I am in a very lucky position, I'm in the process of upgrading my turntable, cartridge and phono stage. I currently have a Project Xpression 1, Goldring 1042 & Era Gold V. Its my 50th birthday this year and I have decided to invest in my ultimate and last turntable. Next week I am going to demo, Michell Orbe, Well Tempered Versalex and Nottingham Analogue Dais. 

I would also like to move from MM to MC, probably to a Hana ML cartridge. I knew when I purchased my current phono stage Era Gold (some 18 years ago!), it had the option of adding an Elevator EXP to allow the use of MC low output cartridges. I know that the Accession MC is available, at considerably more cost than the additional cost of an Elevator. 

I spoke to John at Graham Slee yesterday, he was very helpful and made aware of the Forum and the Loan Scheme, with the possibility of borrowing an Elevator to add to my Era Gold and an Accession MC to compare. I just wondered if anyone else had been down the road of comparing an Era Gold & Elevator verses Accession MC? Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks

Thanks for the response, I will defiantly try the loan scheme. It is a big birthday present, my Father passed away last year, he left me some inheritance. I wanted to put it towards something special. 

I don't know if this helps - my audio memory is hazy & unreliable but I owned & enjoyed an Era Gold for many years for MM & MI carts - so unfortunately no Elevator for comparison.

I went up through Reflex & then Accession MM, now with Elevator with a Hana ML.

Each progression up the range brings greater definition and clarity with the common factor
of a highly listenable and musical sound..
A comparison of the loan Accession MC (standard PSU1 at the time) with Accession MM & Elevator
a while back was very interesting.
The Acc MC had more noticeable 'hear-through' clarity and just got a little bit further into the music.
My descriptions of sound aren't the best but I hope this helps.

Do make use of the loan scheme to try it out.

Many thanks for the advice, I am going to demo an Accession MC & Hana ML with the turntables next week. I think I will then use the loan scheme to compare a Accession MC and an Elevator with my Era Gold. The final comparison with my new turntable at home.

Its interesting you mention 'hear through' clarity, and further into the music. I think that is what I am looking for. I've always enjoyed hearing the detail and a certain kind of sparkle and drive in the presentation, I'm starting to get excited!

All the best.

Many thanks for the help and advice. I demoed the turntables today and was completely blown away by the Well Tempered Versalex. It seemed to step-back and just let the music flow, very impressed. 

I will contact John once I get a date for delivery of the Versalex and try to arrange the loan an Accession MC and an Elevator which I can pair with my Era Gold as a comparison.  

Thanks

Seems the initiative from the Scottish Company is to increase the coupling between the arm and main bearing with a billet machined sub chassis for an eye watering amount. Yet here is a ball sat in silicon hung off fishing line (probably a bit more technical than that) effectively decoupling the whole arrangement.

It’s interesting, you’d think that there was a “right” way to build a turntable by now. I wouldn’t personally have the foggiest btw. Shut your eyes and trust your lugholes.

I’ve got an Orbe and I’ve noticed you can buy a kit to decouple the arm from the chassis going against the original directly coupled design. I can feel an experiment coming on.

I put the Versalex into the demo as a 'wildcard', after someone I was speaking to mentioned it was worth listening to a Well Tempered turntable. I did some research, found very few reviews, however the ones that were out there were mainly positive. 

Without hurting Bill Firebaugh's feelings, its does look as though it was constructed in a shed at the bottom of the garden, using a good portion of the contents! 

As I have learnt with HiFi in the past, don't judge before you have listened. The sound was natural, open, detailed and had a pace and drive that reminded me of listening to music live. It made me want to listen to all of the record and then grab another one. If this is what decoupling does, bring it on!

Hopefully I have been removed the upgrade gravy train, apart from a different make of golf ball, squash ball or grade of fishing line. I can sit back any enjoy! Although, the cartridge conundrum is still ever present 

E.g. clamp the cartridge firmly - flat top or three point fixing, or isolate it with a device like the Funk 
Houdini or the late Len Gregory's isolator.
Clamp the record firmly to the spindle - SME, Avid, Michell etc or have minimal contact between record
and player - Roksan, Vertere.

Glad you've found a great deck Andrew - enjoy it when it arrives.