New TT - help in shortlisting/building required

p_m_brown

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Hi all,

Had some trouble with the TT of late so thought I would invest in a 2M Black cartridge and a new Naim Stageline as my old Linn cart was starting to sound a bit rough.

Then the external tonearm wiring decided to die so its been shipped off to Audio Origami for a rewire so the Stageline and the cart haven't been used!

All this has got me thinking that this is as good an excuse as any to upgrade, as my very helpful dealer will take back the 2m Black cart should I decide to go a different route.

So, he was talking about a Clearadio Performance DC pack (I like the idea of the the switchable speeds) and the Rega RP8. Now, if I wanted to go MC with the RP8 kit rather than Clearaudio MM, I am sure he would swap the Stageline, but any other ideas, suggestions etc? Current TT is an aging Insipre Hifi Apollo TT with an aging Rega R700 tonearm.

Cheers

PMB
 

BigH

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p_m_brown said:
Hi all,

Had some trouble with the TT of late so thought I would invest in a 2M Black cartridge and a new Naim Stageline as my old Linn cart was starting to sound a bit rough.

Then the external tonearm wiring decided to die so its been shipped off to Audio Origami for a rewire so the Stageline and the cart haven't been used!

All this has got me thinking that this is as good an excuse as any to upgrade, as my very helpful dealer will take back the 2m Black cart should I decide to go a different route.

So, he was talking about a Clearadio Performance DC pack (I like the idea of the the switchable speeds) and the Rega RP8. Now, if I wanted to go MC with the RP8 kit rather than Clearaudio MM, I am sure he would swap the Stageline, but any other ideas, suggestions etc? Current TT is an aging Insipre Hifi Apollo TT with an aging Rega R700 tonearm.

Cheers

PMB

Why not get another Inspire?
 
BigH said:
p_m_brown said:
Hi all,

Had some trouble with the TT of late so thought I would invest in a 2M Black cartridge and a new Naim Stageline as my old Linn cart was starting to sound a bit rough.

Then the external tonearm wiring decided to die so its been shipped off to Audio Origami for a rewire so the Stageline and the cart haven't been used!

All this has got me thinking that this is as good an excuse as any to upgrade, as my very helpful dealer will take back the 2m Black cart should I decide to go a different route.

So, he was talking about a Clearadio Performance DC pack (I like the idea of the the switchable speeds) and the Rega RP8. Now, if I wanted to go MC with the RP8 kit rather than Clearaudio MM, I am sure he would swap the Stageline, but any other ideas, suggestions etc? Current TT is an aging Insipre Hifi Apollo TT with an aging Rega R700 tonearm.

Cheers

PMB

Why not get another Inspire?

Stick with a moving magnet cartridge.
 

p_m_brown

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Thanks gents.

Sticking with MM carts is certainly on the agenda for now, what I want is an extremely well made turntable that I can build on. Not sure that Inspire will really offer me that hence looking at other more well known brands. The Clearaudio would be the most straight forward upgrade but I can't help wondering that the Rega tts will be more upgradable. I have also been looking at the Gyro SE but I am a little stumped when it comes to arms.

Would my RB700 be good enough to use on a Gyro SE once rewired?
 

BigH

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p_m_brown said:
Thanks gents.

Sticking with MM carts is certainly on the agenda for now, what I want is an extremely well made turntable that I can build on. Not sure that Inspire will really offer me that hence looking at other more well known brands. The Clearaudio would be the most straight forward upgrade but I can't help wondering that the Rega tts will be more upgradable. I have also been looking at the Gyro SE but I am a little stumped when it comes to arms.

Would my RB700 be good enough to use on a Gyro SE once rewired?

Not sure what you mean by Rega is more upgradable?

I know that there are companies that specialist in Rega upgrades but does that not tell about the original, also any 3rd party upgrade will invalidate the warranty. I would be looking at Michell or Inspire myself with a maybe Nagaoko cartridge.
 

NSA_watch_my_toilet

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p_m_brown said:
Thanks gents.

Would my RB700 be good enough to use on a Gyro SE once rewired?

Probably yes.

In the other way, your "old" insipire is probably not that bad when compaired with actual available concurrents. IMHO, in terms of TT, we are always using the old designs as references. So "could a TT become old ?" is more a phylosophical question. if spare-parts are still available and the proper maintenance is done, I would say no.

