Help me pick a phono, pre and cart


Hi all,
My WF spending restraints are going away so I’m going to upgrade my system.
I primarily play CD, but also have an MMF-5 with Glass platter, Golding GX1022 cart going through a Clear Audio Nano to Ayre Ax-7e to Sig 2 Ce’s.

This year I’m going to Quatro CT’s and upgrading my vinyl pre and source side. Next year I’m upgrading my main pre and power amp.

I’m looking for help in picking a phono player pre and cart. My musical taste is pretty wide: female vocals, rock, blues, jazz; not much classical on vinyl. Think Amy Winehouse/Cold Specks/Pixies/Weezer/Jeff Beck/Johnny Winter/Winton Marsalis and Maynard Ferguson for you other old timers. LOL
My budget is about $8-10k

Right now my main thoughts are VPI Prime Scout or Prime with Grado Statement series cart, and an Ayre Px-5e pre.
In addition to specific item recommendations, I’m very interested in how to split the budget item wise. In other words more or less on player vs cart vs pre, I.e. Scout with Statement2 or Prime with Reference2 for example. Or go higher than 20-30% on the pre?
I lean towards spending the most on what’s least upgradeable - sorry if that’s too general or obvious.
Thanks much
Jim

jetson

Showing 2 responses by clearthink

rauliruegas"Btw, another " stupid " statement"

Yes of course Raul everyone who disagrees with you is stupid or they are ignorant or they need to grow up or they enjoy DISTORTION and NOT THE MUSIC or they lack your extensive experience, knowledge and understanding or they cannot fathom your insight, intuition and technical competence you are the infallible, omniscient, unquestioned authority on all things that you post about related to Music Reproduction Systems actually I think you should have everyone's posting privledges here summarily revoked because it makes it more difficult and challenging for truth seekers to know the truth about music and DISTORTION.
atmasphere"Raul is a digital aficionado. He’s not into vinyl so much as he appears to be into trolling."

Raul is more like an "audio not know" than an "aficionado."