TT for OL Silver/ Shelter 501


I am thinking of getting an OL silver tonearm and Shelter 501 cartridge. From what I've read the price/performance of these is hard to beat. Now I have to consider a TT. I'm considering maybe a Final Tool, Teres, or even a Scout and have the OL arm mounted on it as a cheaper alternative if this is possible. I was wondering how much an impact on sound quality the choice of TT will have in relation to the impact of the arm/cartridge and if anyone has any thoughts on the Scout/OL/Shelter combination.Thanks.
bobbob
How about Michell Gyro SE? Cool looking, great performer, and excellent match for the OL arm and Shelter 501. Of course this also depends on what phonostage you use.

A fellow local audiophile will be having the proprietor of Redpoint/Teres over at his place next weekend. He will have the Teres table side by side with his Gyro SE + Rega arm hooked up to an all SET system. So we will have first hand experience on how these two tables compare.

P.S. I'm a biased Michell owner. (Orbe SE + SME V + Shelter 901 + ARC PH3 SE with Amperex 7308 USN tubes)

FrankC
Gundam91,

Please let us know how the shoot out goes between Teres/Gyro.
I myself have Gyrodec(bronze addition) with QC + Shelter 901(and few other more) + SME arms + ARC PH3 SE with many mod. From what I heard of Teres and Rega arm in another setup in another person's house, I'm very happy with my set up. Since I did not get to hear it side by side in my system and set up, I still can't say one table set up was better than another in even field.

On ARC PH3SE tubes, try 6DJ8 version of Amperex Holland or Siemens Germany. I have tried 6DJ8/6922/7308 of both makers and I prefer the sound of 6DJ8s(on both versions) over the 6922/7308 counter parts of same makers.
Nameci,

Thanks for the recommendation on the tubes. I went through this exercise last year with my preamp (ARC LS2B MkII) trying over 15 different tubes. I just got tired so haven't done that with the PH3 yet. I took out the Sovteks and just plugged in the 7308s. I've got huge stock of various 6DJ8/6922/7308 tubes. Which 6DJ8s have you tried on the PH3?

FrankC
FrankC,

I have trided Amperex(Bugle boy) 6DJ8's, Mullard 6DJ8s(RCA branded, made in GB) Siemens 6DJ8s(RCA branded), Siemens ECC88s with gold pins, Amperex A frame ECC88s, and Philips A frame ECC88s. For comparason, I have tried Amperex USN 6922(US made), Amperex E88CC(Holland made), Siemens E88CC(Germany), Amperex E188CC(Holland), Siemens E188CC(Germany), and Philips E188CC(Holland). Equipments I used these tubes are LS15 and PH3SE by ARC(both of them with significant resistor/capacitor upgrades). Also when I had enough tubes, I also used them in S.F. Power 2 and compared them for amplifer usage(only have done in Amperex Bugle boys 6DJ8s, Siemens ECC88s with gold pins, Amperex E88CC, and Siemens E88CC.)

For all three brandes, Amperex, Siemens, Philips, 6DJ8s or ECC88s sounded the best compared to their 6922/7308/E88CC/E188CC counterparts(I did not have set of Philips 6922s), very subtle but noticeable. I'm in process of getting some Mullard 6922s to compare the sound with RCA branded Mullard 6DJ8s.