Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

HayesWeighsIn said:
As a former owner of both, the operation really is smooth and simple as can be on the Fluance. Hey worst case, audition the Blue for 50 hours, if it’s not your thing, sell it. Now you’ve effectively got a $300 table with an acrylic platter. Not bad.
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I know Grados and Orftons are different flavors. But is a 2m blue considered an upgrade to the Grado Blue?
 
Joe Mac said:
Also the 2M blue is a good cartridge. I liked it. It’s the only cartridge in the 2M line that I can say that about. However, I much prefer the grado sound and if you like what you’re hearing now you may prefer what you have to what you’re going to. In that case although the PLX-1000 comes without a cartridge you already have the Grado blue so can reuse it and if you wait until one of those musicians friend/guitar centre coupons it’s in and around the RT85 for price. You’d be getting better sound, keeping the Grado, getting all those extra features and having a table that can be made sound better and better going forwards by a series of longstanding and worthwhile tweaks.
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.............. @dbarila , nobody has claimed the GC coupon I have, so if the PLX might still be in the mix let me know and I'll send it your way. It's for 15% off, so that gets the PLX down to $594
 
Joe Mac said:
Also the 2M blue is a good cartridge. I liked it. It’s the only cartridge in the 2M line that I can say that about. However, I much prefer the grado sound and if you like what you’re hearing now you may prefer what you have to what you’re going to. In that case although the PLX-1000 comes without a cartridge you already have the Grado blue so can reuse it and if you wait until one of those musicians friend/guitar centre coupons it’s in and around the RT85 for price. You’d be getting better sound, keeping the Grado, getting all those extra features and having a table that can be made sound better and better going forwards by a series of longstanding and worthwhile tweaks.
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I know it's a ridiculous thing because it's AUDIO, but I've never been a fan of the look of the tables like that Pioneer. I prefer the more simple looking tables like the Fluance and U Turn. Also, the Grado is the only cartridge I've ever owned (black then blue) so I don't really know if I'd prefer it to other carts or not.
 
dbarila said:
I know Grados and Orftons are different flavors. But is a 2m blue considered an upgrade to the Grado Blue?
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They're playing in the same pool. On price the 2M is more expensive than all the prestige apart from the gold. The 2M blue is, in my experience, a more detailed cartridge than the prestige line but it has a brighter sound. It’s not unappealing though. Adding an 8mz stylus to a prestige did to me give equivalent detail to the 2M blue but without the brighter sound.

The reality is that they’re equivalent line and not really upgrades but rather different flavours.
 
dbarila said:
I know it's a ridiculous thing because it's AUDIO, but I've never been a fan of the look of the tables like that Pioneer. I prefer the more simple looking tables like the Fluance and U Turn. Also, the Grado is the only cartridge I've ever owned (black then blue) so I don't really know if I'd prefer it to other carts or not.
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That’s definitely a consideration and I don’t disagree on the aesthetics. However again it is audio and personally I don’t know if I’d take a mostly sideways step on sound to get the extra features, I might be tempted to save longer to be able to do both.
 
dbarila said:
I know it's a ridiculous thing because it's AUDIO, but I've never been a fan of the look of the tables like that Pioneer. I prefer the more simple looking tables like the Fluance and U Turn. Also, the Grado is the only cartridge I've ever owned (black then blue) so I don't really know if I'd prefer it to other carts or not.
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Again, I get that, the aesthetic of something definitely play into the choices we make, I just wanted to extend the offer just in case ;)
 
Joe Mac said:
They're playing in the same pool. On price the 2M is more expensive than all the prestige apart from the gold. The 2M blue is, in my experience, a more detailed cartridge than the prestige line but it has a brighter sound. Adding an 8mz stylus to a prestige did to me give equivalent detail to the 2M blue but without the brighter sound.

The reality is that they’re equivalent line and not really upgrades but rather different flavours.
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I suppose with the Fluance I could also move my Grado over if I don't like the 2M and still be on an upgrade patch to an 8mz eventually.

AnthonyI said:
.............. @dbarila , nobody has claimed the GC coupon I have, so if the PLX might still be in the mix let me know and I'll send it your way. It's for 15% off, so that gets the PLX down to $594
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I might actually have one of those too. But I will let you know if I want to take you up on that?
 
