2. analog
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tonearm upgrade, how far up the food chain?

I currently use a Rega RB 300 upgraded with the Origin Live structural mod (i.e. counterweight) and Incognito rewire. It's on a Thorens TD-850, Grado Statement Reference cartridge. Based on comments here on the Gon, many seem to feel that upgrading the arm should come before the cartridge or table, under the circumstances. How far up the ladder do I have to climb to get a noticeable improvement? And, do arms (that is, their bearings) really wear out, or their performance decline, with normal use? considering midlevel Origin Live arms, given the Rega mount. thanks in advance for suggestions.
lloydc

Showing 2 responses by rauliruegas

rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Lloydc: IMHO you have a " so so " tonearm and a " so so " phono stage when you have a top rated Grado cartridge that is a great performer and a one that deserve the very best you can get on tonearm/phono stage if you want that the cartridge show you how good is in reality and that today IMHO it can't do it even if you change the TT.

The cartridge/tonearm IMHO is one product not two independent products, a cartridge must be mounted with a matching tonearm not with any tonearm but with the best match for it.
In the other side the phono stage is very critical link in the analog audio chain because is inside this " box " where the cartridge signal must pass to be processed not only to increment its output but to mate the inverse RIAA eq ncesary for a even frequency response, is in this phono stage where the cartridge signal " suffer " in true and where that signal is degraded maybe the most.

The Thorens 850 is a very " decent " TT and for the moment could makes a very good job.

Try to find a removable headshhel tonearm design and a phono stage that can handle ( with out setp up transformers. ) the 0.5mv of your Grado.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Llydc: +++++ " the low output Grado Ref was described as a "budget" cartridge by a knowledgable distributor " +++++

that does not surprise me coming for a " knowledgable distributor " that for that statement and with al respect he is more on the unknowledge side than in the other one.

Maybe a 1.5K cartridge could be name it a " budget " one because that price against cartridges in the 5K price range ( and I can understand this. ) but as Doug point out:
+++++ " Aiming for some cost ratio is largely pointless, since the performance and compatibility of components cannot be judged just from their cost " +++++

Yes, I agree with you: your cartridge is not the most limiting factor in your today set up.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
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