Turntable Recommendation ~ $10K

[theclipper]

I get you're trying to make a point and want to participate in the discussion - fair enough. But dudeman, I hope you can realize your rhetorical style is just about entirely self-defeating. There is a fine line between antagonism and just having a diplomatic quotient of close to zero. Neither is good.

Thanks for that input! I’m not very familiar with this table, but now I’m going to do a little research.

I read about how good the Garrard 301/401 or Thorens 124 can sound, but have also been curious how they compare to more modern decks in this price range - so thank you for that comparison.

 

[jamesdowningelliott]

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade from my Rega P8. Was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for the best bang for the buck turntable around $10K. I have no problem with used gear. Below is my current setup. Appreciate any and all input!

I was considering a restored Garrard 301, but I don't really have much listening experience with something like that. Was also hoping to come across a used Kuzma Stabi R w Kuzma arm, but no luck thus far.

Rega P8 w Lyra Delos Cart
Bob's Devices SKY 20 SUT
LAMM LP 2.1 Deluxe
Don Sachs DS 2 Preamp
Don Sachs Kootenay 120 Amp
Spatial Audio Lab M3 Sapphire Speakers

I’ve got a super nice Luxman PD-171 with a Kuzma 4 point 9” arm, Nordost tonearm cable and custom lid on factory hinges with a Hana Umami. The table looks and sounds spectacular. I am in the process of changing my whole system to Oswald’s mill audio, so I would be happy to make you a deal if you are still looking.

 

[Audire]

The J. Sikora Initial is 10k. if you desire a second arm the price goes up and then you should get the Initial Max.

We own the Standard Max and it’s a great TT.

 

[theclipper]

@jamesdowningelliott PM'd

 

[No Regrets]

The J. Sikora Initial is 10k. if you desire a second arm the price goes up and then you should get the Initial Max.

We own the Standard Max and it’s a great TT.

View attachment 106937

Any idea how much the Standard Line and Standard Max Line cost?

Thanks much,
Don

 

[Audire]

Any idea how much the Standard Line and Standard Max Line cost?

Thanks much,
Don

The Initial is 10k before any options and the Standard Max is 20k before any options. Both are excellent!

 

[No Regrets]

The Initial is 10k before any options and the Standard Max is 20k before any options. Both are excellent!

Thank you, Joe! They look like great tables. I hoping that they will be demonstrated at AXPONA in a couple of weeks.
Best wishes,
Don

 

[Thorens 2018]

New THORENS TD 124 DD

With the new TD 124 DD, Thorens is reviving one of the most legendary turntables in the brand’s history. The original concept of the TD 124 has been massively improved upon, using modern approaches, and now offers an unparalleled playback quality.

 

[Holmz]

All arguments about table tech aside two aspects stand out, imho:

1) Lyra carts show better on arms with higher eff mass than the Rega. Ask the designer...

2) I cant imagine mounting any modern profile stylus equipped cart to a table without vta adjustment. Granted could send to Wally Tools and get some custom shims made....

Many like to use auto analogies for stereo stuff.

However the WAM shims are more like orthotics into ski boots.

 

[No Regrets]

The Initial is 10k before any options and the Standard Max is 20k before any options. Both are excellent!

I have just got back from AXPONA and was able to see and hear the J Sikora line of tables.

To say that I was in "Awe" of the J Sikora Reference, would be an understatement!

I have never heard a table/arm combo sound anywhere near this good. The entire system, comprised with a full suite of Doshi electronics feeding the Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene speakers were sublime sounding! Quite easily the very best sound at the show, imho!

Being able to talk with Jeff Joseph, Nick Doshi, and the team from J Sikora, as well as Jeff from Notable Audio (the USA distributor for J Sikora) was fantastic! They were all true gentlemen. You could see and feel the passion and the love they have for the equipment they have designed/distribute and they should feel very proud of what they have accomplished...but yet they were all very humble and fun to talk with

In a different room, I found the J Sikora Standard Max. Again, a very impressive looking table! However, the exhibitor was using a TRU-GLIDER tone arm instead of the J Sikora arm, and a DS Audio cartridge (which I personally haven't warmed up to) along with electronics that I am not familiar with. With the associated equipment that was being used, I don't think I really heard what the Standard Max would truly be capable of. I wish I could have heard the Standard Max along side of the Reference in the Doshi and Joseph Audio room. That would have been ideal.

