Recommend an Entry Level Turntable (And maybe an integrated Amp)


I've been wanting to upgrade my system for a long time now.

My system currently consists of a pair of B&W 630's, an old Denon 50 watt reciever (DRA-550) from the mid 80's,  and a Marantz 5004 cd player.  I'm pretty happy with all three.

I'm looking to get into vinyl and The Project Debut Carbon turntable was recommended.  I listened to it but wasn't amazed by it. So I sent it back.

I then called my local audio store and the salesman said that if the system sounds good with cds but not with the turntable then the weak link is probably the phono pre amp.

So, he recommended the NAD C388 integrated amp which has the added benefit of more power (150 watts per channel) and bluetooth as well (something I definitely want).  He did qualify it by saying that reciever/amp technology hasn't changed much over the years.

He also recommended an upgrade of the turntable cartridge to the Sumiko Rainier.

Just thinking out loud.  I'd be open to adding a bluetooth and a new phono preamp to the Denon, but I'm not sure if that would be better.

TIA

klimt

Try a Rega Planar 2 and upgrade the cartridge, I use an audio-technica vm540ml.For a phono preamp try a Schiit Mani or Cambridge Alva duo.I have both, pros and cons to both. The Schiit Mani has an adjustable gain which is a huge plus when using a lower watt amplifier such as the Cambridge cxa81 80w or Vincent sv500  50 w. I enjoy both of these amps.

E3

You are best served by upgrading your integrated

A modern integrated will beat rhe older denon

Also the rega tables have more life to the sound over the project

 

 

 

 

 

Check out some of the Yamaha integrated amps---they have several that can fit most budgets and a decent phono amps built in so you may not need to purchase a separate phono amp. I have a Denon PMA 757 from 1985 and only use it for streaming from my MacBook via a IFI Zen DAC Ver 2. Sounds amazing.