Help me decide what to save for!

[displayname]

Constantly distracted while saving for new gear. So many ideas. So many shiny things. So many distractions.
So what do I do? I turn to all of you kind folks to help me decide what I should focus on first.

I'm still several months out from any of this happening. Longer if life gets in the way, which is probably will. But I think it's easier to stay focused on saving when I'm saving for something specific. The poll has all the fun new shiny objects I've been window shopping. I'll go used where I can. Also note that pieces being replaced would go up for sale - so feel free to let that influence your selection

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

Which one is the most expensive?

 

[displayname]

Which one is the most expensive?

The amp by a small amount. The Lumin P1 Mini and the Norma amp are close enough to call the same, and those are around the same price.
Going to AQ Thunderbird would also be around the same price when going used, which I would do because the cost of those new is more than I'm willing to spend.

I also forgot to include my TT ideas! I'll add those in now.

 

[ngower]

1200G would likely be an endgame turntable, so that would be my move.

 

[HiFi Guy]

Having moved from the Ultradeck to the G, you know my vote.

 

[Angsty]

Swapping cables would be the LAST thing I’d recommend! My vote is in the poll.

 

[displayname]

I guess I should have figured a vinyl focused forum would push for the new TT

 

[Jbraswell]

 

[OMC]

Swapping cables would be the LAST thing I’d recommend! My vote is in the poll.

No surprise there. I’m definitely with @Mather on the cable thing.
Leave the Sutherland as is for now.
The safe way is to go with @HiFi Guy’s recommendation. Tables can make a large degree of difference.

 

[mindhead1]

+1 for the 1200G. I’m still digging my Ultradeck, but if I were to upgrade my TT the 1200G would be my choice.

 

[Diaper Baby on the Run]

Yup. Got the G a couple years ago. Zero complaints!

 

[Nee Lewman]

I voted for the shiny new mofi, BECAUSE SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET ONE AND TELL US ALL ABOUT IT!!!

 

[SnowmaNick]

Ron Sutherland himself doesn’t feel the LPS is really an improvement, so that would be towards the bottom. I have and use AQ cables, but the Thunderbird stuff is crazy expensive even used. So those would be down there too. Personally, I like belt driven tables, although the Technics does receive nearly universal praise, so … middle of the pack for me. Streamers are interesting. A good one can be a very nice addition and improvement, especially if you’re listening to streaming a lot. Personally, I voted for the Auralic, but the P1 is essentially the same. Overall though, if streaming is used often and you listen to Tidal or Qobuz, I’d vote for a Roon Nucleus One and a lifetime subscription.

Disclaimer: I am a lifetime subscriber to Roon, and own a Nucleus, and streamers from LUMIN, Auralic, and Eversolo.

 

[displayname]

Overall though, if streaming is used often and you listen to Tidal or Qobuz, I’d vote for a Roon Nucleus One and a lifetime subscription.

I know so many people that love Roon, and if you have files and multiple services I totally get it. But I stream with Tidal exclusively. Adding a nucleus and another service would 100% be wasted money for me. The only additional thing I do in the digital realm is physical CDs, and either streamer that I’m looking at can use those.

 

[displayname]

Sorry to disappoint everyone that was getting hyped for the 1200G idea, but one of the dogs dislocated his hip yesterday, so I think the vet surgeon is going to be stealing the business from the local hifi shop.

I’ll leave the thread open, but this type of purchase just got pushed out potentially another year.

 

[OMC]

Sorry to disappoint everyone that was getting hyped for the 1200G idea, but one of the dogs dislocated his hip yesterday, so I think the vet surgeon is going to be stealing the business from the local hifi shop.

I’ll leave the thread open, but this type of purchase just got pushed out potentially another year.

That’s a shame but your priorities are in the right order. Good luck to your pup.

 

[HiFi Guy]

Sorry to disappoint everyone that was getting hyped for the 1200G idea, but one of the dogs dislocated his hip yesterday, so I think the vet surgeon is going to be stealing the business from the local hifi shop.

I’ll leave the thread open, but this type of purchase just got pushed out potentially another year.

Hope all is going well with the pup,

Having had both the UD and the G, I’ll say they are quite similar sonically. The G is like the UD but “more.”

 

[Splunders]

I just moved from a UD to the 1200G this very afternoon. It's definitely a better deck.

 

[displayname]

I just moved from a UD to the 1200G this very afternoon. It's definitely a better deck.

Would love more impressions as you get familiar and it’s all fresh in your mind. What cart did you go with? (Sorry if this is all in another thread)

 

[Splunders]

Would love more impressions as you get familiar and it’s all fresh in your mind. What cart did you go with? (Sorry if this is all in another thread)

No other posts yet, since I'm still taking it all in, and I'm also still not fully set-up. At the moment, I have the stock 1200G with my Hana SL. I have an upgraded mat and headshell on order. The new headshell will get my SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC.

As currently configured, the stock 1200G with Hana SL is better than the UD with the SoundSmith across the board. Better bass. Bigger soundstage. Just bigger, more enveloping sound. And it's not subtle differences either - It was immediately apparent. Like @HiFi Guy said, its just more of what the UD brings.

I was honestly a little dubious that a turntable could really improve much more, much less within a somewhat small leap in price. Like most upgrades I get, I'm immediately mad at myself for even spending the money on what will ( I always assume) no doubt amount to very little improvement. I was already telling myself to expect a decline, given the cart change alone, so don't be too disappointed when I'm ultimately left disappointed, etc.

I played Waxahatchee's "Oxbow" as my first track, since the opening drums and space are a nice test of bass and soundstage, and it was apparent right away that the Technics was better. I played other albums, and the improvements carried over to everything.

Super excited to get my best cart on it soon, along with a couple small tweaks to see just how good it can be. I'll be sure to post any updated findings.

Sorry to hear about your dog, and hope they're back up and running real soon.