How much is too much?

[02audionoob]

Suppose I plan to listen to vinyl with my Adcom GFP-565 preamp and GFA-545II amp. And suppose now I'm thinking I like the idea of the Music Hall turntables. Maybe my usual bargain hunting can go on a short hiatus. At needledoctor.com, they range from $449 to $2195. Understanding the limitations of my system...At what point do you think I'd be getting a good return on investment? Maybe only as high as the MMF-5.1?

[hifitommy]

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....83619&demo&3&4&

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/clt....0119&clout&3&4&

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....o-ject-RM-5-SE

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....esearch-EB-101

above is a quick stroll through audiogon. worth looking at.

[02audionoob]

Settled on a Music Hall MMF-5 and am now on the lookout for a phono preamp....liking the looks of the tubed offerings, like the Pro-Ject Tube Box.

[hifitommy]

i highly recommend going to an audio research sp6c or sp3a1, or sp9, or...you get the picture. the arc mated well for me with my gfa555II. and the sound is EVER so much better in all important parameters. i believe VTL or manley would likewise do well.

dont expect the sound purported to be "tube" sound. it wont be fat, juicy, or rolled off in the top. it will be wideband, accurately colored, dynamic, tight, and spacious like real music. my sp3a1 undid all my expectations about tubes. it showed the 565 to be only a good preamp, not a great one as the stereophile review claimed it to be.

in one swell foop, you will improve EVERYTHING. my 565 is now being used by my daughter in her bedroom system.

i think i had a similar conversation with you once before regarding this change. this would be an expeditious time to make the move.

[02audionoob]

I believe I have given up on the GFP-565. It's sitting here unplugged and listed for sale. I have replaced it with at least temporarily an SLC-505, which I find to be much quieter. I've always wanted to try one, ever since I first saw them on that world-famous auction site. They're cheap and can be sold easily. Now, I'm figuring I'll aim higher on the phono preamp. I like the looks of that PS Audio GCPH and there's a shop here in town that I think actually carries PS Audio equipment. It has a gain control knob that could eliminate the need for even the SLC-505 if I chose to dedicate the GFA-545II to the turntable. I'm also still interested in the Pro-Ject Tube Box SE II, but I have no idea where I'd be able to listen to one.

[Monkey Mouse]

I bought a second hand Rega P3 (the last model) with upgrades, a Bellari tube pre, and a Clearaudio Arum Beta cartridge last year. I had also looked at the Music Hall, Project, and other in that price range - but the used Rega was a notch (or two) above the rest at the price point. I'm talking about the $1,500 price point.

[squeegy200]

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....83619&demo&3&4&

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/clt....0119&clout&3&4&

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....o-ject-RM-5-SE

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....esearch-EB-101

above is a quick stroll through audiogon. worth looking at.

Wow, I didn't know that pre-owned VPIs were that reasonable. I never even considered them because they were always so far out of my price range.

[hifitommy]

and there are a few there for reasonable. brian remsen at the society has a 19jr w/rega 300/audiotechnica oc9. quite happy.

i had a 19III/sme IV/talisman that i got for $1k and sold for 900. i need a removable headshell so i got a sota sapphire/mmt because i have NUMEROUS cartridges.

i will say that i REALLY liked the sound of my vpi. kraftwerk's autobahn sounded right for the first time. i hadnt liked that record much until then.

good hunting.