Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
Mather
Unknown Member
Haha yes, THANK YOU. I know it's not on your high list of options but the Goldring Ethos, would that match up?
Perfect match. But that line contact stylus- you are trading one finicky pain in the ass for another.
Mather
Unknown Member
GODAMMIT, that's so me. That's what I DO...
Okay, so no Hana, no Soundsmith. Yes to other Orts, Art9, Ethos pain in the ass...
Here’s your answer:
1. Microline stylus. Long wearing, low surface and groove noise. Sounds great. Easy setup.
2. Perfect match to your phono stage.
3. Allow A/Ts manufacturing scale to work in your favor. This would cost far more from a “boutique” manufacturer.
Meet the OC9XML. 85% of an ART9 for less than half the money- $549 US.
AT-OC9XML
Audio quality is further enhanced by a rigid aluminum body that reduces resonance, a neodymium magnet and premium permendur yoke that increase the magnetic energy, and the nude Microlinear stylus ...
www.audio-technica.com
Mather
Unknown Member
Another curveball, it appears the Art 9 is discontinued in favor of the Art 9Xi which has a different compliance. Although maybe that's the one you were already suggesting.Here’s your answer:
1. Microline stylus. Long wearing, low surface and groove noise. Sounds great. Easy setup.
2. Perfect match to your phono stage.
3. Allow A/Ts manufacturing scale to work in your favor. This would cost far more from a “boutique” manufacturer.
Meet the OC9XML. 85% of an ART9 for less than half the money- $549 US.
AT-OC9XML
Audio quality is further enhanced by a rigid aluminum body that reduces resonance, a neodymium magnet and premium permendur yoke that increase the magnetic energy, and the nude Microlinear stylus ...
SMeekWoodworks
Member
Is there a good rule of thumb for level/cost of amp compared to the rest of one's system? Maybe a better way to ask it is, what is the bottom limit I should be looking at?
SMeekWoodworks
Member
Not that I would necessarily go with the lowest cost option, just curious where the range starts
There’s the Xi and the Xa. I was suggesting the Xi.
Mather
Unknown Member
Ah okay that's the one I was looking at, but it's also a line contact stylus like the Ethos, yes? So also finicky like my current Shibata?
VMPKJ
Well-Known Member
It really is fantastic. Why I'm keeping it instead of 2 Soundsmiths. They are close. The ART has a wider stage and deeper bass, while the SS has bit more air in the highs, but we're talking micro-differences.
SMeekWoodworks
Member
So, another question out of my ignorance, because I just don't know enough yet about this hobby of mine
, what makes a line contact stylus finicky?
Mather
Unknown Member
I'm pretty much right there with you which is why I'm asking so many questions, but I believe it's the setup in terms of where the stylus wants to sit in the groove. Very small window in terms of how much space you have for adjustments before the sound goes to hell.So, another question out of my ignorance, because I just don't know enough yet about this hobby of mine
VMPKJ
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure. I is contact-line different then line contact? Because I have two of the former and they are not finicky at all.So, another question out of my ignorance, because I just don't know enough yet about this hobby of mine
EDIT: you have to have a descent table, but it seems you do. Otherwise I've had no problems setting up the Zephyrs or the ART. The ART's can be had sub 1k too. Though your next replacement from the manufacturer will be the newer one. I can't imagine they are worlds different. Sounds like a little less mid-bass from limited online listens.
There’s no math. It’s not that easy.
Back when I was trained, I was trained to budget 50% for speakers, 30% for an amp and 20% for a source component. This allows the dealer (me at the time) the most profit.
People will tell you to spend the most money on speakers. This is wrong in my opinion. Speakers can only reproduce what they are fed. The better your upstream components, the better your speakers will sound. You can’t make up with speakers what you missed getting off of the record in the first place.
If I was forced to put math to it, I’d either spend the most on the turntable/ phono stage or spend equally on each component.
My system looks weird math wise but sounds great:
Turntable/ cartridge $2260. This will change to $5200 this summer with a planned upgrade.
Phono Stage- $4000
Amp- $4400
Speakers with stands $1500
Power conditioning/cables $1000
Record cleaning system $800
So when my upgrade comes in, my turntable and cartridge will the the most expensive single component.
One thing I have found to be true is that meaningful upgrades usually start at double what they are replacing-if you have a $500 amp, usually you’ll gain nothing going to a $600 amp. Figure you’d need $1000. Usually, not always though. I went from a pair of $2880 speakers to a pair of $1500 that I prefer. But if I were replacing them (I’m not) I’d likely look at the $4k and up range.
And you don’t have to spend anywhere near what I did to get a musically satisfying system. You spend huge amounts of money at a point for relatively small gains in performance- the law of diminishing returns. I’m building my “forever” system, so I’ve mostly thrown the budget out the window.
There is enough user data out there to know how to set the ART9 up correctly- arm and bottom of the cartridge parallel to the record. That’s why it’s a safe bet. Once you get this right, check your overhang, VTF and azimuth and you are good.
A line contact stylus is much deeper than other styli (front to back) and requires precise alignment.
Mather
Unknown Member
Okay thanks, and a similar setup to the Ethos I assume since they're the same stylus? But maybe less info out there on it for me to reference?
SMeekWoodworks
Member
Hmmm, ok. So if I were looking at the $1k and slightly under range for an amp, what would you recommend? Then the $2k range?
What I would likely do is upgrade when I build a dedicated listening room in a couple years, so I would probably also upgrade the TT at that point as well to something in that $2k range. With what construction all my life has done to my hearing, I doubt I will notice any difference beyond that price point. Sadly
VMPKJ
Well-Known Member
Then I’m an ace or very lucky. I will say the zephyr is more sensitive than the art to VTA gets out of focus sounding. Once it’s set it’s set though. I didn’t find it a pain.
also I’ve tracked very bad warps and such that the black would not with no issue with both.