But if I can find a good used TTVJ for closer to $500 is it a better value? Or does something about the sound hold it back at even that price?
I really liked the Nighthawk that I had for 3 weeks, but I had nothing to compare it to except a cheap GEMsound preamp that doesn't have enough gain for my BENZ ACE RED L moving coil cart. I had to return the Nighthawk because I needed expensive dental work right after I got it, but I hope to be ready to buy another preamp in a couple of months. If I don't upgrade my preamp I'll have to reinstall my old MM cart, or continue to not use my TT (not really something I've been missing).
I've considered the Hagerman Bugle, but it only supports MM carts, not MC. Or I could also just get another Nighthawk which I already know sounds very detailed, rich and spacious with my BENZ cart. The only thing I didn't like about it was having to physically unplug the charger cord to use it, instead of flipping a switch to have the charger disconnect. Does anyone think the Bugle would have enough gain for a 0.4 mv MC cart? The BENZ sounded best with 100, 500, or 1000 ohm, but it wasn't too bad at 47 kohm and still beat the Orofon Blue M2 I used previously.