Best Of

Sorry I missed the info in the signature. It doesn't show up when viewing on my phone. The DP-1200 looks like a fine tt, with rumble of -75dB, so it should be very quiet already. I have both a DP-2000 and DP-3000 in my tt stable. The Shure V15-V with JICO SAS stylus is a nice MM choice, but trying an MC cart might help scratch your itch. But, you'd either need an SUT to go into your PAS-4 MM phono input, or get a new external phonostage.

I don't how easy it would be to install a different tonearm on your DP-1200, but it is something to consider. However, you would lose the semi-auto functionality.

One other thing regarding the outer ring, and specifically warps, is that warps can introduce a wow & flutter effect, so eliminating/reducing that is certainly a good thing. The peaks and troughs created by warps means that the stylus rake angle (SRA) is always changing, which can affect the frequency in playback. Also, with a tonearm that has static balancing, the peaks (in particular) with a warped record can be problematic in extreme cases. When the stylus rides up a peak, it can have less-than-optimal contact with the groove as it crests over the peak. Think of a race car on a road track when it crests a hill, and gets a little air. A stylus won't likely actually lose contact with the vinyl, but of course we're trying to maintain consistent and constant contact with steady VTF.

Back to the cartridge, Shures are known to have a warmer sound, with a faster HF roll-off, although that JICO SAS might minimize that. But, you might enjoy trying a different house sound. Also, an external phonostage with adjustable load settings will help you dial-in whatever cartridge you use.

skipshot12 wrote: »

You’d have to be in the 5 thousand dollar range and above to get a GT2000x that’s been gone thru, upgraded & calibrated to factory specs.

One should check out captmark09 on YouTube and see what he does.
This is “the person” to purchase these tables from.

But, you can get into a GT2000 & GT2000L, that have been completely gone thru & upgraded for 2-3k.

captmark09 is very knowledgeable and helpful. I got my DP-59L from him.

You’d have to be in the 5 thousand dollar range and above to get a GT2000x that’s been gone thru, upgraded & calibrated to factory specs.

One should check out captmark09 on YouTube and see what he does.
This is “the person” to purchase these tables from.

But, you can get into a GT2000 & GT2000L, that have been completely gone thru & upgraded for 2-3k.

skipshot12 wrote: »

For around 2k one could probably land a Yamaha GT2000.
Would be hard to find anything built today, at that price, that could top it.
May get into a GT2000L, forget about landing an X in that price range.

I would never spend that coin on an X without knowing the history of it..

Beautiful table though..

For around 2k one could probably land a Yamaha GT2000.
Would be hard to find anything built today, at that price, that could top it.
May get into a GT2000L, forget about landing an X in that price range.

At 2 grand the manufacturing costs, today, to build a decent tt isn't going to get you into a noticeable improvement
compared to your DP1200.

Did I miss what tonearm is on your Denon, original?

I put my Denon DP2000 in rotation often just cause I love the “Lost In Space” flying saucer look.
The tonearm on my Denon is the SME Series III.
To match that level of performance, in my opinion, with tt’s being built today…. I would guess north of 5k would be needed.

True, many routes. In my case I already had the media (a few thousand LPs) so bought a Music Hall MMF-7 which I kept for many years and just built around it. I had several phono preamps in the 20 years that turntable kept turning with just a couple belt changes. A vacuum based record cleaner was one of the best purchases.