Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
dansomeone
Well-Known Member
Audio Advice has an open box Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit in white for $424 with promo code AUDIOVIP. At that price you could upgrade the cartridge right away, and still be way under budget.
apassant
Member
You might be able to find a demo / open box Clearaudio Concept (with their MM cart) for that price (got mine for around 900€). Not that common though, and I don't know if it's well distributed in the US.
But it does 33/45/78 without the need to play with the belt / platter and is a very solid TT. I felt a great improvement over my RP3 w/ Goldring 2100, even with the default cart (now upgraded).
Dylanfan253
Active Member
Thanks for all the input everyone I’m trying to decide how important playing 78 records is, at this point I don’t see buying any but I’ve had quite a few given to me that I would enjoy listening to but ultimately it may be silly to spend money to play these because that money could go towards a cartridge and or stylus that would make everything else sound better. I am intrigued by the Technics options, I remember when hearing their rep talk about some of their lower priced options thinking that sounds like a great next upgrade. I don’t remember the specifics but it seemed to me without further research that the points made were quantifiable and that the trickle down effect from their more expensive tables made it sound like a great value. Aesthetics would be the least important factor for me but I like the looks of the direct drive options.
apassant
Member
FWIW the only time I'm using the 78rpm feature on the Clearaudio is to play the hidden track on this
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Jack White (2) - Lazaretto
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2014 Ultra LP Vinyl release of Lazaretto on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
If the ones you have are shellac records, I'd be careful using the same setup, as it's likely to damage your stylus.
Dylanfan253
Active Member
If you are to play shellac 78’s aren’t you supposed to have a different stylus for them ?FWIW the only time I'm using the 78rpm feature on the Clearaudio is to play the hidden track on this
Jack White (2) - Lazaretto
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2014 Ultra LP Vinyl release of Lazaretto on Discogs.
If the ones you have are shellac records, I'd be careful using the same setup, as it's likely to damage your stylus.
most definitely. If you were running something like the pioneer/Technics you could even have multiple carts on the go for each type of record because removable headshells makes swapping between them so easy!
apassant
Member
Yes, or that will damage the one you're using for vinyls. I was not sure what you meant when talking about your 78s, that's why I mentioned it
yeah i'll probably get a schiit magni and a kind of headphone that will actually take the higher frequencies of the audiophile reissues (M50s only do the normal hearing so analog doesn't do much for me.. i just like my headphones to sound warm.. like to feel the hits of a guitar for an example)
Dylanfan253
Active Member
I like the idea of being able to swap cartridges like would be possible with the removable headshell.
Dylanfan253
Active Member
Also is there any reason that I would not be able to swap my grado black over to the new table so I can defer the cost and also have a better way to quantify how the new table sounds, if I were to get a new table and cart it wouldn’t be as easy to separate the benefits of either.
None at all. Fitting and removing a cartridge is a really doable job you just need to be careful and take your time because the little wires and connections that attach to it are often pretty fragile. I find plastic tweezers an ideal tool because they’ll warp before you damage the connections.
Yeah just buy 2 or 3 headshells and you could have ready to go stereo/mono/78 etc carts.
Dylanfan253
Active Member
Yes and because of my mishap the other night I now have the rest of the stuff necessary to install and align the cartridge properly. At this point I just need to decide how much I want to spend. Right now I’ve theoretically nailed it down too either the pioneer plx 1000 or the technics sl1200 mk7. I’ve read as much as I could find so far about peoples experience who’ve used both and obviously the Technics is generally considered better and it should relative to it being nearly double the price but the main point of contention was that it was obvious with the feel and look of materials and the Technics felt more “solid” and more satisfying to use.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
I'll start by saying I haven't used and or handled the Technics in any way. BUT, I can tell you the PLX is built like a tank. That being said, if it's between these 2 at this point, I would definitely start weighing if the extra cash is worth it, if we were talking a couple hundred, ya, go with either. That being said, I think you would be happy with either of these.
In your mind, what are YOU really getting for the extra cost and is it worth it to YOU?
Dylanfan253
Active Member
The two being at different price points makes it easier because it’s just a matter of how much I choose to spend. Like you said I do believe I will be satisfied with either and if I go with the pioneer I can justify swapping over my grado black and upgrading to the 8mz stylus.
Djxfactor511
Well-Known Member
My mother in law is looking for Bluetooth bookshelf speakers for my brother in law and asked for suggestions. He's by no means an audiophile and spends just as much time listening to sports talk radio as he does music. I know nearly nothing about the Bluetooth speaker market, so need some advice.
I saw Edifier mentioned earlier (or maybe in another thread). Are these the best bang for your buck given a ~$175 budget?
Or one step up
I saw Edifier mentioned earlier (or maybe in another thread). Are these the best bang for your buck given a ~$175 budget?
Or one step up
Dylanfan253
Active Member
Decided to order the Pioneer table, thanks to everyone who gave advice or opinions. Most of you also guided me towards the entirety of my setup now and this is my second table purchase with all your help. Going to take advantage of the needle store deal and order the 8mz stylus for my grado black to swap over to the Pioneer.
Dylanfan253
Active Member
Since I will be inevitably searching for new carts to tinker with, are there any cartridges and or styli that are more “forgiving” when it comes to surface noise?
of the ones I’ve had the grado gold is streets ahead of either of the ortofon 2m red/blue