What turntable for the Leema?

[plastic penguin]

Although I haven't shut the door on other brands (Thorens upgrade looks particularly interesting. Thanks iFor), I am slowly gravitating towards ClearAudio Concept. I've read some interesting info on it today and (apparently) you can upgrade the arm and/or cartridge, which could be done in stages.

I've also seen the ClearAudio Performance/satisfy package for about £2600. It is over my budget but might be worthwhile at least looking at it as an option. Both I've seen from established dealers.

 

[ifor]

http://www.ptpaudio.com/solid9.html

With and Audiomods arm and a G1042 cartridge.

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks ifor. Not as nice looking as the Thorens.

That older TD-looking model looks the dogs.

 

[stevebrock]

Oh good. Can't wait.

the suspense will kill me

 

[Al ears]

Although I haven't shut the door on other brands (Thorens upgrade looks particularly interesting. Thanks iFor), I am slowly gravitating towards ClearAudio Concept. I've read some interesting info on it today and (apparently) you can upgrade the arm and/or cartridge, which could be done in stages.

I've also seen the ClearAudio Performance/satisfy package for about £2600. It is over my budget but might be worthwhile at least looking at it as an option. Both I've seen from established dealers.

The new Thorens looks decidedly retro but unfortunately the price isn't...... ;-)

 

[plastic penguin]

Although I haven't shut the door on other brands (Thorens upgrade looks particularly interesting. Thanks iFor), I am slowly gravitating towards ClearAudio Concept. I've read some interesting info on it today and (apparently) you can upgrade the arm and/or cartridge, which could be done in stages.

I've also seen the ClearAudio Performance/satisfy package for about £2600. It is over my budget but might be worthwhile at least looking at it as an option. Both I've seen from established dealers.

The new Thorens looks decidedly retro but unfortunately the price isn't...... ;-)

Had a sneaky feeling it wouldn't come cheap. I'll either email or phone them later on Monday for the full gen.

 

[Al ears]

Although I haven't shut the door on other brands (Thorens upgrade looks particularly interesting. Thanks iFor), I am slowly gravitating towards ClearAudio Concept. I've read some interesting info on it today and (apparently) you can upgrade the arm and/or cartridge, which could be done in stages.

I've also seen the ClearAudio Performance/satisfy package for about £2600. It is over my budget but might be worthwhile at least looking at it as an option. Both I've seen from established dealers.

The new Thorens looks decidedly retro but unfortunately the price isn't...... ;-)

Had a sneaky feeling it wouldn't come cheap. I'll either email or phone them later on Monday for the full gen.

Its a range of 3 decks with the 907 (most expensive) being reviewed in latest HiFi + magazine at £11,000....

 

[ifor]

Al's looking at the new Thorens not Inspire's upgrade.

 

[Al ears]

Al's looking at the new Thorens not Inspire's upgrade.

I wasn't too sure who PP was referring to when he said he'd phone them, on reflection I realise he may have been talking about Inspire Audio...

 

[plastic penguin]

Al - I was referring to ifor's link to Inspire. But if it is anywhere near the figure you've mention they can stick it where the sun never shines (Oh matron!). *biggrin*

I've emailed them. Awaiting a reply which hopefully will be today.

 

[nopiano]

Al - I was referring to ifor's link to Inspire. But if it is anywhere near the figure you've mention they can stick it where the sun never shines (Oh matron!). *biggrin*

I've emailed them. Awaiting a reply which hopefully will be today.

I can see the appeal, as Thorens always smacked of Swiss engineering yet they never exploited the design, unlike Linn. It looks like the Project Classic too, but with more scope to tweak. No idea how good it sounds, and presumably you need a donor turntable to begin with. If I read the price list correctly they charge just £130 to fit everything with your arm choice on top.

 

[plastic penguin]

Al - I was referring to ifor's link to Inspire. But if it is anywhere near the figure you've mention they can stick it where the sun never shines (Oh matron!). *biggrin*

I've emailed them. Awaiting a reply which hopefully will be today.

I can see the appeal, as Thorens always smacked of Swiss engineering yet they never exploited the design, unlike Linn. It looks like the Project Classic too, but with more scope to tweak. No idea how good it sounds, and presumably you need a donor turntable to begin with. If I read the price list correctly they charge just £130 to fit everything with your arm choice on top.

Strangely, just had a phone call from Inspire. Yes, they sometimes have a donor table in stock or I can source one. Very interesting indeed based on entry-level arm and subject to which cart I choose. He's going to confirm prices by mail later today.

He reckons you'll need to at least double the cost if you was to buy a brand new turntable of same/similar sound quality. But we all know that's subjective. But it has whet my apetite.

 

[Al ears]

Al - I was referring to ifor's link to Inspire. But if it is anywhere near the figure you've mention they can stick it where the sun never shines (Oh matron!). *biggrin*

I've emailed them. Awaiting a reply which hopefully will be today.

The figure I gave was for the new Thorens 907 and has nothing to do with the Inspire pricing for its Enigma deck, which is £1750 I believe (this is presumably without a tonearm)

However, their website says they do take trade-ins

 

[chebby]

More like ...

£650 for upgrade

Plus a 'donor' Thorens that you buy first.

Plus £130 to rebuild it prior to their upgrade work.

Plus an arm if your 'donor' Thorens doesn't have one.

Maybe they can clarify whether the rebuild fee is combined if buying the entire upgrade 'package'.

