TTempting.....?

[Drummerdave]

Hello y'all.

I'm in the market for a new turntable and have been saving a few quid each month to fund the purchase.

My current TT is an early Project Debut which I've had since the late 90s. With the resurgent interest in vinyl and my increasingly glitchy music streaming experiences, I feel that now is the time to upgrade to a high(er) quality analogue front end.

I've been reading lots of reviews of various turntables in different price brackets, my starting point being the new Rega RP3. I managed to get to listen to one in a hifi shop in Belfast recently, but it simply didn't sound impressive. It was connected to an Arcam A49 and Monitor Audio Gold 300s but the sound was ininvolving and to my ears, not much better than my Project. Very surprising considering the quality of the equipment. The shop owner then switched speakers to the £15k PL500 IIs which just hurt my ears.

I came away slightly disillusioned, maybe it was a mismatch of components ( £600 TT with nearly £20K of amp+speakers) or maybe I was expecting too much.

Anyway, I've continued to save and am now approaching the £ level of the Clearaudio Concept. However I'm not sure if there is anywhere in NI to audition one. It gets some great reviews but there are also people saying that there are better alternatives.

Alternatives like the Analogue works One. Or the Marantz TT-15S1. Or one of the top Project models. These are all escalating in price though, the AW One with tonearm and cartridge is going to cost twice that of the Concept (so presumably would indeed sound better?)

I'm quite willing to save for another few months if I think it will be worth it. This could eventually take me into Michell Gyro SE territory, which is a turntable I have lusted after for years. I plan to build on my old record collection and want to have the best turntable I can afford to enjoy old and new vinyl.

The point of all this waffling is that I'm not sure what to do. I realise that ideally I should listen to all the decks I can on order to make the right decision, but I'd be grateful if someone could comment on the pros and cons of the turntables I've mentioned, and maybe suggest some alternatives.

Thanks.

DD

 

[ifor]

would tempt me.

 

[Al ears]

Hello y'all.

I'm in the market for a new turntable and have been saving a few quid each month to fund the purchase.

My current TT is an early Project Debut which I've had since the late 90s. With the resurgent interest in vinyl and my increasingly glitchy music streaming experiences, I feel that now is the time to upgrade to a high(er) quality analogue front end.

I've been reading lots of reviews of various turntables in different price brackets, my starting point being the new Rega RP3. I managed to get to listen to one in a hifi shop in Belfast recently, but it simply didn't sound impressive. It was connected to an Arcam A49 and Monitor Audio Gold 300s but the sound was ininvolving and to my ears, not much better than my Project. Very surprising considering the quality of the equipment. The shop owner then switched speakers to the £15k PL500 IIs which just hurt my ears.

I came away slightly disillusioned, maybe it was a mismatch of components ( £600 TT with nearly £20K of amp+speakers) or maybe I was expecting too much.

Anyway, I've continued to save and am now approaching the £ level of the Clearaudio Concept. However I'm not sure if there is anywhere in NI to audition one. It gets some great reviews but there are also people saying that there are better alternatives.

Alternatives like the Analogue works One. Or the Marantz TT-15S1. Or one of the top Project models. These are all escalating in price though, the AW One with tonearm and cartridge is going to cost twice that of the Concept (so presumably would indeed sound better?)

I'm quite willing to save for another few months if I think it will be worth it. This could eventually take me into Michell Gyro SE territory, which is a turntable I have lusted after for years. I plan to build on my old record collection and want to have the best turntable I can afford to enjoy old and new vinyl.

The point of all this waffling is that I'm not sure what to do. I realise that ideally I should listen to all the decks I can on order to make the right decision, but I'd be grateful if someone could comment on the pros and cons of the turntables I've mentioned, and maybe suggest some alternatives.

Thanks.

DD

It would be very interesting to know which cartridge was being utilised in that demo of the Rega.

I don't really care too much what peope say about the turntable itself, it's mainly down to esthetics, most can happily spin a platter at the required speed, the crux is the tonearm and cartridge combo. With this in mind don't be afraid to look outside the two normally recommended. I might suggest anything by Origin Live would be a good place to start although not sure what dealers you have over there. EDIT: forget that I have just seen their current prices - ever thought of a second hand ?

