Looking for my first serious turntable!

thetawave2

I'm currently in the market for a turntable (with a cartridge). My budget is $1000-$1500. I am very strongly considering the VPI Traveler, having read an absolutely glowing review from Stereophile's Stephen Mejias (http://www.stereophile.com/content/vpi-industries-traveler-turntable). Any thoughts on this table or the VPI brand generally? Any other tables you think I should look at? Please let me know!

mrbiron

You'll be hard pressed to find that table plus cart in your range. Used come up very seldom as I look.

Mikey081057

You could easily double that budget to add a cart and a phono re that would be suitable for that table

Mikey081057

Take a look at this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VPI-TNT-Turntable-JR-with-TNT-III-Platter-and-12-Memorial-Arm-/360809401221?pt=US_Record_Players_Home_Turntables&hash=item5401ea8b85

mrbiron

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-rega-rp6-rp6-complete-with-sealed-exact-ii-as-new-used-1-week-2013-11-28-analog-33601

Obsession18

I own version 1.1 of the Traveler, great table, but it does have it issues with loosening tonearm gimbal bearings, I check it monthly to make sure everything is in order. The latest version of the Traveler (2.0) replaces the subject bearings with roller bearings as opposed to a pin in a hole set-up. The version 2.0 traveler will set you back $1500, where as an older version 1.1 table can be had for about $1000, check around some online retailers still have the older table available. Performance will be the same with either table, the review you linked is actually the version 1.0 table.

thsmith

IN your price range with cart.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7273-marantz-tt-15-acrylic-turntable.aspx

thetawave2

Thanks for the input, guys! I should clarify; the budget I gave is for TT only. I'll probably be looking for a cartridge in the range of $100-250 for now, and I already have a phono preamp. I'll take a look at some of the links that have been posted after work. Rega in particular was a brand on my shortlist.

There's a VPI dealer pretty close to me! Might be placing a call to see what they have in stock and pay them a visit this weekend....

nspindel

I have the Traveler and I love it. I also have a VPI record cleaning machine (the 16.5) and love that as well. I have been to VPI's headquarters in NJ, met the folks there, and can't say enough good things about them. The Traveler was just named Stereophile's product of the year. If that's your budget for a table, the Traveler is a no-brainer. I have a Grado Sonata on mine, and the sound is incredible.

The problem with the loose gimbal bearings was solved by VPI, my table has no issues there. Obsession18, have you contacted VPI about sending your tonearm in to them to have serviced or replaced?

4xoddic

thsmith wrote: »

IN your price range with cart.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7273-marantz-tt-15-acrylic-turntable.aspx

That Marantz (Clearaudio) comes with a CA Virtuoso cart. worth ~$895. HiFiHeaven was offering the TT-15S1last month for $999 (mine came with a Gingko cover for < musicdirect's price. I'd give them a call, as it's no longer on their site.

http://www.stereophile.com/phonocartridges/737

http://audaud.com/2008/11/the-wonderful-world-of-vinyl-marantz-tt-15s1-turntable-reviewed/

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-106168-clearaudio-virtuoso-v2-ebony-mm-cartridge.aspx

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?p=103604

nspindel

http://www.stereophile.com/content/stereophiles-products-2013-joint-analog-components-year

http://www.stereophile.com/content/vpi-industries-traveler-turntable

Obsession18

nspindel wrote: »

I have the Traveler and I love it. I also have a VPI record cleaning machine (the 16.5) and love that as well. I have been to VPI's headquarters in NJ, met the folks there, and can't say enough good things about them. The Traveler was just named Stereophile's product of the year. If that's your budget for a table, the Traveler is a no-brainer. I have a Grado Sonata on mine, and the sound is incredible.

The problem with the loose gimbal bearings was solved by VPI, my table has no issues there. Obsession18, have you contacted VPI about sending your tonearm in to them to have serviced or replaced?

I've been debating whether or not I want to contact VPI about my bearing issues, I've had the table for a year now and other then tightening the bearing screws up once a month the table has been great. I wonder if they would provide me with one of the newer arms, I guess the only way to find out is to contact them.

nspindel

Definitely contact them.

mrbiron

In that case....clear audio concept and don't look back!

doctorcilantro

Shameless plug?

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?155404-Interest-Check-Technics-1200-Audiomods-Classic-mods

I too considered the Traveler, but I ultimately thought a used table of higher caliber would provide more bang for the buck.

No doubt it is a sweet table though.

thetawave2

doctorcilantro wrote: »

Shameless plug?

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?155404-Interest-Check-Technics-1200-Audiomods-Classic-mods

I too considered the Traveler, but I ultimately thought a used table of higher caliber would provide more bang for the buck.

