog and digital sources I would focus my budget on speakers first, then move upstream with the amp/ preamp next (if even necessary) and then think about your analog setup.
Make sense?
Hope so
Greg
I had one when they first came out (RPM 9 actually but similar)- stylish, easy to set up and sounds good.
As far as high output MC or MM cartridges, you'll find that they can be pretty comparable to one another in many ways- I would suggest that getting into a "real" low output MC is a different animal altogether, but as we all know requires so much more gain that any noise, hum, cables, preamp, etc. become a real consideration and next thing you know you're down that rabbit hole looking for a good pairing of MC Preamp and cartridge and (no offense honestly) the RPM1 simply doesn't warrant a high end MC cartridge or MC preamp.
In other words, by the time you get a nice MC cartridge and preamp to suit it, it would be hundreds more than what you probably have invested in the turntable. The step up from a Sumiko Pearl or a BP#2 HOMC on that table probably isn't really justified.
Looking at your system and mix of musical tastes and a combination of analog and digital sources I would focus my budget on speakers first, then move upstream with the amp/ preamp next (if even necessary) and then think about your analog setup.
Make sense?
Hope so
Greg