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Turntable recommendations around $2500

Hi everyone,

Yes, another "what do you recommend" thread.  I'll provide a few specifics to help narrow down the field.  First of all, I don't live near any audio dealers, so listening to products isn't an option.  I want to purchase through one of the various online audio dealers who offers a 30-day (or more) return policy - Audio Advisor, Music Direct, Needle Doctor, etc.  

My general parameters are:
  • approx. $2000-2500 for table only (less is better, of course, but not at the expense of sound quality) 
  • RCA or DIN output connection (no integral phono cables, which rules out Rega and Clearaudio)  experiment with aftermarket cables).
  • No unipivot tonearm (sorry, VPI)

So, with all that in mind, I'm looking at the following that meet my criteria:

  • Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon
  • Musical Hall MMF 9.3
  • Mobile Fidelity Ultradeck
  • EAT C-Major
  • ELAC Miracord 90
  • SOTA Satellite II (w/202 arm)

For what it's worth, I prefer a table that leans slightly toward the warmer side of neutral.  Would love to hear opinions from those who are using one of these tables or who have heard them and decided not to purchase. And, of course, other recommendations are welcome.

Thanks!
Scott


    
smrex13
erndog's avatar
erndog
261 posts
 
Trelja- I’ve never heard a VPI yet.  Can you say more about what their house sound is?


Scott-  Thanks for starting this thread as I’m also looking into buying my first turntable soon.  
smrex13 OP
423 posts
 
@erndog Hey Ernie!  You're testing the analog waters?  Awesome!   Tim's turntable is a VPI, so you've heard at least one.  I had a VPI Prime for a little while, but I found the adjustments with the uni-piviot arm to be really difficult.  Once I got one parameter set, it would throw off something else.  I've had much better luck with standard tonearms as far as getting a good sound dialed in.  

Vinyl is going to sound great in your rig!      
nkonor
605 posts
 
Technics 1200GR period. donvito101 has supplied the link to a dealer who has a return policy.
 You will have a reliable well made TT with an easy to setup tonearm and money left over for a good cartridge. Technics does not make mistakes and this TT is a bargain, 

Belt drive killer. Most vinyl friendly !
gshepardbuster's avatar
gshepardbuster
587 posts
 
+1 for Technics sl 1200GR!
trelja
3,215 posts
 
@erndog thank you for weighing in.

The VPI (HW19, HRX, Scout et all, Classic, Prime, a couple of those budget tables the company has wisely introduced over the past several years, and the Shinola) rigs that I and friends have had sound quite voluptuous and rich. The bass is full and generous, and transients are a bit blunted. In the shortest description possible, it’s soft rather than hard, warm rather than neutral and certainly not cold. It’s difficult to find oneself put off because the sound comes across as a bit too immediate or sharp, or even bright or shrill. Portraying the woody tone of an upright bass can sound especially good, caputuring the blat of brass played in a raucous fashion, not so much.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it’s the antithesis of the thin CD sound I also have a hard time living with. Many run to analog for that very reason, and a large group obviously finds happiness in the VPI products. But it’s just not the right sound for me. Of course, a cartridge and setup, cabling, and the rest of the system have a big say in the matter
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