Best sounding turntable and cartridge for $1100

I thought Lenco was out of business, but I will check out the ad on e-bay.

In my own defense, I got  burned recently on a used Thorens ,but was able to sell and at  a loss.  So, I am reluctant to take a chance on another vintage table when there is many good "new" or "almost new" tables out there. 

To dodgealum  Thank you for your recommendation  

I have read many positve testimonials about AT OC9MLII cartridge. I know it is expensive  Let me ask you:   Is there a replacement stylus for it that does not cost as much as a airline ticket?? Also, would this cartridge work well with the latest and last VPI Traveler table .(So far no luck scoring a VPI Scout or even VPI 1.1.  

NOTE: My thread has gone no where. Maybe I worded  it wrong and therefore did  get many responses

So let me list the following tables: that are in the $1000-1100

1)  Music Hall MMF 5.3 table with an Ortofon 2M Blue; retail $995.00  ( owned this cartridge before; but not impressed; also amplifies surface noise)

2)  Project "new" Classic table (w/ carbon fiber arm) with an Ortofon 2M Silver;  retail $1099 ( cartridge designed specially for Project )

3)  Project RPM 3 with Sumiko BP-2 HO moving coil and ( 9cc carbon arm)  retail $999

4) SOTA  Moonbeam III retail $850 + $236 2M Blue cart =  $1086 retail 

5) Music Hall "Ikura" TT with Ortofon 2M Blue.... retail $1195  (makes not sense how this model fits into their line Could be just a marginal step-up from their MMF 5.3

****SOTA offers a few cartridgesl like the 2MBlue which they will mount and calibrate for free if bought directly from  them.  Note the tonearm is a Rega 220 built for them, but looks like junk. Has no dustover; Has adjustable flimy looking support feet

BTW, the above  Project "New" Classic TT noted above is sold (only) through Audio Advisor...notorious only for 5%-10% discounts.

************************************************************************

    Any comments or recommendations  will be greatly appreciated!!!!

   Thanks to all   SJ

To mesch,  Thanks for the  heads up.  I read several reviews of this cartridge. What is your opinion of its sound quality   I actually owned the original  Blue Point Special, which I renamed the "Blue Plate" Special  It was just too bright......    It was mounted on the Audioquest P-6  tonearm and  spun on a  VPI  HR-19  Junior

To noromance, I respect your opinion and comments, but that  analogy does not work for me.

To mesch: I owned a Sonograph TT in 1988 when I was able to buy my first high end system.   It was a nice little table. I eventually moved up to VPI HR 19 Jr TT, when VPI provided a dustcover and even a set Allen wrenches to adjust the tonearm height.   Now on some their table , you are lucky if you get phono cables.

To dodgealum. I have read AT OC9 is a wonderful sounding cartridge, but like the upper level Ortofon 2M series cartridge line replacement styli are too expensive. I will check out your recommendation.

To Slaw, How does the DL-110 match up with light to medium tonearms. How might it compare to  other cartridges like Rega Elys II;  Ortofon  Bronze, or Clearaudio Performer V-2  which are high output MM's

To schism:. You friend is right; I wish I had kept mine which I bought new in 1988  for half price on a salesman's accommodation. I also owned VPI Rega, Thorens.  However, I had no complaints about the VPI or Rega,  but the "refurbished" Thorens TD-145 was a turkey and junk.  Thanks.    

rikintpa,  Thanks for the comment, but I recently owned a refurbished and and upgraded Thorens TD-145 . The TP-16 tonearm is junk, and the headshell makes it difficult to mount a cartridge from the bottom up I had to buy a new one for 85.00 from Vinyl Engine.  The table bounced to the slightest footfalls, though placed on a solid audio rack and isolation platform.  The "pick-up and stop" feature worked sometimes To its only credit it was dead quiet. I had a AT 440MLb cartridge on it which sounded decent. However, that is my first and last venture into the world of vintage restored turntables.

There is member on AG selling with a restored ThorensTD-124 which looks solid and beautiful . I have tracked this item for two months. He has moved from an initial selling price of $1195 to a current price of $845  Speaks volumes about these vintage money pits.

