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  #1  
Old 09-11-2016, 01:03 AM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Default Help on upgrades?

I haven't been into vinyl that much in the past. But after discovering that no matter how much I spend on digital, vinyl still sounds better to me, maybe I should invest in that next. I'm in no hurry, things sound amazing right now. But I'm curious what you vinyl guys think I should do next?

I have a bone stock vpi classic one with a dynavector 10x5 MM, running into an audio research LP1. It's sounding great...hard to imagine it gets much better, but I know I'm on the bunny slopes.

So what would you upgrade next?

I'm lusting after the new ph9 phono preamp, it will match my ref6. But I'm not sure how much I'd gain, and that thing costs more than twice as much as my TT and cartridge!

Speed control? New cartridge?
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Old 09-11-2016, 01:25 AM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Actually my cartridge is a high output moving coil. I forgot about that...my phono pre is only capable of MM and HO moving coil.
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Old 09-11-2016, 12:49 PM
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You have a great table that could easily sustain upgrading the cartridge to a good low-output moving coil. The challenge would of course then be the phono stage. I guess it depends on how much you want to spend, but I think I would lean in the direction of cartridge and phono stage, either the PH9 or, as an intermediate step, add a step up transformer to the LP1.
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Old 09-11-2016, 01:54 PM
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Going for the Esoteric Phono? Looks like a great choice.
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Old 09-11-2016, 02:06 PM
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Marc, I agree with you that despite all the hassles of vinyl - "no matter how much I spend on digital that vinyl still sounds better to me". I only play digital when the vinyl version is not available. I agree with Antonmb, that a low output MC cartridge and new phono stage would be a great start.
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Old 09-11-2016, 02:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Antonmb View Post
Going for the Esoteric Phono? Looks like a great choice.
Could NOT resist that price!!! And it sets me up for any cart I want in the future!
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Old 09-11-2016, 03:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2fastdriving View Post
Could NOT resist that price!!! And it sets me up for any cart I want in the future!
Now you can go look at those Lyras.
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Old 09-11-2016, 03:13 PM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Quote:
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Now you can go look at those Lyras.
Gulp.
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Old 09-11-2016, 06:15 PM
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Nice work on grabbing that phono stage, as mentioned the cart would be the next place I'd look along with a 3D arm. This is of course assuming you've already got some sort of RCM.
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Old 09-11-2016, 06:16 PM
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Nice work on grabbing that phono stage, as mentioned the cart would be the next place I'd look along with a 3D arm. This is of course assuming you've already got some sort of RCM.
Thanks! No, I don't have a RCM. Good suggestion.
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