Turntable/Arm in $1500-2000 Range


Hi,

(This is a duplicate of my post at VA, in case anyone else visits both sites) Am about to purchase another turntable. For any of you that remember my posts, I had a Michell Gyro SE/SME 309 setup for about a year. Sold it about four months ago, intending to buy either an Orbe or Xerxes, but I spent most of my upgrade funds on other things instead (new CD player, new tubes for my amp, interconnects, speaker cable etc.). Bought a Planar 25 used from my local dealer and used a couple months just so I would have a decent table to listen to my vinyl collection; sold it for about what I paid for it. Things I liked about the Michell: neutral tonally to my ear, dynamic and powerful sounding, fair amount of detail and resolution. Things I didn't like as much: frustrating to set up ideally, not quite as subtle on low level detail as I would like, bounced a lot on my wood floors, didn't "swing" quite as well as Linn/Rega tables. The Planar 25 had a little more "swing", not the dynamics or detail of the Gyro.

Unfortunately, my upgrade fund is still more limited than ideal, so tables like an Orbe, Xerxes, or full-blown Aries are still not a consideration. Tables I'm considering are some of those often recommended/discussed here: get another Gyro; Spacedeck; Well Tempered; Bluenote; the entry level Teres; the Eurolab; or at a little lower price point, a Scout, Innerspace, Music Hall 9 or the new Roksan table. I would ideally like a table that "has it all": neutral yet w/ good "swing" and rhythm, good low level detail and dynamic. I don't want a table/arm that is a "tone control," that imparts too much of its own character to the music; on the other hand, I don't want a table that is lifeless and boring, that doesn't capture the soul of the music. Is there such a table in my price range? For now, I will probably have to use a Rega 250/300 or OL arm (OL1, not Silver), or maybe the entry level Bluenote, if that arm is as good as some say. At this point, I'm undecided between going back to a Gyro, esp. if I can find a good deal on a used one, or trying something like the Bluenote, Teres or Eurolab. I know the sound of the Michell; can audition VPI locally, but no dealer for any of the other tables w/in hundreds of miles. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Terry
tlh28

Showing 2 responses by rockinroni

Terry, I personally Have not compared these two tables, but 2 people I know have and below are there comments.
You need to see the Aurora in the flesh. It looks much better than in the picture, Really.

I just did an AB of the spacedeck to the aurora. If you prefer a thick, duller sound and confuse that with 'analog' the Spacedeck is it. Its a fine performer but I think the Aurora is much better; way more open, faster, detailed but not fatiguing.

I don't have a hyperspace deck here now, but as I must have told you, I did before. When I compared it to the resolution it was smoother but less detailed and open. The Nottingham's are like tuby tube gear while the Origin is more like refined SS that maintain the naturalness of analog. Personally, and as a guess as I haven't done an a/b, I could go either way between the Aurora and hyperspace but for my taste would leantowards the aurora, I have to hear them. Between the aurora and spacedeck, no contest - the aurora.

Ron,I am still trying to learn how to install the fishing weight mod. Will search the threads and do more research. We have an Origin Live dealer here in San Diego. I was able to hear the Aurora. It is a fantastic table and will stand its ground against the top notch ones. Did you know that Expressimo just updated their Heavyweight? It now has 2 rubber "O" rings around the edges. Check out the website. Will order mine next week.


Hope that helps you Terry, Origin live makes Very good sound. Have you heard about the Hi Fi mod for the silver arm. Ask TWL,(Tom Lyons) tell him I sent you, this mod is a mind blower!

Let me know how you make out I guess YOU really need to hear both for yourself to be sure.
I didn't do any comparing myself I live in south Georgia close to Jacksonville FL. nothing around here to listen to.
I got the Aurora based on their reputation of producing big sound for little money.

The Origin live silver arm with TWL,Tom's HI FI mod and a shelter 501 cartridge is state of the art, at it's price point. You will have to spend thousands of $$$$$$ to beat it's stellar performance. I wonder how much better it could possibly be? That's why I recommend them.
check out this thread,
Strange Tonearm Tweak. Long

Sincerely,
Ron

Thank you 4yanx for your unbiased opinion.
As I stated in my post, I live in a smaller town, I cannot do comparisons.
If you can do comparisons this is always the best advice.
This information I shared was from e-mails, from people that had done comparisons.
This was the only information I had up until your informative and colorful post.
your brother in the Analog front.
Ron
hows that Tom?