Sorry, back again, Does anyone have feedback about the Musical Fidelity "Roundtable TT??  It looks solid, but so did the HMS Titanic.  It comes with an AT95E.  It is on a closeout  sale for $299.99 on Music Direct 

However, might its tonearm support and work with a Denon DL-110?

I realize I have lowered my expectations from my earlier list of choices, but I am tired looking. I can't even find a deal on decent  Music Hall 5.1 with the carbon fiber arm and their Magic 3 cartridge for less than $799. The table was discontinued a year ago according to Roy Hall   Thanks to all,  SJ  

sjtm, Thank you for the advice.  I know patience is a virtue, but, overall it may not be one of mine.  However, maybe I am going daffy looking for a table, but recently it has crossed my mind that a used, even mint table could be a risk.  So, why not buy new.  

You might rightly say: " Because, dumbbell, with a new TT  you are not going to maintain your budget, or also extend your dollars  Also, no vendor at this time of the year is going to give away profit with a super duder deal"   ***BTW, which I have personally  discovered in the last few weeks. 

I am not a novice to this blog; I have seen hundred of ads for used turntables with vary degrees of age and condition. I have bought used mint with other components, and recently scored a used quality amp and preamp which together retailed for $4600, and I paid  $2100.  I am  wildly satisfied with their performance and synergy so far.

I only spin LP's about 20%  of the time,  that may be the reason I have become suddenly stingy in the price for the table investment. And as we have experienced with wives, girl friends  and other mates who are skulking around looking for on-line receipts and/or declaring  too  much money is being spent on audio, and why not treat her to a diamond necklace, earrings, or a $6000 European vacation 

Lastly, there is member selling a mint VPI Scout JR. with accessories,  BUT no cartridge for about $950. So at least a $250-300  spike has to be purchased to get the vinyl spinning and the toes tapping.. 

Thanks again for you advice and those of  other members  SJ

To boofer,  You make good points. But, I just don't want to invest in  this table, and later find out, I made an underwhelming choice, and so must start over.. As I said before, it looks solid; and also uses magnetic anti-skating which is a minor feature, but  I prefer over  "the hook- line and sinker" anti-skating  

I saw the  short paragraph in the HI-FI Choice review. However, if you have the links to some of the other reviews that would be helpful I could not find any others.

 If I did go for it, I would probably and almost  immediately mount the high output Denon DL-110 MC 

To, bpoletti. Thanks for the recommendation; I have recently seen a few VPI HW 19Jr., but  almost none of the MK III. Also  with the Denon spike it may go over my prescribed budget. 

Do you think, the VPI MKIII with the Denon might be superior in sound quality than say Music Hall 5.3 with Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, or even the Project 1Xpression. The 2Xpression looks very nice and received several good reviews, but I have not seen a used one on AG, or E-bay.   Audio Advisor offer it for $1599 with a Sumiko BP-2 MC.   But, they offer a crapping 10 percent discount, and won't budge on price 

I often wonder if many internet sellers think they can sell at retail because of holiday day buying frenzy.  Thanks SJ 

To stewart0722.  Thank you for heads up about MH 5.1. TT  

Also, I read a few reviews about Ortofon  Qunitet Red but never was convinced it was as good as you comment.  The only concern is its low output at 0.3 mV . 

I a brand new Moon LP110 phono stage that is MM/MC. However, I would have to check if it can handle that output; I would want to crank CJ's preamp volume control up to 4'oclock high to get it loud.  

To fjn   Where did you audition the Wax Engine turntable??  I found there website, but they have no dealer in the USA.  

Also, the company is in China and any factory direct sale could entail expensive shipping, and possibly import and/or brokerage fees. 

I sent them an e-mail about two tables in their line: "Wax Engine": and  :"Isolde"    I am not hopeful that these tables are worth the money or possible hassles of buying directly from a foreign manufacture which I never heard of before today.  Thanks   

To Wolf Garcia, I have seem this model in Audio Advisor, and Sound StageDirect. But neither is dealing at this time, and even if they did, it would be only 5%.  The cartridge billed as the "Silver" Ortofon implies it is a member of their 2M line.  Possibly, but  I think it might be more like a half step above the 2M RED, but lower performance than the 2M Blue which I owned and sold because it scoops up LP surface noise like a vacuum cleaner. 

