What is the sweet spot expenditure on turntables?

shafesk

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Hello everyone!

I was reading the best turntables 2015 on WHF today and made me wonder. I know that with the advent of modern technology, you don't have to spend a huge sum of money to get a great digital source. My Dac Magic 2 is good enough for me and although it is one of the cheapest components in my system I do not feel the need for getting an upgrade. I have heard sub 500 pound dacs too such as the Audiolab and Rega ones and don't feel that my money will get me a big enough upgrade. So I would say 200 pounds for a dac is the sweet spot for dacs. Of course, this might be totally subjective and someone will surely come along who will say that 1000 pounds on a digital source is absolutely necessary. Having said that I believe the general consensus is that you don't need to spend more than 200-500 pounds for a great dac.

What is the consensus on turntables? I am aware that to for turntables the law of diminishing returns hit at a much later stage than dacs, but what price range is that? I am satisfied with my Marants 5004 tt but it's ageing and I need a replacement soon. Any thoughts?
 

davedotco

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The sweetspot for vinyl players will probably vary given the quality and resolution of the system, so I am slightly qualifying my answer to that of the least expensive player that can play vinyl without the rather obvious 'sound signature' of budget players.

For me, that player is the Clearaudio Concept MC. The price in the uk has come down to a very reasonable £1395, though with a moving coil cartridge a separate phono stage such as the Clearaudio Nano at £225 may well be a necessity.

I heard this combo a year or so back when it was rather more expensive and thought it great value then, after the recent price reductions, I would suggest it is something of a bargain.
 

Waxy

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I spent £1300 on an Analogue Works TT1 with Origin Live Alliance Tonearm and Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge.

It sounds sweet and hits the spot.

Does that count?
 

chipd

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The sweet spot for me was around £1000 or just over. I bought a Rega RP6 and at the same time listened to an RP8 at twice the price which sounded nothing like twice as good!
 

matt49

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davedotco said:
For me, that player is the Clearaudio Concept MC. The price in the uk has come down to a very reasonable £1395, though with a moving coil cartridge a separate phono stage such as the Clearaudio Nano at £225 may well be a necessity.

I heard this combo a year or so back when it was rather more expensive and thought it great value then, after the recent price reductions, I would suggest it is something of a bargain.

Interesting, Dave. When I was thinking about a TT last summer, the Clearaudio Concept MC was one I really wanted to try. To my untutored eye the engineering seems sound, and it's also a good-looking machine.
 

matthewpiano

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The Rega RP3 with Rega's own Elys 2 cartridge and the optional TT PSU certainly sounds nothing like a budget turntable and gives me everything I want, even through an amplifier that excels with vinyl thanks to its excellent phono stage. I have heard more expensive turntables and certainly there are improvements to be had, particularly as arms and cartridges get more sophisticated, but it does very much depend on the resolution of the amplifier's phono stage, pre- and power-amp stages and the speakers being used.
 

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