TT or Cartridge...what to buy?

Earlier this year, I went through a similar process to update my TT. I considered tables from Mofi Ultradeck, VPI Prime Scout, Clearaudio Performance DC and Dr. Feickert Analogue Volare. I ended up going with Dr. Feickert's Volare with Jelco 805 tonearm and Hana ML cartridge. I am very happy with the upgrade and would highly recommend the Dr. Feickert's Volare table.  

Dear @dustin_collman : that Pro-ject Atension 10 is very good option and the Blackbird very good quality performer and obviously you will have the dealer support at your place. Good.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

If you must have belt drive, I would favor Dr Feickert from your list.  That unit comes with an Origin Live tonearm and a nice cartridge.  The Dr Feickert turntables are some of the few that make an effort to reduce belt slippage and "belt creep", two phenomena that contribute to speed irregularity of belt drive technology.  I'd opt for the Delrin platter, too.

True. Not every DD table looks like a DJ table to me. But the Technics definitely does.  

So far some other table suggestions that have been made to me are these:

• Mofi Ultradeck w/Master Tracker MM
  
• Pro-Ject Xtension 10 w/Sumiko Blackbird MC
• VPI Prime Scout w/o cart
• Clearaudio Performance DC w/Satisfy Carbon tonearm and no Cart
• Dr. Feickert Analogue Volare (not local to me)

These are based on local dealers to me also.

Thanks for the input but I’m not really a fan of Direct Drive tables. I know they are highly recommended but to me it is more of a DJ style table then what I want.

I hope not every DD turntable look like a "DJ turntable" for you, because they are not, except 1200 series which is simply best buy option at your price point (as a complete turntable).

If you can put together drive, plinth and tonearm (purchased separately) you could have something like this with EPA-100 or Denon DA-401 tonearms. The drive is Technics SP-20, but it can be SP-10 mkII (same size). I have compiled 3 of them for local friends with different tonearms and plinth.

With $4k budget you can find Luxman PD-444 turntable, this is a reference class machine in my studio, here is mine.

They are all direct drive!

Also the recommended Pickering cartridge,  I would second that. I have an 881s and it’s a great choice for the money. These can be found for $300-$400 NOS. Buying vintage takes patience though. 

How about Garrard 301 or 401? More bang for your  buck with vintage. 

Chakster’s recommendation is a good one, but I understand not wanting a table that looks like it belongs to a DJ. It’s a complete package and good value for the money though if buying new. There are other vintage direct drive tables to consider from Technics, Denon, EMT. And many other top models made in Japan. 

Thanks for the input but I'm not really a fan of Direct Drive tables. I know they are highly recommended but to me it is more of a DJ style table then what I want.

Look for used Technics SL1200G (price for new one is about $3900) and if you can find it for $3k (used) buy yourself a NOS Pickering XSV/4000 cartridge which is wonderful for this turntable. If you want an MM cartridge with superb stylus profile then Stereohedron is excellent.

In 1977 Pickering XSV/3000 was first cartridge with the Stereohedron diamond. It was a totally new stylus shape at that time: "This new cartridge makes possible a wider, more open, fines sound - because it maximizes stereo tracing capabilities with the slightest, lightest touch a record ever had. It increases record life because force is spread over a greater contact area. And that means the least record wear achievable in these times (with a stereo cartridge)."

In 1979 Pickering introduced an improved version called XSV/4000 and it was in production line until 1993. The XSV/4000 is much better than earlier XSV/3000 mainly because of the lower tip mass and higher compliance, the frequency response is wider with XSV/4000 which I like a lot (along with top of the line XSV/5000).

The XSV series stereo cartridges utilizes advanced design features originally developed for use in the manufacture of the finest four channel discrete cartridges. A low mass, ultra powerful samarium cobalt magnet assures accurate tracking or high velocity modulations in the groove. The result is true fidelity, great sound and longer life for record collections. Stereohedron stylus can be used for 1000 hrs. This stylus is shaped to provide an enlarged area of record groove contact, while providing the ability to accurately trace the high frequency, the level modulations found on today’s records, thus, the Stereohedron stylus provides superior performance which low stylus wear and low record wear for your stereo records.

You can also check Michael Fremer’s audio interview with Norman Pickering on analog planet.

Norman Charles Pickering was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 9, 1916 (he passed away in 2015). He had a long, multi-faceted career as an inventor, musician, acoustical researcher, and musical instrument maker. A pioneer of high fidelity audio, he invented the Pickering phonograph cartridge. He was one of the founders of the Audio Engineering Society. He was educated at Newark College of Engineering and the Juilliard Graduate School, becoming both a professional engineer and professional musician. He joined the newly formed Indianapolis Symphony in 1937. In early 1940 he was asked to join the research group at C.G. Conn in Elkhart, where development of wind instruments involved sound recording of the highest quality possible at the time. In November 1945 he founded Pickering and Company to produce phonograph pickups and associated equipment. The company was an immediate success. His work in recording led to association with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, Les Paul, Capitol Records and many musical artists. He continued to play professionally as a New York free-lancer. It was in 1948 that he joined C. J. LeBel and other audio engineers to form the Audio Engineering Society.

As his company became too large for him to manage alone, he hired Walter O. Stanton as sales manager. Mr. Stanton was born in Canton, Ohio, and graduated from Wayne State University’s School of Electrical Engineering in 1939. While there, he set up one of the first student radio stations in the country. During World War II, Mr. Stanton was involved in the design and creation of mechanisms for aerospace applications. Mr. Stanton invented the interchangeable needle grips Pickering used . It was not long before Stanton organized a hostile takeover of the company, forcing Pickering out of his company and out of the audio field. Walter O. Stanton later established Stanton Magnetics Inc in 1961. He was the chairman and president of both Pickering & Co and Stanton Magnetics Inc until 1998. Mr.Stanton passed away in 2001. He sold both companies when he retired, they are no longer produce any audiophile cartridges, under new ownership (since 1998) Stanton/Pickering manufacture professional equipment only, they are no longer made Stereohedron styli and there are no re-issues of the old high-end cartridges from the golden era.

Here is another article you can read to understand why Stanton/Pickering cartridges are so nice. The XSV/4000 is even better than Stanton 881s.

In my opinion (and i tried so many cartridges) this is the best bang for the buck when you’re looking for MM.

Over the year I bought them all, started with Pickering XSV/3000 and ended up with XSV/5000, XLZ/4500S and XLZ/7500.