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Help Picking a turntable

Hi Everyone,

Rod at my local store here where I buy my gear (unless I buy here at Audiogon) was at my house doing a master set for my speakers (they sound much better) and he suggested I consider getting a turntable and switching to records from cds to get better sound.  I am considering his suggestion but my biggest problem is that I don't know anything about turntables.  Rod recommended a turntable package from EAT that includes the arm, cartridge etc. for about $6,500, which is more than I want to spend.  He said he would look into turntables that are a bit less that would still sound good but I thought I would also check with everyone here to see if anyone had ideas also that I could discuss with Rod when I meet with him.  I'd like to stay under $3000 for the turntable package (turntable, arm, cartridge etc.). 

My current system is: Thiel 3.7 speakers; ARC REF 75 SE amp; ARC LS-17 SE pre-amp (I will also need a phono stage which I know will be in addition to the $3,000 I am willing to spend on the turntable package); analysis plus solo crystal oval speaker wire and interconnects.  Lastly, all of my music now is played through my Simaudio 280d DSD DAC (my cd player, computer etc are all hooked into the dac directly -- no wi fi). 

I'd appreciate any advice and suggestions to help educate me before I go down to Rod's store again and listen and meet with him.  As I said, I know nothing about turntables so any advice, suggestions etc. are very welcome.  Thank you all again in advance for your responses.     
gasherbaum
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
gasherbaum...actually Denver and the surrounding areas, (Boulder/Colo Springs) have a few excellent high-end dealers:

Soundings
Listen-Up
Audio Federation
Sounds Real
The Sound Room
Apex Audio

And if you don’t mind an hour or so drive, the Audio Alternative in Fort Collins has LOTS of cool stuff. Rick has been in business for almost 40 years now and carries some top notch gear.
gasherbaum OP
26 posts
 
Mofimadness, thanks so much.  I knew of Soundings, its where I get most my gear now that I know about it and I really like Rod, the owner (I got my ARC gear and analysis plus wires there).  I knew of Listen-Up, but didn't know of any of the others, including the one in Fort Collins, so thanks so much for sending me the names of the other places.  I will definitely stop by the other places now that I know about them.  Again thank you for the info and taking the time to send it to me. 
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
gasherbaum...you are quite welcome.  I actually missed a few.  A lot of these are run out of the owner's homes, so not really a store front.  Some might require you to make an appointment:

Audio House
Crescendo Audio
Sound Science
Gold Sound

sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
@gasherbaum Since you are in Denver, please note that you are local to the best annual audio show in the country RMAF, Rocky Mtn Audio Fest held each autumn(Oct?). You REALLY should go before deciding anything on any expensive setup. 
Perhaps, going with a cheap Technics, etc. as suggested above, living with and learning a few months, then attend RMAF, then decide about a fancier rig. Cheers,
Spencer
gasherbaum OP
26 posts
 
Thanks mofimadness -- I had not heard of audio house, cresecndo or sound science so i will check those out.  Sbank i did discover RMAF last fall -- wish I had known about it earlier.  I went all three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) last year and enjoyed it and learned a ton.  I did find that Friday was the best day because it was not as crowded and people had a lot more time to talk and help me out.  I am going again this year, I think it is October 7 through October 9.  If you are there, stop by the Soundings room -- they usually have a party back at their store on Friday night after RMAF closes for the night and it is a pretty good chance to meet the owner and see some nice gear.  I went last year before I really knew the guys and am looking forward to it more this year as I now have a good relationship with the people at Soundings. 

Thanks again for the suggestions and all the help.   
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