$100 or $1000?

[jleon92f]

Hi Analog fans,

I need to know the difference in SOUND between a $100 AR-XA and a $ 1000 Rega TT?


Just want to know why I should spend That much more if they sound the same?:scratch2:

John.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1341391#post1341391

 

[Des_Lab]

Good question. I'd like to know the answer myself. I'm still waiting for anyone who subscribes to Stereophile magazine to explain to me why they are terrified of blind listening tests.

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DL-Because no one likes admitting they paid triple the price just for a logo.

 

[ddarch]

Is a $100 XA capable of "audiophile" sound? Absolutely.

Is it possible a table worth a $1000 is 10X better? Probably not.

Every table worth its salt endeavors to isolate unwanted resonances in order to allow its cartridge (mounted at the end of its tonearm) the ability to extract the maximum amount of information from a microsopic record groove as accurately as possible.

I personally believe the XA was the first TT design to excel at that task of isolation and extraction. However, I would be foolhardy to think that tables and arms since the XA haven't advanced that design. In the 1000 dollar range, is that improvement tenfold? In my opinion, no. Still, my vinyl playback addiction is certainly motivated by the desire to attain that sonic nirvana where the background noise is dissipated ("blackened") and the extraction of music is elevated. To that end, spending a $1000 or more on a table is worth it if you can afford it, and the rest of your equipment can reveal that improvement.

Could I live happily ever after with an XA? Absolutely. It's a table that greatly exceeds the sum of its parts. However, because I have been lucky enough in my life to be able to afford some more expensive tables, I have been able to experience improved levels of what the designers of the XA set out to do.

I hope this helps.

Dave

 

[mhconley]

It's the law of diminishing returns. Price increases exponentially as quality improves linearly. There is only so much you can improve using basic principles - then you need to start throwing wads of cash at engineers and esoteric materials to obtain minimal improvements in sound.

Martin

 

[jcmjrt]

if they sound the same?[/url]

I think that you should try and make it to some dealers. Every table has its own sound....and although an AR-XA is a decent table and great bargain, I seriously doubt that if you A-B'd the tables that you would think that they sounded the same.

I can agree with others though, that it's not going to sound 10 times better...but my guess is that it would sound better to most anyone...how much depends on your ears, your system, your tastes.

 

[vinyl1]

It's the law of diminishing returns. Price increases exponentially as quality improves linearly. There is only so much you can improve using basic principles - then you need to start throwing wads of cash at engineers and esoteric materials to obtain minimal improvements in sound.

Martin

There are those who say it's the other way around - quality makes big leaps in the higher-priced gear.

That's why they sell $10,000 turntables. You'll have to listen to them all in appropriate systems and decide for yourself.