Clearaudio Ovation

Zackwater posted:

Also, if I choose the rp10 or the Ovation, what’s a $2000 to $5000 usd phono stage that would compliment the turntables.   

Wow! That's a huge and possibly disproportionate budget for a complimentary phono stage to those decks. Many here will espouse the Rega Aria at $1.5K which has variable input for both MM or MC carts. There are a number of sub $1K stages that are very good as well. Your next best question, after selecting a deck, might be to decide between a MM or MC cart.

Since you can power it from the 252 a superline is an obvious choice and keeps the Naim flavour, it will restrict you to MC cartridges with an output below 0.5mV however, and maybe a couple of the more exotic soundsmiths. Not a great hardship if you can afford them. A dedicated supercap will add more gravitas if you ever want to take it further but the 252 will beat a hicap. It’s worth a home demo on this one to check for radio breakthrough but that very much depends on the local environment. Alternatives are the Tom Evans Groove variants, the Aria makes sense if you decide on a Rega deck or get auditioning.

If you go for the RP10 I think it would be worth searching for a used IOS Reference.

C.

I’m actually upgrading to the 552.  I know I can power it through the 552, but everything I hear is that I really need to power it through a supercap.  If I do that then I have a $10,000 phono stage!   It has to stop somewhere.  I’m ok at $5000 tops for a phono stage, but $10,000 plus a turntable and a mc cartridge.   I refuse to spend more than $20,000 for the entire phono setup. AND $20,000 is nuts!

tom evans the groove is a killer.  or superline hicap, pass labs xp17.

A vote here for the Rega RP10/Alpheta2/Aria. Made for each other, hassle free, and excellent value. From all reports, the Rega Aphelion cartridge also would be a great upgrade if your wallet permits.

Zackwater, you don't have to power the Superline through a Supercap.  I power mine from the NAC552 and I think I s prefer it this way compared to a dedicated Hicap. It saves me space too. Even powered from a Hicap or from a pre-amp, the Superline is a superb phono stage, it's just the the Supercap takes to the very top level - as it should for the price. Having said that, for best timing and overall coherence, I know a few who reckon powering from the NAC552 is their favoured way to go.

Oh, and I'm currently using an RP10/Apheta 2 with the Superline.  It's a real thrill ride, in the best possible way.  I've thought about trying some other carts out - I have plenty, from a Koetsu Black, through to an AT33PTG, OC9 MLIIs, various Denons, Fidelity Research FR1 MkIIIF, Linn Klyde, Orto SPU Royal N - but the Apheta 2 is so enjoyable (it possibly trades a bit of detail and subtlety for speed and rhythm, but even so a fair trade, I'd say) I'm in no hurry to change. Considering you essentially get it for £700 instead of just over £1k when you buy the deck as a package, it's a big bargain in my book. 

Has anyone used the McIntosh mt5 turntable (with a better cartridge than what comes stock from McIntosh) with a Superline?  It’s one of the turntables I’m considering, BUT I would have to solve my Naim Fraim shelf problem with the mt5.  

No comments about the Ovation yet? I'm also interested...

Are all the dealers a seven hour drive away or just the Linn?

What have you heard so far?

The only close dealer is the McIntosh.  He is down the street.  Linn, VPI, Clearaudio, etc., is a 7 hour drive 1 way. 

As for what I have heard, all of them BUT it’s so unfair due to type of other components, speakers, the listening room, etc..  In my house with my gear Rega and McIntosh. 

Thank you. Where is the Rega dealer?

Ok. Looks like the Rega dealer might be 7 hours away in the 'etcs.'

Actually the person I buy Naim and Rega from is even farther.  But he is a great guy and will fly down anytime.  I’m actually considering the rp10, high dollar cartridge, and a Rega IOS reference phono stage instead of  the Naim SuperLine and then the Naim SuperCap.  Who knows what I will end up with. 

Zackwater posted:

I’m actually considering the rp10, high dollar cartridge, and a Rega IOS reference phono stage ......

If you haven't already done so, you could google 'rega ios reference ear'.

Only in the last couple of days Rega have announced a brand new reference moving coil stage - the new Aura MC. May well be worth waiting to hear this unit against its competitors.

Thanks YZ. Looks like a contemporary IOS Reference. Could be perfect with Apheta, Aphelion etc., with specific Rega cartridge settings.

