J.A. Mitchell TecnoDec vs. Clearaudio Emotion CMB

I have the Clearaudio Performance with Satisfy arm and Lyra Helikon and love it. It's a no-nonesense, easy to maintain setup that sounds wonderful. I think it's strong points are sound-staging, pace, and an even treatment of frequencies, with no particular area out-shining the others (bass, mids, highs). It's very engaging and present, as opposed to laid-back or romantic. I would say it errs on the accurate side of organic, but not in a sterile or mechanical way--just that it's not the lush side of organic.

My friend has the Tecnodec and he loves it as well. My experience with suspended tables is that they can be highly musical and perhaps a bit lusher, but maybe not as faithful to the recordings as an unsuspended design. Again, doesn't mean I'm right, but in my discussions with my buddy about our tables (he's heard mine, I haven't heard his) he thinks mine perhaps bests his on sound staging and PRaT, while his is perhaps sweeter sounding.

I don't think you can go wrong here either way. If I were doing it again I wouuld perhaps focus on the arm and cartridge first, then figure out the table, but who knows. Enjoy!

Thank you for the responses.

I should probably mention that I'm on an extremely tight budget. If I were to purchase the TecnoDec, I would get it equipped with the RB250 Special. I would then upgrade to the Tecnoarm in a year or two.

Similarly, if I purchased the Emotion CMB, I would wait to upgrade the feet. In terms of cartridges, I haven't really thought much about them. I would begin with a sub $500 cart and upgrade as funds become available.

So, based on that approach, would the RB250 Special compete well with the Satisfy?

The TechnoDec is not a suspended design.

If you get that TechnoDec w/RB250 -- at the top of your mod list should be to send the tone off and get an incognito tonearm wiring kit installed. It made a world of difference with the cardas wiring & well worth the $300.

"This wiring upgrade simply takes the already excellent Rega tonearms up to the next level. Using Cardas 6N, high purity copper, the Incognito Wire upgrade brings one long unbroken signal transfer from cartridge pins to RCAs. This bring unparalleled clarity, detail, and dynamics with no signal loss. Now, the Rega arms deliever all their design is capable of finally taking them to true giant killer status.

• Tonearm Cable Kit for all Rega RB Series Tonearms
• One piece pure copper wiring headshell to RCA output.
• Fully balanced twisted pair design "Faraday Cage" shield .
• "Star" grounding removes arm ground from signal path
• Direct Gold Plated non-magnetic RCA plugs
• Cardas Gold Plated cartridge pin clips
• 1.2 Meter external cable length
• Flexible construction allows use on suspended turntables
• 33 AWG Litz wire assures free movement of tonearm."

I have a similar system (Exposure 2010S, Stirling LS3/5A, Audience cables and power and a TecnoDec/RB250 special with Denon Dl-160 HOMC). I tried a Marantz table (made by ClearAudio) and it wasn't as quiet or musical as the Tecnodec in my opinion. The TecnoDec has a DC motor which is uncommon at that price which I think has a lot to do with it. Also, the self oiling bearing is a masterpiece of design. The table is beautifully machined and easy to setup and operate. Try it first w/o the incognito rewire. The incognito was very microphonic and subject to RFI for me. My system sounded better with the stock RB250 cable (yeah, I know it is cheap and flimsy looking but it works). I'd save the $300 and put it into something else in your system. I agree the TechnoArm would be a great upgrade, one that I'm considering myself. Hope this helps.