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Listened To A Bunch Of Tables. Hard To Believe I Am Considering This

M

Mister Pig

Pigamus Maximus
In my other house I had a multi media center, that was pretty much off limits to most folks, and at the end of the house. I had it filled up nicely with audio gear, books, music, and the computer. It was comfortable, but not an attractive room.

In the new house the living room is my listening room, and its a bit smaller than the previous one. Also the dining room sits off it, and the house is far more attractive inside than my other one. Now I have unboxed all my tables, and have had a chance to listen to them one after the other. The only one I am waiting on is the SP 10 MK II which is getting a plinth built. As I sit here and look at things, 4 tables in this room is undeniably cluttered. It is too much.

I have come to the conclusion that my Galibier Serac/Riggle String Theory arm/ZYX4D cartridge is still my best combination. But its not well suited for rock and roll, Good rock like Dire Straits, sure, but pop and rock, well not really. The Morinified AR XA is my least expensive table, and it does a good job with that kind of music, but doesn;t have the drive of the Garrard 401.

So that leaves me with three tables to consider what to do with. A Thorens TD 124, Garrard 401, and perhaps the Technics SP 10 MK II. Then for arms it leaves me the Audiomods Classic, Project 12CC EVO, and Eminent Technology II.

Then the question of cartridges comes up. The ZYX 4D stays on the Serac. The Denon 103M is best suited for the AR XA. That leaves an Audio Technica 50ANV, ortofon Cadenza Red, Transfiguration Spirit MK II, and Ortofon MC200.

Theoretically all of this is extra.

I don't have the financial resources I used to have, and I wouldn't mind a speaker upgrade. That gear represents a decent set of speakers. Truth is I briefly considered packing it all in, and doing high rez digital. That would really clean up my listening room/living room. But I don't think I can do that.

Of course, nothing gets finalized until the SP 10 MK II is back and listened to. It might be a game changer, it might not.

But I think I would like to find ways to clean up my living room. At the moment its just being given serious consideration, but very serious consideration. Heck I might strip the whole system down and start from scratch.

Crazy talk eh?

Regards
Mister Pig
 
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It's a shame you cannot keep all tables. However, I do understand your point. As good as the XA is on its own, this would make a good all round table. The real dilemma is the TD-124, Garrard 401, and the Technics SP10 MK II. This is a very unusual set of circumstances to be in. I do not envy you when it comes to decision time. I am sure you will pick the ones that compliment your system well.

Good Luck!
 
Bubbalouie said:
It's a shame you cannot keep all tables. However, I do understand your point. As good as the XA is on its own, this would make a good all round table. The real dilemma is the TD-124, Garrard 401, and the Technics SP10 MK II. This is a very unusual set of circumstances to be in. I do not envy you when it comes to decision time. I am sure you will pick the ones that compliment your system well.

Good Luck!
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Oh I am considering only keeping 2 of the 5.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
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Like you need another table? Personally I would take the Garrard over the AR anyday, but thats because I like the way they look in those exotic hand made wood plinths. The AR is probably much easier to keep working correctly over the long run as they are so simplistic, with not much to fail.
 
Ken Boyd said:
Like you need another table? Personally I would take the Garrard over the AR anyday, but thats because I like the way they look in those exotic hand made wood plinths. The AR is probably much easier to keep working correctly over the long run as they are so simplistic, with not much to fail.
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Well, Mr. Pig's AR XA is in an exotic hand made wood plinth...:).
 
I think a lot of members would envy being in your dilemma but if it was me I would choose the two that in your opinion best satisfy aesthetics, joy to use and sound reproduction. I think you need a little more time to work through your conundrum.
 
Mister Pig said:
Given what that cartridge costs, its a bit of a waste to spin Motley Crue on it.

Regards
Mister Pig
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LOL
Sex Pistols

I spin everything with my tables but some music, mastering and presses just sound far far better. It can down right blow you away and make you wish all records can do that.
 
I can understand cutting down the collection, though I'd hate to have to decide between the tables in the collection you have going on. Still I do have a thought or two on things. So the Serac is staying, rather an expected outcome. Given that all of the tables will reside in one system I would think you'd want them to compliment and contrast each other more than overlap in character. From my experience with my B-12H I'd guess the 401 has the greatest divergence from the Serac in sound and utility with that more closely coupled idler drive happening. I would hazard a guess that the SP-10 will be closer to the Serac in many ways and the TD-124 and AR in the middle ground.

Of course, if you had a half dozen systems running in the house like we do it wouldn't be an issue....
 
jgordon said:
I spin Crue, Poison, Iron Maiden, and everything else on my deck... No point in having a table and cart that's less than the best you can do, and no point in depriving yourself of music you enjoy to save a stylus...
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Eh the ZYX 4D is a $4K cartridge. That is the only reason to have a second table, for albums that aren't quite as demanding. Truth is the modified AR XA is very very good on its own. If it was my only table I would be OK with that.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Mister Pig said:
Eh the ZYX 4D is a $4K cartridge. That is the only reason to have a second table, for albums that aren't quite as demanding. Truth is the modified AR XA is very very good on its own. If it was my only table I would be OK with that.

Regards
Mister Pig
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I'm not calling your preferences into question - just stating my own. The glider is a $1k cart, but retips for either it or the ZYX are $400 a pop. I guess I wouldn't listen to music that I didn't feel deserved my table (at least on vinyl). Albums that sound bad on my system generally get spun less, and ultimately rotated out. If I own it, I'll spin it. I have a few lesser carts, but it's not worth the hassle to swap them out.

Long story short, I understand your perspective, but don't agree with it. Part of what makes everyone unique and special snowflakes.
 
As to your initial question, I'd likely end up keeping the Serac and the Garrard. They're the two high points and probably the furthest apart in presentation. But I am curious to see your thoughts on the Technics and how it relates to the rest.
 
Based on your collection of highly desirable components I'm curious why you briefly considered packing it all in, and doing high rez digital. Was that for real or just simply exasperation at the task in front of you. Any chance you can elaborate. Is it simply the fact that is hard to narrow down to two from what you have.
 
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