2. analog
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recommendation for a high end analog system

I never had an analog system until last month. I bought a 1989 SOTA TT with vacuum/Sumiko MMT arm/Dennon 103R retyped with elliptical/sapphire cantilever. My phono is Kitsune MK5 WBT that is amplified by Don Sach 2 tube preamp and Pass X350.5. My speaker are Sound Lab M545 ESL. The TT has been very   well maintained despite its age. It sounded very good until I heard my friend's system which has the same TT but with Lyra Skala cartridge and first generation Triplanar arm (Spectral pre/amp). His sounded noticeably clearer and fuller. What is the best way to get a noticeable improvement in my system without breaking the bank (or before I have to squint to hear the improvement). I would love to hear some wisdom from analog-philes.
chungjh

Showing 2 responses by mglik

mglik
913 posts
 
+1 @dover post
Send the TT to SOTA to refurbish with the Eclipse motor.
Upgrade the tone arm. Ask SOTA for a recommendation.
Then look for a new cartridge. Hana is nice and good price.
You are looking at about $5-10k+.
And a lot of work.
OR
Sell it all and, for the price of a good tone arm, buy a new Technics 1200G! Technics hit a home run with this TT and arm. Check out the reviews.
mglik
913 posts
 
As you see, for almost the price on the old used SME V you can get a 1200G.
However, if you want to go all in with the SOTA, get the SME V and have SOTA rebuilt the TT. Mostly, you will then have a rig that may sound more grounded then the Technics but not necessarily better.
And there are several recommended upgrades that should be done on the 1200G that will add about $1000 to the price.
Mostly, with the SOTA and SME, you will have a much more substantial rig and may have the most pride of ownership.
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