New Cartridge, Phono Stage or TT

[ben5575]

I have an AR EB101 turntable running through a Naim Superuniti and PMC 23s. I love the sound.

The EB101 is 30 yrs old, but it's what I had as a teenager and is heavy, sprung etc. I think it's underrated and nostalgia adds +10 hit points to SQ. I enjoy it as an object.

I don't want to spend £1200+ on an LP12 etc. £500 feels about right.

I could add a Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge for around £185 or Black for more but faff of fitting
Ditch the lot and go for nearly new Technics SL 1500c is c.£550 - is d/d, push button speed and zero faff which is a big+
I could keep the existing and add a Naim Stageline + power (to replace ProJect phono box) for c.£400
New arm but lots of faff?

I really don't like Rega turntables so appreciate weight and sturdiness over 'cheap' and lightweight.

I also very consciously don't want to get sucked into hifi BS and I'm not interested in faffing - taking the plate off change the speed is pushing it.

Naim box feels sexy. Cartridge feels like a quick win but faff. Technics is an all in one, no faff but no springs.

Or do I bite the bullet and spend £1200 on an LP12?

[OutInTheShed]

ben5575 said:

.....

I also very consciously don't want to get sucked into hifi BS and I'm not interested in faffing - ....

Spend your money on CDs and live gigs then.

[ben5575]

OutInTheShed said:

Spend your money on CDs and live gigs then.

thanks. Live gigs yes. CDs not so much

[Tony1963]

If the cartridge needs replacing, it NEEDS replacing. I appreciate it’s the a bit of hassle, but it’s a crucial part of your system.

[Jake899]

Yep. just swap out the cartridge, it's easy to do and is designed to be replaceable. if the deck isn't broke, then why replace it? It's like buying a new car when the old one needs a service. I had a PL512 that was at least 35 years old, and a Trio amp that was from 1969, I only recently replaced them when they both gave up the ghost together. For all the connectivity progress, I'm not sure that actual SQ has really improved all that much over the years, though i am happy to say my carefully chosen new setup does sound better.
Some things to consider:
Pro-ject decks are good value for money.
I went for the afore-mentioned Rega "remove the plate to change the speed" deck and yes its a hassle, but at the budget i had and the location i am in, i was very limited in options. Its a lovely sounding deck at least.

[P700DEE]

+1 cartridge, new belt?? Project is an OK phono stage not sure you will improve greatly by changing. Linn have a sound , £1200 is entry level (or the price of each upgrade!!) I prefer alternatives. To get much better than your EB101 you need to spend more than £500 and thats on second hand, let alone new.
Buy more records

[Deranged Rover]

The EB101 is a fine turntable and the arm is good quality. I'd splash out on a new cartridge, personally and stick with it. You can't go wrong with an Ortofon 2M but also check out the upper reaches of the new Audio Technica AT-VM95 series. They're very good.

Very close second option would be the SL-1500C. It's a better deck than the AR but will require more outlay - up to you if you want to go that far.

The Stageline is a superb phono stage and definitely a step up from the Pro-Ject but not worth investing in just yet - go with the cartridge or turntable upgrade first.

Don't bother with an LP12.

[ChevronB19]

Deranged Rover said:

The EB101 is a fine turntable and the arm is good quality. I'd splash out on a new cartridge, personally and stick with it. You can't go wrong with an Ortofon 2M but also check out the upper reaches of the new Audio Technica AT-VM95 series. They're very good.

Very close second option would be the SL-1500C. It's a better deck than the AR but will require more outlay - up to you if you want to go that far.

The Stageline is a superb phono stage and definitely a step up from the Pro-Ject but not worth investing in just yet - go with the cartridge or turntable upgrade first.

Don't bother with an LP12.

Another vote for new cartridge here, that’s a good turntable, you like it, so why change? I’m not convinced about differences in phono stages, but that might be my ears.

I’ve got a Rega P6 and love it, but I came to it with a gap with no turntable (but fortunately kept all my vinyl).

[ben5575]

Thanks guys that's some great thoughts and advice there.

