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The $1000 question....

stopkidding

stopkidding

Well-Known Member
Hello AKers!

Coming to you with the classic forum question. Before I get there, I did do my due diligence and search the threads for some answers. So my question is going to be a bit specific as I couldn't find much information about this.

I have about a $1000, (may be $1300) for a turntable. I want it to be the turntable I buy, install and forget about so that I can listen to all the records I have and more. A brief background, I love music, but not until 6 months ago, I never had my own single family house with no neighbours. Which means I can play music at normal levels. I am pretty settled on my amp (Sansui AU-D11 Integrated) and speakers (Polk LSi15 towers), so the missing piece is the turntable. I am going to skip the sub $500 turntables. Which leaves me with the following options,

A) Rega RP3 + Elyse 2 Cartridge ($1095)
B) Music Hall MMF 5.1 SE with Music Hall Mojo Cart ($995)**
C) Music Hall MMF 5.1 With Goldring 2200 Cart + Speed control 2.0 ($775 + $299)**
D) Project Xperience + Sumiko Pearl + Speed Box ($799+ $299)
E) Marantz TT15-S1 + Clear Audio Ebony Virtuoso Cart ($1499)**
F) None of the above. Get something else :)

** These tables are stocked in a store that would give me a $100 trade in for my current Dual 1019.

I would be curious to you how you would rank these choice, from A-F :)

Cheers!
 
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I haven't heard one, but any table that looks this good has to sound just as good. :yes:

music_hall_mmf_5_1_se_1.jpg
 
Welcome!

I've been in a very similar position and have been looking/researching for a couple months. I ended up getting a Rega P25 used with a ton of upgrades (including the TTPSU) off of AudiogoN for right about your budget. I would consider checking AudiogoN out for a slightly used table.

Nothing wrong with going new - I almost did, too. I really like that you're considering getting a speed controller of some sort. If not right off the bat, maybe down the road at least.

Of what you listed, the RP3 (with a different cart) & MMF-5.1 are so close to me it would come down to the one that had a better cart or was cheaper and allowed you to get a speed control. I actually went into this whole thing set out to buy the Pro-Ject Xperience, but decided I liked both the Rega & MH better. The only problem is when I went into audition them, I was drawn to the RP6 & MMF-7.1. Boom, there went my budget!

The Marantz is a pretty wicked table - I was SO close to buying it - there is a dealer on there selling a brand new one on AudiogoN for $1150 with the cart! He'd probably give you a deal on a dustcover - had it been included, it would probably be in my system now!

The VPI Traveler is another table you might want to consider - to me it was the table that upped my budget...I decided that if I was going to spend $1K, a little more could get me the Traveler which would have been a slight step above the aforementioned RP3 & MMF-5.1. The VPI Scout was my "dream table" so the Traveler seemed like a really nice compromise and has gotten some pretty great praise.

Having said all of that, I'm sure I didn't help you much! They're all very nice tables - I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you choose. If you have the ability to, give them a listen to see if one jumps out at you more than another.
 
Rega RP3 with something other than the Elyse 2 cartridge, maybe an AT 440mla
Pro-ject Xpression III with an AT 440mla and the Speed box. Get the dealer to give you a small credit for the stock Sumiko Oyster cartridge.
 
Greyson said:
I haven't heard one, but any table that looks this good has to sound just as good. :yes:

music_hall_mmf_5_1_se_1.jpg
Click to expand...

That Mahogany finish itself is sufficient, you don't even have to play it :D


Others, thanks for your comments. I will definitely check Audiogon out.
 
I'd audition your Dual in the store using their demo system then ask them to install the cartridge you're using in whichever turntable you are attracted to. If the difference isn't night and day... a mid-late 80's 3 point suspended is where the fun is at..:D
try to listen for the difference in turntables..not cartridges.
 
Try to see if you can stretch your budget as far as possible on this turntable so you don't find yourself within a year or so looking to upgrade again or end up purchasing exspensive upgrades to make the table right. My choice out of the lot would be the VPI Traveler and probably for about the same or slightly more a B stock VPI Scout. These are the two that all the others are trying to beat but just can't seem to do it. It's going to be more economical in the long run to spend the money up front now for the better VPI table.
 
At this rate, the longer I wait, the more expensive the Turntable is getting. I started looking a month back with the Pro-Ject debut carbon in my mind. Now we have quadrupled my budget and reached the VPI scout :D, maybe if I wait another month, I will be sitting on a turntable that costs as much as a BMW :banana::banana: Wooohooo!

