How much would you spend on a turntable?

[CJSF]

sounds really interesting - surely not that much to get a piece of slate made up the same size as a rega plinth

From what I have been told, it looks like a grand or so??? Plus one would need machining, a lot of suck it and see'ing :? Not got the money or the inclination these days. If I cant do it myself, its a non starter, unless someone out-there with the skills and facilities to turn my ideas into reality, and be prepared for some disappointments?

Remember Steve, my Rega P5, is very much a 'non slate' version of what I have in mind. The plinth is much modified, as is the glass platter, The big changes, steps forward from where I am now by using slate, is the motor mounting and the use of an arm board . . . ???? All pipe dreams?

As has been mentioned, a Garrard/SME does not need a slate plinth, there are wood versions out there, as are there Rega mods., with solid 2" wood plinths. There is my own P5, the original plinth lending itself to modification, no need for fancy machining. The original glass platter now modified incorporates a flywheel mass of 3.2kg,, three of those kgs' are isolated from the cartridge, which in turn is isolated from the Audio Mods arm.

Despite all that, where would a slate Rega take us, thinking about it, its a concept, it could no longer be called a Rega? . . . I dont know anyone who has tried slate so we dont know. Even if they have, 'did they/have they' considered the various options like arm/motor/bearing mounts . . . the same applies to the wood and acrylic options, a whole new can of worms . . . ?

Something for those inclined to get the head around . . . ?

CJSF

 

[lindsayt]

Upper limit? In excess of £10k. If you are serious about LPs.

I am very serious about LP's and 12" singles.

£100 (plus mods) to £4000 (no mods required) is enough to buy you one of the best sounding turntables ever made. I paid £2250 for my EMT 950 five years ago.

 

[Lost Angeles]

I reckon you need to cost in a Phono Stage as well if you want a true cost.

Was that directed at CJSF??

Sorry, no, I was trying to make the point probably poorly that the true cost of a TT needs to include the Phone stage which can be overlooked.

I was out all day yesterday hence the late reply.

 

[CJSF]

I reckon you need to cost in a Phono Stage as well if you want a true cost.

Was that directed at CJSF??

Sorry, no, I was trying to make the point probably poorly that the true cost of a TT needs to include the Phone stage which can be overlooked.

I was out all day yesterday hence the late reply.

Thats only if one does not have suitable matching ancillary kit . . . I did not take the post personally, and in any case my phono stage, amp etc is more than adequate for a quality TT front end. Would be 'nice' to upgrade the ancillary stuff, I have a hankering for the EAR M/C phono stage and a move to the top of the range Sumiko would be nice . . . but is only a maybe type thought, if I had nothing better to spend my money on?

The TT I have serves very well indeed, satisfyingly upgraded and modified by myself over the two years I have owned the original P5, bought as an ex dem model. With the title of the thread in mind, my P5 has cost me £1695.00, in total, that includes the cartridge and arm. So 'thats what I'm prepared to spend on a TT'. That does not include any adjustment I might recoup with the sale of the replaced items, I haven't sold any . . . !

Of course there is more to a good sound than just a fancy TT, things like quality amplification, M/C transformers, personal opinion; an essential for M/C cartridges. A 'valve' phono stage, again essential IMHO, even if you play into a SS amplifier?

In my case, even the TT support was a DIY recycle job made from an old open back cottage type arm chair, looks great does a superb job, did not cost me a penny.

All food for though and a new thread?

Sitting back enjoying Jeff Becks at the moment.

CJSF

 

[Al ears]

...and there was me thinking Becks was a lager.

Beck is the guitarist, and a very good one at that..

 

[plastic penguin]

Certainly wouldn't spend anymore than a £1000 (new RRP), so a midrange Pro-ject, Rega RP6 or a s/hand ClearAudio are the only feasible choices. The main reason being is I can't justify spending more on a source that has an equal share with CDP and FM radio.

 

[stevebrock]

Certainly wouldn't spend anymore than a £1000 (new RRP), so a midrange Pro-ject, Rega RP6 or a s/hand ClearAudio are the only feasible choices. The main reason being is I can't justify spending more on a source that has an equal share with CDP and FM radio.

Thats understandable PP

I cannot stomach ever investing on my my digital end as 95% of my listening is vinyl - so this where and future funds will be going in this area & possibly speakers (Kudos)

 

[CJSF]

Certainly wouldn't spend anymore than a £1000 (new RRP), so a midrange Pro-ject, Rega RP6 or a s/hand ClearAudio are the only feasible choices. The main reason being is I can't justify spending more on a source that has an equal share with CDP and FM radio.

The beauty from my point of view PP, is that my cost has been spread over 24 months. Makes the expense much more bearable, as well as the satisfaction of achieving a goal; 'that is my sound, I did it my way ' . . . 8)

The way I think at the moment, there is little I want to do now, to TT or the system as a whole, its satisfies me. I can dream, but thats where it stops?

