Best New TT for $1500 (2015)

I'm talking about the Ortofon 2M Red. What cartridge are you talking about?

 

I'm talking about the 2M Red, which is a good cartridge. Sure, it's 'only' $100 but hardly the throwaway you describe. It outclasses many cartridges at 2X or 3X the price.

 

Sorry I wasn't sensitive enough for you. How about one of least expensive cartridges .

There is no comparison between the two carts mentioned though. That table should have a better cart on it then the 2m red. A twentieth of the cost of the table though is pretty cheap.

 

You are very concerned about price!

The 2M Red is a very worthy cart for the Scout Jr. As I said, I'd take the 2M Red over the Bias or Elys.

 

The 2M Red is a fine cartridge for its price, but the Scout Jr. deserves better. I'd personally put a 2M Black on there without hesitation.

 

Aren't price and performance of phono cartridges correlated, generally?

 

Not with the Denon DL-103 IMHO...

 

The 2M Red is blecch, for the same price you can get a Nagaoka 110, which is smooth as buttah, or for $145 on the 'Bay you can get a Denon DL-110.

 

Generally though?

 

Just curious....but you guys knocking on the 2m Red....have you actually heard it on a Scout JR?

It's actually a pretty nice setup.

Sure the JR can handle a much nicer cart, but that's not really the point in this case.

 

No. Price and hype, yes. But not performance.

Sure, but that's not the conversation. The issue is if the Red isn't worthy of the Scout Jr. Which is a ridiculous claim, especially since the assertion appears to be related to its $100 price tag.

Realize that Rega gear sells at a massive premium in the US. The Ortofon 2M Red is nearly price equivalent to the Rega Elys 2 in the U.K.

In GBP, the Rega Exact is in-between the 2M Blue and 2M Bronze, for those of you requiring a price point to assess performance (rather than using your own ears).

 

The great news is that it is hard to make a bad choice at the $1,500 price point.

I have had the 2m red, blue and today the black. They all sound great. the improvement for $100 from the red to the blue is much more substantial as far as bang for the buck is concerned.

I loved my project but the build quality is much more flimsy than a VPI. The cue lever on my carbon fiber tone arm broke on the pro-ject within a year. I would take the VPI tone arm on the Scout over the Carbon every time.

 

It depends on what sound you enjoy. I tend to be drawn to the sound of less expensive carts, and I'm running a turntable/tonearm combination that retail over $9000.

I've owned a lot of high $ carts, and keep going back to the old Shures etc.

 

Hmmm.... Not sure I follow for certain, but think I did the opposite, I bought the Avid Ingenium based on the idea their lower end table would have the benefit of the technology in their higher end tables. I'm pleased with my purchase.

 

Have there been any reviews of the new Scout Jr. tonearm? That yoke style design looks a little weird. Is it an improvement over the tonearm design used on the Traveler? Or is its purpose to be less expensive and easier to deal with than the Traveler tonearm?

 

But you still have an Avid.

 

That's hard to say to be honest (system synergy, etc.)... but generally, a $500 cart should sound better than a $100 cart.
The better the tonearm/table the more apparent a cartridge's shortcomings/gifts become realized IME.
I'd definitely agree that the 2M Blue is a big jump up from the Red for $100.

 

Here's one that hasn't been suggested yet, the Marantz TT-15:

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7273-marantz-tt-15-acrylic-turntable.aspx

I have one and really enjoy it. Look great, and comes with a $900 Clearaudio Virtuoso Ebony Wood Cartridge as part of the deal.

 

rafer- i always play the table without dust cover, but when idle, i just prefer the look of a nice quality cover. i like to see my turntable even when it isn't playing. it's just right (to me). the newer custom covers are a very high quality, thick material and nearly as clear as glass.

 

I think Sota went into bankruptcy and has re-organized ...

 

Yes, it is. And the Bronze is the bees knees in MM. I may prefer it to the Black.

Anyway, my opinion is to go with the VPI and 2M Red. But as referx notes, the 2M Blue is probably worth the extra if you can find another $100 in your seat cushions. However, the Red is more than worthy of the Scout Jr. Remember, the Elys is comparably priced back in the UK, so forget jh901's nonsense.

Hell, over on the Linn forums you'll find many LP12 owners running happily with AT95s and the like.

 

The RP6 is about 270 dollars cheaper in the U.K. and the Exact is about 100 cheaper

 

How about a RP3 with Dyna 10x5, comes to 1450.00

 

Yep. I bought one of their early Comet IIIs. It was a steal for $800.

 

Exact is 255 GBP, about $390. In the US it's $595. You are off by the price of an, errr.... 2M Red.