I think you would be better served for a hundred dollars, at $999  with the "bare bones" RPM 3 pre-packed with a Sumiko BP-2 MC which has received very good reviews.

 However, be careful, because Project looks like they are backing off of prepacking the table with that spike, and reserving it for the more expensive RPM 5.  I saw some evidence of this change in the new Music Direct catalogue . Good Luck,    SJ

To sbank.  I have seen a couple of used SL-1200 on AG, ebay, and The Music Room.  I am NOT blowing off your suggestion and don't think you are crazy either.

I  am not sure I want to go the modded TT route. It will or could be expensive, and do I really want a table that has dance club speed and pitch controller. 

Technics should build the same table without the  speed and pitch control, and put the dollars into a better tonearm  or  drive motor.. The TT would be less expensive, and could still compete with tables in its price range, it not higher.   Thanks again 

Has any one owned a Marantz 15S1 turntable with the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge. The cartridge is now $950 at retail.  Seems like a lot of cartridge for this level of table which was made by Clearaudio for Marantz   

The "last" retail of the combo was  $1599 before it was discontinued.  Music Direct had a  few "factory refurbed" ones on sale $1000 on Black Friday.

 Does anyone know how it might compare to some of the other tables mentioned in this thread??   Thanks, SJ

I was surprised to see an ad for Audioengine line of "turntable". They look nice, and the pricing is reasonable, but the models "Orbit Plus" and "Orbit Special" are pre-packed with "the same old same old":  Ortofon OM5e on the Plus and the universal 2M RED on the Orbit Special 

Neither cartridge sends me into "orbit"   Does anyone own or  auditioned one of these "bad boys" ??    Thanks,  SJ 

Thanks to all who have responded and provided many good TT options.

However, I ran across and ad for  "U-Turn Audio turntables" on a Stereophile newsletter. I have never heard of this company, but their website is impressive and offers a slide show of the manufacturing process of their tables  located in Woburn, Massachusetts.

They offer a few models and  a "custom option" where the buyer can pick and choose features.  I priced out  their "Orbit Plus" table  with  Red plinth, acrylic platter, cueing lift, and a Grado Black cartridge (comes with dustcover and phono cables) The total price was $349.00; and $369.00 with the Ortofon 2M RED.. 

No matter I could replace either at some point with something much better.  The pricing seems very reasonable.  Has anyone auditioned or  owned one of these tables. If so, would you know how the U-Turn table might compare to the Music Hall 5.1 table with their own Magic 3 cartridges.??  There are several on sale on AG, and also by some internet vendors, like Music Direct, and Soundstage Direct  

Thanks, SJ    

To fjn04,  Well at least I can be accused of picking on audio reviews.  No doubt  Reichert knows his stuff, but he presents it like a show-off. He needs to put away his lavender Lava Lamp.  BTW, thanks for the endorsement of the "U Turn" turntables.  It looks like a righteous product

To Johhnyb53,  Thank you for the information about the Pioneer SLX 1000/ AT 150SA set-up.  I just bought a Moon LP-110 phono box through Music Direct on sale for $325.00.  Can the Schiit Mani compete with the Moon unit??  

I might consider the AT for the "U-Turn" turntable I mentioned above.  However, I was thinking of replacing the Ortofon 2M RED  which it can be pre-mounted  with a Denon DL-110  or DL 103.  

BTW, there is vendor on ebay whose selling new DL-103 for  $159.00 and the DL-110 for 179.00. He appears trustworthy and  not a private party seller,  but, who knows??  I hope  ebay vets its vendors better than Uber does its drivers  SJ 

To mesch: I'll provide an overview evaluation when I get TT spinning for a few weeks    Thanks, SJ

johnnyb53, I will check out the Shelter 201.  Thanks, SJ