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Upgrade My Turntable - How Much Do I Need to Spend?

I have recently fallen in love with listening to vinyl on my turntable.  In recent years, I have spent most of my listening time with digital music stored on my server (flac files recorded from CD's), but recently I discovered the beauty of placing an album on the turntable and listening to the entire album.  It's been a wonderful find for me.

My 2-channel room features:

  • McIntosh C260 Tube Preamp
  • McIntosh MC452 Solid State Amp
  • Martin Logan Montis speakers
  • Various upgraded cables and wires
  • Acoustically treated listening room
  • Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC turntable
  • Ortofon Blue Cartridge

My question is:  how big of a step up do I need to make with my turntable to take full advantage of the other components in my system?  I do not intend to do further upgrades with my speakers or amp system, but I would like to step up my game from the introductory level turntable that I bought years ago.  

I've been doing lots of reading and studying, but I would love to hear advice from some of the analog experts on this forum.  (Please don't flame my current system - there are reasons I love my McIntosh and those components are not going anywhere!)  Should I make a move to a $4000 turntable?  Or????  I would love to find a lightly used Rega RP10, and call my search over - but what do others think?

One thing that I believe I value is a simple setup.  I have read horror stories about how much time and frustration can go into getting a turntable setup and then constantly having to tinker for optimal performance.  I don't see myself enjoying that part of the process.

Thanks!

hikerneil
theflattire
132 posts
 

Get a good phono stage, something in line with the TT you get.  My phono stage cost more than my TT.

A used Rega P8/10 would be nice.  RB880 and RB3000 are nice.

I got a used VPI Prime for $3k and am happy.  I think $3-4k is a good range; most of the tables have nice arms.

tablejockey
3,793 posts
 

 "I would love to find a lightly used Rega RP10, and call my search over"

Plan on budget for phonostage as mentioned to fully appreciate whatever you decide to get.

Your setup is ready for "the next level.'

hikerneil OP
22 posts
 

I really hate to ask stupid questions, but I will anyway.... why would I not just use the MM or MC input on my McIntosh tube preamp?  Isn't this a "phonostage"?   

And like I said, my apologies for the question - I am learning this analog as I go!

ghdprentice
6,428 posts
 

You ask a good question. I think making a one step up to get the most out of the rest of your equipment makes sense.

If you buy a new turntable, preferably from a dealer, or in the case of VPI diect. You should receive it all ready to go and not need to touch it for at least 2,000 hours. So, what is that 3,000 albums.

To that end, i would look in the $5K range. This gets you into the audiophile range. I find that massive tables like the non-direct drive VPI are dead quiet with awesome bass and have a pretty low cost to sound quality ratio. Tables like Rega and Linn are more lively sounding. One of the advantages of Linn is you can get one in the $4K range fully equipped with cartridge or can upgrade one or two parts when you initially buy it, and then in the future upgrade all the way to their top of the line, one component at a time. But it is best to have a dealer assemble. On the other hand, if the cartridge is already mounted a turntable like VPI Prime and Aries are incredibly simple and are unsprung so there are no adjustments.

I do not fiddle with turntables. I am a klutz and impatient. I buy from dealers. They set it up and make sure it is optimally performing and that is it.

For reference, here were last years recommended turntables from Stereophile. Lots are really expensive, but many of them offer more budget oriented options.

 

 

theflattire
132 posts
 

@hikerneil 

IMO, most onboard phono stages are ok at best.

Phono stages cost from $20 to $20k.  I don't think you have a reference phono stage tucked away in your Mac.

A good phono stage should also have a dedicated power supply, something an onboard stage won't have.

IMO, the phono stage is the most important component in a vinyl set up; everything has to go through it.  You can have the most brilliant TT/cart, and it will only sound as good as your phono stage.

For P8/10, I'd want a phono stage in the $2k range.  If you decide to throw a $2-3k cart on you new TT, at least you know the phono stage isn't a bottleneck.

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