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Need some turntable guidance

Hi,

I'm new here, so let me give you some background.

I'd say I'm more of a record collector than audiophile.  About 15 years ago, life happened and I had to re-purpose my dedicated listening room, so I put most of my gear in storage.  I now have my listening room back and I'm putting my system back together.

Here's what I have:

TT 1: VPI TNT 4 with TNT 5 bearing and flywheel, Eminent Technology ET 2.5 Tonearm, Supex SDX-1100 cartridge

TT 2: Denon DP-1250 with Magnepan Unitrack tonearm, Grado Reference Series cartridge

Phono transformer: Supex SDT-722

Preamp: PS Audio 5.0 preamp

Amp: Bryston 3B

Speakers:  Apogee Duetta II

The Denon was used to evaluate the condition of new purchases and some casual/background listening, so I'll probably leave that alone for now.

I'd like to "modernize" my system a little bit, but as a record collector, my initial focus is on the turntable.  I've been looking around, and seems I have several options.

1. Leave well enough alone, keep the table and arm as is.

2. Upgrade the VPI, I see there's an inverted bearing and platter upgrade available for TNT models, and sell off the current platter and bearing.

3. Sell off the TNT, and get something a bit less fussy as leveling the air suspension can be a bit of a pain.

If I sell, I'll probably want to keep the ET.

I'd appreciate any guidance I can get on this.

Thanks,

Ctor


ctor

Showing 5 responses by xaak

xaak
43 posts
 
@chakster

Old enough to recognize your response is indicative of someone who’s world view is being attacked.

The facts are I owned a pd-444, I heard something significantly better, and I bought it. Sorry this doesn’t fit your world view.

TBS can be so limiting.
xaak
43 posts
 
@chakster 

I'm not upset I bought the 444 in 79, and I'm not at all upset I traded it in.  Audiophilia is a journey, and I'm extremely happy with the musical enjoyment I've gotten out of my system over the years.

I don't need, or even want two tonearms on my rig at the same time.

I'm glad you enjoy your system, but it doesn't make you look good to try and attack people who don't agree with you.

That's it, I'm done with you now.




xaak
43 posts
 
I'd like to hear more about your DIY speed controller.  How did you do that?
xaak
43 posts
 
Thanks. That sounds easy enough that maybe even I can do it.
xaak
43 posts
 
I owned a PD-444 back in the late 70s and early 80s.  I attended a listening session at a local dealer in the early 80s that featured the Luxman, a Logic DM101, an Oracle Delphi and a Michell Gyrodec, all with the same arm and cartridge.

It wasn't even close, with the Luxman clearly the worst of the bunch.  I wound up trading mine for the Gyrodec.  As I recall, Luxman discontinued the 444 shortly after and came out with a similar belt drive table.
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