Technics SL-1500C will do just that, which is also the only table I recommend that has an in built phono stage. Just be mindful that whenever you add features to a turntable the spread of cost in components means there is usually some compromise in sound quality or a higher price that occurs. This is why a Fluance or U-Turn at the same price as an ATLP120 is a better option. The former focus on a minimalistic design to get the best possible sound quality for the price, the latter has the cost of different functions spread across the table to (poorly) mimic a revered turntable. You also shouldn't need pitch control unless you're mixing records. Pro-Ject tables are extremely great value as they also follow the investment in design for great sound rather than gimmicks/aesthetic, so their tables may look simple but they bat well above their price in the sound quality space. They also produce more turntables than anyone else so economy of scale allows them to provide more bang for your buck.
Is there a point if no return upgrading a stylus or a phono pre-amp for a $500-1000 table? For a $1000 - $2000 table? I’m asking if it makes sense to buy a cartridge that costs near or more than the table itself? Same with phono stages.
For phono stages, it isn't a false economy to buy a high quality one even if you have an entry level table. It is not a component that is a consumable like a stylus is, nor something that will bottle neck sound quality later on. Also, the ones in the price range you mentioned are usually adjustable, so you use it with higher quality cartridges in your system if it evolves. We may do a video on phono stages in the future so we'll see what happens. As for buying an expensive stylus for an entry level table, if you can spend that much on a stylus (which is a consumable), you may as well buy a better turntable for a little more $$$ that will have a natural jump in sound quality from the table itself, but will usually come with a better cartridge installed already. In these two scenarios (investing in a better table vs expensive stylus), if you go with buying a better table, the next time you need to replace a stylus/cartridge, you have a better foundation to build on with your next stylus/cartridge choice. Whereas, if you've just gone with the expensive stylus/cartridge instead, on a basic table that can't reveal as much of the detail and benefit of an expensive cart, once it wears out you end up needing a replacement anyway and still have your lesser table. It is a false economy upgrading a basic table, when you can make a greater leap with your investment. A phono stage in the $500 to $1000 range is enough of a spend to never need to upgrade it again (on a sensible system).
@@VinylScotchandStaffies Thanks much for your answer! I have a really nice vintage TT - CS5000 with a beautiful solid wood base. I bought it new in 1989 and paid $550 for it.. and it got very light use for decades due to living arrangements, etc and CDs coming on around that time and limited new music coming out on vinyl, etc. I never sold any of my vinyl collection however!! It would probably be comparable to a $1000 or more table today for similar quality since that $500 was price 35 years ago? A couple years ago I had it professionally gone over.. had a new belt and new Ortofon 3M Blue Cart installed. It looks new and sounds good! And I love the semi/automatic features it has - lifts at end of record. Seems most new tables in this quality range are all manual operation. I have a 1989 Integrated Amp 45x2 90W HK655vxi. In think the amp was also around $500-600 new in 1989. A couple years ago I also had it professional cleaned inside as well and a few caps replaced etc. And it’s also very good to my ears. Both are essentially new condition.. look and sound good. So I’m looking for other upgrades before I consider a new table or amp or speakers. I am using the built-in phono preamp/input on the HK and it sounds good. I tried a Mofi $350 phono pre-amp a couple years ago but was getting lots of feedback etc.. maybe not compatible with my vintage receiver?? So I’m unsure how much better if at all my system would get with the right (good match) phono stage .. I’m willing to spend up to $600 or so. I’m not planning on MC carts but may be move up to a $500-700 cart next time when my blue wears out - unless that’s too much for my table, amp, and speakers. I have some year old Wharfedale Linton 85th anniversary speakers $1500 (small room right now so about the largest the room can handle) and they sound good to my ears. I’m thinking I still have room to update other components before I get any better speakers. I just don’t want to overspend on something I may never get any extra leap in sound on. Any suggestions on specific pre-amps or other upgrades to look into for my vinyl listening? Thanks!
@@jdthompson5778 Ok, I asked as the MoFi are usually a good option, there is no worry about something being incompatible with your amplifier, they still do the same thing. Your setup is more than adequate, your table is up to the job with the kind of cartridge in the price range you mentioned, and i'd suggest moving up to the 2M black cartridge when the blue wears out. The 2M black is the best MM cartridge on the market, with sound quality rivalling MC carts at the same price, but without the noise floor that comes amplifying a far smaller signal. I am a huge fan of the Lintons, if I had a slightly bigger office (in the video above) I would have gone with them instead of my HS. Your amplifier also has adequate grunt and the chops to power most speakers, but as above you're already set. So you are on the money looking at an outboard phono pre-amp, as they do make as much difference as a different cartridge would, such is the sensitivity of the signal coming out of a turntable. What would be your preference in sound, that old style warmth of vinyl, or would you prefer absolute fine detail ? There are a few different options at your price point.
@@VinylLatte There is not a lot of price difference between the two, the 2M blue being a nude stylus will be more resilient, so at that price point i'd just leave the blue on. Every time you touch your stylus you're at the risk of damaging the cantilever, user error is the greatest cause of stylus issues i've experienced. When you're talking 2M black stylus (or LOMC) money, that is when you should avoid poor condition records, as the cart itself is picky with scuffed/scratched/dirty grooves sound wise, but also not something you'd want to wear prematurely (unless you're happy to replace it more often).
Are there any $1000 to $2000 tables that will auto-lift at the end of a record side? I hate fully manual tables!!
Technics SL-1500C will do just that, which is also the only table I recommend that has an in built phono stage.
