|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.11.178.145
It's come up on a pretty regular basis, where a guy wants input on a table and cartridge. Before giving input, some inmates want to know what the rest of the system consists of. Some don't think this is important.Just curious- In your opinion, how important is it to match a turntable and cartridge with your overall system. For example, are there good tables, that simply don't match with other system components? Or better yet, can one give credible input, without knowing what overall system the table will be used in?
Follow Ups:
I now think synergy is crital for the whole system. That's why I'm aiming for an entire Audio Note system - one of the only manufacturers to supply everything.Of course some of their range is enormously expensive but they do also supply excellent kits. That's the way I have gone - their front end (production turntable, arm, cartridge, CD transport, IC's) and their kits for the rest (phono stage, DAC, amplifier). All that's left for me is their speakers and speaker cable to replace my 15 inch Tannoys. Then I can spend the rest of my days upgrading component parts etc.
I go into this further on my kit building website if you're interested...
When i went to the sight you are the contact so I am assuming that you are one or the other.
I only use my gun whenever kindness fails
I am neither!I'm just a fan who'se got carried away with himself because I'm finally getting the results that I have been seeking for twenty years or so. I hadn't in the past because I kept believing all the BS from the hi-fi magazines etc.
I just happen to be a web developer/programmer with some spare server space.
which is what I did.I don't necessarily buy into the magazine hoopla. Nor do I buy into the all one manufacturer either.
I only use my gun whenever kindness fails
Cartridge/phono stage - good synergy is critical, a mismatch could land you anywhere from unpleasant to unlistenable to actual system damage (unlikely but not impossible)Cartridge/tonearm - good synegy is critical, a mismatch probably wouldn't break anything, but it won't sound very good either
Tonearm/turntable - not quite as vital as the above, though some arms need a good solid table to drain resonances while a few are so heavy that a suspended table would be challenged to maintain proper balance and isolation
Table/electronics or table/speakers - largely a matter of taste and budget, not much actual synegy going on between these more widely seperated components
While it's true that a system is only as good as its weakest link, it's also true that a disproportionate upgrade of some components works better than a disproportionate upgrade of others.
Excessively good cartridge - on a lesser table or arm is frequently a sonic disaster, this too common error allows you to hear all the shortcomings of the cheap arm or table, not a happy experience
Excessively good tonearm - on a cheap table will be similar to a too good cartridge, though less so, still not a good idea
Excessively good table - with a cheaper arm and/or cheaper cartridge works quite well, the table provides the environment in which arm and cartrige must work, the better the environment the better they'll play, you may not hear all the table is capable of, but you won't have any problems either. If you have to go overboard, this is a safe component to do it with.
Excessively good phono stage - with a cheaper table/arm/cartridge is rarely a problem, unless the table is a real POS
Great phono stages and tables are nearly always safe moves. Great arms require a great table. Great cartridges require a great everything. Don't make the mistake of upgrading the cartridge above the level of table, arm or phono stage. You'll probably regret it.
__________
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
Very good post Doug. I attempted to say this but I think your elaboration is pretty much on target and more informative
I only use my gun whenever kindness fails
... from typing "syn" so many times in public!I hope that pathetic joke doesn't bring back your headache. Sorry you weren't feeling well.
__________
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
By that I mean that if you connest a $2500 TT,w/a $200 cart and a $300 phono pre, you have a TT that will never reach its ultimate performance. OK so you ugrade the phono pre and cart to a matching symitry, but your main pre is a $500 integrated or HT receiver, etc, and you still won't be able to get the ultimate performance of your higher end equipment.OK this is a generalized statement with $$$ spent as a guideline to performance. Sure there are some giant killers out there. But they are few. And there is some snake oil and overhype also. There's more of that than giant killers. But my point is that generally $$$ spent is still a decent rule to guage performance.
Now take it easy on me tonight. I've just gotten over a headache from hell which sent me to the doctor. So it will take me a little longer to get on my asbestos suit. Or, if my post seems offensive, just chalk it up to a man whose taken too many drugs in the last 24-36 hrs
I only use my gun whenever kindness fails
I don't have the experience with tables/arms that many here do (I've only owned 7 tables/arms in ~40 yrs) but I can tell you from experience that matching the cart to the rest of the system (and the arm), and more importantly, with your musical tastes, is really the name of the game. I've no doubt that when I've the time money to experiment more with tables/arms I'll reach the same conclusions.
Add to that personal tastes in music and it's no wonder we see so many combos.
To answer your question, no, without knowing at least some of the related components and musical tastes, it's not possible to recommend with confidence.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
is greater than the sum of its parts. A TT like everything else in the chain will have an efect, for "better" or "worse". It's why a demo is preferable before purchase.
well with a wide range of hi-fi brands from other countries?
The better Micro-Seiki DD tables especially.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: