What are members recommendations on current turntables in the $15K to $22K price range?

[christoph]

@Lee- perhaps the OMA CAST IRON SP10 PLINTH SYSTEM may be to your liking.

Fremer raved about it:

Analog Corner #282: OMA Plinth for Technics SP10, SAT CF1-12 tonearm, Doshi V3.0 phono stage

Last May I got a text message from my vinyl-loving electrician: "Hey Michael, I'm listening to WFMU and a young 12 year old analog genius is guest DJ-ing, Malachi Lui. He mentioned you, and talks about mastering and pressingshe's incredible. I imagine he's been in touch with you. Hope all is...

www.stereophile.com

and was discuss by this forum as well:

Technics SP-10R with OMA cast-iron plinth : both Modern & Nostalgic!

Technics has launched their new model of direct-drive turntable SP-10R for a few years. There isn't any dealer for it in Hong Kong so it's until last week that I had the chance to listen to it at a friend's home. My friend David pairs it with the Oswalda Mill Audio cast-iron plinth. MF wrote a...

www.whatsbestforum.com

He asked for suggestions in the 15k to 22k bracket, NOT the 150k to 220k range

 

[KPC]

He asked for suggestions in the 15k to 22k bracket, NOT the 150k to 220k range

My post was for the OMA sp10 “plinth” system which was about $20k as reported by Fremer in my previous link. I believe you are mistakenly assuming another OMA model

 

[djsina2]

I have a new in the box CSPort TAT2M2 for sale in the classifieds which falls within this range. I also have a TechDAS AF5 which falls below this range. Message me for details if interested!

 

[tony22]

Consider getting a VPI Avenger Direct, once Serial numbers 002 and follow become available. Hmm, although now that I think of it, it may be beyond the desired price range.

 

[gleeds]

Mike, agreed the CS Port looks like a piece of Zen excellence.

And for something new and different Lee........ Ars Machinae, TM1 from Germany. I'll be receiving our first units here in Southern, CA in late May/June. The TM1 comes with its own dedicated 12" stabilized uni-pivot tonearm so it will push the budget closer in price to the top AMG Viella/arm combo which I also think highly of.

As Mike said, you have some of the brightest minds in the industry try to advise you but hey, why not extend the universe of possibilities and hear from WBF members as well Certainly, a nice compliment to Steve, Ron, and Julian for all the hard work they have put in to create WBF!

 

[Uk Paul]

I would consider a good condition Garrard 401 in the right new plinth. it might be worth contacting member Jeffrey_T.

I think Peter has it right here; based on the results heard in Zerostargeneral's system with his newly installed 401, Vivlabs RF7 and final production run active cartridge / current (as opposed to voltage) phono stage, it would be very very difficult to beat, if not near impossible for any money. Without doubt I will be running the same set up by the end of the year..

Sorry for the poor image; only a phone shot..

 

[howiebrou]

I think Peter has it right here; based on the results heard in Zerostargenerals system with his newly installed 401, Vivlabs RF7 and final production run active cartridge / current (as opposed to voltage) phono stage, it would be very very difficult to beat, if not near impossible for any money. Without doubt I will be running the same set up by the end of the year..

My Garrard 301 is currently my favourite table. Hard to beat the emotion and immediacy of a good idler.

 

[XV-1]

Mike, agreed the CS Port looks like a piece of Zen excellence.

And for something new and different Lee........ Ars Machinae, TM1 from Germany. I'll be receiving our first units here in Southern, CA in late May/June. The TM1 comes with its own dedicated 12" stabilized uni-pivot tonearm so it will push the budget closer in price to the top AMG Viella/arm combo which I also think highly of.

As Mike said, you have some of the brightest minds in the industry try to advise you but hey, why not extend the universe of possibilities and hear from WBF members as well Certainly, a nice compliment to Steve, Ron, and Julian for all the hard work they have put in to create WBF!


View attachment 90135

Nice, reminds me of the old Simon Yorke turntables.

 

[Solypsa]

I think Peter has it right here; based on the results heard in Zerostargeneral's system with his newly installed 401, Vivlabs RF7 and final production run active cartridge / current (as opposed to voltage) phono stage, it would be very very difficult to beat, if not near impossible for any money. Without doubt I will be running the same set up by the end of the year..

Sorry for the poor image; only a phone shot.. View attachment 90152

Yeah amazing how far a 401 can go.

When you say 'active cartridge' are you referring to DaVa or other field coil? And which 'current phono'?

wish I could hear it

 

[Uk Paul]

Yeah amazing how far a 401 can go.

When you say 'active cartridge' are you referring to DaVa or other field coil? And which 'current phono'?

wish I could hear it

Hi Erik,

It is for sure; many will just walk on past a TT like the 401 thinking it's old, how can it compete with so called modern design? Well it can and some, though the combination that the General has set up at present is simply incredible, and I'm not saying this just because we had some input into it but because it simply presents what was recorded in front of you in a realistic and totally palpable way.. I've asked him to share some info on here as I don't know the full details on the active side yet but it is moving magnet.. I did test the early prototype here late last year and tbh the Aidas Mammoth Gold mkii / RCM Theriaa was better by some margin, but this final version has pushed ahead by a considerable margin now. 'Direct and there' is how I can only describe the sound..

I wish you could hear it too!

 

[zerostargeneral]

Thank you Mr. Stratton and Mr. Taylor,

Between yourselves and some equally capable others you have helped me realise a dream scenario.

The input from you and AudioGrail has enriched the project to a previously unattainable level, the stars aligned for this one

To the point I have purchased more power products than ever. The Audiograil "lithe", Z-Axis Symetrica , Z-Axis 777 cables and POWER cables have completed an all round triumph.

