Thoughts on a TT upgrade?
Jaybeez
Posts: 748
Been reading and researching for a new TT for my 2 Channel set up.
If the tax man is good to me tomorrow, I’m leaning strongly towards: http://us.marantz.com/us/products/pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=referenceseries&ProductId=TT15S1
Anyone seen, heard or own one of these. Seems like a solid Clearaudio product with Marantz badging.
If the tax man is good to me tomorrow, I’m leaning strongly towards: http://us.marantz.com/us/products/pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=referenceseries&ProductId=TT15S1
Anyone seen, heard or own one of these. Seems like a solid Clearaudio product with Marantz badging.
2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s
Comments
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It's an OK piece of hardware. I've owned one for years. Used it for a while but retired it when I decided to go to a low compliance LOMC cartridge.
The CA cartridge that it comes bundled with (or at least that it did come bundled with) is profoundly underwhelming.
I am not sure you can really do any better for the price in terms of anything being made currently, but it really is nothing special IMO/IME and relative to my tastes. Not bad, but not great.
Looks nice, though.
TT15S12 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
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Thanks. I know I could do way better, but not sure I have an appetite for the expense when vinyl is a relatively small portion of my library.
If money were no object, I know of a way better unit that I've seen and heard from a fellow Polkie that would more than fit the bill.
But again, multiple hobbies require tough choices.
I do thank you for your assessment, as it pretty much matches my thinking ... at this price point this would be a top contender.2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s -
I have a superb TriangleArt with your name on it...
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
The street price of the Marantz/Clearaudio is high enough that there certainly ought to be good alternatives on the used market.
Does VPI have anything currently in that price range with arm? I know folks are a bit polarized about VPI, but my (limited) experience with their tts (and arms) has been pretty positive, their stuff seems to be well made and they do cover the spectrum in terms of price
I mean that as a compliment.
Also, at least the last I knew, their hardware is still made domestically. I grant that this is no guarantee of anything positive -- but it is kind of nice (especially if one happens to care about such things).
Just a passel of semi-informed opinions, offered "as is" and FWIW.
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I had the Scout Jr in the consideration set.2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s -
nooshinjohn wrote: »I have a superb TriangleArt with your name on it...
If only I had the moolah... !2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s -
And you need a museum to put that beauty inMy New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160
Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |
ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4
Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |
Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |
Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |
Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's
Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's | -
I’d been running with a Thorens TD-280 mk3/Ortofon Super OM 20 combo with a Parks Audio Budgie preamp. It was ok. Recently moved to a Rega RP3/Ortofon 2M Bronze combo with the same preamp. No contest. RP3/Bronze combo reveals so much more music from the same piece of vinyl.
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That Clear Audio Virtuoso V2 Ebony MM Cartridge that comes with this table is a decent one retails at $950, this table also comes with the Clear Audio Clever Clamp so about $980 of this table is wrapped up just in that.
For the price they are asking for this table it is worth every Penny, I do not think the tonearm is a Clear Audio Satisfy one, but is a Clear Audio one. A nice turntable, definitely Clear Audio with a Marantz badge.Home Theater
Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable
2 Channel
Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+
Stuff for the Head
JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365
Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin
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AudioRefugee wrote: »I’d been running with a Thorens TD-280 mk3/Ortofon Super OM 20 combo with a Parks Audio Budgie preamp. It was ok. Recently moved to a Rega RP3/Ortofon 2M Bronze combo with the same preamp. No contest. RP3/Bronze combo reveals so much more music from the same piece of vinyl.
Agree .
My buddy has a RP3 and it is a keeper.Main room- RTiA9 x4, CSiA6, in ceiling Atmos RT-70 x4, SVS PC 4000 x2, Marantz 8805A, OPPO 203, Emotiva DR3 G3, Emotiva XPA-2 G3, Emotiva XPA-5 G3, Emotiva X300, Sony 75" 940E, Panasonic Plasma VT50, PS Audio Power Port X2, PS Audio AC-5 x8, AQ Rocket 33 Biwire speaker cables, AQ King Cobra XLR IC, Furman PFi20 W/Cullen cable, SoildSteel S4-4 rack, Gik room treatments
Office- Legend L600, in ceiling Polk RC80i, Marantz 7704, OPPO 203, Pioneer Elite PDF-59 CD, PSA Stellar 300, Sony 55" 800B, Gik room treatment
Master BR- Signature ES60, Signature S35 Center, Signature S15 Dolby Height, LSI700 in ceiling, SVS-SB4000, Marantz 5012, Emotiva XPA5 G2, OPPO 203, Pioneer DVL-919 Laser Disc, Sony 55" OLED
Patio- SDI Atrium8 x3, Emotiva A-100 amps x3 -
That Clear Audio Virtuoso V2 Ebony MM Cartridge that comes with this table is a decent one retails at $950, this table also comes with the Clear Audio Clever Clamp so about $980 of this table is wrapped up just in that.
For the price they are asking for this table it is worth every Penny, I do not think the tonearm is a Clear Audio Satisfy one, but is a Clear Audio one. A nice turntable, definitely Clear Audio with a Marantz badge.
All of the following offered strictly for what it's worth:
The arm is indeed a version of the CA Satisfy with an (ostensibly) ebony arm wand. It is a decent if simplistic arm IMO/IME.
I shared my opinions about the cartridge earlier, irrespective of "MSRP". From my perspective, it is by far the weak link on the TT-15S1. Of course it's readily replaceable.
