Opinions: Oracle/SME IV/ Monster Alpha2

mayberry l/m has an excellent reputation, at least according to some on the pantera digest.

hope we don't get booted for straying off-topic! ;~) doug s.

ps - a nicely prepared gtwe6 will handle a 308, that's why i got a pantera... ;~)

the above, w/an o-l modified rega rb250, is my current set-up, & it's great! :>) i have a lyra clavis, freshly re-tipped by symphonic line w/a vdh stylus, but the current set-up is so nice that i haven't gotten 'round to changing the cartridge...

good luck, even if ya don't do *anything* to that 'table, yule love it! ;~) doug s.

ain't life a bitch, havin' more than one obsession? ;~) i yust recently installed the full-stebro exhaust w/euro down pipe, & an sz hedder - *really* opens tings up... :>)

re: cartridges, believe it or not, the ortofon mc25-fl, at retail $450, but always on sale at $225, is a great cartridge. only 0.35mv output (a mfr - was it wavelength audio? - i forget, sez it's really only 0.2mv), but if yer fono-stage has the gain, i tink it's really nice for the money. i've also heard good tings (but no 1st-hand experience) about the audoi-technica oc-9 (?!?), retails for $400, usually awailable for <$200. i was gonna try a dynavector karat d17, but i sheared off the canteliver the wery 1st time i went to mount it - my cartridge horror story. ;~) at least i got it used, cheap. of course, if yure gonna ackshully *spend* $500-$700, wait 'til the right used cartridge comes along. i got my re-tipped lyra clavis from klaus @ odyssey audio, for $490...

good luck, doug s.

not much experience w/recent hi-output coils - an old sumiko blue-point was used prior to my ortofon. if ya awreddy have that bps, i'd use it 'til a nice lo-hrs hi-end cartridge comes awailable on the used market. (there's a transfiguration here on a-gon, dunno its output). also, ortofon has nice hi-output mc's - dunno the specific model #'s/prices, but yule find some at the needle dr. i tink ortofon cartridges are really nice, even their m/m's...

re: sz hedders, i got in on a bulk order w/giovanni rizzo last year, mite wanna contact him for details. stebro *is* nice, i was so glad when the prewious exhaust finally went away... :>)

re: oracle mods, mine was an original (mk-l?), bought used from a dealer in quebec. i had all the mk-v mods done, except for the motor, as described above. my total cost, which included the 'table, a gnu box for shipping to maryland, a grace tonearm, & shipping, was $1250. perhaps i got a better deal cuz the dealer was across-town from the mfr. if yer upgrade cost includes the motor/power-supply as well, that seems pretty reasonable, but as a cheapskate, i have to recommend the o-l motor/power-supply! :>) good luck, doug s.

good luck w/the oracle - ewe *will* like it! :>)

doug s.