if you're going to spend that much to upgrade your TT, wouldn't it make sense just to buy a better TT?
iceman90 is correct. It makes more sense to buy a better table if you are planning to upgrade parts of the GR-1 (like using a CA six stream leadwire upgrade) other than the cart.
The Goldring GR-1 is not a Rega clone. It is a Rega P2 marketed under license by Rega for Goldring. As such, the built-in phono IC is Rega spec. I have set-up the GR-1 of a friend. I felt no compulsion to change the phono IC(unless if attacked by a rodent
). What my friend had me do is set-up the ttable correctly: adjust tracking force of the Elektra cart to 1.5gm, adjust anti-skate, make sure ttable is level using a bubble level. Like all Rega ttables, you can only adjust VTA with the proper shims. He wasn't too happy with the as-in the-box set-up. Anyway, after setting it up we tried a few LPs. Image focused solidly with more weight and body. It was so good, we tried a Coltrane 200gm re-issue by Classic Records
. My friend felt like this:
.
I told him not to mess around anymore with the adjustments. He has had no complaints and is happily spinning vinyl on his GR-1.
My suggestion is to work within the limits of your ttable. I believe the first thing any ttable owner should do is to adjust the plinth so that it is level on a heavy/solid table. Next, adjust the cart properly to his liking(VTA, Tracking Force, anti-skate, azimuth, etc.) You will then reap the maximum benefits of your ttable.
The biggest upgrade/most cost effective change is to change the cart. But there is a caveat: I do not recommend that it exceed the cost of your ttable. This is so for reasons of tone arm quality, rigidity, damping, motor isolation, etc. Using a cart w/c way exceeds the cost of your ttable, will reveal your 'tables limitations and point you to upgrading to a higher level of ttable. Bear in mind, that as you upgrade the turntable, the cart, speedbox, phonostage, phono cable, quality of vinyl, etc also has to be commensurate. This is the reason why ttable companies like Rega, Project, Basis, VPI, etc have different price points for their turntables. It all depends on what your budget is and the involvement you want to put into analog.
Happy Spinning to one and all, may you have a Happy and Safe New Year! We do need our fingers for cueing the stylus.