I only use a supercap DR with my superline as I had one with my 282 which was spare when  I bought the 552 and repurposed the 282 to our second home in France along with a hicap. I used to power the superline from the 282 and then from the 552 while I waited for the right Burndy, the 552 powering the siperline is only bettered by a supercap but even that is a matter of taste, and possibly what the deck is, for all I know, I’ve only used an updated Townshend Rock mk2 with an Aro and an Artemis with a Schroeder Reference in the last decade. This latter has an inverted version of the bearing on the Ovation’s arm, or rather Clearaudio found a way round Frank Schroeder’s patents by inverting the magnetic bearing but they used a carbon fibre arm tube, a Schroeder on the cheep it ain't.

Zackwater posted:

The Linn scares me.   I’m not into servicing it every year.   I’m a 7 hour drive from the dealer.   From what I’ve read, the Ovation and the rp10 are “virtually” maintenance free.  Also, if I choose the rp10 or the Ovation, what’s a $2000 to $5000 usd phono stage that would compliment the turntables.   

Hi Zackwater -- you don't need to service an LP12 annually. So long as it's set up correctly the first time, you shouldn't need to mess with it unless you want to change the arm, subchassis, etc.

That said, there's no real reason to get an LP12, either, unless you're itching for one. (I did, 'cause I was. Or, more accurately, I was itching for an Aro and needed a deck to put it on.)

The Rega seems like the right fit here. 

As for the phono stage, my strong recommendation is to pick one based upon its synergy with the cartridge you choose. Think of these items as two sides of the same coin. What cartridges does the Rega dealer stock and/or recommend with the RP10?

The cartridge recommended by the dealer is the aphelion.   If I go with the rp10 this is the cartridge I’ll go with.   I just can’t decide on the phono stage for this set up.  I just don’t want to go Naim superLine and superCap.   If I do I’ll have to add another $1000 Fraim shelf.   I could go with a cheaper/smaller Rega Aria phono stage, but that seems unbalanced with a $10,000 turntable and cartridge. 

As a suggestion; go for RP10/Apheta 2 and Aria phonostage.

Aphellion may well be better BUT is quite costly and you actually save now by purchasing with the Apheta 2 factory fitted. If you find you play lots of vinyl, you can always try the Aphellion at a later date.

The Aria phostage is also excellent for either cartridge.

At the end of the day. it’s your funds and you need to decide at what level/cost you will enjoy the sound.

I bought the aforementioned RP10 setup, but really wanted to compare against the VPI Prime. Unfortunately, that isn’t an option where I live but I think you should at least compare the decks if you get the chance.

That way, you won’t be left always wondering whether you made the right decision - though the Rega is pretty awesome ????

I had my used LP12 looked at and serviced when I first bought it and had the first two carts changed professionally but the last two I have changed myself. The LP12 is a suspended record deck that benefits from a service every 10 years or so,  it isn't a highly calibrated scientific instrument that needs re calibrating before each use.

ZW - you seem to have a lot of irons in an expensive fire with no clear idea of which one to pull first. A sensible plan of action for me would be to first decide on a TT and make that the basis of your vinyl side. From there logical pairings of carts exist. Safe choices would be to stick with those from the same maker as your TT. Styli don't last forever and you can select a "better" replacement down the road once you've established an ear for your vinyl side. Phono stage is a tough question given the level of gear you're considering, but as Richard suggested above, powering a Superline via Aux2 is a viable means. It offers a quality starting point from which you can later decide whether a dedicated PSU and associated Fraim shelf are worthy upgrade costs.

I demo'd decks, Clearaudio and VPI among them, and decided to buy a Rega RP6 with it's paired Exact2. Went with the patent Naim Stageline via Aux2. From there dabbled with other carts; MM vs MC, some as costly as my RP6. The winner was a circa $400 MM. Then tried but discounted a Rega Aria. Added a PSU to my Stageline and ran it for a while. Ultimately decided the Aux2 connection was most cost effective.

I realize I'm using far less expensive gear than you're considering, just suggesting a similar path with a clear starting point and plan of action through time seems reasonable at any level. Hope this helps.

Zackwater posted:

The cartridge recommended by the dealer is the aphelion.   If I go with the rp10 this is the cartridge I’ll go with.   I just can’t decide on the phono stage for this set up.  I just don’t want to go Naim superLine and superCap.   If I do I’ll have to add another $1000 Fraim shelf.   I could go with a cheaper/smaller Rega Aria phono stage, but that seems unbalanced with a $10,000 turntable and cartridge. 

why not look at the tom evans groove or groove plus. The tom evans are super quiet, very dynamic with wonderful prat.  I had before the entry level microgroove, on 282/supercap, and it was better than stageline/ hicap.   Some naim members have tom evans also.

The pass labs xp15,17, have very good reputation too.    The tom evans and pass labs are made for low and medium mc carts.