Turntable on a $5k budget?


I'd like to give vinyl a try. I thought about starting with an inexpensive table but I think I may as well just buy once and be happy for a long time instead of upgrading later. I don't see why it wouldn't work out for me, I am willing to learn the proper setup just need a little guidance towards a good quality table and tonearm. I prefer a smooth, fatigue free sound over hyper resolution and detail.

I've listened to an SME 20/2 table with IV.Vi tonearm and I thought that was perfect for my taste but it is out of my budget. Should I be looking at suspended tables for that type of sound or is that not the deciding factor of how the table will sound overall?

The $5k is not the ceiling, I can extend my budget another $1500 for a tonearm on top of the table if the table is really that good.

I've read some reviews of the suspended tables such as Oracle, Sota and a few of non suspended such as Nottingham, Michell, Basis. Will any of the mentioned tables get me close to what I am looking for?

I am planning on using the phono stage of my McIntosh C500 preamp, it has both MM/MC phono stage. The rest of the system is McIntosh 501 monoblocks and Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento speakers.

Thanks in advance.
flyski

Showing 2 responses by rauliruegas

Dear Flysky: IMHO all these alternatives are very good with almost no risk and very good price:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1236996239&/Vpi---TNT-5--Hot-Rod

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1236991083&/Basis-2500-Signature

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1235947937&/Clearaudio-Annv.-Amg-Wood-cmb

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1235052081&/Goldmund-Studio-Latest

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1234325020&/Platine-Verdier

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1234208622&/Avid-Volvere

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1234210962&/Cosmos-Sota-series-4-latest

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Dear Flyski: Suspended/non suspended TTs.

With all respect IMHO if you want to listening ( seating in a chair7couch ) music why you or any one can/could so worry about that TT subject design?.

If you want to listening your records at the same time that you are " jumping " or something similar then you have to woorry! do you listen in this way?

It is important the suspended/non suspended subject on analog performance?, certainly is but there are many other factors that IMHO are more important than that one and only if you have some very special " stage " that really affects mainly to the suspension TT subject then you have to think seriously about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.