Upgrades to AT-LP60X (Speaker, Amp/Receiver, Stylus)

[siddy]

Hi Everyone

I have had an AT LP60X since a few years, plugged into Edifier R1280T speakers and I'm looking to make some upgrades. As per my research it makes sense to upgrade the spears + amp before upgrading the Turntable, so that's what I'd like to focus on.

I would like some help and suggestions to decide on what to get. I primarily listen to Alternative and Classic Rock, R&B/Soul and Jazz music. I'm not an expert in the audophile sound but would like my TT setup to sound better so learning as I go along.

My overall budget is around Rs 1,00,000.

Possibilities that I have shortlisted based on my budget and general comments from Reddit and other forums

Speakers

• Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 / 12.2
• ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 / 6.2
• qAcoustics 3020i

Any recommendations among these or in similar price range? My music setup is in fairly small room in a Bombay apartment so want to avoid floor standing speakers

Receiver/Amp

• Denon PMA-600NE
• Marantz PM6007

The Denon has BT which is an advantage but it seems like the Marantz is better built overall

Stylus
I just noticed there is a new elliptical stylus from AT for LP60X turntables (ATN3600LE) - does it make a noticeable difference? Has anyone tried it?

 

[chander]

Of the speakers you mention - I will take the Elac Debut 6.2 any day. It is a very balanced speaker with a good sub driver size. It does better with high current amps though.

For amplification - you can see if you can get something used - as you will need a high current amp to drive these.

BTW - you are from Mumbai - there is a Roksan KANDY for sale in Navi Mumbai, the device is used & very old, but it is an incredible amplifier.

https://www.hifivision.com/threads/roksan-kandy-ka1-mkiii-integrated-amplifier.100326/

You can perhaps visit the seller and negotiate personally. Do a bit of research and see what this amp is going for on ebay etc.

***I do not personally know the owner and am not endorsing the listing, but I think this is a great amp.

Thanks!

 

[siddy]

Of the speakers you mention - I will take the Elac Debut 6.2 any day. It is a very balanced speaker with a good sub driver size. It does better with high current amps though.

For amplification - you can see if you can get something used - as you will need a high current amp to drive these.

BTW - you are from Mumbai - there is a Roksan KANDY for sale in Navi Mumbai, the device is used & very old, but it is an incredible amplifier.

https://www.hifivision.com/threads/roksan-kandy-ka1-mkiii-integrated-amplifier.100326/

You can perhaps visit the seller and negotiate personally. Do a bit of research and see what this amp is going for on ebay etc.

***I do not personally know the owner and am not endorsing the listing, but I think this is a great amp.

Thanks!

Thank you! Will check this out.

 

[murali_n]

Though no idea about the cartridge upgrade for this TT.
LP Gear AT Stylus
Should be a good upgrade stylus compared to the stock one.

 

[RT3]

For 3 years now, we’ve been using a Denon DP300F with a Denon PMA 600 NE and Q Acoustics 3050i floorstanding speakers.

Thoughts and context in no order of importance.

The Denon 600 and Marantz 6007 are as close as makes zero difference. Some people strain and claim they can hear a difference - imo that’s the ‘audiophile’ syndrome (ironically at work at the entry level). Even if it’s there, it’s so marginal as to make no difference, certainly nothing to warrant that difference in price. Fwiw, considering Marantz and Denon are both owned by the same holding company, I see this as a purely brand positioning exercise. And I personally find that the presence of Bluetooth in the Denon easily offsets any claim of superior quality, marginal as even that may be. Bluetooth is so seamless that I find myself using it a lot more than I imagined. The MM phono stage is also surprisingly better than the in built stage in TTs and even the little standalone ones that you get. I know it because I’ve tried them. In addition, you can add the Denon DCD 600 to it, if CDs are your thing, and they use the same remote so it’s super convenient. I did and I like it.

Apart from the 3050i floorstanders that I have, I picked up a pair of M20s for my parents. I’ll echo what just about every review and reviewer everywhere has observed over the last few years - across the board it is very very hard to find a better price-performance ratio from any recognisable brand than anything from the Q Acoustics stable. They invariably punch so far above their weight that they manage to stay abreast of speakers twice their price. If you want something with a little deeper bass, perhaps consider the 3030 instead of the 3020. Then again, with the Denon, you can add a subwoofer later if that’s something you feel you need.

The upgrade which made a noticeable difference to my sound chain was moving to an AT VM95E cart on the DP300F. More recently, we’ve added a Technics SL1200 Mk2 to the stable. It has upgraded cables and isonoe feet. With the same cart, through the same chain I noticed virtually no difference (Hooray for the humble DP300F!). Now switched to a Shibata stylus on the same VM95 platform (another advantage of picking it) and it certainly has ramped things up. Now the weakest link in my chain is the humble Denon 600. Tried it with a very high end phono stage and boy was the difference pronounced. So that will see an upgrade in the near future but it’s still no slouch for where we are at.

If I were you, I’d throw a curve ball of an option here. Try and see if you can get a Rega Brio Mark 6. Some vendors still have a few pieces and they are being sold for 55-60k. That is a ridiculous deal for a model that was selling for almost double last year. This is because the Mark 7 has been introduced and the old one is being closed out. The Brio with the Q Acoustics speakers should give you an excellent upgrade path in future (the Brio also has an excellent phono stage) and will last you years. It may also leave some money left over, to upgrade your cart.

Another option worth seriously considering are Fosi audio monoblocks. They are getting a lot of love out there, from people who own gear worth houses.

Cheers,

 

[General_sound]

I purchased a Denon DP 300F in 2012 around 19000, as recalled.In 2019 the same was given to my son. It has performed flawlessly over the years, albeit the speed is bit higher but I really don’t want to tinker. I added car damp mats inside the plastic cabinet. The arm is surprisingly good and used in many other tts. It is a Hanpin, I believe. OM 5e and AT3600l are both excellent for this tt.
Denon amps are very reliable and drive bookshelves well.