I've considered that, believe you me! The problem with that is, you always wind up having to get a new cartridge because I sure as hell wouldn't trust a used one. The DAK set offers it all new, but of course the trouble could have been the turntable itself. Shipping sensitive equipment can definitely lead to a problem all too easily.

Jetrell, how would you rate your recordings on needle noise? Is it just one of those things that you put up with? On mine, it wasn't audible unless of course I cranked the volume all the way up, but like I said, it was on the recordings and registered on the meter.