The tt itself is a somewhat spiffed up version of the old CA "Emotion" and definitely betters that tt at least a bit in (probably) every respect. Motor and drive system is rather crude. Platter & bearing are pretty nice. Looks nice (the Marantz is a notch more impressive looking than the Emotion was).
The "Clever Clamp" is indeed a cute, clever, and functional little clamp.
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I'd rather have this combo...IMHO
In Oceanside Cali,....Offer him $850, pay $1K max
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Turntables/VPI/HW19-MK4/Very-nice-with-SAMA/185732
Add this tonearm
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649401826-sme-3009-ii-improved/2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
nooshinjohn wrote: »I have a superb TriangleArt with your name on it...
Will a hundie bring it home? Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
Agree .
My buddy has a RP3 and it is a keeper.
A dealer near me has the RP6 with Exact2 marked down a bit. I liked my RP1, so may be worth considering ...2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s -
txcoastal1 wrote: »I'd rather have this combo...IMHO
In Oceanside Cali,....Offer him $850, pay $1K max
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Turntables/VPI/HW19-MK4/Very-nice-with-SAMA/185732
Add this tonearm
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649401826-sme-3009-ii-improved/
Looks like a great setup, but I fear I'd screw it up when trying to put it all together!2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s -
txcoastal1 wrote: »I'd rather have this combo...IMHO
In Oceanside Cali,....Offer him $850, pay $1K max
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Turntables/VPI/HW19-MK4/Very-nice-with-SAMA/185732
Add this tonearm
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649401826-sme-3009-ii-improved/
Looks like a great setup, but I fear I'd screw it up when trying to put it all together!
naah -- things are a little delicate but not really as magically finicky as some folks make it sound. Moderate manual dexterity, common sense, a bit of patience, proper tools and (this is the hardest part) backing off on one's normal dose of caffeine are all that's needed.
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txcoastal1 wrote: »I'd rather have this combo...IMHO
In Oceanside Cali,....Offer him $850, pay $1K max
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Turntables/VPI/HW19-MK4/Very-nice-with-SAMA/185732
Add this tonearm
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649401826-sme-3009-ii-improved/
This'll get you into the big leagues.
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txcoastal1 wrote: »I'd rather have this combo...IMHO
In Oceanside Cali,....Offer him $850, pay $1K max
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Turntables/VPI/HW19-MK4/Very-nice-with-SAMA/185732
Add this tonearm
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649401826-sme-3009-ii-improved/
Looks like a great setup, but I fear I'd screw it up when trying to put it all together!
Lot's online info and videos on these pieces. They are trusty rusty's and true semi-modern classics. Any TT can give you issues.2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
nooshinjohn wrote: »I have a superb TriangleArt with your name on it...
Will a hundie bring it home?
It might if you have 79 more Benjamins to put with it.
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Oooh, the RP6 is a pretty nice deck. Make certain he’s including the Rega TTPSU (speed controller) with it. It’s included as part of the RP6 and it’s one of the key features that sets it apart from the RP3. -
You won't go wrong with the RP6 and agree with above getting the controller2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
I would have loved to have stepped up to an RP6 if I'd had the resources. Another TT that was mentioned here was the VPI Scout. That was on my list as well. A friend has a VPI TNT, which is another beautiful sounding table. Another friend has an SME 30/12 with a Koetsu cartridge. I can't remember which arm he has, but it's high high end. Probably a $75,000.00 set up. I'll never own one, but it's fun to ride in a Bugatti.
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^^^ Looks kinda like a nighthawk (or some other, related nightjar) in your avatar photo there?
oops, nope! -- maybe a chimney swift?
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I know how you can get a great deal on Music Hall turntables. I got my 7.3 for less than 1300 with the Ortofon Bronze. PM if you are interested in the details2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
Hope I'm not derailing the OPs thread too much. You guys seem pretty casual here. Let me know if it bothers you OP and I'll stop. My Avatar is a Swift. I chose it because my setup includes a pair of Meadowlark Swift speakers. I'd been looking high and low for a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel 2s, but the Swifts presented themselves. I got them from a gentleman in Texas. He loved them and it showed. They were pristine. Now I get to love them too. Meadowlark went out of business years ago, but they had a great reputation back in the day. 90% of my system is made up of used yesteryears equipment. All tube stuff.
Back on topic, Stangman67s suggestion of the Music Hall with the Ortofon Bronze sounds good to me. As mentioned, I have a Bronze on my RP3 and love it. Some describe it analytical and bright. Not sure what the means. For me, it's really opened up my system to sounds that never showed up with the old TT/cartridge combo. The other two cartridges that were on my short list were the Denon DL-110 and the Grado Gold. I've heard that they are warmer sounding than the Bronze, and I might have gone that way but for the screamin good deal I got on the Bronze from a friend of mine. -
Ended up with the MMF 7.3 with the Ortofon Bronze. Thanks Zach for the reco!2 Channel "Polk" Room:
Marantz PM8004 Integrated
Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
WiiM Mini
Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
Polk 7B with RDO198s -
Ended up with the MMF 7.3 with the Ortofon Bronze. Thanks Zach for the reco!
Give that Bronze a while to break in. I’ve heard it takes up to 50 hours. Mine just keeps getting better and better. Not as good as live, but dang... just keeps a smile on my face.