My main suggestion to you is do not buy into one of the 'packages' offered these days and insist the turntable comes without the usual basic cartridges fitted. In the majority of cases they are a waste of money. Get a turntable onto which you can fit a good third-party cartridge from the off. It's no wonder there are a lot of newbies that are disappointed with their new turntable package when it arrives.

 

[Deleted member 108165]

would tempt me.

That's because you're into wooden chopping boards... I'm more into the acrylic chopping board myself *biggrin*

 

[Al ears]

would tempt me.

That's because you're into wooden chopping boards... I'm more into the acrylic chopping board myself *biggrin*

Be aware acrylic, of any colour, is a veritable dust-magnet. ;-)

Although it does make a more hygenic chopping board.

 

[Freddy58]

I've been reading lots of reviews of various turntables in different price brackets, my starting point being the new Rega RP3. I managed to get to listen to one in a hifi shop in Belfast recently, but it simply didn't sound impressive. It was connected to an Arcam A49 and Monitor Audio Gold 300s but the sound was ininvolving and to my ears, not much better than my Project.

I agree with Al. If it had a 'decent' cartridge on it, your opinion might well have been different.

 

[Freddy58]

I've been reading lots of reviews of various turntables in different price brackets, my starting point being the new Rega RP3. I managed to get to listen to one in a hifi shop in Belfast recently, but it simply didn't sound impressive. It was connected to an Arcam A49 and Monitor Audio Gold 300s but the sound was ininvolving and to my ears, not much better than my Project.

I agree with Al. If it had a 'decent' cartridge on it, your opinion might well have been different.

I am assuming he means the Planar 3 and not RP3, this generally comes prefitted with the not-so-wonderful Elys 2 so I am not really surprised.

As you may recall, I have an old Planar 3 with an RB300. A while back I fitted a Goldring 1042 which made a huge difference, so even at this relatively low level, I know only too well the importance of a decent cartridge

 

[Al ears]

I've been reading lots of reviews of various turntables in different price brackets, my starting point being the new Rega RP3. I managed to get to listen to one in a hifi shop in Belfast recently, but it simply didn't sound impressive. It was connected to an Arcam A49 and Monitor Audio Gold 300s but the sound was ininvolving and to my ears, not much better than my Project.

I agree with Al. If it had a 'decent' cartridge on it, your opinion might well have been different.

I am assuming he means the new Planar 3 and not RP3, this generally comes prefitted with the not-so-wonderful Elys 2 so I am not really surprised.

 

[Drummerdave]

It was the Elys 2 cartridge that was used in the demo.

I'll take your advice on the need to buy a third party cart, once I decide on which TT to get. Thanks

 

[friendly_ghost]

My main suggestion to you is do not buy into one of the 'packages' offered these days and insist the turntable comes without the usual basic cartridges fitted. In the majority of cases they are a waste of money. Get a turntable onto which you can fit a good third-party cartridge from the off. It's no wonder there are a lot of newbies that are disappointed with their new turntable package when it arrives.

Might I suggest the exception to this rule, being the AW TT Zero? It comes with a Jelco SA-750 tonearm and Audio Technica 440mlb cart, which is recommended on this forum quite a lot.
I believe the package trades owners for 1500 pounds (so Clearaudio Concept money)

 

[Al ears]

My main suggestion to you is do not buy into one of the 'packages' offered these days and insist the turntable comes without the usual basic cartridges fitted. In the majority of cases they are a waste of money. Get a turntable onto which you can fit a good third-party cartridge from the off. It's no wonder there are a lot of newbies that are disappointed with their new turntable package when it arrives.

Might I suggest the exception to this rule, being the AW TT Zero? It comes with a Jelco SA-750 tonearm and Audio Technica 440mlb cart, which is recommended on this forum quite a lot.I believe the package trades owners for 1500 pounds (so Clearaudio Concept money)

It's not an exception no. I think you will find that, as standard, the TT Zero comes fitted with an Audio Technica AT100 cartridge which is a completely different beast.

