Hi guys! Its me again... Can you help me out a bit?
Let's start with a little inventory, relevant to todays' quest:
-Denon DP300F Turntable with built in pre-amp
-Ortofon 2M Red MM Cartridge + needle
-Naim UnitiQute V1
-Quad ESL57's
& somewhere in the attic should be dads' Thorens TD145 without element. Might need some TLC, maybe new belt is enough?
I'm quite happy with how things are, when listening to anything but vinyl. Of course, there are always things to improve, but first things first: vinyl playback needs immediate improvement. And as usual with youngsters like me: money is an issue. Maximum investment for the moment is € 500.
The reason I'm here now is because I am unsure about the path to follow. I have been offered a Stageline S (for MC carts), with I-Supply and cabling DIN-Cinch for € 300. That would seem a logical step, but then I also have to buy a new cartridge to be able to use it.
Still, it seems like a good deal, also in keeping it al Naim. Or do you think the Stageline is something of an 'overstatement' with the rest of the system? Or, just a good investment to improve on in the future?
Posted on: 30 March 2017 by hungryhalibut
I'd get shot of the Denon and get a nice Rega with a Rega phono stage. An RP3 or 6 would be ideal. Try to find a used one for better value.
It's rather an odd system, with the speakers being too good for both the source and the Qute. A better deck will help though.
Posted on: 30 March 2017 by Cdb
While getting an MC Stageline might be a good investment for the future it wouldn't help much in your current position. First question would be whether it's feasible to upgrade the cartridge on the Denon and indeed whether there is an output from it suitable for plugging into a phono stage. However, I think the first thing to do is to visit the attic and assess the Thorens - if you can get that well set up then you will probably have a superior turntable to the Denon (but what 'element' is the Thorens lacking?). Generally I think you will find that investment in the order of turntable, arm, cartridge and then phono stage is the recommended priority. A good quality MM cartridge into an inexpensive phone stage can sound excellent.
Clive
PS Just seen HH's post and agree that if the Thorens isn't up to refurbishment, go with Rega!
Posted on: 30 March 2017 by Richard Dane
Your Ortofon Red is a decent enough MM and worth sticking with for now. I haven't come across that Denon before, so had to do a bit of googling. It doesn't appear to be too bad - I guess it's a decent enough entry to the world of LP records - but I would be willing to bet good money that investing in something like a Rega RP3 with a decent MM phono stage (maybe Rega's own?) would be a good step forwards.
Alternatively, hotfoot it up into your Dad's attic and dig out that Thorens TD145. Suitably fettled, it's still a decent deck, but do ensure you check it over, get a new belt (a proper Thorens one or a Thakker from Germany), change the oil, lube the motor, ensure the arm bearings are not loose, and change the ribbed mat for either a solid rubber one from the TD160 Super or get a Herbie's Mat or similar. Make sure the springs are level and you get a good pistonic bounce (the foam inserts should have rotted to by now - don't bother to replace). Fit the Ortofon Red, match with a decent MM stage and for a relatively small outlay you should get a decent improvement in LP performance.
Posted on: 30 March 2017 by ChrisSU
I would sell the Denon, and get the Thorens looked at by someone who can advise on setting it up properly. If that's not feasible, maybe sell that as well, and buy the best (Rega?) turntable you can afford. A good turntable and a reasonable arm are more important than cartridge and phono stage, so I would resist the temptation to blow the budget on a Stageline & PSU if funds are limited. There are plenty of good cheaper alternatives around from the likes of Rega and Project.
Is a Unitiqute capable of driving a pair of ESLs? I would have thought they would need something with quite a bit more power, but I could be wrong.
Posted on: 30 March 2017 by LionelEleveld
Hi guys! Thank you for all the quick replies! You are so right, this is not a balanced system at all! The only thing I bought myself is the UQ, the rest all fits in the category "attic finds" within the family - including the ESLs. They play rather well with the UQ. I only dared to connect them after consulting some of your fellow forum-members...
And thanks for the advice, I have already been able to figure out that the Stageline is a no-go for the moment. Will be looking into the Thorens tomorrow. There is a specialist on Thorens stuff in the area, might be able ask them for an opinion on the state of it! You've all been of great help so far with tips and tricks! THANKS!
Posted on: 31 March 2017 by Adam Zielinski
Glad to see that things are improving 
I would advise a following medium-term path:
* Turntable: Rega RP6 with Exact II cartridge and Rega's MM phono amp
* Swapping UnitiQute for a more powerfull solution at some stage - either from a Uniti range or a venerable N272 + NAP
As I wrote - please consider the above as medium to long-term
Adam
Posted on: 01 April 2017 by LionelEleveld
Hey Adam! Nice to 'see' you again! Noted, about the medium-term-planning! After this part is done, amplification is up...
For now, my dealer has given me a phono pre-amp to audition, which he thinks is a match: Cambridge Audio CP2. Cold from the box it's already a big boost in quality from the integrated pre-amp in the Denon TT. Not too bad I think, but will have a good listen over the course of the weekend.
Have an appointment with the attic this afternoon to steal the Thorens. There should also be a Revox B-795 lying around there. Any thoughts on that one?
Posted on: 01 April 2017 by Adam Zielinski
Hey
sorry - no experience of either Thorens or Revox. So cannot offer any advice on those.
What I would say is have a 'think' where you see your system in, say 5 years?
You already have fantastic speakers that are demanding of power amps and will absolutely shine when fed with a high-quality source. I have heard my ESL-63 on the back end of my Rega RP10 and NDS / 252 /250DR and the results were just stunning. With an my vintage Olive set they are even more revealing.
I'm not advocating that you should go on a spending spree and get the top end sources right now. But speaking from experience, try to avoid making short-term decisions which will detract you from a long-term plan.
Adam
