Wich turntable element best suited for Jazz (upto $250,-)?

[niels]

In the past I always used my turntable for DJ-ing, so I had a Ortofon Concorde Pro silver for my Technics sl1200 mk2. But since a while, I gave up DJ-ing, and the turntable is now only in use for playing (jazz) records. Therefore I want to buy an turntable element best suited for this. Wich turntable element are you all using, and why do you think that is a right element for playing Jazz? My budget is around $250,-

[JAM]

I'm also using a Technics SL-1210 MK2 for vinyl playback. While it is probably not the ideal audiophile solution, I find that my Shure M44G cart is more than adequate to playback my collection of vinyl, jazz and otherwise. I'm sure there are carts better suited for the task, but I suppose ignorance is bliss. This combo sounds great on my modest system.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by niels

In the past I always used my turntable for DJ-ing, so I had a Ortofon Concorde Pro silver for my Technics sl1200 mk2. But since a while, I gave up DJ-ing, and the turntable is now only in use for playing (jazz) records. Therefore I want to buy an turntable element best suited for this. Wich turntable element are you all using, and why do you think that is a right element for playing Jazz? My budget is around $250,-

I think you're referring to the cartridge and stylus. There is no cartridge best suited for "jazz". Any quality cartridge and stylus capable of 20 to 20K will do.

[Fran]

I've always understood that the best reproduction you can get depends on the weakest component in your system.
If you have $50 speakers your vinyl will sound like crap even if you are playing them on a $1,000 turntable or through a $1,000 amp.

[Greg B]

Bargain classic: Shure M97xe. Warm pretty good detail, and at $89 fights way above its weight class. I've got a soft spot for this one as it was my first cartridge.

For a little more the Ortofon Blue for $225 is an excellent cartridge as well.

[niels]

The Ortofon Blue was on my shortlist, but in the end I went for the Denon 103, and I'm very happy with it.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Fran

I've always understood that the best reproduction you can get depends on the weakest component in your system.
If you have $50 speakers your vinyl will sound like crap even if you are playing them on a $1,000 turntable or through a $1,000 amp.

Given the choice between a strong front end (source to amp) and a strong back end (speakers), I'll take the strong front end. A decent speaker can sound great with a strong front end driving it, moreso than a great speaker being driven by a weak front end. That's the mistake most people make - they buy what's potentially a great speaker but skimp on what's in front.

When I was in the game I often set up a strong front end - no price limit - to drive $200 properly staged bookshelf speakers. Invariably, given the sound, people were floored to discover the low cost of the speakers.

I own Wilson Audio Watt/Puppies. They are extremely efficient to drive - you could push them with a receiver, just to make a point - but they require all of what I'm driving them with - Sonic Frontiers tubes and a VPI Scout table...

[Tenorman]

Using A Blue Point No. 2 on an RB250 arm on a Michell Mycro deck

The other question I suppose is MM or MC cartridge?