2. analog
  3. 182205-140740

Best turntable under $4000

I am looking to take the next step in my analog journey. I currently am using a Fluance RT85 with ortofon 2m blue. I have a Rogue Audio cronus magnum iii. I am running them with Kef 104/2 's. Fluance seems to get alot of hate on here. I was considering a cartridge upgrade but I am hesitant to upgrade more then the cost of the table. I don't hear much background noise and like the sound. I guess I am wondering if I don't know I hear noise because I have not heard a turntable that eliminates that noise? When I went from my Onkyo to my Rogue Sphinx iii I realized I had been missing a whole lot of sound. Then I ditched my rebuilt EPI M150's and heard hidden instruments in tracks I have listened to for years. I am looking for that in a turntable upgrade.  Apperance is important. I have interest in the following:

Clear Audio Concept Wood w/ maestro v2

Mofi fender precisiondeck w/ mastertracker

Stretching my budget is:

Dr. Feikert Volare no cartridge

Gold Note Pianosa no cartridge

These take me out of my budget once I get a cartridge

Any other reccomendations 

I will miss the autostart function for those buzzed listening nights. I would like the 4k to include a cartridge. Any opinions are welcome. Anyone think I should say screw the "rules" and get an Ortofon black?

 

Thank you in advance

cpdkee

Showing 4 responses by cpdkee

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 

Thank you, Curtdr for your thoughtful and incredibly helpful point of view. Next you can tell me how you walked to school uphill in the snow both ways when you were little. 4k is a drop in the bucket compared to most vinyl rigs on then site. Have fun being a curmudgeon.

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 

I appreciate all of the feedback. I realize that "best" is subjective to opinion. I will re-frame my question. Do any of these tables have red flags? Is one mechanically superior to the others? I am very attracted to the Mofi, but am I paying for the fender logo and it is actually an inferior turntable? I am looking for opinions so I can get my choices down to two tables to demo.

Thank you all.

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 

Thank you everyone for the responses.  All the feed back helped me narrow my search. Looks like I am going blow my budget on just the table and arm then buy the cartridge seperately. Thank you all

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 

Curtdr. Maybe you should read your post again that dripped with condescension. You could have said that you don't think I need to spend 4k. You could have given me examples of xy and z that will cost far less and sound just as good. I would have been all ears. You instead chose to imply that I am frivolous with money and need to think more about investing. Now we all know you are a millionaire.....and a condescending putz. Well played troll.

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