[Bigred7078]

Hey im looking to jump on the vinyl bandwagon, but i want to do it for as little as possible...


I have been looking at the Pro-ject debut III and the Music Hall MMF 2.2.


If i got the Pro-ject and added a Grado Prestige Red MM cartridge, would it have better performance than the Stock Music Hall 2.2?


I'm also looking to add an inexpensive phono preamp. Ive looked into the Cambridge 540 and the Music Hall MHPA1.2 Any thoughts here?


My speakers are Vienna Acoustic Mozart Grands.

 

[VectorLabs]

used used used.. When it comes to TT your money will go a lot farther if you buy used. Look for a used Rega or Pro-ject. As far as phono preamp is concerned the best one I have tried is the Cambridge 640 under $200. It has an extremely low noise floor.


And then of course you are going to get people say the Technics TT all day long but I think that thing is just plain ugly.

 

[Denophile]

i have that MH peamp as a backup and i hate it--thin, dry, bright--dont like it myself but i think your speakers may be voiced differently than mine (focal be series) and it may make more sense in your system than mine. i use a belles vp129 model which i like better but has too little output with low output mm carts.


im not so much a fan of the grados myself--i have a clearaudio virtuoso and a goldring gl model--the goldring is my preferred option and is high output...


as for the table--i like the redesigned mh 2.2--there seem to be a bunch of 5.1s on agon fairly frequently too--the rega p1 and p3 are great too.


good luck

 

[VectorLabs]

I used to have the bellari vp129. Sold it because you are limited to very high output MM carts only. Now I have the cambridge 640. If my budget was bigger I would have gone with the Pro-ject Phono Box II SE.


Here is a Rega P3 on audiogon which you can probably put an offer for to get it under $500.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....lent-condition


It comes with the acrylic platter but you can always buy the Rega glass platter separately for around $50. Another option is to go for an older P2 or Planar 2 with an RB250 and get a Michell counterweight upgrade.

 

[Jim Burns]

I have the Project TT and Phono Box II SE and I am not inspired at all by the phono stage. I would not buy it again because, in my opinion it is not designed well. I blew my tweeters after I set it up according to the included directions (the Sumiko cartridge had a high output). It was dumping all of its power into the amp and caused distortion even if that input was not selected.


The TT is not a bad piece just get a different phono stage like the NAD PP3

 

[mcnarus]



Quote:
If i got the Pro-ject and added a Grado Prestige Red MM cartridge, would it have better performance than the Stock Music Hall 2.2?

Yes, unless the Grado/Pro-Ject combo causes a hum. Always a possibility with Grado, alas.


My preferred budget analog rig:


Denon DP-300 turntable

Shure M97 cartridge
www.phonopreamps.com preamp


Should run you $450 or so. For a step up:


Technics SL-1200 turntable

Audio-Technica AT-440 cart

Parasound Zphono pre


Maybe $700 or so.

 

[VectorLabs]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnarus /forum/post/16878238


Yes, unless the Grado/Pro-Ject combo causes a hum. Always a possibility with Grado, alas.


My preferred budget analog rig:


Denon DP-300 turntable

Shure M97 cartridge
www.phonopreamps.com preamp


Should run you $450 or so. For a step up:


Technics SL-1200 turntable

Audio-Technica AT-440 cart

Parasound Zphono pre


Maybe $700 or so.

The new DP-300 which is now the DP-300F comes with a built-in phono preamp for $329 MSRP. Not bad.

 

[mcnarus]



Quote:
The new DP-300 which is now the DP-300F comes with a built-in phono preamp

In which case you can skip the outboard unit. Somebody on a real budget could also make do with the included cartridge.

 

[VectorLabs]

I also find it amazing what the AT440MLa does for about $100. You really have to spend tons more to better this catridge.

 

[Gizmologist]

What? Nobody likes the ol Dual 1229?