AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Oh, not to be outdone, I got a 10% discount on the Manley since I was a previous customer.........take THAT @HollywoodSo which of your 87 potential phono stages is Jason getting you on discount now?
Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
I've decided to put on hold my pursuit of a phono preamp until next spring. I'm in no rush to get one as I'm quite happy with the built-in phono stage on my Marantz PM8006 for now
Ah yeah fair enough! You’ve got quite a nice pile of bits recently. Is nice sometimes to let them, and the ole wallet, settle before dipping again!
Corycm
Well-Known Member
Filthy.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Joe! Proudly lowering the tone since ‘83!
dansomeone
Well-Known Member
I get it. 2020 has been rough. You don't need to apologize for feeling the world isn't fair. It's not, and $6500 turntables are a symbol of that unfairness.
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
Yes.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Because rega market well. It’s worth it’s U.K. price, it’s not near worth its US price.
duke86fan
Well-Known Member
It's just weird when i see sites like CNET claim the same thing and it's rare to see anything else on that price range
My plan for the over 1000 is the studiodeck, with a studiophono, and a Hana EL
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
That’s a much better call. Rega’s are crazy marked up over there. We get a P6 for the same money as a studiodeck, which is a much fairer contest.
Rowan
Well-Known Member
$1000 for a P3 is balls out crazy. Absolute insanity. It's a decent table. Can be modded to be a very decent table but no way should it be anywhere near that price point
BattleFlag
Well-Known Member
But if an update on breaking things in with my new setup.
The Studiodeck/Ultratracker combo is running beautifully together. The Ultratracker was essentially already broken in, as @AnthonyI had run it for around 200 hours. Runs dead quiet. I got quite good at gently dropping the needle before this table, but now I don’t know how I survived without a cue lever.
My Moon 110LP V2 phono preamp has been equally impressive, if not more so. I’m probably just north of 80 hours on it as of right now, and boy does it keep sounding better. Today I treated myself to working in the living room and spinning several of my Tone Poet albums. Could not be happier with how everything sounds. Everything is really well layered and gives a real sense of space.
As an audio company based in Canada, I don’t know what their presence is like in hifi shops in the US, Europe, or otherwise, but I would definitely add the 110LP to anyone’s testing lineup if you are looking for a phono pre in the same StudioPhono price range.
The Studiodeck/Ultratracker combo is running beautifully together. The Ultratracker was essentially already broken in, as @AnthonyI had run it for around 200 hours. Runs dead quiet. I got quite good at gently dropping the needle before this table, but now I don’t know how I survived without a cue lever.
My Moon 110LP V2 phono preamp has been equally impressive, if not more so. I’m probably just north of 80 hours on it as of right now, and boy does it keep sounding better. Today I treated myself to working in the living room and spinning several of my Tone Poet albums. Could not be happier with how everything sounds. Everything is really well layered and gives a real sense of space.
As an audio company based in Canada, I don’t know what their presence is like in hifi shops in the US, Europe, or otherwise, but I would definitely add the 110LP to anyone’s testing lineup if you are looking for a phono pre in the same StudioPhono price range.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
CC: @kvetcha
The short version of the story is, the 2M Bronze was on my table for a very short time. Haha.
I did a typical grip of cuts I'm intimately familiar with, of varying genres and intensities, and I'll start with the positives as compared to the VPI/Grado Green + 8MZ, and that list is unfortunately short: the Bronze seemed to handle heavier IGD more cohesively, and managed to stay a bit more composed in times of harsh vocal sibilance or a massively dense or poorly mastered passage. Other than that? Not much to report.
Having spent the past 8 months with the Grado, (and listening a LOT while being home most of the time) I felt that virtually all of the depth of imaging disappeared when switching to the Bronze. It just wasn't satisfying. I didn't feel connected at all. I see a number of users say it sounds "digital," but I actually find a 320kbps digital file to be more engaging than the Bronze. I enjoyed the time I've had with the Blue, I don't know how I'd feel about it now that I've logged so many hours with the Grado, but honestly the Bronze didn't feel "better" than the Blue in any real capacity, just different, and certainly when you factor in price... You expect when you upgrade in the line, you're going to have a "wow!" moment, and I did not experience that. For a cartridge known for its hi end, I feel the 8MZ stylus bests the 2M in extension. The 2M might be a little smoother, but it doesn't reach.
