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Turntables & Tonearms Where Analog still Rules

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  #11  
Old 05-01-2011, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by tonepub View Post
I'd seriously go for the SME or the AVID, grab that Sumiko cartridge (Palo Santos), sell your current setup and invest in a much better phono stage.

I'd say the AVID Acutus REF, the SME 20 are two of my all time favorite tables.
Jeff,

If I go for the 20/3 and the Sumiko Palo Santos, I will wait a bit before upgrading my phono stage !
But I will remember the advice !
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  #12  
Old 05-01-2011, 07:11 PM
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That's still an awesome place to start.

This Palo Santos is killer...

It's so close to a Koetsu Rosewood Sig. Platinum for almost 3k less. So, if you can call that a "bargain"....

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Old 05-01-2011, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by C220MC275 View Post
In France, the SME 20/3 with the V arm costs 9600 euros : much cheaper than in the US ! i would be left with around 6000 euros for a cart ! That should give many options....
You could spend 3000 Euro for a cart, and 3000 Euro for a phono stage....that might be an option.
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  #14  
Old 05-01-2011, 09:34 PM
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Jerome, I'm far (infinitely so) from a vinyl aficionado, but I love my SME 20/2 with the SME V arm. I bought it with the intent of it being my table for life, and I'm sure it will be. When the time is right, I will next focus on a phono stage worthy of the table such as the ARC Ref Phono 2.

Best of luck in your search!
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  #15  
Old 05-02-2011, 12:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
You could spend 3000 Euro for a cart, and 3000 Euro for a phono stage....that might be an option.
Yes, but I'm not sure if a 3000 euros phono stage will be better than what is in the C1000. I actually doubt it. But at 2500 euros, I will give a try to the Linn Uphorik.
I won't buy a 6000 euros cart anyway. 3000 euros for the Sumiko Palo Santos will be more than enough. I don't like the idea of spending high amounts of money on a cart, which will need a stylus change once every 3 years in my case....
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  #16  
Old 05-02-2011, 12:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueChiaro View Post
Jerome, I'm far (infinitely so) from a vinyl aficionado, but I love my SME 20/2 with the SME V arm. I bought it with the intent of it being my table for life, and I'm sure it will be. When the time is right, I will next focus on a phono stage worthy of the table such as the ARC Ref Phono 2.

Best of luck in your search!
Thanks a lot !

From what I read on the web, a Linn Uphorik will do much more than the Ray Samuels phono stage you're using and will cost less, at least here in Europe, than the Ref 2. But I don't know its price in the US....
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  #17  
Old 05-02-2011, 01:51 AM
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About the SME rig, let me paste you a comment often read on the web about these tables :

"You are quite correct the sme sounds dead. Probably an upgrade if you have an lp12 but really there are much better options out there like the Yorke, Brinkmann, Avid etc etc. All three of the sme decks sound flat and un-involving though it is somewhat improved by using non-sme arms on the decks. Rock sounds completely lifeless and smoothed. A deck for classical lovers only and even then an Amazon reference would be much better."

Last thing I'm looking for is a non involving sound. I like neutrality, but it must rocks to please me. Like the 2301's.....
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  #18  
Old 05-02-2011, 10:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C220MC275 View Post
About the SME rig, let me paste you a comment often read on the web about these tables :

"You are quite correct the sme sounds dead. Probably an upgrade if you have an lp12 but really there are much better options out there like the Yorke, Brinkmann, Avid etc etc. All three of the sme decks sound flat and un-involving though it is somewhat improved by using non-sme arms on the decks. Rock sounds completely lifeless and smoothed. A deck for classical lovers only and even then an Amazon reference would be much better."

Last thing I'm looking for is a non involving sound. I like neutrality, but it must rocks to please me. Like the 2301's.....

Must..be..patient...

At the end of the day you may prefer another table and that's perfectly fine. However..

Those who set up an SME table and do not understand how to move beyond the basic starting set up point end up with dead sound.

Those who use set up techniques made famous by a certain Scottish brand end up with dynamically dead but bright sound. The technique works on the table for which it was developed, it just doesn't work on an SME.

Those who do not finish the job of setting up an SME arm (hint: no you do not adjust VTA with each record) end up with unresolving sound.

Those who are friends with one or more of the three above repeat the myth ad infinitum on the web. BTW, how old must that post be? SME make 5 tables, not 3. And 3 of the 5 did not exist or exist in their current incarnation when they did make just 3.

FWIW, I don't know any more about mechanical turntable set up than I do about speaker set up.

Sorry if I'm a little testy on a Monday morning.

Last edited by metaphacts; 05-02-2011 at 11:00 AM.
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  #19  
Old 05-02-2011, 10:44 AM
Tonepub Tonepub is offline
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Also, many use way too much damping on the SME arms, which deadens the sound and gives the "wooly bass" that SME arms are noted for - that is ALWAYS the result of improper setup.

The problem with buying any table at this price is that like a high performance car, they are easier to set up WRONG. A REGA P3 is tough to get wrong, but a precision instrument like the SME 20 needs a little care to sound its best...

Keep that in mind with any table in this range...
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  #20  
Old 05-02-2011, 11:21 AM
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I got it guys ! Thanks a lot !
There is only one dealer in France for SME. He is the importer. He is a very good electronician who worked for McIntosh in Binghampton. I suppose that he will be good to set it up.
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