Keep the WT and get a better cartridge. Hana LE ($500) or Hana LS ($750) mc cartridges are a good choice under $1K and better than any MM and MI cartridges!
New Turntable or Better Cartridge?
I own a vintage Well Tempered Table and would like to upgrade my analog system. Should I purchase a new table (Rega Planar 8 and a $1500 cartridge) or simply keep the Well Tempered, save a considerable amount of money and spend it on a much better cartridge?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
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Thank you both for your replies. I was looking at the Hana ML as a possibility with a new Rega table. As I said however, if I don't change my table I would be willing to put the thousands of $ saved into a much better cart. That would open the possibility up to maybe a Lyra Kleos. Would a WWT be a suitable table for such a high end cart? At the moment I still have an old Grado TLZ cart. |
Unfortunately you're in a difficult place I feel, as I'm sure you're more than aware. The Well Tempered turntable is no entry level deck. A substantial improvement is difficult to suggest. As well as the Rega 8 you owe it to yourself to check out one of the recent Technics decks. Either way, you should get a reasonable upgrade. I would never contemplate throwing $1500 on a cartridge. Especially not when sub $500 gives you so many excellent options. Check out this HiViNyws $350-$380 cartridge shoot out. https://youtu.be/E4G7hSUQoOc |
limomangus, The Fluance reminds me of the days when the of 3 steps to vinyl heaven were said to be the Dual CS505/1, then the Rega Planar 3 and finally the Linn LP12. Skip forward some 35 years and the entry point could now well be the Fluance RT84, with a possible move up to the Rega P3 and finishing off with the Technics SL1200G. I think these current no-faff decks all offer excellent value for money in comparative performance terms too. |