No doubt it is a sweet table though.

Yeah I'm definitely considering used as well. Paying a visit to a local stereo shop on Saturday and hopefully they have some nice used models in stock.

thetawave2

I'll be demoing a Rega RP6 and a VPI Traveler on Saturday!

dbaldus

thetawave2 wrote: »

I'll be demoing a Rega RP6 and a VPI Traveler on Saturday!

Definitely interested in hearing your comparison of the two. I'm in the same situation as you and have those 2 plus the Music Hall 7.1 on my list.

nspindel

You should make sure to listen to them with the same model cartridge, through the same phono pre, etc. You need to hear an apples to apples comparison.

thetawave2

nspindel wrote: »

You should make sure to listen to them with the same model cartridge, through the same phono pre, etc. You need to hear an apples to apples comparison.

That would have been my thought initially, but I'm looking to buy a cartridge to go with the table. The man I spoke to at the shop said he has different cartridge recommendations for each table, so I'm going to go with his expertise on that one. Definitely going to ask detailed questions about why each cartridge goes with each turntable, though. Since I already have a preamp, however, I do hope he uses the same phono stage for each.

nspindel

I don't buy that for a second. Too easy to stage the more profitable table to sound better.

thetawave2

nspindel wrote: »

I don't buy that for a second. Too easy to stage the more profitable table to sound better.

That's one way of looking at it, sure. However, the tables are very close in price and I'm a big believer in system synergy, so I'll follow his lead on this for now. If I get the sense that he's actually just trying to squeeze as much money out of me as possible, I can always just leave. Maybe I'm being a little na

nspindel

Most expensive and most profitable aren't necessarily the same.

Dawgfish

It can be tough to make an apples to apples comparison between two turntables with the same cart sometimes due different masses of turntable arms and different compliances of cartridges. For example a cart with low compliance such as a Denon DL103R may sound great with a heavier arm such as those that come on the TTweights tables and others, but not work so well with a lighter arm such as many of the Regas. The opposite would be true comparing a higher compliance cart like a Grado reference cart. Synergy is important with all equipment but especially so with the relation between a cart and a tonearm.

The thing to do is research the different tables with regard to tonearm mass and if you are going to do a comparison using a single cart on different tables, try to use a cart that would be a decent match for all. Having said that, you have to realize that a cart may be a better match for one table over another because of the tonearm mass/cartridge compliance relationship. It's something you will never completely get away from.

nspindel

Then how do you make an objective decision about a turntable?

Dawgfish

Again you try to use a cart that would be a decent match for both and go from there. You will never completely get away from the tonearm mass vs cartridge compliance issue though. You can't overcome physics. An alternative way to decide would be to compare the two tables using a cart you would be using and go from there.

I tend to look at other factors when deciding on turntables such as build quality, type of drive, materials, adjustability, potential for future upgrades, and history plus customer service of the manufacturer of the table. Being perfectly honest the looks and coolness factor of the table has a big bearing (no pun intended) in the decision also. The OP has lots of good choices in his price range, he'll decide what's best for him based on his criteria, which may not be the same criteria that either one of us or any others would use. As long as they are happy with it in the end, that's all that matters.

thetawave2

Well I did a lot of listening to the Rega RP6 and the VPI Traveler today and it was a pretty tough choice. The RP6's cartridge was Rega's match for it (I forgot the name) and the Traveler was equipped with the Dynavector 10X5. I talked for a long while with the salesman about the differences between the two turntables (rigidity vs. mass damping, et c) but the listening was really where my decision was made. And a tough decision it was! Both TT/Cart combos had very different characteristics and I found it difficult to choose for a long time. The Rega/Rega was a bit more forward, a bit more lively. Attacks could be startling in a very exciting way. It was more of a thrill. The VPI/Dynavector was a bit more laid back, a bit warmer, and was much better (I thought) at conveying emotion. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I really liked both turntables for different reasons, but the VPI's more emotionally nuanced presentation was the one I'd want to bring home.

hochpt21

Congrats on the decision. I have a feeling you will be very happy...

nspindel

Congratulations. Welcome to Club Traveler!

FYI, I can tell you that the two cartridges VPI seem to recommend most for the Traveler are Grado and Ortofon. I've got the Grado Sonata, and I listened to an Ortofon when I visited their headquarters. Both will put a smile on your face. I've not heard the Dynavector, but I'd advise you to try to get your ears on the Grado and Ortofon before making a final decision.

Dawgfish

Congrats! It's hard to go wrong with VPI or Dynavector for that matter! You should very happy with that combo!

nspindel

By the way, if you are on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/vpiindustries