 

[friendly_ghost]

My main suggestion to you is do not buy into one of the 'packages' offered these days and insist the turntable comes without the usual basic cartridges fitted. In the majority of cases they are a waste of money. Get a turntable onto which you can fit a good third-party cartridge from the off. It's no wonder there are a lot of newbies that are disappointed with their new turntable package when it arrives.

Might I suggest the exception to this rule, being the AW TT Zero? It comes with a Jelco SA-750 tonearm and Audio Technica 440mlb cart, which is recommended on this forum quite a lot.I believe the package trades owners for 1500 pounds (so Clearaudio Concept money)

It's not an exception no. I think you will find that, as standard, the TT Zero comes fitted with an Audio Technica AT100 cartridge which is a completely different beast.

You are offcourse right, is it the Zero+ that gets the 440 then? I don't know about the price then...

 

[Al ears]

My main suggestion to you is do not buy into one of the 'packages' offered these days and insist the turntable comes without the usual basic cartridges fitted. In the majority of cases they are a waste of money. Get a turntable onto which you can fit a good third-party cartridge from the off. It's no wonder there are a lot of newbies that are disappointed with their new turntable package when it arrives.

Might I suggest the exception to this rule, being the AW TT Zero? It comes with a Jelco SA-750 tonearm and Audio Technica 440mlb cart, which is recommended on this forum quite a lot.I believe the package trades owners for 1500 pounds (so Clearaudio Concept money)

It's not an exception no. I think you will find that, as standard, the TT Zero comes fitted with an Audio Technica AT100 cartridge which is a completely different beast.

You are offcourse right, is it the Zero+ that gets the 440 then? I don't know about the price then...

Never heard of that one. As far as I was aware any deck they do above the entry level TT Zero comes bare i.e. without an arm or cartridge. At least they did when I last looked (after they bought out the TT Two).

 

[friendly_ghost]

I based that on this review: http://analogueworks.co.uk/reveiws/hi-fi-choice-zero-review.pdf

 

[Al ears]

I based that on this review: http://analogueworks.co.uk/reveiws/hi-fi-choice-zero-review.pdf

I see, perhaps this is something you can configure yourself because it doesn't occur on their website now.

 

[ifor]

The TT Zero and the TT Zero+ are now both without tonearm and cartridge. £800 and £900 respectively. I think the difference is unveneered or veneered.

 

[Al ears]

The TT Zero and the TT Zero+ are now both without tonearm and cartridge. £800 and £900 respectively. I think the difference is unveneered or veneered.

Thanks for your clarification. It is surprising that, even though it has been reviewed only once (HiFi Choice Feb 2016), there is still no mention of it on their website. A quick web search also does not find it. Where did you get those prices from Ifor?

Was it purely a 'one off'?

 

[ifor]

DA and AW are one and the same.

 

[Al ears]

DA and AW are one and the same.

I see. You live and learn... ;-)

 

[chebby]

No lid shown, or mentioned, or listed under 'related products'. Can't see evidence of hinges on an image search.

I don't like unprotected TTs (nor dusty tonearms) no matter what purist/righteous/hair-shirt philosophy is being furthered by eliminating lids.

(I guess some cling film could be draped over their TT after use, or the empty carton popped over it!)

 

[ifor]

I don't like unprotected TTs (nor dusty tonearms) no matter what purist/righteous/hair-shirt philosophy is being furthered by eliminating lids.

i don't disagree.

 

[Al ears]

I don't like unprotected TTs (nor dusty tonearms) no matter what purist/righteous/hair-shirt philosophy is being furthered by eliminating lids.

i don't disagree.

Me neither but it seems to be the way most TT manufacturers are going. It's a pain especially where the TT itself is prodominantly made of acrylic. Dust is the killer of LPs, amongst other things, but preventative measures now appear to mean additional outlay in the form of a third-party acrylic cover.

Never in my day ...........................

 

[chebby]

No arm either!

So it's actually a grand (with Moth/Rega arm) before you have an actual turntable, rather than a lump of over-hyped plywood (read their eulogy to effing plywood if you need a giggle) with a - ubiquitous - Premotec motor nailed to it.

 

[ifor]

"free standing motor pod."

 

[Drummerdave]

ordered.......