Help completing vinyl front end.


I have decided to take the plunge into vinyl. My current system consists of Sonic Frontiers T3/P3 digita;l, BAT VK50SE preamp; BAT VK500 Amp, Dynaudio Confidence 5 speakers. I recently inherited a VPI JMW10 tonearm and have just purchased an Aesthetix IO phono preamp. I'm leaning hevily toward a VPI TNT III turntabel and have no idea which cartridge. Any recommendations on cartridges or turntables that will blow away my digital would be appreciated. I'm looking to stay under $4k used for the remainder.
metaphysics

Showing 1 response by fsacks

Considering how much you put into the phono stage, my guess is that one of the more expensive cartridge would be in order. You should try to demo as many as possible, since they all sound great, but they also all sound different!

As far as 'tables are concerned, I really feel that you can do much better than the HW-19s. In general, the fit and finish of VPI products leaves something to be desired. I recently replaced a JMW10 and an HW-19 with a Kuzma 'table. The difference in quality is evident both in the finish and in the sound. The Kuzma is so much quieter, and SO much better looking! The VPIs, to me, look like something a non-engineering type person would come up with. The Basis 'tables are so obviously better in the same ways as the Kuzmas.

Good luck, and keep it fun!