Joe Mac said:
That’s definitely a consideration and I don’t disagree on the aesthetics. However again it is audio and personally I don’t know if I’d take a mostly sideways step on sound to get the extra features, I might be tempted to save longer to be able to do both.
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This exactly my internal debate right now about a "sideways" step. Luckily I don't have my tax refund in hand yet so you've all given me plenty to think about and sleep on.
 
dbarila said:
This exactly my internal debate right now about a "sideways" step. Luckily I don't have my tax refund in hand yet so you've all given me plenty to think about and sleep on.
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I would say take your time and weigh out everything before jumping in, I'm assuming hitting any TT over the $1k mark isn't in the future plan? Meaning, is this purchase a stepping stone to something else? If it's NOT, ya, definitely give it some thought.

I have to agree with @Joe Mac's comment
Joe Mac said:
However again it is audio and personally I don’t know if I’d take a mostly sideways step on sound to get the extra features, I might be tempted to save longer to be able to do both.
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AnthonyI said:
I would say take your time and weigh out everything before jumping in, I'm assuming hitting any TT over the $1k mark isn't in the future plan? Meaning, is this purchase a stepping stone to something else? If it's NOT, ya, definitely give it some thought.

I have to agree with @Joe Mac's comment
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Yeah I think if the technics design style of table is out I tend to agree that it’s the tables in and around $800 to $1k that represent the real jump up in terms of both feature and sound quality.
 
@dbarila I totally get the aesthetics thing. My girlfriend specifically requested a woodgrain for the living room turntable. I likely would’ve gone with a Technics Grand Class, but she hates the mechanical look. The VPI Cliffwood checked all the boxes for both of us. I’ve always wanted a VPI, I really dig the sound profile, but everything from the Prime Scout up is not my thing at all from an aesthetics standpoint - looks almost steampunk! Haha
 
AnthonyI said:
I would say take your time and weigh out everything before jumping in, I'm assuming hitting any TT over the $1k mark isn't in the future plan? Meaning, is this purchase a stepping stone to something else? If it's NOT, ya, definitely give it some thought.

I have to agree with @Joe Mac's comment
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At the present time I would say that it is not a stepping stone but a table I plan to keep for many years. I'm not sure if I ever see myself making the $1000 plus jump.
 
Joe Mac said:
The pho 8 is out of production now so you’ll have to be quick to get one of the last production pieces. I haven’t heard as good things about it’s replacement. MF make good gear. This was one of the last pieces their founder Anthony Michaelson designed before he sold it off to project. I think @AnthonyI had both and preferred the MF but I’ll let him speak for himself.

Although honestly if it was my money I’d be tempted to try out the Darlington one based on @HiFi Guy little initial leaks before his full review comes along.
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@dbarila I should have my review written and posted over the weekend. I’ll say this: I’d buy the Darlington MM-6 over anything under $1k as long as you don’t need MC capability or have odd requirements (like the low output Grados).
 
dbarila said:
Thanks! Starting to lean more towards pre amp and 8mz over a turntable upgrade.
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I have a uTurn and did this thought experiment in 2020. I think the Fluance is mostly a sideways step, the PLX is the cheapest upgrade I'd consider doing. My plan is to save up for a MoFi or comparable deck (like a Technics).

I upgraded to the Grado Gold3 and it definitely bought me more time being okay with the uTurn.
 
wmeugene said:
I have a uTurn and did this thought experiment in 2020. I think the Fluance is mostly a sideways step, the PLX is the cheapest upgrade I'd consider doing. My plan is to save up for a MoFi or comparable deck (like a Technics).

I upgraded to the Grado Gold3 and it definitely bought me more time being okay with the uTurn.
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Yeah,. The more I think about the Fluance the more I think that if I just upgrade my stylus on the U Turn I don't really need to worry about a removable head shell, anti skate, etc.
 
dbarila said:
Yeah,. The more I think about the Fluance the more I think that if I just upgrade my stylus on the U Turn I don't really need to worry about a removable head shell, anti skate, etc.
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Just to add my personal experience with the Orbit, I was completely content with it and went on the upgrade path around it. Amp was first, then a few phono stages and speakers. I waited and saved to make the jump to the UltraDeck, but the system was fantastic in my opinion, that being said, everything I had in my Orbit chain, minus speakers (NAD & Insight) is now sitting on my PLX...........so I think you're going about this the "better" way. ;)

Maybe consider some isolation for the Orbit, I did notice it helped in my setup :)
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dbarila said:
This is probably more for the Grado thread but 8mz is the way to go over the Gold?
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Im going to be honest and say that I don’t know what the difference is between the prestige cartridge bodies and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a straight answer either.

I know the green is the highest quality percentage styli from the black run. Equally blue from red and gold from silver.

My temptation would be the 8mz as your blue is a 3.
 
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