Where next with my Vivid LP12?

[andybee33]

Hi folks,

I recently posted an anguished request for ideas as I'd reached the end of the road piddling about with my old Rega Planar 3. The result was that I ended up getting a 'new' Vivid LP12 from Robert at Inspire. I've hardly stopped using it since.:)

When I bought it I opted for the offboard power supply but kept my old RB300 arm and Goldring 1006 cart. For pre amplification I currently have either the inboard one on my Kandy K2 or a Rega Fono MM. Rest of system is a Kandy K2 power amp and Kandy TR5 speakers.

So, I'm thinking that skint or not, I need to finish the turntable side of things off. To that end I've bought Clive's Origin Live Silver arm, that should be a hop up to the ancient RB300. Now just left wondering about cart and phono preamp. Is it time to consider going MC? Which should be upgraded first? Should I expect another huge increase in sound quality (which the tt upgrade certainly was) or something more measued? Where so the real diminishing returns start?

As ever, looking for thoughts and ideas.

Thanks, Andy :)

[Macca]

I'm surprised none of the hardcore vinylistas on here have replied to this. From my own fairly meagre experience I would say that both head amp and cartridge can make an enormous improvement, there is really no limit you can go to with these things it just depends on the size of your wallet. I'd put a better cartridge on the list before the head amp though, if it were me.

[Clive197]

Andy

You could try Ortofons new Quintet MC range which are getting excellent revues, but bearing in mind budget considerations and that you would need to buy a SUT or MC phono stage which would then need to be added to the cost.

I would recommend that you stay with MM and have a look at Ortofons 2M range perhaps starting with the Blue or even Bronze with the Black getting you back to MC costs. There are many other fine MM's on the market and I'm sure that many others can point you to their currant favourite. It boils down to my favourite maker Ortofon, which many other makers have tried to emulate but IMHO have not quite succeeded.

Clive

[Andrei]

Andy
How good is the MM stage on the Kandy? I think that is the first 'fact' you need to establish. The reason I say that is the cartridge / phono-stage options should not really be seen in isolation. If it is up to scratch (and I have no idea) then the relatively cheap way of going forward, as Clive has said, is to get the best you can afford up the Ortofon 2M line. What I do - and this is just me really - I decide what I want almost without recourse to cost, and if it costs too much I wait till I can afford it. You have got a pretty darn decent system there and you need a good cartridge to do it justice, so I would hang out for the 2M Black.

If you inquiries reveal that you can do a lot better in the phono stage department then things are more complicated. On the negative side is more cost, but on the plus side is that you could look towards a phono stage that supports a MC cartridge. Firebottle (of this forum) and Jez Arkless (formerly of this forum) make phono stages that are praised apparently without exception. If you buy your suits off the rack then I can say the ifi iphono effort is pretty decent.

@Clive: you have a new avatar: I wonder why???

[andybee33]

Hi folks,

I've only been able to compare the phono stage in the Kandy with a Rega Fono mm mk2 I also have. The Rega is definitely better (tighter, puncher, crisper treble) but I somehow find it lacking warmth and, depending on the music I often find myself going for the warmer sound of the Kandy stage, even if it is woollier. Given that neither are clearly ideal, I wonder if the only scientific way forward is to get a decent mc capable phono stage (with mm too) and then consider carts as step 2.

On the other hand, maybe the rega would sing with a better cart?? Aargh :)

Andy

[roob]

I suggest you have a look for a used Cambridge 640 phono stage and send it off to Arkless for either his basic or turbo mods they really are special.
The Turbo has showed my Naim Prefix a clean pair of heels.