EDIT: I had this post half typed for the last hour or more so i've duplicated some of what other people have posted.

 

[Al ears]

More like ...

£650 for upgrade

Plus a 'donor' Thorens that you buy first.

Plus £130 to rebuild it prior to their upgrade work.

Plus an arm if your 'donor' Thorens doesn't have one.

Maybe they can clarify whether the rebuild fee is combined if buying the entire upgrade 'package'.

EDIT: I had this post half typed for the last hour or more so i've duplicated some of what other people have posted.

Chebby is correct. My post was, mistakenly, for the Enigma turntable which is their Goldring Lenco 75 conversion which was mentione here (by chebby) some time ago...

It must be Monday................ ho hum!

 

[plastic penguin]

Still haven't received a confirmation email yet. But he did say entry-level arm is a Rega RB202 (£190), so the end cost will be influenced by which arm and cart you choose.

Must say I am quite excited by the prospect of a pimped up Thorens TD160.

He also said that some of the internals are sourced from Linn.

 

[nopiano]

Still haven't received a confirmation email yet. But he did say entry-level arm is a Rega RB202 (£190), so the end cost will be influenced by which arm and cart you choose.

Must say I am quite excited by the prospect of a pimped up Thorens TD160.

He also said that some of the internals are sourced from Linn.

I read on their website that springs etc are Linn, as well as the lid and hinges. I guess Thorens don't still make any spares or accessories for it. (The first really serious TT I ever heard was the lovely TD125 with electronic speed control, and a SME 3009 with Shure V15/II)

 

[plastic penguin]

Still haven't received a confirmation email yet. But he did say entry-level arm is a Rega RB202 (£190), so the end cost will be influenced by which arm and cart you choose.

Must say I am quite excited by the prospect of a pimped up Thorens TD160.

He also said that some of the internals are sourced from Linn.

I read on their website that springs etc are Linn, as well as the lid and hinges. I guess Thorens don't still make any spares or accessories for it. (The first really serious TT I ever heard was the lovely TD125 with electronic speed control, and a SME 3009 with Shure V15/II)

Yup, that's right about defunct Thorens spares. But I guess springs, hinges, lids are pretty much like-for-like.

 

[plastic penguin]

Recieved an email back from Inspire. The prices don't look too horrifying. I have asked for a price for a better Rega arm and whether he can source a ClearAudio Virtuoso or Goldring 2400 cartridges. "We can source you a turntable such as a used Thorens 160 or similar for £350 "The costs to upgrade it are: Full Inspire upgrade package £650 (includes solid wood plinth in Light Oak, Walnut, Maple, Cherry, new Linn springs grommets, hi spec suspension bolts, subchassis damping. Linn hinges and hinge brackets, clear acrylic lid, rigid baseboard and feet, mains lead, Acri mat)Build £130 A new arm such as a Rega 202 we can do for £190 Choice of cartridges from £35 upwards The completed turntable would outperform other turntables at over twice the cost"

 

[plastic penguin]

Recieved an email back from Inspire. The prices don't look too horrifying. I have asked for a price for a better Rega arm and whether he can source a ClearAudio Virtuoso or Goldring 2400 cartridges. "We can source you a turntable such as a used Thorens 160 or similar for £350 "The costs to upgrade it are: Full Inspire upgrade package £650 (includes solid wood plinth in Light Oak, Walnut, Maple, Cherry, new Linn springs grommets, hi spec suspension bolts, subchassis damping. Linn hinges and hinge brackets, clear acrylic lid, rigid baseboard and feet, mains lead, Acri mat)Build £130 A new arm such as a Rega 202 we can do for £190 Choice of cartridges from £35 upwards The completed turntable would outperform other turntables at over twice the cost"

What happened to the paragraphs?

 

[Al ears]

Recieved an email back from Inspire. The prices don't look too horrifying. I have asked for a price for a better Rega arm and whether he can source a ClearAudio Virtuoso or Goldring 2400 cartridges. "We can source you a turntable such as a used Thorens 160 or similar for £350 "The costs to upgrade it are: Full Inspire upgrade package £650 (includes solid wood plinth in Light Oak, Walnut, Maple, Cherry, new Linn springs grommets, hi spec suspension bolts, subchassis damping. Linn hinges and hinge brackets, clear acrylic lid, rigid baseboard and feet, mains lead, Acri mat)Build £130 A new arm such as a Rega 202 we can do for £190 Choice of cartridges from £35 upwards The completed turntable would outperform other turntables at over twice the cost"

What happened to the paragraphs?

Not bad I suppose. If they source the donor turntable it saves you some hassle but I am sure you could find better deals yourself that would set you back a fair bit less than £350

 

[ifor]

with buy it now prices from £160.

 

[plastic penguin]

You're right about finding a donor table cheaper, but at least it gives me some benchmark figures.

The bigger issue is whether it really compares sound-wise with a brand new model, such as a ClearAudio Concept or something of that ilk?

Would be good to get some feedback from people who've used Inspire.

 

[plastic penguin]

Just had a chat with nice chap from Bartletts. They stock ClearAudio TTs and carts. Over the next couple of weekends going to arrange a dem of the ClearAudio Concept package. He also said I can the same table with the Virtuoso cart (£1400 incl) and that'll give me a good comparison.

 

[ifor]

I've not yet heard a bad word about Inspire. Well worth a visit to their demo room near Chesterfield.