Every day I see another turntable recommendation...


After digging into this topic, I am convinced now I need to go a bit higher on this first vinyl set up. I think all in, I am prepared at this point to go up to $5k, for the table alone, not including arm or cartridge.

But frankly, being on this forum is like drinking from an information firehose. I have learned a bunch and yet somehow, I am less convicted than before.

With that in mind, to narrow down the decision, I am want to restrict myself to things I can buy, hear and, if necessary, service locally. My local dealers stock, AMG, AVM, Basis, Clearaudio, Michell, Musichall, Pro-ject, Rega, VPI, so I am likely restricted to those brands. I am certain my view will change by the end of this thread.

saulh

Showing 1 response by audioguy85

With 5k and all in, like another poster indicated, it will not cover everything needed at that budget. You will need, as mentioned, a phono preamp, a tonearm, a cartridge, and let’s not forget a nice pair of phono cables. I would suggest at your 5k budget, a Music Hall mmf-7.3 or even the 9.3, $1600-$1800 and $2400-$2700 respectively, depending on whether you choose black or walnut finish. Both tables already come with cartridges (reflected in prices). The mmf 7.3 comes with a very nice 2m Bronze, the 9.3 a goldring Eroica lx. Pair either table with either the pro ject tube box ds2 $1000 or a Tavish the classic tubed preamp, or even a Tavish Adagio, $800 and $2190 respectively. Buy a nice pair of Atlas element Integra low capacitance phono cables to go with either. The 7.3 and the Tavish classic or pro-ject ds2 will leave you with money to invest in records, as I think you will find that in the long run, you will have spent more money on your collection than you have spent on the rig....otherwise, if you opt for the 9.3 and the Tavish Adagio, you will be right at the 5k mark. All products mentioned have received rave reviews at their respective price points.

Alternatively, go with an Avid Ingenium turntable and upgrade its mdf platter with the metal one. It will cost about the same as the mmf-9.3 walnut version mentioned above, about $2700. I own all but the 9.3 and Adagio. I can attest to the quality of these products. You are getting a lot for your money.

You could even grab the Technics sl1200GR or the G direct drive turntables, $1700 and $4000 respectively. The GR route will leave plenty of your budget for the cartridge (I’d recommend the Hana EL or EH @ $475) and a nice phono preamp, and still have some money left over for a starter collection of LP’s...

 

In all honesty, the Music Hall MMF-7.3 is a sleeper of a turntable. It responds to not only a better cartridge, but also what it rests on. It will also respond to platter mats, be it the ringmat or a stein music mat. Michael Fremer actually preferred the sound of the 7.3 to the 9.3. In taking a good look at the 7.3's construction, it is a very clever design. The 2m Bronze is a fantastic cartridge when paired with a tubed phono preamp. I also suspect it would pair nicely with the new ifi phono3, as despite being SS, it has a tubed flavoring.