Who LOVES their under $ 1000 table combination ?


Okay.....here's the deal. I'm cuerrently driving my Rogue Audio Cronus integrated amp and Vandersteen 1C speakers with an NAD 533 turntable/Rega RB-250 arm/Goldring Elektra cartridge set-up. I was originally toying with the idea of switching to a thick acrylic platter, upgrading the sub-platter, adding shims to change VTA, and replacing the cartridge. .....Then I thought...that's all crazy. I should just buy a whole new set-up. So...what are some recommendations for table/cartridge combo. that will keep me at around $1000.00, sound considerably better than what I have now, and match well with my amp and apeakers ?
adam18
I Love my Micro Seiki MR611. I bought it 20 years ago for $AU350 and have only replaced belts and cartridges since (even the little light still works with the original globe!). It came with a Supex 900Super cart which I will get checked out soon for a retip, and a Grace F8 which I want to have checked too as it is old but rarely used. I now run an Ortofon MC15SuperII on it ($AU300) and run this through a Lehmann Black Cube Phono Stage (second hand for $AU250).

So, $AU900 and I love it. Mind you, I have discussed this model Micro Seiki with a guy on the Vinyl Engine who got his for free. There is one for sale at a second hand shop here for $AU550 which is still less than $1,000.

DS
I've found happiness with refurbished and slightly modded vintage. My Thorens TD150 MkII was free a few yeas back. Cleaned it up and applied several coats of oil-varnish mixture, put it on a walnut sub-plinth (I had this stuff on hand). Adding the cost of Mogami mic cable and Eichmanns for new interconnects, diy PC, new belt, modest dampening of the plinth, spikes, Hebie's mat, custom counterweight and outrigger for the TP13A arm, and a SoundSmith rebuilt Denon DL103 totals about $650. So far I've compared it to a handful of new plug 'n play rigs up to about the 2K range, and so far it's been no contest.

Jim
Since they were first introduced. It's arm that was supplied with it (a Sonograph LMT) can handle almost any cartridge. And, unlike most turnatbles, ALL adjustments can be made from the top of the plinth. You almost never see them up for sale used. Right now I have a Benz in it but I have used ortophons, Sumiko Blue Points (various incarnations) and others. When the Benz wears out I'm going to try a Denon 103 that I've been reading good things about.
Dear Adam18: Try to find a Technics SP10MK2 ( 400-600dls )or the one of Pauly ( SP15 ), a Lustre Acos tonearm ( 200.00 or similar. ) and any of the MM cartridges that I named here:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1200430667&read&3&4&

Jsadurni please make me a phone call to talk about your Denon poor performance.

Regards and enjoy the music.

Raul.