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 2 responses by whart

I have owned a Technics SP 10 since 1973 and it still worked but the power switch was bad. I had Bill Thalmann go over it, do the Krebs mod, a reasonably priced plinth and eventually installed a Kuzma 4 Pt. 9" arm on it. I can't remember what the TT cost me new, back in the day, but it was in 1973 dollars! Long since amortized. Thalman's work on the table wasn't costly. (and perhaps you don't do the Krebs thing). This set up runs in my vintage system in the parlor in a Quad 57 set up powered by tubes. It speaks to the longevity of the product, its reliability. (It isn't even the more desirable mk ii or mkiii, but the early model, which does not have the torque, motor or platter of the later iterations. Still, my sunk cost was minimal). 

I have also owned a couple Kuzma tables, the Reference (which is self-isolating) with a Triplanar and the XL with the Airline. Franc Kuzma does nice work and supports his products, has a great distributor in the U.S. (The XL is a pain to isolate and is very heavy- not suggesting it but that little pipe bomb table he makes-- not sure how well it isolates--with the 4 Pt. 9" arm would be a nice combo--probably over your budget). 

Everybody has their own personal take on TTs-- it is very hard to compare them in the real world. I would at least try to get some hands-on time with the tables and arms you are considering so you can judge the ergonomics and try to find out how effective their isolation is. 

Good luck, I've found that if you make the right choices, this stuff can potentially last a lifetime with some routine maintenance and/or refurbishment.