New turntable or better cartridge?

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Hi,

I am about to upgrade my analog equipment, and I am unsure how my money is best spent: on buying a whole new turntable with cartridge or keeping my old 'table and splashing out more on the cartridge.

Today I have a ProJect RPM-4 (which I believe is the predecessor to the RPM-5.1) with a standard Ortofon cartridge.

I am considering buying either a Clearudio Concept with the Concept MC cartridge or a VPI Traveler with a Dynavector 10x5 (haven't heard any of the above but read rave reviews of both).

My question is: could I do even better and get away with spending less money if I just bought a pricier (and hopefully better) cartridge than either of the above mentioned for the ProJect? And what cartridge would that be? Or should I just settle for the Dynavector 10x5 partnered with the ProJect?

The rest of my rig is all-Quad: 99 preamplifier with built-in phono stage, 909 power amplifier, ESL-2805 speakers, NC (Nordic Concept) interconncets, Anticables speaker cables.

I would be grateful for all suggestions, also on other cables. Oh, and also what ADC I should buy. Maybe the ADL Esprit?

Best wishes

Staffan Fritz

Visby, Gotland, Sweden

Asked by staffan.fritz
November 15, 2012 4:35 p.m.

1 Answer

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    Staffan,

    Considering how good the rest of your system is, I think you'd be fully justified in upgrading your analog front end. If I were in the market for a turntable/tonearm/cartridge at a relatively reasonable price, I think I would go with my friend and colleague Wayne Garcia's top choices in this range: the Rega RP6, which an be had with Rega's EXACT cartridge for $1990, or the Pro-Ject RM-9.2, which comes bundled with Sumiko's Blue Point Special EVO III cartridge and Connect-It tonearm cable for $2299. 

    JV

    Answered by JonathanValin
    December 26, 2012 11:03 p.m.

    • Help me choose my dress!! — yanskypatp April 05, 2013 8:54 p.m.

    • Help me choose my dress!! — yanskypatp April 05, 2013 8:54 p.m.

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