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Upgrade Turntable or Cart

I am at a pivotal point with my vinyl listening, where I need to make a decision to upgrade the cart or turntable. My current table is an Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB, which is known to be a great entry level TT. I have a Decware ZP3 coming in December and want to be sure everything plays well together, whichever direction I go. My understand is there can be an issue with a carts output voltage if not matched correctly. I want to stay with MM and would consider MI. I don’t want to mess with a SUT for MC at this time. Music wise, I am all over the place, so would need a new TT to have a removable head shell to have an optional cart later on for different genre of music like jazz, 80’s alternative, and 1970’s rock and Krautrock. If there is a single cart that would play most all music genre well, that would be great!

The cart I am thinking of is a VM750SH or something similar, Shure, Ortofon, Grado, etc. The VM540ML might be too bright for me. This TT is my first, so I have no experience with anything else out there—purely reading forums at this point and no specialty store nearby.

If I go the new turntable route, I want to be sure it is a noticeable change. New, used, or vintage are all considerations and I would like to not go too far over $1,200’ish if possible.  I do have some room though.  The TT would need to have a removable head shell. I have seen Thorens mentioned several times on forums. Certain models seem better with better bearings it seems.

Would love to get great feedback from the huge knowledge base out there.


toddnlg

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,243 posts
 
MC cartridge Eventually.

IF/When you settle on a preferred MM Phono EQ, use a SUT for any MC cartridge so you simply amplify the MC weak signal enough to use your existing wonderful sounding MM Phono EQ. The sound of the MC will be revealed thru the SUT without alteration IF the x factor and loading is chosen correctly.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,243 posts
 
I had that TT for years, it is a great starter TT, with a very standard cartridge. Only 20 db separation, poor channel balance of 2 db

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/at-vm95e

1. Upgrade to a better cartridge, I like your idea of 750SH, it will be a big change now, and on any future TT you use it on. 30 db separation; tight 1 db channel balance.

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/vm750sh

2. get a 2nd headshell that allows Azimuth adjustment for the new cartridge

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293416434592?hash=item4450fb7ba0:g:fWQAAOSwq4VeXaps

3. alignment skills are paramount for ANY arm/cartridge, you need those skills now and for the rest of your vinyl life. you need some simple in-expensive tools and practice (with the old cartridge). Especially important for advanced stylus shapes like the 750SH, or any other SAS, Shibata, ML you go with.

how are your skills?

AFTER 1,2,3

4. phono stage, perhaps tubes, tricky, have return option. I say ’preferable’, not ’better’, and you cannot measure preferable, just know when you hear it.

my experience

I used the AT120 built-in phono eq for comparison, until I found one I preferred. Surprisingly I liked it more than my McIntosh SS C22 Preamp’s Phono (even after factory overhaul). Next I tried Cambridge Duo. Nope, back it went. A $14. Pyle as good as the AT120 built-in one, for a temporary solution upstairs in my office. Then, main system: McIntosh mx110z Tube Tuner/Preamp, wonderful phono, if it died I wouldn’t look around, just get another and send it straight to Audio Classics for overhaul. Upstairs, office, built-in MM/MC in new Luxman SQ-N150 Integrated sounds terrific.

5. Then it’s off to a better TT, save the AT120 to use if replacement needs service. Compare to the AT120, prove to yourself your new TT makes a difference.


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