BTW, what is a B stock turntable? is it one of those that doesn't meet quality requirements?
 
melofelo said:
I'd audition your Dual in the store using their demo system then ask them to install the cartridge you're using in whichever turntable you are attracted to. If the difference isn't night and day... a mid-late 80's 3 point suspended is where the fun is at..:D
try to listen for the difference in turntables..not cartridges.
Click to expand...

Fair point, I auditioned the Rega RP-3 and RP-6 with the Elys 2 cart. The RP-6 even had the speed controller, the RP-3 with on-board power. They both have the same tonearms. To my untrained ear, I couldn't tell the difference...
 
I'd choose the MMF-5.1 with Goldring 2200 and pass on the speed controller. If I can deviate from the listed options, I'd choose the RP3 and put a Dynavector 10x5 on it. After that, I think I'd choose the MMF-5.1SE and the Mojo.
 
Stopkidding, I started out just like you, in the $500 USD range. I then realized that I would probably end up 'upgrading' and the initial purchase would have been really a waste of money and time. Therefor I decided to acquire a table that I would have no reason to replace. After nearly a year of looking I decided, based on quality of build and performance, that the best two in the end were the VPI Scout and Marantz TT-15S1, considering price and performance value. Well, I ended up with the Marantz, as it has a better arm (comparable arm as you would expect on far more costly tables, and indeed, this arm was used on much more expensive tables) and overall better quality and machine work on the Marantz. The VPI arm just did not look or seem to perform as transparently as the Clearaudio arm. As a plus, the cartridge included with the Marantz is a well reviewed cartridge with a street price over $900 by itself. Even if you did not want that cartridge, you simply choose not to use it and sell it in order to purchase the cartridge you preferred.

Now that I have that table(Marantz) for a while, I can find no reason to replace it. I would like to eventually get a AC power supply with precision adjustable speed stabilization, such as the Pro-Ject Speed Box SE II 120VAC model. Also, there is a chassis modification I will be doing to bring it to it's ultimate performance level(having a 3/4" T6 aluminum plate machined to match the acrylic chassis and add it to the bottom; re-mounting the feet on the aluminum plate and having cutouts for the platter bearing, arm bottom and motor; this is to reduce the single fault of the Marantz - to reduce the already low level of vibration/resonance behavior in the chassis - even though this is extremely subtle in the 1st place - this is just my way of bringing it to it's ultimate performance level.
 
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I had a Marantz TT-15S1 and I hated it. To make a long story short, the anti-skating devise was useless and no matter what I did, the sound was awful. Good vinyl pressings sounded like cds and bad pressings sounded worse than an mp3. I ended up exchanging it for a Denon DP-300F and bought a Denon DL-160 cartridge. The Denon sounds amazing and blows the Marantz right out of the water, IMO. Plus, the Denon comes with a dust-cover! Sometimes spending more doesn't always get you more.

I should mention that I only use headphones so I can't comment as to whether or not the Denon is any good at resisting vibrations from speakers.

Another brand you might want to consider is Well-Tempered Lab. They have a reputation for sounding even better than a VPI. Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of auditioning one.
 
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I would go with (E) out of your list. I see that "GreekGod" hated it so, maybe go with something else. I have mostly Used Vintage tt's and I love the sound. I did own a Denon DP-300F for a few years. sold it. I never had $1000 to spend on a TT.



Good luck.
John.:music::D
 
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I second illini's recommendation.

A new-in-the-box Technics SL1200mk2. ..Though out of production it still has a one-year warranty from Panasonic.

Some "audiophiles" (a self-annointed credential for which there are no real qualifications) look down their noses at the SL1200 because of it's popularity, but imho, it is technically vastly superior to any of the plank-plinthed, rubber-belt driven sub $2000 TT's in production today. Better speed consistency, far more robust build quality, excellent tonearm, removable head-shell, etc.., inaudible rumble and hum, etc..

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=170050&is=REG&Q=&A=details
 
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I would save up a little more and go for the Rega RP3 with a Dynavector 10x5. If you buy together at a dealer, you might even be able to get a deal.
 
jleon92f said:
I would go with (E) out of your list. I see that "GreekGod" hated it so, maybe go with something else. I have mostly Used Vintage tt's and I love the sound. I did own a Denon DP-300F for a few years. sold it. I never had $1000 to spend on a TT.



Good luck.
John.:music::D
Click to expand...

Why did you sell the Denon? What is your favorite vintage TT and how does it compare to the Denon you had?
 
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