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$2000 budget...What would You buy ?

Jimbosw007

Jimbosw007

Active Member
I will be coming into some cash (within next 3 months)...I'll havea budget of $2k to spend.
I have a Marantz 2270 receiver for pre-amp....
What would YOU buy with that budget ?
Table and cartridge(s) total + 2 grand - No more

??????????
Looking for idea's so I can figure which one's I'll be listening to...
Kind of a starter list, short list.

Thanks !
Jim:scratch2:
 
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Wow, that's a nice amount of money for a turntable and cartridge. I'm thinking Thorens and Ortofon as a possibility.
 
Music Hall 9.1

There is one on EBay located in LA for $1800.00

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I would definitely spend some of it on a better phono pre.

Personally, I'd look for something like a Rega P5, with a decent MC cartridge and spend the rest on the phono pre. Your Marantz will not be getting the best out of a $2K phono setup.
 
I know besides getting better speakers and a VPI 16.5, upgrading my phono pre was the biggest wow moment for my vinyl system.
 
On the used market, a VPI Scout and a Dynavector phono preamp would be a decent way to go. Add a Dynavector 10x5 new and you've probably spent $2000.
 
Dowm payment on a used/new car..:thmbsp: Traveler is a nice tt! I have too many tt's now. Good luck!
 
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I know I'm happy with my setup:

Linn Sondek LP12 for ~$1,000
Benz Ace SH for $7-900

Few hundred left over for tweaks. Not familiar with your marantz, but you could probably squeeze a Yaqin MS-12B preamp if you look hard for a well priced Linn. Or obviously just get a cheaper cart.

I love shopping with other people's money. Good luck.
 
Honestly I think your money would be better spent on something like a Thorens 125 MkII and a separate amp and Pre. The pre should have a very good phono stage obviously.

As wonderful as any of the big receivers I've had just about all of the combinations of separates I've had sounded better.

A TT like the above Thorens with a really nice MC cart will yield excellent results and leave money for other things.

If I was going to spend money in your range on just a TT and cart I'd be looking at a Ariston or a Sota or a Oracle.

Good luck and have fun

Eric
 
I would be trying to decide between a nice Thorens 124 or a new VPI Traveler! Good luck...
 
Seeing how I have stopped the "pursuit" for awhile, I would get myself a project motorcycle. But that just may be me.
 
I'd suggest you check out Vinyl Nirvana for some nice vintage AR or Thorens tables, especially if the vintage look floats your boat. Dave does good work and stands behind his product. He's been selling some Linn tables too.
 
Bob_in_OKC said:
On the used market, a VPI Scout and a Dynavector phono preamp would be a decent way to go. Add a Dynavector 10x5 new and you've probably spent $2000.
Click to expand...
I like this recommendation. The Scout could be the last 'table you ever buy. Best of all, after you recover from the initial purchase and save some money, if the upgrade bug ever strikes again (and you KNOW it will :yes:) you'll have a TT and phono-pre combo that will do justice to cartridges costing 4-5x what the 10x5 goes for.
 
I will likey use my Meridian powered M20 speakers and could go directly from Pre-amp IF it had volume control.
Any ideas on that ?
I'll look into the VPI, Dynavector/Dynavector combo...Sounds good but volume control ?
Hummmmm.
So many freaking ways to go....
 
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