help guide a vinyl newbie

I'm super satisfied about a lighly modified Technics SL1210 MKII
With few modification this cheapo TT becomes fantastic

"the Denon stomps an lp12"

Say what you will, but I can almost guarantee that your LP12 was not set up right. Please.

Its largely a matter of taste but I think the Denon stomps an lp12 (ive had both) A great phono pre will really pay back great listening dividends and your system can evolve around it.

did not compare on my system but read reviews here and elsewhere and spoke to an audiogon dealer, an honest guy who felt you do get more from the ph7 but not dramatically so much more as to justify price

I'm using a Denon DP-59L now, because it has the auto shut-off which I find very useful. Compared to my VPI HW-19 with SME 309 arm, though, the sound quality is admittedly somewhat lackluster. I suspect, as Johnss mentions, that the primary culprit is the arm wiring and or arm connectors. Also, the factory hardwired interconnects are substandard. Unfortunately, re-wiring these would be quite difficult - not really worth the trouble. But there are improvements you can make short of that. You can dampen the platter and plinth, and if you're handy with a soldering iron, install much improved interconnects.

The Dynavector is an excellent cartridge - you can spend a lot of money and get one that sounds different, but wildly better - I don't know about that.

Seems to me that the largest potential improvement is the phono amp.

I disagree with the above posts. I would upgrade the TT, arm, and cartridge first. I think source resolution comes before amplification.

Then I would get a temporary (but good) phono preamp like the musical surroundings phenomena or similar priced phono stage (under $600, $250 used). That will certainly do you for a while.

Yep. I would dump the Denon first. I would get a used Linn LP12 without a Lingo and have it looked over by someone locally. I think that is the best deal for the $$$. That's just me.

Sidssp is correct. You may end up spending $$$ but get nothing out of it. I would see if the denon arm could be re wired with Cardas, then focus on a nice phono stage.

slvtravel, funny that you mention that.... one of the thoughts that has been running through my head has been to buy a PH5 and use the remainder to upgrade my cartridge on my TT. The concerns that I have are that there may be a considerable difference between the PH5 and PH7 as well as am I putting "too much" cartridge on my existing TT. Did you compare the PH5 and PH7 before you purchased yours?

hi- consider buying an arc ph5 used on audiogon for around $1500--it'll give you plenty of thrill and most of what you get from the ph7 and lots of leftover money for mo' better vinyl

Thanks for the reply. I had the table checked out when I had the current cartridge installed (Dynavecotr 10x5). They gave it a clean bill of health.

The DP47F is a very good table. Assuming it is in perfect working condition, you might not even need to change it. I will definitely upgrade the phono amp first.