New belt has been ordered. Looks like a new blue cartridge as well.

Sorry wasn't diss'ing the Regas. More that I didn't really bond with their lightweight design direction

[Lucid_AV]

A bit late to the party, but I agree with the general idea of minimal changes.

If a system works well together then you have to think quite carefully before making wholesale changes. The phrase 'throwing the baby out with the bath water' comes to mind.

[conkerman]

Buy a Gyrodec. They are awesome!

I was looking at cartridges around that price and went for the AT VM540ML. Very happy with it. The 740 is only a little bit more though etc etc..

[tonyg58]

The Stageline is a decent phonostage, but it has drawbacks.

1) You have to power it somehow,. If you don't have a Naim amp that can power it then you are talking (at least) a Flatcap to power it.
This makes it very expensive for what it is.

2) If you have a MC cartridge then the gain is fixed, so if you ever want to change cartridge you have to get one that requires the same gain as the one you have or you are buying another Stageline.

If you are buying a decent phonostage for an MC cartridge, get one that has adjustable settings for gain,resistance and capacitance.
A couple of suggestions would be the Project Phono Box RS or the Rega Aria.

[andy_s]

Just a by-the-by, my cartridge was wrecked a few months ago and I need a new one - I had a Clearaudio Aurum Beta [it's on a Well-Tempered arm, sitting on a Gyrodec] but now have to get another. First I was wondering whether to 'up-grade' to MC rather than MM [I've the LP2 Musical Fidelity phono stage so can switch] or whether, at 55yrs, my ears would be better off with a normal solid MM anyway.

Anyway - heart is tempted by a Rega Ania [or a cheap discontinued Apheta 2] - why? No idea, like the look[?!]. Head says just go with a Ortofon 2m Blue MM or something.

What say ye?

[rene7]

Andy-s
I have a LP12 with an expensive linn mc cartridge, and 2 Nad 5120's with 1012&1042 Goldrings, Hard to tell the difference IMO,
I'd go with a Goldring 1012 or 1042 mm cart the - 1012 is a couple of hundred £'s cheaper than the 1042, to my ears no difference!!
Both play through a MF amp which has both mc & mm inputs, so easy to compare the different decks/Cartridges
hope this helps
rene

[Riff Raff]

rene7 said:

Andy-s
I have a LP12 with an expensive linn mc cartridge, and 2 Nad 5120's with 1012&1042 Goldrings, Hard to tell the difference IMO,
I'd go with a Goldring 1012 or 1042 mm cart the - 1012 is a couple of hundred £'s cheaper than the 1042, to my ears no difference!!
Both play through a MF amp which has both mc & mm inputs, so easy to compare the different decks/Cartridges
hope this helps
rene

The problem is that if you have a phono stage that doesn’t allow you to change loadings to suit the cartridges you are plugging them into, then with the wrong loading even a really good one can sound pretty average.

I’m lucky in that my phono stage does allow me to change both resistance and capacitance so I can optimize the sound.

FWIW I currently have a Hana ML. I’m really happy with it. It replaced a Koetsu that was at least twice as expensive, and to my ears sounds just as good. They do less expensive ones the EL/EH) that might be worth a listen if the required loadings match your phono stage.

[andy_s]

Thanks for the advice guys, I pretty much ignored it all and went on looks and discount available....how shallow! I ended up with a Rega Apheta 2 MC at about 1/3 price [new old stock]. I've input loading on the MF amps so all good. Nice to get it running properly again.

Edited by andy_s on Wednesday 14th September 17:18

[tonyg58]

andy_s said:

Thanks for the advice guys, I pretty much ignored it all and went on looks and discount available....how shallow! I ended up with a Rega Apheta 2 MC at about 1/3 price [new old stock]. I've input loading on the MF amps so all good. Nice to get it running properly again.

Edited by andy_s on Wednesday 14th September 17:18

Enjoy it, you might find it goes downhill a bit sooner than expected (the Aria 3 was launched mid 2020 IIRC), so it's at least 2 years old.
My one that I bought when i bought my RP8 is still going fine at present.