I am considering flying out to Virginia to visit Notable Audio as I believe either the J Sikora Reference or the Standard Max will quite possibly be my next and last turntable. If you haven't had a chance to hear the J Sikora tables, especially the Reference... you owe it to yourself to give it a listen.... it will touch your soul in a way you never thought possible!

Thank you Audire for alerting me to this turntable line via you post here on the forum!

Best wishes,
Don

 

[Solypsa]

Glad to hear of a great show takeaway. Shows not just quality of gear but effort in setup!

 

[No Regrets]

Glad to hear of a great show takeaway. Shows not just quality of gear but effort in setup!

Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. We all know how challenging these hotel show rooms can be.... but these guys really worked well together to find a way to pull it off! I was truly impressed

 

[Stenslu]

I’m not intending to substantiate my Rega purchase, (P10) however if it sounded thin and didn’t image well, I never would have purchased it. And I compared it at my dealer against the Acoustic Signature Montana and Typhoon. Harmonically fleshed out imaging is important to me.

May I suggest that you look at the Rega setup. For example, the mat are you using, the cartridge setup (VTA setup for example), the cartridge itself and the interaction with the Rega arm. What platform do you have. What about your SUT?

Just some of many things to think about.

Very interesting what you are saying, I am in the middle of rethinking and possible upgrading from P10, with the Apheta3 cartridge, and looking at the Montana Neo, or a used Ascona Mk3. My set up otherwise is all McIntosh with monos and so forth. I thought before reading your post that a Montana would be an substantial upgrade, but now I am in doubt. The P10 Is really good, no question. And also considering that my Mac gear is not that analytical to start with, but very musical, I am really wondering. If you have any advise or comment, I wish it welcome. The seller, which is really good and that I like, says that it would be a great upgrade?!??

 

[Bbock]

Very interesting what you are saying, I am in the middle of rethinking and possible upgrading from P10, with the Apheta3 cartridge, and looking at the Montana Neo, or a used Ascona Mk3. My set up otherwise is all McIntosh with monos and so forth. I thought before reading your post that a Montana would be a substantial upgrade, but now I am in doubt. The P10 Is really good, no question. And also considering that my Mac gear is not that analytical to start with, but very musical, I am really wondering. If you have any advise or comment, I wish it welcome. The seller, which is really good and that I like, says that it would be a great upgrade?!??

I wish I could give you more advice, but the only way for you to know which is better for your system, is to try to demo the turntables. Unfortunately, it is hard to do, since tonearm, cartridge and possibly phonostage and cables will typically be different. It’s not always easy to know what is contributing to the sound.
Your Mac amps have a particular sound and that will also determine which turntable combination will work the best for you.
Also, Rega is coming out with the NAIA this fall, priced above the P10. While it looks like a P10, it is substantially reworked according to all of the reports.

 

[Stenslu]

I wish I could give you more advice, but the only way for you to know which is better for your system, is to try to demo the turntables. Unfortunately, it is hard to do, since tonearm, cartridge and possibly phonostage and cables will typically be different. It’s not always easy to know what is contributing to the sound.
Your Mac amps have a particular sound and that will also determine which turntable combination will work the best for you.
Also, Rega is coming out with the NAIA this fall, priced above the P10. While it looks like a P10, it is substantially reworked according to all of the reports.

Thanks for your feedback, I agree, and the seller, which I have known for many years and I trust 100 prosent has told me that he will take the turntable in return if I am not satisfied. And also to your comment about that new NAIA, I am very curious, since I already love my P10, so if its better I don't know, that might be it. But anyhow, again, I appreciate your feedback!

