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Time to Upgrade/spruce up my TT, any ideas?

M

Morey

New Member
Hi,
I am looking for advice as to what enhancements or upgrades I can treat my Pro ject Debut III Turntable to.

I have the most basic setup now and am running the TT with a Rega Brio-r integrated amp and Thiel cs 1.5 speakers

The system sounds good but I really want to achieve richer, warmer and more detailed sound.. was thinking about getting a new amp (thinking mcintosh c-28) but would love to try to improve TT first..

Any advice as to what should be next step? platter? mat? stylus?
Thanks
 
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McIntosh C-28 is a preamplifier. Why not a McIntosh MA 6200 which is an integrated amplifier and will make a superb preamplifier when you upgrade. I'd consider a better Pro-Ject table and arm first and/or cartridge though.
 
Morey said:
Any advice as to what should be next step? platter? mat? stylus?
Click to expand...

Turntable. A gently used Rega P3 will be a significant upgrade over a Debut III. There's someone on another forum running a Rega RP6 into a Brio R, and lovin' it. That should give you some indication on which way to go.;)

jeff
 
Thiel's have never been described as rich and warm, so that may be where to start. If you like the 1st order crossover sound and want richer and warmer, then a move from Thiel to Vandersteen could solve your problem though the Brio won't drive them and should be straining with the Thiel's.
 
And the Rega RP3 is a good choice or the Pro-Ject Expression line upwards. A medium end in either make is a better table stock and more amenable to upgrades.
 
A stock Debut III? A different cartridge than the stock Ortofon OM5E would be what i'd upgrade. Will most likely require a heavier counterweight to correctly balance the arm, as the OM5E is very light. A richer, more detailed sound as goal suggests a Nagoaka MP-110 or perhaps an A-T 440MLA or A-T 120E.
 
A new turntable might improve your system's sound, but not in the ways that you seek. seminole54 is right about Thiel speakers not being known for richness or warmth. They can deliver plenty of detail, but they tend to fall on the analytical side of neutral. A change of speakers to something like the Vandersteen 2Ce would bring you more warmth, but would probably require a more potent amp than the Brio. It would also be expensive unless you found a bargain in the used market.

A change of cartridge, as big-daddy-59 suggests, would probably be the least expensive way to get warmer sound from your system. I used an Ortofon OM-20 for quite a few years and would describe it as detailed rather than warm or rich. The less expensive Ortofon OMs have a similar sonic signature to the OM-20. Most of the Audio-Technica cartridges I've heard are also on the detailed or analytical side of neutral. If Grados weren't so likely to hum in a Pro-ject turntable, I'd recommend one of those, but their lack of shielding makes them problematical in your Debut III. The Shure M97xE would be a very good choice; it won't hum like a Grado, is compatible with a wide range of tonearms, and will give you warmth and a good measure of detail.
 
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Morey said:
Hi,
was thinking about getting a new amp (thinking mcintosh c-28) but would love to try to improve TT first..

Any advice as to what should be next step? platter? mat? stylus?
Thanks
Click to expand...

If you want to improve Debut the best you could is to replace its metal 1,3kg/280mm platter with acrillyc one from Delta Dynamics, they do quality stuff for Pro-ject TT.
The next (or the first) thing is definitely a new and better cart, as already sugessted.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
McIntosh C-28 is a preamplifier. Why not a McIntosh MA 6200 which is an integrated amplifier and will make a superb preamplifier when you upgrade. I'd consider a better Pro-Ject table and arm first and/or cartridge though.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm kind of a McIntosh slut and even still I'm not sure I'd want to trade a Brio-R for a MA6200. The weak link of the system definitely seems to be the table/cart.
 
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