Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

Mather said:
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?
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Correct. And you can look high and low and you will find nothing negative on any of the ART9 series. Anywhere. Absolutely none. It is a rare component that receives universal praise. And I’ve liked every A/T MC I’ve had with an advanced profile stylus. This is a very safe blind buy. The Goldring isn’t.
 
SMeekWoodworks said:
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
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I’d likely go here and use the MM-6 over the built in phono stage. 25% off.

www.musicdirect.com

Marantz - PM8006 Integrated Amplifier **FACTORY REFURBISHED**

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.
www.musicdirect.com www.musicdirect.com

Under $2k, and yes it’s worth the extra money.

www.musicdirect.com

Rotel - RA-1572 Integrated Amplifier

www.musicdirect.com
 
CroutonBoy said:
This is PERFECT @HiFi Guy

Exactly the advice I was hoping for. I'll post pics as this comes together, but I cannot thank you enough.
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Elac is having a sale- 20% off.

Debut 2.0 Sale

[cs_content_seo]08/22 - 09/06, US Customers Only Over 90 years in the industry makes us your perfect guideinto high fidelity audio When Sounding Good Isn't Good Enough When Sounding Good Isn't Good Enough Debut 2.0 Debut 2.0 Up To 25% Off
www.elac.com www.elac.com
 
HiFi Guy said:
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.

www.audio-technica.com

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 www.audio-technica.com
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That’s my next move once the opus reaches changeover point.
 
HiFi Guy said:
I’d likely go here and use the MM-6 over the built in phono stage. 25% off.

www.musicdirect.com

Marantz - PM8006 Integrated Amplifier **FACTORY REFURBISHED**

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.
www.musicdirect.com www.musicdirect.com

Under $2k, and yes it’s worth the extra money.

www.musicdirect.com

Rotel - RA-1572 Integrated Amplifier

www.musicdirect.com
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Thank you so much for your help and advice! I appreciate all your input
 
You guys got me thinking about the old ART 9 so I swapped back on after months of the SS. There is more blackness to the background on the ART (due to lower gain of the phono I'm thinking). deeper bass and less air in the highs, but not less highs. The SS makes you feel like you are in the room the artists were in. The ART makes you feel they are in your room. Imaging is great on both, ART feels more front to back as well as side to side. SS feels less 3D in that sense. There I found the words.
 
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VMPKJ said:
You guys got me thinking about the old ART 9 so I swapped back on after months of the SS. There is more blackness to the background on the ART (due to lower gain I'm thinking). deeper bass and less air in the highs, but not less highs. The SS makes you feel like you are in the room the artists were in. The ART makes you feel they are in your room. Imaging is great on both, ART feels more front to back as well as side to side. SS feels less 3D in that sense. There I found the words.
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I'm currently looking into my prices on the Art9. I think I can get about 30% off retail. But unfortunately the rebuild cost is about the same and I don't think I can get a discount on that. So that's a bit tough... But it sounds like a great option. Thanks @HiFi Guy and the rest of you for answering my myriad questions.
 
Mather said:
I'm currently looking into my prices on the Art9. I think I can get about 30% off retail. But unfortunately the rebuild cost is about the same and I don't think I can get a discount on that. So that's a bit tough... But it sounds like a great option. Thanks @HiFi Guy and the rest of you for answering my myriad questions.
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You don’t have to send it to A/T for a retip. Soundsmith and VAS can do it for far less. Just an idea.
 
VMPKJ said:
I think I gave you the VAS info. i wasn't sure I trusted the ART 9 to him due to how it's mounted. I did not know SS would do it. They are building MC carts from the ground up so that's a different level of expertise IMO.
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I’d trust either one. VAS likely has a faster turnaround though.
 
HiFi Guy said:
I’d trust either one. VAS likely has a faster turnaround though.
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I've called AT a couple times.

AT makes it sound like the mechanics are what breaks down more than the tips alone. That's why they don't like to repair according to them. If that's true then I wonder how many rounds with one cart can you go before needing another.

EDIT: I was under the impression the beauty of SS MIMC design was that the moving parts are reversed. This would make re-tipping less hazardous and probably repair if necessary easier.
 
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VMPKJ said:
I've called AT a couple times.

AT makes it sound like the mechanics are what breaks down more than the tips alone. That's why they don't like to repair according to them. If that's true then I wonder how many rounds with one cart can you go before needing another.
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According to Peter at Soundsmith, the coil wires on a MC cartridge will eventually break due to stress. The coil wires are connected directly to the cantilever. Think of what happens when you bend a coat hanger back and forth. The metal stresses and eventually breaks. The same thing happens with a MC cartridge eventually. When that happens, the cartridge is toast.

I’ve had this happen once on a Dynavector. I never even made it to the first rebuild. I have no idea how many times one can expect to rebuild a MC cartridges before the coil wires fail.

Soundsmith cartridges aren’t MC, they are MI, which Peter calls “fixed coil”. The only moving part is the cantilever itself, which is connected to nothing. The end in the cantilever is free floating in a magnetic field created by the coils. Soundsmith cartridges can be rebuilt indefinitely. They don’t have stress points to wear out.
 
HiFi Guy said:
According to Peter at Soundsmith, the coil wires on a MC cartridge will eventually break due to stress. The coil wires are connected directly to the cantilever. Think of what happens when you bend a coat hanger back and forth. The metal stresses and eventually breaks. The same thing happens with a MC cartridge eventually. When that happens, the cartridge is toast.

I’ve had this happen once on a Dynavector. I never even made it to the first rebuild. I have no idea how many times one can expect to rebuild a MC cartridges before the coil wires fail.

Soundsmith cartridges aren’t MC, they are MI, which Peter calls “fixed coil”. The only moving part is the cantilever itself, which is connected to nothing. The end in the cantilever is free floating in a magnetic field created by the coils. Soundsmith cartridges can be rebuilt indefinitely. They don’t have stress points to wear out.
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What I hear you saying is that I'm all excited about my ART 9 again, so I either need...

A. A revenue stream dedicated solely to replacing ART's every 1.5 years or...

B. An investor who sees the value of buying all of the remaining ART9's so we can sell half in a few years for twice the price to recover our cost. LOL
 
VMPKJ said:
What I hear you saying is that I'm all excited about my ART 9 again, so I either need...

A. A revenue stream dedicated solely to replacing ART's every 1.5 years or...

B. An investor who sees the value of buying all of the remaining ART9's so we can sell half in a few years for twice the price to recover our cost. LOL
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Like vacuum tubes, cartridges/styli are just an ongoing cost of our hobby/sickness.
 
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