CJSF

 

[plastic penguin]

Certainly wouldn't spend anymore than a £1000 (new RRP), so a midrange Pro-ject, Rega RP6 or a s/hand ClearAudio are the only feasible choices. The main reason being is I can't justify spending more on a source that has an equal share with CDP and FM radio.

Thats understandable PP

I cannot stomach ever investing on my my digital end as 95% of my listening is vinyl - so this where and future funds will be going in this area & possibly speakers (Kudos)

Exactly my point. I haven't spun any black stuff for over a week, whereas the radio has been a constant. Then again, I can go two weeks of playing nothing but records... I blow hot and cold with vinyl.

I call it the 'Hi-Fi shift'.

 

[plastic penguin]

Excuse my ignorance, but were those Garrards that good? I'd always associated Garrards with record players, or low end Sp 25's...

I've owned two - the paupers SP25 MKV and even cheaper B20. Between them I had for 10 years and they were excellent for the price. You'll hear some people cry "I worked at a Garrard dealers and 25,000 new units were returned each week blah blah blah..."

Yes, they were fitted to a load of record players/music centres but they also made fabulous TTs on their own terms.

Here's my Garrard B20 still with the original Ortofon cart. It's still in the loft today.

 

[jerry klinger]

:shhh:

[ The fact that the 301's / 401's, ancient though they may be, are still making three-figure sums on fleabay should tell everyone something.

Well, it certainly tells you that once the Far Eastern buyers get an idea into their heads, they pursue it to the ultimate (silly prices, as with LS3/5as).

I found it hard to remove the rumble and other anomalies from the 301 or 401. 301 has a sweeter top-end, 401 is overall better but neither is as good as a top modern deck like the SME 10, Rega RP* or LP12 (latest form). In my very humble opinion. :shhh:

 

[Al ears]

To which you are very entitled.

Thanks for your feedback on these turntables.

 

[Tear Drop]

:shhh:

[ The fact that the 301's / 401's, ancient though they may be, are still making three-figure sums on fleabay should tell everyone something.

Well, it certainly tells you that once the Far Eastern buyers get an idea into their heads, they pursue it to the ultimate (silly prices, as with LS3/5as).

I found it hard to remove the rumble and other anomalies from the 301 or 401. 301 has a sweeter top-end, 401 is overall better but neither is as good as a top modern deck like the SME 10, Rega RP* or LP12 (latest form). In my very humble opinion. :shhh:

Just for the record I have never heard any of the so-called Garrard anomalies in 15 years of listening. I really don't know what people have done wrong when I read about it.

 

[Al ears]

:shhh:

[ The fact that the 301's / 401's, ancient though they may be, are still making three-figure sums on fleabay should tell everyone something.

Well, it certainly tells you that once the Far Eastern buyers get an idea into their heads, they pursue it to the ultimate (silly prices, as with LS3/5as).

I found it hard to remove the rumble and other anomalies from the 301 or 401. 301 has a sweeter top-end, 401 is overall better but neither is as good as a top modern deck like the SME 10, Rega RP* or LP12 (latest form). In my very humble opinion. :shhh:

Just for the record I have never heard any of the so-called Garrard anomalies in 15 years of listening. I really don't know what people have done wrong when I read about it.

Rim-drives have always had the 'rumble' association. It's the way they are driven that causes it and it is well documented. What other 'anamolies' he refers to I am not sure of.

 

[jerry klinger]

Rim-drives have always had the 'rumble' association. It's the way they are driven that causes it and it is well documented. What other 'anamolies' he refers to I am not sure of.

... just the fact that you have to mount them and possibly tweak them in certain ways to bring the sound up-to-date.

I should add some heavy cred here (man) - bought my first Garrard in the 1970s - a 4HF, much-loved till it fell apart.

 

[Al ears]

Rim-drives have always had the 'rumble' association. It's the way they are driven that causes it and it is well documented. What other 'anamolies' he refers to I am not sure of.

... just the fact that you have to mount them and possibly tweak them in certain ways to bring the sound up-to-date.

I should add some heavy cred here (man) - bought my first Garrard in the 1970s - a 4HF, much-loved till it fell apart.

Fell apart? A Garrard? Surely not.

 

[bemaniac]

In theory I could just keep getting bits for my rp1 new cart, new belt already. Then new plinth, 24v motor therefore new psu, new tonearm then even a new wooden base.

 

[iceman16]

Have'nt read the whole discussion but IME as a previous Gyro se owner, setting up the deck is the most important followed by the arm, cartridge(again alignment) and phonostage.. Isolation is also very important!

 

[floyd droid]

as a previous Gyro se owner, setting up the deck is the most important followed by the arm,

Erm , tell me how you set the bounce without an arm bolted on , I'm intrigued .

 

[Leehallam]

I have the Rega RP8 with Apehta cartrige, through Graham slee elavator and Graham Slee MM Phono stage £3.5K well spent but I think this is my limit now.

Lee