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Systemdek IIX possible upgrades help needed.

Hi! I have a Systemdek llX table with a Alphonson Opal tonearm pair with a Rega Exact Cartridge. I was planning on buying a new table to upgrade but after much research found I proably wouldnt get much more performance in the table upgrade I could afford which was in the 1200 hundred dollar range. With that said in which direction would I stand to get the most performance in a upgrade. The table has the glass platter & a felt pad with no clamp. Should I upgrade the cartridge & matt? If so what is a good match for the Opal arm? The way I understand it the Opal is a very fine tone arm. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Deanna
deanna4242
footsurg
25 posts
 
I also forgot to mention that with the Rega arm, the best sounding MM cartridges for this table are the Goldring 1042 or any of the Audio Note IQ series which are based on the 1042. If you can swing an IQ3, that is simply a stunning choice for your deck with the Rega arm.

Mark
blkadr
731 posts
 
I believe this turntable is still available as the Audio Note TT1. The AN version looks very similar but sports an acrilic platter. It looks like it sits on the same inner platter the glass sits on on the original Systemdec. Having owned a Systemdec for many years my guess is that it would be a worthwhile upgrade if the platter is available. That being said, I would not throw too much cash at the Systemdec. You can exceed the Systemdecs potential with $1200 and whatever you can sell it for quite easily I suspect.
blkadr
731 posts
 
Footsurgs post popped up when I checked mine. He may be right, sure looks like he knows more about it than me, hell I cant even spell Systemdek!
deanna4242 OP
1 posts
 
Hi! Thank you very much for all the response & info. It was very appreciated. I have decided to upgrade the Systemdek. I have found a Rega RB250 upgraded via Origin Live. The Lexan platter I'll get right from audio note. I have also found a used Goldring 1024. The Goldring has about 300 hrs of use. A question on the Goldring is 300 hrs of use alot in stylus life? For those who wanted to know my phono stage, its a MM only that was a upgrade to my Linn Wakonda preamp. Again, Thanks to everyone for the help and a super big thanks to Mark. Super big thanks as I'm taking Marks advise on this table.

Cheers Deanna
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
The OL RB 250 is a step backwards from the Opal, IMHO. I also believe, based on experience with Rega tables and not the Systemdek, that plastic platters sound too soft in some systems, compared to the glass platters when terminated with a proper mat.

I think that a cartridge like the Dynavector 20XH or Ortofon Black is the best way to improbe the performace of this front end.
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