Cutting Costs of a TT/Arm/Cartridge/phono stage?

Posted by: Jaybar on 31 August 2003

I am in the process of chosing a P9/DV cartridge/Naim stage line/Naim power supply for my otherwise non-Naim system. I may need to reduce the projected costs and wonder where the best place is to make changes from my "ideal" so to speak. I need to trim about a $1000 from the progected cost.

Ideal:

P9/DV172/Stageline/Highcap2

Possibilities:

1) P9/DV172/Stageline/FC2
2) P9/DV 10X5/Stageline/FC2
3) P9/DV 20XL/Stageline/FC2

A) Are these cost saving options worth considering?

B) Will they acheive good results?

Thanks in advance,

Jay

Posted on: 31 August 2003 by Jaybar

Mark-

Because of eyesight and coordination problems, I would want to buy the TT as well from my local dealer as setup and support is important to me.

Wondering if you have any thoughts on the options in my note?

I am not adverse to buying a used Highcap, if, infact that is MUCH better.

Jay

Posted on: 31 August 2003 by Phil Barry

Linn became a success because Ivor Tiefenbrun demonstrated repeatedly that the hierarchy is table, arm, cart.

In the P9 you'll have very good table and arm, and you'll get good sound out of a wide variety of cartridges, even low cost ones.

Why not the Arkiv and the Linto?

Phil

Posted on: 31 August 2003 by Jaybar

Hi Phil-

I sold my Linn/Arkiv (ddH retip) and Linto. Had a Linn for 23 years. Unfortunately, for reasons that I don't want to dicuss, I am losing much of my vision and I am not sure how much of it I will have (if any)over time. In light of this, I wanted to move to a TT that is more "Plug and play" and easier to maintain. I am looking for a reasonably durable, but good sounding cartridge to pair with the P9.

I have settled on the P9 and a stageline phono stage (even though my integrated and CDP are not Naim (they are Ayre).

I am also not pleased with Linn's retiping policy and want a cartridge that will not cost be several thousand when it needs replacing.

The other unanswered question is the power supply to power the stageline. My first choice would be hicap, but I may have to settle for FC2 to keep costs down and hope that is not that much of a degredation.

Jay