Just be mindful that whenever you add features to a turntable the spread of cost in components means there is usually some compromise in sound quality or a higher price that occurs. This is why a Fluance or U-Turn at the same price as an ATLP120 is a better option. The former focus on a minimalistic design to get the best possible sound quality for the price, the latter has the cost of different functions spread across the table to (poorly) mimic a revered turntable. You also shouldn't need pitch control unless you're mixing records. Pro-Ject tables are extremely great value as they also follow the investment in design for great sound rather than gimmicks/aesthetic, so their tables may look simple but they bat well above their price in the sound quality space. They also produce more turntables than anyone else so economy of scale allows them to provide more bang for your buck.
Is there a point if no return upgrading a stylus or a phono pre-amp for a $500-1000 table? For a $1000 - $2000 table? I’m asking if it makes sense to buy a cartridge that costs near or more than the table itself? Same with phono stages.
For phono stages, it isn't a false economy to buy a high quality one even if you have an entry level table. It is not a component that is a consumable like a stylus is, nor something that will bottle neck sound quality later on. Also, the ones in the price range you mentioned are usually adjustable, so you use it with higher quality cartridges in your system if it evolves. We may do a video on phono stages in the future so we'll see what happens.
As for buying an expensive stylus for an entry level table, if you can spend that much on a stylus (which is a consumable), you may as well buy a better turntable for a little more $$$ that will have a natural jump in sound quality from the table itself, but will usually come with a better cartridge installed already. In these two scenarios (investing in a better table vs expensive stylus), if you go with buying a better table, the next time you need to replace a stylus/cartridge, you have a better foundation to build on with your next stylus/cartridge choice. Whereas, if you've just gone with the expensive stylus/cartridge instead, on a basic table that can't reveal as much of the detail and benefit of an expensive cart, once it wears out you end up needing a replacement anyway and still have your lesser table.
It is a false economy upgrading a basic table, when you can make a greater leap with your investment. A phono stage in the $500 to $1000 range is enough of a spend to never need to upgrade it again (on a sensible system).
@@VinylScotchandStaffies Thanks much for your answer! I have a really nice vintage TT - CS5000 with a beautiful solid wood base. I bought it new in 1989 and paid $550 for it.. and it got very light use for decades due to living arrangements, etc and CDs coming on around that time and limited new music coming out on vinyl, etc. I never sold any of my vinyl collection however!!
It would probably be comparable to a $1000 or more table today for similar quality since that $500 was price 35 years ago? A couple years ago I had it professionally gone over.. had a new belt and new Ortofon 3M Blue Cart installed. It looks new and sounds good! And I love the semi/automatic features it has - lifts at end of record. Seems most new tables in this quality range are all manual operation.
I have a 1989 Integrated Amp 45x2 90W HK655vxi. In think the amp was also around $500-600 new in 1989. A couple years ago I also had it professional cleaned inside as well and a few caps replaced etc. And it’s also very good to my ears.
Both are essentially new condition.. look and sound good. So I’m looking for other upgrades before I consider a new table or amp or speakers.
I am using the built-in phono preamp/input on the HK and it sounds good. I tried a Mofi $350 phono pre-amp a couple years ago but was getting lots of feedback etc.. maybe not compatible with my vintage receiver?? So I’m unsure how much better if at all my system would get with the right (good match) phono stage .. I’m willing to spend up to $600 or so. I’m not planning on MC carts but may be move up to a $500-700 cart next time when my blue wears out - unless that’s too much for my table, amp, and speakers. I have some year old Wharfedale Linton 85th anniversary speakers $1500 (small room right now so about the largest the room can handle) and they sound good to my ears.
I’m thinking I still have room to update other components before I get any better speakers. I just don’t want to overspend on something I may never get any extra leap in sound on. Any suggestions on specific pre-amps or other upgrades to look into for my vinyl listening? Thanks!
@@jdthompson5778the MoFi phono pre that you tried, did you plug it into the phono, or aux input of your Harman Kardon amp ?
@@VinylScotchandStaffies Aux input .
@@jdthompson5778 Ok, I asked as the MoFi are usually a good option, there is no worry about something being incompatible with your amplifier, they still do the same thing.
Your setup is more than adequate, your table is up to the job with the kind of cartridge in the price range you mentioned, and i'd suggest moving up to the 2M black cartridge when the blue wears out. The 2M black is the best MM cartridge on the market, with sound quality rivalling MC carts at the same price, but without the noise floor that comes amplifying a far smaller signal.
I am a huge fan of the Lintons, if I had a slightly bigger office (in the video above) I would have gone with them instead of my HS.
Your amplifier also has adequate grunt and the chops to power most speakers, but as above you're already set.
So you are on the money looking at an outboard phono pre-amp, as they do make as much difference as a different cartridge would, such is the sensitivity of the signal coming out of a turntable. What would be your preference in sound, that old style warmth of vinyl, or would you prefer absolute fine detail ? There are a few different options at your price point.
No, use the old stylus eg Red for secondhand records/background music and the upgrade eg Blue on new records, or for serious listening.
Valid point with the Ortofon Red and Blue. Since it’s only a stylus swap, you can easily switch it out when playing less than excellent records. 👍
@@VinylLatte There is not a lot of price difference between the two, the 2M blue being a nude stylus will be more resilient, so at that price point i'd just leave the blue on. Every time you touch your stylus you're at the risk of damaging the cantilever, user error is the greatest cause of stylus issues i've experienced. When you're talking 2M black stylus (or LOMC) money, that is when you should avoid poor condition records, as the cart itself is picky with scuffed/scratched/dirty grooves sound wise, but also not something you'd want to wear prematurely (unless you're happy to replace it more often).
Fair point mate, that’s why you’re the guru!
@@VinylLatte Gearu* 😉
#truth 😂