Also wanna give some props to the mounting of the VPI/Grado Green now that it's back on the Cliffwood. Couldn't be any easier for an arm with a fixed headshell. It's a shame that cartridge was a limited run, cause it is SO much easier to mount than a typical Grado!
If anyone is curious themselves and wants to try the 2M Bronze out, I'm happy to pass along the price I got on this - broken in and not overused. Otherwise, it's going on the marketplaces.
The short version of the story is, the 2M Bronze was on my table for a very short time. Haha.
I did a typical grip of cuts I'm intimately familiar with, of varying genres and intensities, and I'll start with the positives as compared to the VPI/Grado Green + 8MZ, and that list is unfortunately short: the Bronze seemed to handle heavier IGD more cohesively, and managed to stay a bit more composed in times of harsh vocal sibilance or a massively dense or poorly mastered passage. Other than that? Not much to report.
Having spent the past 8 months with the Grado, (and listening a LOT while being home most of the time) I felt that virtually all of the depth of imaging disappeared when switching to the Bronze. It just wasn't satisfying. I didn't feel connected at all. I see a number of users say it sounds "digital," but I actually find a 320kbps digital file to be more engaging than the Bronze. I enjoyed the time I've had with the Blue, I don't know how I'd feel about it now that I've logged so many hours with the Grado, but honestly the Bronze didn't feel "better" than the Blue in any real capacity, just different, and certainly when you factor in price... You expect when you upgrade in the line, you're going to have a "wow!" moment, and I did not experience that. For a cartridge known for its hi end, I feel the 8MZ stylus bests the 2M in extension. The 2M might be a little smoother, but it doesn't reach.
Also wanna give some props to the mounting of the VPI/Grado Green now that it's back on the Cliffwood. Couldn't be any easier for an arm with a fixed headshell. It's a shame that cartridge was a limited run, cause it is SO much easier to mount than a typical Grado!
If anyone is curious themselves and wants to try the 2M Bronze out, I'm happy to pass along the price I got on this - broken in and not overused. Otherwise, it's going on the marketplaces.
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
I do wonder how I’d feel going back to a 2M. My progression was Red to Bronze, so I really didn’t experiment with other carts in the same tier and have little basis for comparison.
Cool to read your impressions!
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
And from the looks of things in your signature, you've moved well beyond!
That reminds me, I gotta set my signature up sometime!
Mrjay07
Member
Apologies in advance if this has been previously asked but much ti my delight my soon to be 15 yearly daughter has asked for a turntable for her birthday.
I already have a pair of Dali Sensor 1's and a Vincent Pho-8 so I would like to pick up the TT and a budget amp. My budget is around £500.
I know she'll need cables etc. I can stretch for that.
I have a Rega P3 and naturally look at the P1 as a good starter for her. But at £250 it doesn't leave much for an amp.
Equipment would have to be available to the UK markets unfortunately due to time.
All advice greatly received.
I already have a pair of Dali Sensor 1's and a Vincent Pho-8 so I would like to pick up the TT and a budget amp. My budget is around £500.
I know she'll need cables etc. I can stretch for that.
I have a Rega P3 and naturally look at the P1 as a good starter for her. But at £250 it doesn't leave much for an amp.
Equipment would have to be available to the UK markets unfortunately due to time.
All advice greatly received.
Thackeraye
Well-Known Member
Richer Sounds could be your pal here? I would have recommended the Onkyo A-9010 as an amp (I have one and I like it), but it seems out of stock everywhere.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Have you had a look at the onkyo amps? They’re usually a really good option at the lower end. The marantz pm5005 is supposed to be pretty decent for £230ish too.
Mrjay07
Member
Yeah, I'm looking on Richer.
I had a Yamaha loaner and it was really good although Bass heavy. The 202 or 303 is within budget and she could link it up to bluetooth and wifi. Would leave plenty for the P1 or Project Primary E.
Thanks.