Head-Fi.org

Advanced Search

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › eBay / Used Turntables: What to Look For?

Be a part of the community.
It's free, join today!

Recent Reviews

Aurisonics AS-1b
Reviewed by Kunlun

Synopsis: The Aurisonics AS-1b is a very nice custom-fit monitor with a sound tuned for the needs of professional musicians performing on stage. It gives the listener a mid-centric sound that...

Full Review
HiFiMAN HE-400
Reviewed by project86

HiFiMAN HE400 By now I think most of us are familiar with the history behind the HiFiMAN HE-series headphones. What started with a single model has grown into a full...

Full Review
Pioneer SE MJ31
Reviewed by jojexy

I was in Japan and was looking at headphones to buy. I had a cheap budget of about 4000 yen or circa $40. I bought this headphone because it was on sale for $30 and was very good looking. It was...

Full Review
Grado SR60i Headphones
Reviewed by Smiling Jack

Simply put, these headphones are one the best values in the audio world. They've praised time after time, and I now know why. These are my 2nd pair of quality grade headphones (after the V6),...

Full Review
Final Audio Design Adagio V
Reviewed by SpringBiscuit

Hi Guys, this is my second review on a new earphone, just in time that my friend is looking for a good earphone, I was recommend him to look for this Final Audio Design brand. He...

Full Review

Head-Fi Sponsors

Drop by and thank our partners for helping keep the lights on at Head-Fi!

New Posts All Forums:Forum Nav:

eBay / Used Turntables: What to Look For? - Page 2

Subscribe Search This Thread

« Previous
1
2
Next »

Start a New Thread

post #16 of 17

3/7/08 at 11:39pm

joelongwood
Trader Feedback: 0
Keeper of the 'Phones
offline

4,660 Posts. Joined 6/2001
Location: Wading River, Long Island
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0T0XGUY

Bump - I just received a paycheck, and am thus starting to take this turntable idea a bit more seriously.

Also, it seems as though there are an abundance of vintage Technics and Duals available on eBay, so, specifically, what models from these brands should I be looking for?

I have quite a few Duals (Idler Drive: 1209, 1212, 1219, 1228, and Belt Drive: 1241, 1242), and, for my money, the idler drives are of higher quality and better built. Both the 1241 and 1242 have problems and are currently on the disabled list, while all of the idler drive units except for the 1212 are up and running and in use. I particularly like the 1219 (TOTL in the early 70s) and the 1209. The 1209 is noted for being pretty bulletproof. Mine has been working fine for over 30 years now.
I also have a number of Technics turntables, both belt drive and direct drive: SL-1350 (Direct Drive), SL-6 (Linear tracking), SL-D4 (Linear tracking), SL-BD20 and BD22 (belt drive) and an SL-D2 (Direct Drive). Of all of them, I prefer the SL-D2 for it's simplicity and most of all for its sound quality. It just sounds better to my ears. Although much of the fun of turntables (at least for me) is the set-up procedure, you can pretty much get a plug n' play unit if you go with a Technics TT that uses the P-Mount system. All the set-up stuff has been taken into account and done for you......just plug in a cartridge and you're good to go. All the Technics Linear tracking TTs are P-mount.
If possible, I would check out the thrifts and the upcoming Spring yard/garage sales, if only because you will avoid the pitfalls of shipping. Believe me, it can be a pretty bad experience.........I've had a few arrive in pieces. You might also want to look at eBay and find the items that are within driving distance. Local pickup of a TT is always preferable to having one shipped.
And finally, head over to Audiokarma.org for more info on vintage TT's. Those guys are to vintage audio gear what Head-Fi is to headphones.
Hope I've been of some help. Vinyl is a journey well worth taking.