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Upgrade to Rega RP-1 or Technics 1200 ?

Hello everyone--it was looking around on here and thought I'd update this thread. 6 months with the 1200 and it's been great, no issues at all. I almost immediately got a new Shure M97xE and it tracks and sounds excellent to me. I'd love to try a Rega sometime, but the ease of this setup has been ideal for me.

I'm considering trying the AT-440MLA, I've read a lot of good things about it. Or, maybe a different stylus on my current cart. It's fine as it is, but I have some valuable LP's and I'd like to use the best cart/stylus I can afford on them to minimize wear.

Thanks again for help.
 
I don't think your Shure will wear on your records that much, but I could be wrong. the tracking force is only around 1.5. With the brush down, a little more, but its a good cart. And then you can avoid the slippery slope as cartridges can get very expensive ;)
 
vinyltim said:
Hello everyone--it was looking around on here and thought I'd update this thread. 6 months with the 1200 and it's been great, no issues at all. I almost immediately got a new Shure M97xE and it tracks and sounds excellent to me. I'd love to try a Rega sometime, but the ease of this setup has been ideal for me.

I'm considering trying the AT-440MLA, I've read a lot of good things about it. Or, maybe a different stylus on my current cart. It's fine as it is, but I have some valuable LP's and I'd like to use the best cart/stylus I can afford on them to minimize wear.

Thanks again for help.
Click to expand...

If you like the Shure M 97xE cartridge, there are up grade stylus available.:music:



HE-hyper elliptical

http://www.lpgear.com/product/SHSM0097HE.html

SAS-Super Analog Stylus

http://www.lpgear.com/product/SHN097xESAS.html
 
Thanks for the links. I do like the Shure, sounds good to me. Just curious about the AT. It really does seem like slippery slope!
 
Glad to hear things are going so well. Just FWIW, there are folks who say the Jico SAS stylus turns the M97xE into a genuine giant-killer.

-Bob
 
I've always liked the AT-440MLa on the Technics. Of course, there are a lot of variables that come into effect.

An SAS stylus on a Shure is another nice option.
 
Wow, a $178 stylus! I bet it's a great upgrade, though.
I found a place that had the AT-440 for $165, which seems like a really good deal.
 
Balifly said:
If you like the Shure M 97xE cartridge, there are up grade stylus available.:music:



HE-hyper elliptical

http://www.lpgear.com/product/SHSM0097HE.html

SAS-Super Analog Stylus

http://www.lpgear.com/product/SHN097xESAS.html
Click to expand...

Would getting the SAS and swapping it out make sense? Such as still using the Shure stylus on worn records, and only using the SAS on clean and/or collectible stuff.

Is the LP gear generic an upgrade over the stock Shure? If it is, that may be my best option, but I'm not ruling out spending some $$ on the SAS.

Thanks for the help.
 
vinyltim said:
Would getting the SAS and swapping it out make sense? Such as still using the Shure stylus on worn records, and only using the SAS on clean and/or collectible stuff.

Is the LP gear generic an upgrade over the stock Shure? If it is, that may be my best option, but I'm not ruling out spending some $$ on the SAS.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Glad to be able to provide the information! :music:
 
update...

I ended up getting a lightly used SAS and it was a good upgrade. Noticeable increase in clarity and top end--very nice. The stock Shure stylus does still sound good and I use that on LPs that are a bit worn. I prefer the Shure on LP's that are in VG-ish condition. With it's added highs, the SAS really brings out the pops/tics and surface noise--the Shure sounds and tracks well without making the flaws as obvious. On clean LP's the SAS is the clear winner.

Thanks again for the help everyone.
 
vinyltim, for a future cart may I suggest the Nagaoka MP110 for $100. I use it on both my Rega p1 and Technics 1200mkII, and it picks up far less surface noise than my om5e, Shure 97xe both with/without the JICO SAS, Grado Black Prestige, and Ortofon 2m blue. Other MP 110 users have had the same results.
 
update:
a couple months in and it's all good. I use the stock M97xe stylus most of the time and use the SAS on the nicest and cleanest lp's....


you all have been great to help and haven't steered me wrong yet--please confirm or deny my suspicion:
I've been running a Marantz 1030 into KLH models 5's--I'm upgrading to a McIntosh 6100 soon, which I'm excited about. It made me wonder if trying an older TT would be cool with the vintage rig. Friends have suggested an AR or a Thorens 160 or 165. I read a bunch of threads about them and they are well-liked, but I wonder if I'm entering a world of pain with the tinkering and issues that can come up with an older TT. I've enjoyed the issue free Technics 1200--would these others even be an upgrade or just something different to try?

Thanks a lot...
 
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