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Piggie Plays the What If Game...

M

Mister Pig

Pigamus Maximus
When not on the farm I spend my time driving heavy equipment, and working shift work. So last night I get a bit bored and start playing mental "what if" games. Now I am not a collector of audio gear, but seem to have acquired myself an extra turntable, an unused SET amp and passive pre, and an extra pair of unused back loaded horn speakers.

I started wondering what a top flight turntable would cost, and if I could reach that kind of purchase by selling off some stuff.

I started with both tables, well because a top flight one would replace both the Serac and the 124. Not enough money, so I would have to throw the amp and pre into the pot. Better, but would be good if I could find a new owner for the speakers, but that's tough to do when they are 6" tall and weight about 90 pounds each.

So, hypothetically speaking let's say I raised 8K.... I wonder what I could buy off the used market that would be the end all. I could perhaps stretch and get a SME 20/Type V. A SME 10/309 for sure. I saw some interesting Avid tables, and a Transrotor.

Almost certainly just a bored pig daydreaming in the middle of a long night. But it is interesting to think about..... So what would $8K buy off the used market?

Snort oink grunt oink snort....time for a shower and off to bed to dream about exotic turntables and finding that motherload of black truffles! That would pay for a Rockport!!!

Regards
Mister Pig
 
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Whenever I see a Rockport on AG I give it serious thought. :thmbsp:

If I were in your position I'd be thinking what if I mounted my Thorens in a 65 pound custom plinth? :scratch2:
 
Mister Pig said:
So, hypothetically speaking let's say I raised 8K.... I wonder what I could buy off the used market that would be the end all. I could perhaps stretch and get a SME 20/Type V. A SME 10/309 for sure. I saw some interesting Avid tables, and a Transrotor.
Click to expand...

For the last sevaral weeks I was searching diligently for a used SME 309 or V arm at a nice price. Along the way I ran across quite a few very nice turntables within your price range several of which included an SME arm, either a 309 or a Series V.

There is a reasonably priced V on Craigslist in England. I have been to that particular area 4 times since September of last year for work and there is a possibility that I will go again in the near future. If so that arm might follow me home. :)
 
Mister Pig said:
...Better, but would be good if I could find a new owner for the speakers, but that's tough to do when they are 6" tall and weight about 90 pounds each.
Click to expand...

You realize that six inch tall speakers are not very big, right? Though, maybe to a pig they are.
 
Just to add my nonsense opinion to the mix...
Instead of trying to buy some super-amazing table, I'd look at my whole vinyl listening process:

Do I have clean records? No? RCM.
Do I have a sharp stylus? No? Invest in new styli more frequently.
Do I have good interconnects from the table to the stereo? No? Buy some good ones.
Do I have proper isolation of the TT from the room and speakers? No? Build a shelf.
Do I have a solid phono pre-amp section? No? drop up to a grand to improve sound.
Is my stereo/amp running well? No? Refurb/rebuild/recap.
Speakers? Could maybe upgrade or rebuild them, too!

An awesome table won't do much good, if the rest of the line is just so-so at best.
 
janikphoto said:
Just to add my nonsense opinion to the mix...
Instead of trying to buy some super-amazing table, I'd look at my whole vinyl listening process:

Do I have clean records? No? RCM.
Do I have a sharp stylus? No? Invest in new styli more frequently.
Do I have good interconnects from the table to the stereo? No? Buy some good ones.
Do I have proper isolation of the TT from the room and speakers? No? Build a shelf.
Do I have a solid phono pre-amp section? No? drop up to a grand to improve sound.
Is my stereo/amp running well? No? Refurb/rebuild/recap.
Speakers? Could maybe upgrade or rebuild them, too!

An awesome table won't do much good, if the rest of the line is just so-so at best.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure I got that stuff covered.....

Regards
Mister Pig
 
janikphoto said:
You realize that six inch tall speakers are not very big, right? Though, maybe to a pig they are.
Click to expand...

Ha! When you got hooves, typing is not the easiest thing. Especially when you spent 14 hours up that night, and its time to get ready for bed. Actually that was a pretty good post for me...only one typo.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
SteveJewels said:
For the last sevaral weeks I was searching diligently for a used SME 309 or V arm at a nice price. Along the way I ran across quite a few very nice turntables within your price range several of which included an SME arm, either a 309 or a Series V.

There is a reasonably priced V on Craigslist in England. I have been to that particular area 4 times since September of last year for work and there is a possibility that I will go again in the near future. If so that arm might follow me home. :)
Click to expand...

I have looked at Unique Audio in England, he seems to have some very nice pre-owned SME pieces. Not the cheapest, but you know you get a good one. I was considering a 309 or Type 4 for my 124 at one time. Actually talked to Mick a couple of times, a very interesting fellow.....

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Is some of this a curiousity on where the point of diminishing returns is to be found with upper-end TTs?
 
Pio1980 said:
Is some of this a curiousity on where the point of diminishing returns is to be found with upper-end TTs?
Click to expand...

Bored pig with a long night to fill.....

But I will admit a curiosity to know what lays ahead in uncharted waters. To go where not pig has gone before!

Regards
Mister Pig
 
marcmorin said:
Has any Pig listened to a set of Magnepan 20.7's?
Click to expand...

It has been a long time since I listened to big Maggies. I appreciate planer type speakers, but the smaller ones just don't do dynamic scale for me. Also my amps are not really set up to do low efficiency speakers. planers would require a system tear down from the pre-amp on back. As a sweeping generalization, I tend to like the way high efficiency speakers present dynamic scale....which makes music more real to me than other types of speakers. Seems like 94db is the cut off for me...

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Actually I am going to try a Marc Morin-ified AR XA one day. I found a parts unit in NJ for sale, but its local pick up only. No way to get it to Marc. I did see a Merrill modified AR XA on one of those used audio sites, and it looked real interesting.

But looking at the whole package of Morin additions to the AR, it sure is real intriguing...... I want to see what it can do!

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Having read many of your musings, oink oink, I think you should liquidate and keep pursuing the dream.

Pig has good taste, keep raising the bar.

Good luck.
 
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