Turntable Recommendations with a $5K budget

[mbovaird]

Hi all,

I am in the market for a new TT. I have a budget of $5,000 for turntable, arm and cart. A friend is recommending the ClearAudio Ovation with the stock arm (whatever that is) and the Clearaudio Talismann V2 Gold Phono Cartridge. That might push the budget a bit....but what do you think?

I would like to hear other recommendations from the experts here....I'm completely open to suggestions....

Thanks!

Mike

[duficity]

For a package, the VPI classic combo is hard to beat. The Townsend rock7 is superb. Unless you are comfortable with vinyl, or have a frie d who is, you are better off buying a package from one of the better companies

[mbovaird]

I'm definitely not that comfortable. I know friends who are constantly adjusting their vertical tracking "on the fly" and such...but I'm not one of them. When you mention the VPI Classic Combo....are you referring to the Classic 3?
P.S. I'm in Florida too (Bradenton).

[Ottermel]

Do you want to buy new or used?
TW Raven with the Raven arm and cartridge (if you can find it) would meet your budget.

[mbovaird]

I'm completely open to new or used. I have a lead on a Avid Volere SP with a SME309 arm and a Dynavector XX2MKII MC cart for $4k. Thoughts?

[loonieboo]

Thats a very nice combo, not bad value either,
I would also try an SME 10 or used 20/2
happy hunting

[duficity]

If you are comfortable with buying used, there are any number of great tables you can get for $5k. How did you come up with your budget. I have purchased a Sota Cosmos IV, Oracle Delphi V SE and Transrotor Fat Bob all for substantially less than that, and all equal to and likely better than the Avid, although the Avid is an excellent table also. they are also very stable and dont tend to get out of adjustment often. However, that Avid Combo will provide sweet music. I also use the SME 309 arm and find it to be very good. I especially like the interchangeable headshell which allows azimuth adjustment and switching out cartridges easily. also, if the Avid is local and you can avoid shipping, that is a plus. I cant tell you how many turntables I have received damaged by UPS or Fedex. Its a shame. So if you can pick it up, it is worth paying a little more. just make sure that when you bring it home, you take off the platter for the trip at least, and that the tonearm is fixed in place with a wire tie or something similar. I dont know if you can lock down the Avid's suspension, but if so, do that too.
If you are ever over here on the east coast, you can drop by and listen to a few different tables in your price range. One of the choices you need to make is betweenn suspended and ridgid tables. The Avid is suspended. Something like my Fab Bob is high mass ridgid. there is a difference to the sound. which you prefer may come down to where you are planning to put the table and whether it needs isolation from external vibrations.

[Tedrick]

I'm definitely not that comfortable. I know friends who are constantly adjusting their vertical tracking "on the fly" and such...but I'm not one of them. When you mention the VPI Classic Combo....are you referring to the Classic 3?
P.S. I'm in Florida too (Bradenton).

I would recommend the Classic 2, which would leave you a good chunk of change to add a nice cartridge. Dynavector, Lyra, Zyx, and Shelter cartridges have great synergy with VPI 'tables.

What will you be using for a phono pre-amp?

[mbovaird]

McIntosh C1000 c/t/p.

[bauzace50]

Hi,

the upper Rega models are hard to beat. Also, the VPI Aries, with its standard unipivot tonearm, OR with the SME 309 tonearm.
A starter cartridge which will do justice to these is the basic Denon DL-110, if you don't want to go over the budget.

Regards,
bauzace50

[mbovaird]

I'm leaning toward the Avid Volere SP with a SME309 arm and a Dynavector XX2MKII MC cart for $4k (used). Thoughts?

[duficity]

Go for it.

[raphaelmabo]

Avid is great!

[mbovaird]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I bought the Avid. Can't wait to get it up and running! I'm sure it will be a step or two above my Rega RP3.

Mike