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What are Bottleheads running into thier Seduction?

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OK...can of worms maybe, but I'm looking at TT's (again) and
interested in good quality on a budget -prefer 1k or less for
table, arm cartridge (and used is OK). Sure I would love to have
a Teres or Progressive but that's not feasible with today's
scaling. So whatcha running that you are happy with out there
on the "cheap"?
Andrew

Follow Ups:

Progressive Engineering The Turntable - Pauly 09:29:44 08/06/05 (0)
Morch UP4/Koetsu and SME3009 Denon 103
WTRP and Shelter 501 - John Swenson 11:37:06 08/05/05 (2)
I have a Well Tempered Record Player (comes with its own arm) and a Shelter 501, going into an AN step-up transformer then to the Seduction.
The WTRP sits on a homebuilt sandbox, this made a major improvement in sound.
My long term goal is to build my own TT and arm, currently its looking like a graphite platter (NOT carbon fiber) on aluminum base with the platter itself being the armature in a DC motor. I'm working on a cflex pivot tonearm which is going to look something like the inafamous golden gate tonearm, only made out of bamboo and toothpicks!
I'm working on a 3d triangular honeycomb made out of thin baltic birch plywood as the base.
It will probably take 5 years to get this thing built at the rate I'm going these days.
John S.
- I bet that setup sounds great - Doc B. 12:00:31 08/05/05 (1)
  Paul Stubblebine uses a really nice sounding Well Tempered for evaluating test pressings (with a V15), and I really like the sound of a 501.
  - Re: I bet that setup sounds great - John Swenson 14:53:35 08/05/05 (0)
    Hi Doc, yep it does sound very good, I've had the WTRP for 13 years now and its the only part of my "original" system left, its so good I have had very few thoughts about changing it. The only thing that has really got me thinking about upgrading is the Redpoint I heard at VSAC, but that costs as much as my whole system does now. Thats why I decided if there is ever going to be an upgrade its going to be a DIY turntable.
    John S.
Re: What are Bottleheads running into thier Seduction? - carringtonw 07:39:07 08/05/05 (0)
Currently running a Thorens 124 with an RB-300 and an AT-160ml. Sounds pretty darn good considering that I just slapped the arm into an armboard that I had (not the correct distance from the axis). The RB-300 was rewired (in my opinion this is essential) using silver/teflon (my current drug of choice). For not a lot of money it's definitely the arm to go with. You can grab one on Agon for about $200. My preference would be for a TD-124 or Garrard 301/401. Those AT mm cartidges are a great way to start for not a lot of mulla.
I'm at present working on two 124's with SME 3012's one with a Denon DL 103 and one with an SPU and, for a different flavor, a Koetsu Black. Still working on MC stepups. I had an Ortofon T-30 around here, I swear... In the meantime I'm gonna use Altec 15095A's or an old PS-Audio active stepup (wonder what that's gonna sound like). Personally I always thought the 124 don't have a right to sound as good as they do. They do though and conceptually they work very well with the whole SET / Horn thing. I mean if you're gonna be retro why not...
Something you shouldn't overlook are those BIX tables though. Seems like a genuinely good deal for a whole table. Just put it on a very stable platform (mass loaded if you have a good non-springy floor) or a wall mount if your floors are like mine (true for all tables).
Carrington
Scout with Orto X5 - JBasham 07:39:14 08/04/05 (0)
Tried an MMF-5 before that. It was okay, but I usually preferred my Ah! Tjoeb CDP. Once I got the Scout, the TT became the preferred source.
I think I've posted before about the Orto X5 with the Seduction. It's a great deal in HO MC carts. Someday I'll start messing with step-ups and lower output MCs.
Rega Planar3, RB250 w/Audio Note - Wardsweb 04:56:49 08/04/05 (0)
You can check it out and the mods on my site.
- http://wardsweb.org/audio/rega_upgrades.html (Open in New Window)
Re: What are Bottleheads running into thier Seduction? - Bryon 18:07:45 08/03/05 (0)
My primary table is an old [early 80's]Oracle Alexandria with an Incognito wired RB250 and a Shelter 501 II through a K&K Lundahl step-up. My other table is an older [early 70's] Thorens TD 160 with a Benz Ace mid output cart. Setting up the cartridge on the Thorens is a piece of cake but the Alexandria is a bit tougher.