But I can understand the need of some to change from times to times.
 

p_m_brown

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Old in the context that it needs some sort of motor or platter repair and I have lost a little confidence in it. I bought it 2nd hand so I don't know what kind of life it had prior to me hence wanting to upgrade.

I would like the new tt to last for a good few years and to be of good enough quality to warrant better arms and tweaks along the way.

If my rewired rega arm is good enough to keep hold of and use on a Gyro, then that will be a good option for me, but if not, the Gyro is going to be a little over budget with a decent tonearm hence looking at clear audio and the rp8.
 

BigH

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p_m_brown said:
Old in the context that it needs some sort of motor or platter repair and I have lost a little confidence in it. I bought it 2nd hand so I don't know what kind of life it had prior to me hence wanting to upgrade.

I would like the new tt to last for a good few years and to be of good enough quality to warrant better arms and tweaks along the way.

If my rewired rega arm is good enough to keep hold of and use on a Gyro, then that will be a good option for me, but if not, the Gyro is going to be a little over budget with a decent tonearm hence looking at clear audio and the rp8.

There are a few discounted Gyros around. Rega arms are used on the Gyros, its a Michell option, so i don't think that will be a problem. You will need to buy an arm board though, don't know the price of those. My feeling if you buy the Rega you may want to upgrade the sub platter etc, so the price will be about the same as the Gyro anyway. I would go for some demos. My advise is buy what you really want even if it does cost a bit more money.
 

stevebrock

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If you are getting a Gryo then an RB700 is more than adequate !

When I first got my Gyro I had a Tecnoarm - which is basically a modded RB250 and was very happy with !

Are you deffo getting a Gyro ? They are not diffucult to build & set up, but this is not someting to be rushed. It took me 2/3 hours to get mine set up but that included a the arm & cart too.

If you get a Gyro SE then deffo get the Orbe Clamp Upgrade I think it makes quite a big difference also the HR PSU when funds allow.

The Jury is out on a platter upgrade with some users saying its a negative - anyway I want to keep my deck a Gyro the spinning brass weights are mesmerising.
 

p_m_brown

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Hey Steve,

Well I must admit, I didn't realise they are were within budget which is especially true if my current arm is good enough!

Having had mine in bits, set up, stripped down, soldered and rebuilt, I am certainly not put off with setting a tt up. The Gyros are beautifully engineered and look like a tt I can really build on over the coming years, a better arm being at the top of the list! The add ons like the clamp and the power supply sound good too when funds allow.

Daft question here, but how do you change the speed?

Edit: just seen the adjuster!
 
p_m_brown said:
Hey Steve,

Well I must admit, I didn't realise they are were within budget which is especially true if my current arm is good enough!

Having had mine in bits, set up, stripped down, soldered and rebuilt, I am certainly not put off with setting a tt up. The Gyros are beautifully engineered and look like a tt I can really build on over the coming years, a better arm being at the top of the list! The add ons like the clamp and the power supply sound good too when funds allow.

Daft question here, but how do you change the speed?

Edit: just seen the adjuster!

There's an adjuster. :)

P.S.. best turntable you can get for the money. Your arm is plenty good enough. If you want to upgrade later there are plenty to choose from to suit. Audiomods, SME 309, Origin Live to name a few. Even know a chap that uses a Roksan Tabriz.
 

p_m_brown

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Thanks Steve and Al,

Not sure who has any in stock to listen to but gonna try and sort a cheeky demo on Friday if I can. Alas, I won't be spinning any records until the arm comes back from repair but will let you know how it goes, as and when it goes!

Thanks again for all your input!
 

p_m_brown

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Great afternoon yesterday spent listening to some great record players!

I ended up going with the Clearaudio Performance DC as it just sounded so much more detailed and open, with a lot more drive than the Gyro and techno arm. I think the Gyro would be great with a decent arm (think SME IV) but then we are talking about a 3k plus deck before cart! As it was, it sounded little thick and closed in.

Very happy with my new toy, will need to offload my brand new 2M black now to help pay for it!
 
p_m_brown said:
Great afternoon yesterday spent listening to some great record players!

I ended up going with the Clearaudio Performance DC as it just sounded so much more detailed and open, with a lot more drive than the Gyro and techno arm. I think the Gyro would be great with a decent arm (think SME IV) but then we are talking about a 3k plus deck before cart! As it was, it sounded little thick and closed in.

Very happy with my new toy, will need to offload my brand new 2M black now to help pay for it!

Enjoy. You should be able to recoup a good bit by selling the black.
 

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