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How Good Can My Vinyl Get?

So here is a question for turntable fans. I got back into vinyl recently, and so I decided to go with a budget starter table to see if it was for me. I got a UTurn Orbit Plus, with a pluto phono preamp and an Ortofon OM10 cartridge and have been really been enjoying it. It sounds very nice. eTotal outlay was about $500.

I suppose my question is...if I were to double, triple or even quadruple my initial investment, could i get a noticeably significant upgrade in sound quality or is it all just fractions of a degree past a certain point? I’m not talking about needing a $10k set of speakers to appreciate it kind of difference....i mean an improvement that makes you glad you spent the money.

How much scability exists in vinyl?




dtrandall
12 responses Add your response
dentdog's avatar
dentdog
498 posts
 
Not to be discouraging but it can be pretty expensive. Probably the best way is to go with an Atmosphere preamp with phono. Two birds, one stone. Then it's Cart/TT. Step up TT or go whole hog, maybe 5K? After that start swapping in cartridges. 
Beware, just with the question you asked you have peeked at the rabbit hole. IMO scalability is there in vinyl. 
tablejockey
3,890 posts
 
Your table setup is now only as good as the REST of the system can deliver.

This is said, because of a recent downgrade of a "decent" $2.5K cart in a 6Kish table/phonostage setup. That is plugged into a price appropriate downstream setup.

A 6X LESS costly cart now is on my table. $400 worth of cart sure sounds pleasant, until I can afford to get back into the subjectively "better" pricepoint.

Just sayin...
dtrandall OP
43 posts
 
The rest of the system is a work in progress... I have an audiolab 6000A integrated which I am about to turn into a preamp by adding 2 outlaw M2200 monoblock amps to drive a pair of Ascend Acoustics Sierra tower speakers with the RAAL ribbon tweeter upgrade. Wiring is all blue jeans LC1 interconnects and Belden BJC 10 White speaker cable.

I’m not chasing audio nirvana, but if there is a reasonable way to gain a noticeable increase in sonic quality, then I’m interested.

The question is...what provides the most significant improvement. A better phono preamp? A better cartridge? A heavier, more isolated platter? The mind boggles 

big_greg
6,623 posts
 
It can get pretty amazing , but the rest of your system matters as well as your room. As far as upgrading your turntable you'll get more for your money getting a better turntable than spending it on a better cartridge or phono preamp. In general, a good turntable with a cheap cartridge will sound better than a cheap turntable with a good cartridge.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
When I wanted to add a NEW TT and cartridge to my vintage collection of TTs I bought a Pioneer PLX1000 after reading HR's review in Stereophile. And a new Denon 103R + a Denon SUT (used). Total cost $1200 ($700+$300+$200). Preamp in present use is the RGR 4. Excellent dynamic noise-free sound! 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The Pioneer came with a really nice IC that alone looked like it could sell for $100! Well done, Pioneer!
glassdesigns's avatar
glassdesigns
2 posts
 
I would recommend that you start with the cartridge to see the most improvement.  Everything else is just tweaking the sound of the cartridge.
analogluvr
859 posts
 
I think your cartridge is decent I would go with the phonostage 
johnto
1,023 posts
 
If you're enjoying what you have just relax and listen. When you have $$ to upgrade get out there and listen in stores and others systems. To many of us are always chasing the next thing instead of hearing the music.
When the time come you can save big by looking used.
dtrandall OP
43 posts
 
update.....

I upgraded the OM10 stylus to an OM20 and that brought some nice improvements. There was a deepening of the overall sound with greater dimension and energy. 
The next step is an upgraded phono preamp. I am looking both at the Lounge LCR mkIII and the Vista Audio Phono-1. I’m leaning towards the Vista because of all the gain and loading adjustability plus the ability to use a MC cart down the road.

 My hope is that the two improvements together will make upgrading the deck less important and something I can do down the road.
bstatmeister
537 posts
 
Technics SL1200 GR + Nagaoka MP150 + Schiit Mani. Done. That's ~2k and will compete with anything out there.

Don't forget a record doctor V. (This might actually be the most important component)
tablejockey
3,890 posts
 
I like bstat's $2K suggestion.Maybe invest in one of those budget US cleaners down the road also.
Schitt Mani is a winner for about $150.
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