Given today's prices the Thorens setup should be a bit less than $1000 - the Alexandria would be about $1500.
They both sound great but I am dreaming of a Scheu.
Good luck
Bryon
Good
I don't know about cheap.... - Nutube 16:56:28 08/03/05 (0)
I have a Sota Star saphire 5 with et 2 arm and several tubes and cartridges.
If I were to try another I would go the minimal TERES or the Mike Pachette route.
I think the TT and arm and cartridge synergy is very important once you figure out the price points : )
All the best
Re: What are Bottleheads running into thier Seduction? - Ed Faulkner 14:55:25 08/03/05 (2)
New AR (slightly modded), SME III and AT440ml. I have two more tables (Russco and SP10) that are future projects.
- Me too - JimmyJas 18:36:17 08/04/05 (0)
  New AR, SME111b, and Grace F9E. Actually, the Seduction kit is in the mail.
- What Russco? - Tutordennis 14:32:20 08/04/05 (0)
  I'm currently rebuilding a Studio pro to go into my seduction.
Re: What are Bottleheads running into thier Seduction? - MarkER 14:50:05 08/03/05 (0)
I've had the NAD 555 (Rega P2 equivalent) with an RB300 arm and Sumiko Blue Point Special (high output moving coil). It sounded very good with the Seduction. My $0.02 of experience would be to buy a used table/arm in the early Rega line (P2/P3, RB250/RB300) which you can get for $300 or less and take the rest of your budget on a very good high output moving coil like the Sumiko Blackbird, Benz Glider HO, or Dynavector DV 20XH. Although this is somewhat heretical to have this grade of cartridge on this type of table, you will hear how much better they are because you are getting much more information from your vinyl. They will all play well through the Seduction without the need for a step-up transformer and you will never have to upgrade the cartridge. The Regas are reliable and with over 250,000 RB300 tonearms sold, they are the best selling in history. Both table and arm should be fine used and will cost much less than when new. Be prepared to spend some time on getting it set up correctly-that will be true for anything you buy unless you buy it all new from a dealer who will do that for you. But then you can't buy as much equipment-wise.
Good luck,
Mark
VPI HW-19 (2 or 3?) Souther (Not Clearaudio) Tri-Quartz & A Nice Grado - Grainger49 13:23:05 08/03/05 (0)
This is a copy of a setup I heard that knocked my socks off and it sounds really nice.
Nice enough that after an evening of someone coming to hear a bunch of CDs, I put on a CD then LP of "Time Out" and he just said, "Oh!"
That kind of nailed it for him.

Grainger Morrison
There Is Only One
Aged LP 12 with Grado Reference Platinum high output nt - EBerlin 13:21:47 08/03/05 (0)
nt
Rega P3/RB300/Elys - Steve Culton 11:59:55 08/03/05 (0)
The table has a Heavyweight and the stock glass platter has been replaced with an acrylic one.
This setup doesn't suck.
Soon to see an upgraded cart.
Rega P-25 + Rega Super Elys MM cart - Jim Doyle 10:51:52 08/03/05 (0)
The P-25 was made for Rega's anniversary. You'll have to find one
used - anywhere from $700-$800. New they were $1200. The real win
for me was the aesthetics. I got the one with the cherry plinth trim.
You can buy trim kits in Maple, Rosewood, Walnut or just plain black.
I like Mike's TT (Progressive Engineering), but for my living space,
cherry and black and glass just worked more with my decor.
I went with a Rega cart to take advantage of the "no-brainer" cartridge alignment. The RB600 tonearm has three mt screws. With a
rega cartridge. the azimuth is perfect.
Alittle more than a new P3, but you get more for your money too. You
can forgoe the Origin Live upgrade as the RB600 tonearm come prewired
with high quality phono cable, neutrik connectors and "straight through" wiring.
You should be able to get the TT on Audiogon and then a new Cart
for just at or under $1000.
-- Jim
B&O 4000 with MMC20EN cartridge - bonzodog 10:06:43 08/03/05 (0)
These can be had quite cheap on ebay (mine was ~$100 a few years ago), but the cartridges are very hard to come by, and B&O turntables will only take B&O cartridges. It has the 70's cool parallel-tracking tonearm and clean Scandinavian styling. Sounds very good!
If I was looking now, I'd probably go for a Thorens TD-160 which can be had for about the same price, and will take whatever cartridge.
b&o TX-2 with an MMC-4 - mhardy6647 09:23:49 08/03/05 (0)
... probably a minority candidate :-)
But it's the best sounding tt/cartridge in the house, with a grand total of $120 invested in it about 4 years ago.

all the best,
mrh

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