I looked at that table because I love the way it looks and the reviews are really strong. I have also heard it and it sounds spectacular, even with the stock cartridge. It is also made by Clearaudio and has one of their arms. I would be surprised if it isn’t up to the task.

The only caveat is that I was listening to it through the Mc C-22 preamp which has an ungodly good phono stage in it. I don’t know how much was the table and how much was the phono stage.

Ultimately I didn’t have the budget for it and went with an older Linn LP12 with a lightly used Lyra Kleos. The Kleos has a sound profile like the BluePoint, it just delivers...more. Better detail. Soundstage is more dimensional and there is a sweetness to voices I have never heard from another cartridge.

Given that it delivers so much from the BluePoint I am optimistic the MT5 would handle the Kleos really well. What phono stage do you have? That is the other big factor.

The Kleos was a funny setup. They had guidance on a range of settings for the cartridge and said when you hit the right settings, you will know. It is very, very true.

Easy. I would get the re-issue of the McIntosh C-22. Price is right and the phono stage is better than the others. It is one of the best I have ever hear until you get to silly prices like the Manley Steelhead. Yes, eventually you need to deal with tubes but usually in a preamp that is every 2500-3000 hours so it will be a while.

I was going to pick one up until I got a stupidly good deal on a PS Audio BHK Signature. The BHK is a slightly better line stage but doesn’t have a phono stage. Now that I am hunting for a phono stage I think I made the wrong choice. It is one of my favorite preamps and if I see a C-22 used I am going to pick one up.

For $2999 you can get a Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amplifier including a very fine phono stage, a huge amount of clean power, and balanced inputs.
I think this unit is an incredible value, with sound quality on a par with units costing 2 to 3 times as much!

bierfeldt wrote:

Easy. I would get the re-issue of the McIntosh C-22. Price is right and the phono stage is better than the others. It is one of the best I have ever hear until you get to silly prices like the Manley Steelhead. Yes, eventually you need to deal with tubes but usually in a preamp that is every 2500-3000 hours so it will be a while.

I was going to pick one up until I got a stupidly good deal on a PS Audio BHK Signature. The BHK is a slightly better line stage but doesn’t have a phono stage. Now that I am hunting for a phono stage I think I made the wrong choice. It is one of my favorite preamps and if I see a C-22 used I am going to pick one up.