My Cornet wants a new TT.

SHIF · « **on:** 5 Aug 2004, 03:34 am »

Looking for ideas...

I’m working up the nerve to purchase one of the many seemingly excellent turntables in the $1-2K range and I’m seeking feedback and advise from others who also enjoy the wonderful Cornet phono stage. What table, arm and cartridge are you guys using and how would you describe it’s sonic capabilities? My old B&O tangential table came to life with the addition of the Cornet but I’m certain that the new breed of equipment would blow it away. There are dozens of fine tables in this price range. My short list includes: Roksan Radius5, Michell Tecnodec, Clearaudio Champion and VIP Scout. Each offers something unique.

I know this question should rather be posted on the AA-Vinyl board, but I’m more interested in hearing specifically from Cornet enthusiasts.

Thanks in advance..
Steve

Wayne1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Aug 2004, 02:35 pm »

Hello Steve,

I, and a few others, use a Cornet with a Teres Turntable.

My Teres 255

May be a bit more than you wish to spend, but Chris offers the 100 series as well The 150 Link to Teres 150 has to have the base finished, but that should be no problem for someone who has built a Cornet

The Teres turntables all seem to have in common a very deep, tight low end and a VERY musical approach to vinyl. The more hardwood that is used, the more musical the sound becomes.

You could couple the TT to a Shelter 501 MK II with a modded Rega arm, like I did. There are many combinations of arm and cartridge you can explore and the Teres base and Cornet will be an excellent compliment to just about any combo.

Good luck in your search.

If you plan on attending the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I will be using my Teres with a Hagerman Cornet and Clarinet line stage. Mr Hagerman will be at RMAF as well.

Rocket · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Aug 2004, 01:04 pm »

Hi Steve,

I have a Bluenote Piccolo turntable which imo is much better than a rega 3 turntable. Hey i just sold a reg 2 with rb300 tonearm so i should know the quality.

The bluenote has a Much better plinth, bearing and motor. Needledoctor has them for $800us minus 10 percent at the moment, which is a bargain as far as i'm concerned.

best wishes

rocket

nature boy · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Aug 2004, 04:57 pm »

You have some very good turntables picked out. I went through a search last year for an under $2K turntable. VPI Scout and Nottingham Interspace ended up tops on my list after extending listening - I ended up going with the Nott.

Make sure to isolate your turntable well. If you have an older house/apt. with wood floors, foot falls can be a problem. A wall shelf works well.

On a firm floor a separate table or low rack is highly recommended. I've found this really makes a difference.

NB

SHIF · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Aug 2004, 05:12 am »

I really thought I’d get more of a response out of this thread. Oh well.

Life is good here in the Bay Area, many fine audio shops to explore. Over the past three weeks I auditioned many tables (of a similar price range) using my own Cornet. Each audio boutique raved about the Cornet. And it sounded so wonderful, bettering many of the exotic phono stages in these high-end shops.
I finally settled on the V.P.I. Aries Scout shown here on the top shelf of my rack:

http://www.fototime.com/CB6B1A8C1B07680/orig.jpg" border=0>

Mated with a modern turntable the Cornet really sings! She is way more sensitive to tube rolling than before.

-Steve

Rocket · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Aug 2004, 09:18 am »

Hi Steve,

Congratulations on your new turntable purchase. If the scout was a better price here in oz i would probably have bought one.

I'm sure it sounds excellent. I've recently bought a couple of brand new lps and have been pretty happy with the sound quality.

Btw i have a bugle and am thinking of an upgrade to the cornet.

best wishes

rod

ohenry · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Aug 2004, 12:06 pm »

Steve,
Congrats on the new turntable, I'm envious.

I'm assuming it's fitted with a VPI arm. Which cartridge did you decide to choose?

Doc Jr 8156 · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Aug 2004, 03:57 pm »

Nice TT Steve. I used to have one with the available upgraded clamp and SDS. The VPI Scout was more than I expected for the price point. With my Cornet, the combination proved superb. Congrats. Godspeed.

SHIF · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Aug 2004, 04:47 am »

Quote from: ohenry

I'm assuming it's fitted with a VPI arm. Which cartridge did you decide to choose?

Yes, the unipivot JMW-9 tonearm is what sold me on this combo. I like it's simplicity and build quality, and it sounds darn fine. I bought a Benz ACE medium output moving coil cartridge. It's 0.8mV output works well in my complete system and it is quite musical. I was skeptical about getting a non-suspended table but this unit has proven to be rock steady and quiet in my set-up (aided by my 200+ lb rack with 110 lb amp on the bottom shelf).

I'm currently using a vintage Raytheon 5Y3GT, a pair of Mullard 7025s and a Tele smooth plate buffer tube in the Cornet. This combo will stay in for a long while...

-Steve

hagtech · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Feb 2005, 06:45 pm »

Got me a good deal on a new (1959) upgraded TD124 turntable. Came with R600 and Grado Sonata. Table is in great working condition, nice and clean, too.

For anyone wanting to do a DIY table, this is a great place to start. The mechanics of the Thorens are really solid with a large bearing. Make a new plinth & armboard, etc. and you would get a pretty modern result.

jh

doug s. · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Feb 2005, 09:38 pm »

wintage decks rock, imo. i purchased a mint empire 208, w/mint grado wood tonearm. the weak link, imo, is the tonearm wiring, which is original, & uses terminal strips to connect to the funkiest 40-yr-old cabling you can imagine. still, the sound is quite respectable, if not up to the level of my modded oracle. but, if i do some mods, replace the tonearm & wiring, i think it could give the oracle a run... here's a link to empire mods, w/a nice pic of a modded 208:

http://www.cognitivevent.com/av_empire.html

doug s.

BillEpstein · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Mar 2005, 12:53 am »

I too recently went for a vintage table, this Ariston RD 11 S with SME 3009R arm. HUGE brass bearing; the walls must be 3/8 thick! Arm needed work and the table got the re-finish treatment. A little dark on the Audioquest Sorbothane pucks it came with but now it's on spikes and brighter-lighter sounding. Great kick-drum.
Now we need a Cornet!

DA · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Mar 2005, 02:52 pm »

Quote from: DA

Here's my diy turntable I've been working on for the last few months. The only thing left is the pulley (which is getting machined) and a Cornet to go with it. I modeled it off the Scout (wonder how it would compare). It uses an Audioquest arm, machined acrylic platter and aluminum sub platter, MDF plinth, ruby bearing and brass bearing housing and a Hurst motor. I have less than $500 in it.