Old-School
Well-Known Member
What a daunting task.. The time has finally finally finally come where I feel the need to get a TT and get back to analog. I always compare what I hear to my first exposure to a stereo.. (my brothers system) and my current setup. Both a tough act to follow if I do say so myself. My brothers system was a Kenwood KA-5700 amp, BIC 960 table and technics linear phase speakers.. all new in the late 70's and sounded like a million bux.
You can check my system in my re introduction.
I spent $3000 on my digital source. $1000 for the CDT-1 and $2000 for the Dac3. Sooooo. if I spend the same money on a TT setup where to even start??
#1 My preamp does not have a phono section. So have to start there IMO... a ARC phono preamp? Maybe. A Little Bear T-10? A chinese copy of a famous circuit built into a new unit?? Fun and doable... an off the shelf solution of some sort??.. I'm not changing preamps though it might be best. and ULTIMATELY CHEAPER?
#2 a good TT. Now this is a can of worms from the word go. A table. A plinth. A arm. A cart. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. I doubt my choice will be a new unit.. so most likely used. I cant stand belts, so most likely direct drive.
Local I sniffed out a Thornes TD-160 super for $850, loaded with a Linn basik arm and Audio Technica AT95E cartridge. $850. A solid choice?????
Numerous technics units $300 range. I got no problem with them.. they are popular for a reason. They work. But Im looking for next level stuff here.
Linn LP-12. Linn arm. Ortofon cart. $1600. This makes my soul hurt due to a bad experience in the past. A solid contender though every linn owner I ever met was a colossal A-hole.
BIC 980 working for $175. Have to mention it due to a soft spot in my heart for BIC and likely out performs the linn on a good day.
Looking through a popular auction site there is no shortage of good choices.
My "dream" table is still the Oracle Delphi. Maybe i should just bite the bullet and get this???
My budget is $3000 for table (complete with arm and cart) and phono section. Lets see what this can of worms looks likle.
You can check my system in my re introduction.
I spent $3000 on my digital source. $1000 for the CDT-1 and $2000 for the Dac3. Sooooo. if I spend the same money on a TT setup where to even start??
#1 My preamp does not have a phono section. So have to start there IMO... a ARC phono preamp? Maybe. A Little Bear T-10? A chinese copy of a famous circuit built into a new unit?? Fun and doable... an off the shelf solution of some sort??.. I'm not changing preamps though it might be best. and ULTIMATELY CHEAPER?
#2 a good TT. Now this is a can of worms from the word go. A table. A plinth. A arm. A cart. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. I doubt my choice will be a new unit.. so most likely used. I cant stand belts, so most likely direct drive.
Local I sniffed out a Thornes TD-160 super for $850, loaded with a Linn basik arm and Audio Technica AT95E cartridge. $850. A solid choice?????
Numerous technics units $300 range. I got no problem with them.. they are popular for a reason. They work. But Im looking for next level stuff here.
Linn LP-12. Linn arm. Ortofon cart. $1600. This makes my soul hurt due to a bad experience in the past. A solid contender though every linn owner I ever met was a colossal A-hole.
BIC 980 working for $175. Have to mention it due to a soft spot in my heart for BIC and likely out performs the linn on a good day.
Looking through a popular auction site there is no shortage of good choices.
My "dream" table is still the Oracle Delphi. Maybe i should just bite the bullet and get this???
My budget is $3000 for table (complete with arm and cart) and phono section. Lets see what this can of worms looks likle.