Not knowing what you are using for cabling, I would say your turntable would be, by far, the weakest piece followed by the Ortofon cartridge (assuming it is the 2M Black and not the Cadenza series.)
Just my 2 cents...
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It is regular 2M black and the cabling is the original that it came with in 1979. Im not adverse to replacing the table which would mean new cables etc. The Technics cables are hardwired
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I’m with Yogiboy. I have a new 1200 and while I don’t have a vintage table to compare, I suspect there are a lot of improvements compared to 1979, not to mention the newer motor
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I just picked up the new P8 with Apheta 3 cart and it blows away my 20K digital setup. All my albums sound incredible and musical like never before. 4K total
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Perhaps try the LBV 250 stylus on your Black?
DeKay
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You are wasting your Chinook phono stage with that Ortofon 2M black cartridge. Get a Low Output Moving Coil cartridge with 0.3 mv gain compatible with the Chinook at 60db. The Dynavector DV20X2L cartridge will work great and sound so much cleaner, have better bass, bigger sound stage and will be more explosive, faster and more dynamic.
No matter what you do get a LOMC for the biggest sound improvement. I had the 2M black and know of what I speak. Good luck!
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Thanks guys. So the table is good then? Just a better cart? Ill look into the MC cart too.
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You didn't specify budget but if you want a big jump up, start with the cart - something like a Hana ML that is quite good value for the money and it can me moved to a better TT down the road.
The Manley is solid and would likely support a much better TT and an even better cart than the Hana.
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Great. Anyone have a good dealer for Carts?
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The Technics are wonderful as switching carts is easy peasy with the detachable head shell. KAB makes a lot of aftermarket parts for the Technics tables. May want to look into it. Here I have a 1600 Mk2 and an SL-Q3. Not my main tables but the daily runners in separate systems. Love them both.
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what is KAB i was looking to upgrade the RCA cables since they are the originals. I couldnt find replacements for the 1410mk2.
Thanks
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I have an older sl-q3 which I would always lose one of the channels with the hardwired cables. So I modified it and put rca connectors on the back with better cables. Sounds much better, along with better cartridge and headshel.
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@OP - ideally you should upgrade both TT and Cartridge. A Technics SL-1200Gr2 would be a good choice at not crazy money. A Hana EL or SL would be a good cartridge. Depending on the state of the bearings in your old TT, you might want to check low compliance MC compatibiity before upgrading the cartridge on that TT.
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While I like technics, I do not care for the pitch slider. It just looks tacky to me and something I would never use. Im not a DJ.
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I'd look for a good used VPI table that's more than 10 years old in good condition.
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Thanks ill have a look. Seems like a Technics 1300G and a good MC cart we are pushing 5k for sure
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Start with a Hana MC, maybe the Hana SL MkII for $850. You simply wont do better for under $1000. Then, if you decide to upgrade your turntable, you'll have the cart decision already made. Changing o e component at a time makes it easy to assess improvements .. or degrades. And, Hanas work very well in Technics medium mass tonearms.
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Sounds like a plan for sure!
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My two cents. A used VPI Scout would be about $1,400 a Scoutmaster 50% more (and probably a 50% upgrade over the Scout).
"Scoutmaster [2004]The Scoutmaster took the best concepts of the Scout and stepped them up. More mass, more low-end! It doubled up the chassis and added a steel center between. At the time it had the same platter as the Aries 3 which was a thicker acrylic platter using an inverted bearing."
Check that the bearing is in good shape - it should have a very light film of lithium grease.
I have had my Scoutmaster now for almost 20 years. My daughter still uses the entry level VPI turntable that I bought in the 90's.
My deck was in my country house in VT in the early 2000's and there was a power outage that caused the interior of the house to be about 15 degs. F for a week. My cartridge did not survive (along with my kitchen faucet). I bought the Koetsu Black - which is still in use.
The Scoutmaster/Koetsu Black combination brings me much Joy.
The Phono stage is the Sutherland Duo. Preamp is LA4. PA either Pass Labs CA25 or my home brew fully balanced 65N7-300B. Rockport Atria II speakers.
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I 2nd the VPI choice for a Turntable. BTW. Any experience with the Hana SL MkII on a VPI Classic?
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Agree that cart and/or turntable would yield sonic benefits.
However, if the OP is still running stock cabling, this is highly likely a sonic bottleneck relative to the level of their audio components.
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"Seems like a Technics 1300G and a good MC cart we are pushing 5k for sure"
Yes exactly! That is right in line and appropriate for your system.
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I kinda thought that too since most of the components are that or higher. Hmm decisions decisions. Thanks
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To the OP, I would note that your Luxman has an internal phono stage - both MM and MC - that I’ve read is very high quality. While Manley’s phono amps have a wonderful reputation, have you compared their performance against each other? If the Luxman’s is competitive, and if you’re cash constrained, you might want to consider selling the Manley to help fund a turntable/cartridge upgrade.
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I may do that. Less parts in the chain as well. Good idea.
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"Seems like a Technics 1300G and a good MC cart we are pushing 5k for sure"
Yes exactly! That is right in line and appropriate for your system.
+1 @billstevenson
After upgrading table+cart, you'll have a very high level system. Hope you have quality cabling to match
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In keeping with this idea, in my new system which is starting to break in, yesterday for the first time I was able to enjoy my new AT20. I bought this cartridge on an open box sale at Music Direct. If you watch their open box sale stuff, it changes week to week, you probably will find a very good price on one of the several that have been mentioned in this thread. Be flexible there are many good ones and there is no such thing as THE BEST ONE. I also commend your attention to the cables of Audio Sensitivity of Canada. I first learned of this company on the VPI forum years ago. Trust me on this, no company makes better cables at any price and everything has a money back guaranty. I have no hope of gain in making these recommendations.
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I ended up going with the Technics Sl-1300G and a hana SL mk2 low voltage cart. Im using the luxman phono pre-amp and it sounds gorgeous. Can I expect burn in time on the cart?
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don't bother....just go listen to your favorite lp's
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