Looking for a more solid-feeling turntable (and maybe a new preamp)
Hey all,
This has been my system for years:
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Line Magnetic LM-218IA
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Davone Ray speakers
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Shindo Aurieges preamp
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Rega RP10 with a Dynavector XX-2 cart
The Rega’s been good to me, but I’ve never fully loved it. It just feels a bit light and fragile—both in physical build and in the way it presents music. I’m looking for something that feels more grounded, stable, and confident. Obviously I’m also looking for something that would complement the LM and the Rays.
The Shindo I do like a lot, but if there’s something out there that keeps the musicality and adds a bit more clarity or grip or that works in conjunction with any turntable recommends, I’d be open to hearing about it.
I listen mostly to rock, electronic, ambient, experimental, some jazz.
Budget is around $10k all-in.
Appreciate any recommendations!
Showing 8 responses by elliottbnewcombjr
I owned the TD124/SME 3009 combo above, in a larger dustproof cabinet, but my wood floors are too springy for it’s amazing bearing which is sensitive to vertical movement. For a friend, I helped assemble a two arm Luxman PD-444 with both long and short Micro Seiki 505 arms, I highly recommend it, Quartz Locked Direct Drive https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=luxman+pd-444 I like it so much, recommend it so often that I uploaded some info on this site One nice feature is the built-in two arm junction box, with A/B switch, so only 1 phono cable out to your phono input
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The JVC Victor CL-P2 Plinth that I chose, (when you can find one), is a very substantial 7 layer composite they engineered at the peak of the Vinyl Era, with two removable arm boards
here’s a peek at my arm board removed (it is a 5 layer composite, you cannot imagine it warping or vibrating) It fits various models of their Quartz Locked Direct Drive spinners, I chose TT81 shown with it’s dust cover on. you lift it off, need to have a designated place for it |
I showed a few I never had personal experience with I owned the Thorens SME combo, terrific within a solid space I setup the Luxman 2 arm unit for my friend, it’s terrific I setup one of these for another friend
the EPA B500 base has easy change arm wands, including the S arm with removable headshell, a straight arm fixed headshell, is a very compact yet multiple arm combo, the specs of the old SP-10,15,25’s have yet to be surpassed, they don’t show or mention it, but confirm it comes with the dust cover. |
your amp has remote volume correct? like me, you could use a full featured Vintage tube preamp with manual volume, get remote volume from your integrated amp. I feel lucky that I chose a McIntosh MX110z tube tuner/preamp after reading this https://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue77/vintage_mcintosh_experience.htm
here’s one in good shape
I love it's sound and features, and use a SUT with 3 inputs, PASS for MM and 4 options for my MC cartridges to keep using the MX110z's MM Phono |
