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Air Tight PC-1 Coda and more options to upgrade my analog setup

There aren’t many reviews out there for the new Air Tight PC-1 Coda. I’m looking to upgrade my analog setup and it fits my budget and the overall reviews for the PC-1 are fantastic. Before anyone mentions it, yes I will be listening before I buy. I plan on listening to similar priced carts from Lyra, Kiseki, Koetsu, and more.

At the same time debating a phono preamp upgrade. Thinking about the Luxman EQ-500.

Current setup is Rega RP8 (waiting for the new P10 or P12), Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge, to Mytek Manhattan II w/ Phono stage, McIntosh C47, McIntosh MC452, B&W 802D3, with audioquest speaker cabling and ICs, and Nordost Frey 2 PCs. Room is quite well treated and rack is Symposium Osiris. Listening on vinyl is mainly 1955-1975, jazz, rock, and orchestral (Mahler, Strauss-not Beethoven or chamber). (Wider variety with Qobuz digital). Vinyl is all very high quality original or repressings.

Happy to hear any feedback on the setup. What am I looking for? A little more sparkle. Realism. Just more. Maybe a little more bass as well, as I’ve got the C47 set to push bass +3dB. (Tried a sub and it didn’t help in my space and prefer the overall sound of the floor standers by themselves). The system sounds amazing, I just want even more of this amazing. Thanks!
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mayoradamwest OP
429 posts
 
Interestingly, I heard an AMG (don't know the model, but it was very expensive) with a Lyra Etna and a Feickert Woodpecker with an Air Tight PC-1. Both on fantastic electronics and speakers. Both sounded great, but no where as good, to my ears, as the Koetsu on the Linn. Fair point that I could try the Koetsu on a different, high mass tone arm.
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mayoradamwest OP
429 posts
 
I’m going to see if I can find an AMG Giro to hear. Seems like it might tick all the boxes, with the same Koetsu cartridge. 
almaaudio's avatar
almaaudio
14 posts
 
Do look into the Luxman turntable. It's a solid value, and the tonearm is adjustable.
It'll work great with either the Lyra or Air TIght PC-1 Coda, and the Luxman phono.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,231 posts
 
Mayoradamwest, If your set up is on a concrete floor the Linn, which I am not a big fan of having owned two of them will do ok. If you are on wooden floors just walking around will drive the Linn nuts. You will have to compromise and do a wall shelf or just get an SME or SOTA turntable
and put either an SME arm or a Kuzma 4 point 9 on it. You can jump up and down in front of either table and nothing will happen. Once it is all set up you will never have to do anything but play records until you change cartridges. Both tonearms will give you the flexibility to use any cartridge you like. If you really want no hassle get an SME Synergy. It is the full Monty including a Nagra phono stage and an Ortofon Windfeld Ti cartridge. Trying to do better than this would be an extremely expensive endeavor.   
steven-cal
3 posts
 
I am intrigued by this discussion.

I have a fabulous digital front end audio system. After a lot of thought, I’m finally ready to invest in phono.

I decided a long time ago to buy the best I could afford rather than trading up numerous times.

Trade up systems in the end cost way more, plus I don’t have cast off gear I’ll never use and can’t sell stored in my garage.

I completely agree the entire system should be balanced and of comparable quality. It all must work together as a unit.

The Air-Tight PC-1 may be a good, great, or a superb cartridge, but I don’t think that is as important as the compatibility issue. Does it fit in with the system?

And this begs the question – what is the best cost/benefit for your system. Spending $8,500 on a cartridge makes sense if the rest of the system is of comparable quality – this often means comparable cost.

Incidentally, I am considering the PC-1 too.


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