Thank you both again and kindest regards,G.

 

[jespera]

Thank you Mr. Stratton and Mr. Taylor,

Between yourselves and some equally capable others you have helped me realise a dream scenario.

The input from you and AudioGrail has enriched the project to a previously unattainable level, the stars aligned for this one

To the point I have purchased more power products than ever. The Audiograil "lithe", Z-Axis Symetrica , Z-Axis 777 cables and POWER cables have completed an all round triumph.

Thank you both again and kindest regards,G.

Any reason why you chose the rf7 rather than the rf9 or rf12?

 

[zerostargeneral]

Dear Sir,

The longer arms are less revealing in my opinion. The main obstacle to learning is prior knowledge, once I accepted a single null geometry the rest became obvious.

Kindest regards,G.

 

[jespera]

Dear Sir,

The longer arms are less revealing in my opinion. The main obstacle to learning is prior knowledge, once I accepted a single null geometry the rest became obvious.

Kindest regards,G.

Im a believer. The gospel here is that eliminating skating forces is more important than reducing tracking error.

So the reason why conventional 12” arms and parallel trackers sound better than conventional 9” arms is because they have less skating forces — not due to less tracking error.

The rf7 sounds better than its lionger siblings due to less flexing and resonance — i guess. Tracking error doesnt matter at all … (?)

Hearing is believing. I got to try it at some point.

Actually, what id really like to try is a straight spring suspended heavy headed (a la lenco L70) tonearm.

 

[Salectric]

It’s difficult if not impossible to describe how tonearm length alone affects sound quality. You can’t make two tonearms that are identical in all respects except length. If you keep the arm tube the same the longer one will have more mass and if you add mass to the shorter arm you are changing its resonance characteristics.

A tonearm designer can perhaps get close to isolating length by making two arms that are nearly identical in all other respects, but for us end-users all we can do is compare different arms and share our observations.

In my case, I have had three 12” arms and numerous 9” and 10” arms. They all had different design and construction and they all sounded different. However, one characteristic the 3 longer arms all have in common is a more relaxed, easy-going quality especially in inner grooves. Whether that’s due to the different offset angle or something else is anyone’s guess. But I hear it and I like it.

The 12” arms I’ve owned are (in order) Moerch DP-6 with 12” Red wand, Schick and Analog Instruments Siggwan. Aside from length, the arms have little in common in design and they sound quite different from each other. I liked the Moerch, I did not like the Schick, and I love the Siggwan. I still have my 9” Triplanar and I am quite content listening with it, but there’s something special about the Siggwan.

 

[viola]

A Raven laid back, i never heard him so.I know it in all possible configurations, very dark background, no noises paired with an enormous attack. if I only listen to classical music I wouldn’t take a Raven,because he’s always on the gas, even though the music called for rest and break.
View attachment 82614 View attachment 82615

Stephan, what is the mat you are using on your Raven AC-1? I have the same turntable and am curious about which mat you think works best compared to the stock mat. Regards, Al

 

[Barry2013]

My SME 20/3 plus SME V departed earlier this week to be replaced by a Sikora Standard Line plus their 12" KV12(VTA), a Kevlar tone arm, photos below.
I was not particularly dissatisfied with the SME/V but I was pretty sure that the Sikora would be better from my researches. In addition I did like its looks compared with the SME.
Fortunately I was correct and the sound is very definitely superior. It comes with its own heavy turntable clamp as in the photo, but it imparts a distinctly dark sound which is of very good quality, but not to my taste.I replaced it with my Stillpoints Ultra V2 clamp which I found was a significant improvement. Faster, more air and better all round.
The build quality and fit and finish is top class. I am still getting used to the arm which is a unipivot design which I have not used before before, but performs extremely well. The price difference between the two is about £1k more for the Sikora, but it is a bargain at that price.
It is a Polish product where costs are lower than in Western Europe and the USA and I would guess that were it manufactured in those countries it would retail at not far short of £25k. It is a heavy turntable, 80kilos, and the platter weighs in at 18 kilos.It will also accommodate two tonearms
IMHO it is an outstanding buy and I can recommend it very highly.

 

[wbass]

Looks fantastic. Sorry, did you mention the street price?

 

[Barry2013]

Looks fantastic. Sorry, did you mention the street price?

Thanks
I did but happy to repeat - UK £17k

 

[Audire]

My SME 20/3 plus SME V departed earlier this week to be replaced by a Sikora Standard Line plus their 12" KV12(VTA), a Kevlar tone arm, photos below.
I was not particularly dissatisfied with the SME/V but I was pretty sure that the Sikora would be better from my researches. In addition I did like its looks compared with the SME.
Fortunately I was correct and the sound is very definitely superior. It comes with its own heavy turntable clamp as in the photo, but it imparts a distinctly dark sound which is of very good quality, but not to my taste.I replaced it with my Stillpoints Ultra V2 clamp which I found was a significant improvement. Faster, more air and better all round.
The build quality and fit and finish is top class. I am still getting used to the arm which is a unipivot design which I have not used before before, but performs extremely well. The price difference between the two is about £1k more for the Sikora, but it is a bargain at that price.
It is a Polish product where costs are lower than in Western Europe and the USA and I would guess that were it manufactured in those countries it would retail at not far short of £25k. It is a heavy turntable, 80kilos, and the platter weighs in at 18 kilos.It will also accommodate two tonearms
IMHO it is an outstanding buy and I can recommend it very highly.

Congrats! We are enjoying our J Sikora Standard Max Line. Like you stated, highly recommended.