 

[Bbock]

Thanks for your feedback, I agree, and the seller, which I have known for many years and I trust 100 prosent has told me that he will take the turntable in return if I am not satisfied. And also to your comment about that new NAIA, I am very curious, since I already love my P10, so if its better I don't know, that might be it. But anyhow, again, I appreciate your feedback!

I’ll be interested in your feedback.

 

[Maynardewm]

No hum whatsoever on my P10.

Same here, I have a P10 with Apheta 3 and primarily listen on headphones (Meze Elite) and I don’t have any hum. I personally hate it when people tell me “the problem is your setup” so I won’t try to convince the people having issues that. But I will say for anyone else viewing this thread, I love my P10 and have no issues with hum, and I am a very critical listener. I even tried to give the benefit of the doubt and see if I could hear this hum by turning up my headphone amp to 10 and listening closely in the dead wax if I could find any hint of hum, and I could not. I’m very careful about grounding and preventing hum in my setups, everything is connected with ground wires and I have Emotiva CMX for the AC line limiter and DC offset eliminator as well as HumX on top of that, which I’m going to guess is what helps for me to eliminate any hum. I used to have a ton of trouble with hum where I live because it was coming directly from the mains having some sort of issue I think, as soon as I added in the Emotiva CMX the problem was gone. A worth while investment for $82.

Someone else mentioned that the P10 sounded “digital”. That’s a win in my book, that means the turntable isn’t adding color or distortion. But each to their own if you like something different. I just wanted to say that I’m quite happy with my setup, and I love that I don’t have to futz about with alignment, so it all works out for me.

 

[SONDEKNZ]

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade from my Rega P8. Was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for the best bang for the buck turntable around $10K. I have no problem with used gear. Below is my current setup. Appreciate any and all input!

I was considering a restored Garrard 301, but I don't really have much listening experience with something like that. Was also hoping to come across a used Kuzma Stabi R w Kuzma arm, but no luck thus far.

Rega P8 w Lyra Delos Cart
Bob's Devices SKY 20 SUT
LAMM LP 2.1 Deluxe
Don Sachs DS 2 Preamp
Don Sachs Kootenay 120 Amp
Spatial Audio Lab M3 Sapphire Speakers

I'm not sure of your DIY capability, but...

If I were starting again, I would build-up a LINN LP12 using the bare minimum of genuine LINN parts.

LINN Karousel Bearing, LINN Sub-platter and LINN Platter
BOSTON AUDIO Carbon Platter Mat
AUDIOSILENTE Silicone Mushrooms [Discard LINN Springs completely...]
STACK AUDIO Alto Sub-chassis, Armboard and Top-plate
My choice of hardwood Plinth from one of many third-party specialists - with rigid spiked Feet attached
THOMSON P-125 jointless, silicone Belt
ORIGIN LIVE Advanced DC Motor Kit, including DC Motor [Discard the wall-wart PSU...]
LHY 160W / 24VDC Linear Power Supply
DESIGN BUILD LISTEN The Wand Plus 9.5" Tonearm with jointless, NORDOST silver Cable and KLEI RCA connectors
DENON DL-103R low-output MC Cartridge

This lot will set you back somewhere around $10K - actually $USD 7,500 plus Shipping - and you will be in clover.

Take any excess funds and spend them on NEAR MINT original vinyl pressings of the music you love.

Just my 10-cents worth...

 

[theclipper]

Thanks to everyone for the input and advice.

I actually ended up purchasing a lightly used STST Motus II from a fellow forum member. Solypsa was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable post-purchase to get everything optimized and singing. I've currently got an Aidas Mammoth Gold MkII mounted, and it's sounding absolutely fantastic.

 

[Tangram]

Thanks to everyone for the input and advice.

I actually ended up purchasing a lightly used STST Motus II from a fellow forum member. Solypsa was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable post-purchase to get everything optimized and singing. I've currently got an Aidas Mammoth Gold MkII mounted, and it's sounding absolutely fantastic.

Very cool! Congratulations! That’s not a name I’ve seen in North America before. I also have an Aidas Mammoth MkII but it’s still in the box since while I enjoy my other cartridge.