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End Game Turntable suggestions

Hello all, looking for insights to help me narrow down to some core choices; I am open to new or preowned. My system details can be seen under my profile.

In summary I have significantly expanded my vinyl collection and as of now I am looking to purchase an end game turntable appropriate for my setup. As you can see I use Mola Mola Kaluga Monos, and I really like the Zesto Pre and Phonostages. I find the class D/tube pre combination very pleasing. 

I would appreciate suggestions for around $5-8K (table + arm), new or used. I will have separate budget for cartridge. One preferred option (but not must-have) is universal voltage, as I may move the unit to Europe later. My current vintage turntable (Project Perspective) is 22 years old, and while I don't know how to compare to something really amazing, I can say that my setup is lacking detail and bass. The tonearm is terrible to keep aligned. Based on visits to Axpona and Cap Audio Fest and other research, I am thinking of a few in my budget, but will really value your suggestions of other brands:

- Origin Live Sovereign

- VPI Signature

- SAM Sinner

- Thorens TD 1601 (semi automatic)

Visual appeal is important to me (which is why Technics 1200 is not on my list despite great reviews everywhere). I love the idea of set it and forget it DD tables, but unfortunately mostly out of my budget (eg VPI HW-40 going for abt 11K used)....

Sorry for the long post but my hope is this background and help solicit good suggestions. Thanks

 

musicmatters1206

Showing 5 responses by lewm

lewm
13,632 posts
 

boothroyd, Thanks for mentioning that Clearaudio use Panzerholz in their upper end plinths.  I did not know that.  But perhaps that is the exception that proves the rule; can you name any other high volume manufacturers that use Panzerholz or a like material?  Please don't confuse my impression of scarcity for one of disapproval.  I am quite sure that Panzerholz is an excellent choice for a build material, but I just don't think it is now or ever will be widely used by the mainstream.

lewm
13,632 posts
 

Aside from several after market plinths custom built to accommodate any of several different vintage turntables and optional arm wands offered by Reed, I don’t know of any company using P’holz in their commercial audio products. That’s perhaps unfortunate but it does suggest there’s no widespread trend toward P’holz.

lewm
13,632 posts
 

Panzerholz is excellent for sure, but it is also very dense. Thus I see panzerholz as a kind of mass damping, in the same category as any other materials used to the same end. Albeit panzerholz may be the best or one of the best choices. PH for a tonearm wand is also an interesting idea but such a wand will inevitably have a high effective mass, due to the density. Reed offer PH as an option. I believe it’s their highest mass choice.

lewm
13,632 posts
 

Not only what Tablejockey says but also the motor of any TT is usually its most reliable component and is the last thing I would worry about if purchasing an expensive well made new TT.  Proper lubrication is all you need worry about, every few years.

lewm
13,632 posts
 

Technics SP10 mk3 will usually cost a great deal more than a mk2 and is more difficult to find. If cost is an object, certainly the mk2 is fine. In my own experience the Denon DP80 is a bit better than the mk2 in stock form. I found the OEM mk2 in a slate plinth to have a trace “gray” coloration compared to the DP80 also in a slate plinth. But the SP10 mk3 is a world class turntable even by modern standards, in my opinion. I hasten to add that my mk3 was purchased NOS, now resides in a slate and solid cherrywood plinth, was Krebs modified, runs on JP Jones discrete chip installed and calibrated by JP. Just to say that in my experience there is more than a casual difference between a mk2 and mk3.

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