[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Reeves /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi, I had to laugh at the cottage industry remark regarding belt drive turntables, you should visit the Linn site or even visit them. They have some of the best computer controlled manufacturing facilities in the world. .

Nobody is knocking the Linn Lp12 but it's a lot more expensive these days especially in the USA with the strength of Sterling at the moment. The OP is looking at decks in the 500UKP region as opposed to the 1500UKP + arm and motor price bracket. The '80s marketing spiel about the Sondek being the only deck worth buying is just that..


Vinyl replay these days has moved on and is an expensive niche market again perfectly suited to small specialist manufacturers like Linn who have always championed belt drives. However there are direct drives still being made by specialist manufacturers like Rockport whose decks make even the not inconsiderably priced Sondek seem like small beer. It's an expensive technology to get right if you don't have the resources of a huge industrial combine behind you.

Compared to the likes of Matsu****a or Philips, these may as well be cottage industries as they simply don't have the same level of resources. Linn may have state of the art manufacturing facilities for a specialist engineering firm but when they make things like bespoke CD mechanisms for the CD12 the cost of the end product becomes prohibitive to most consumers so it makes much more sense for them to buy in the parts from Sony like they do with the Unidisk....

 

[Redo]

To be honest, a modest Vinyl setup is incredible. I have an old budget Denon turntable from the early 80's with a new cart (Orforton 2M Blue, GREAT cart if you ask me), and I STILL think the output is incredible. Pickup the Technics, pickup a good cart for the money, don't look back.

If you want to get back into Vinyl, just do it^^

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthecup /img/forum/go_quote.gif Still at it guys: What do you think about this setup? Pro-Ject Xpression III Pro-Ject Tube Box II Benz Micro MC20E2 $1270

Pro-Ject stuff is very good at the price and like Rega gives you a relatively hastle free way back into vinyl. If you can't be bothered with upgrades and tweakery this will be a good option.

 

[inthecup]

This decision is beginning to wear on me.... I think I'm right back where I started......round and round we go.......

Used Vintage
Hi End (for me) Rega P3-24, Music Hall MMF-5.1 SE.
No Glory (best value) Technics SL1200MK2

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthecup /img/forum/go_quote.gif This decision is beginning to wear on me.... I think I'm right back where I started......round and round we go....... Used Vintage Hi End (for me) Rega P3-24, Music Hall MMF-5.1 SE. No Glory (best value) Technics SL1200MK2

How about a Technics with glory:

Technics 1200MkII
KABUSA power supply
Origin Live tonearm mounting plate
Origin Live enterprise tonearm
Zyx UNIverse cartridge

 

[bigshot]

Just get an inexpensive 70s turntable and use it. If you find you are using it a lot, figure out what could stand improvement and move up to something better. A gold plated turntable that sits on the shelf is worthless. An inexpensive turntable that still sounds good in use on a regular basis is worth its weight in gold.

See ya
Steve

 

[inthecup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just get an inexpensive 70s turntable and use it. If you find you are using it a lot, figure out what could stand improvement and move up to something better. A gold plated turntable that sits on the shelf is worthless. An inexpensive turntable that still sounds good in use on a regular basis is worth its weight in gold. See ya Steve

I think I may take your advice bigshot, just called a old record shop and he has some old TT for sale, maybe just spend the cash on more HPs and HP amps.

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif You're right, good tables are good tables. The old Garrards, Rek-O-Kuts, Lencos, and others are terrific. So are many belt-driven tables. My cousin is a monstrous vinyl freak - somewhere over 6,000 records. He worked for Panasonic and snagged one of the rare SL-1200 limited gold editions. Nice deck, sounds very good. It's just that I liked my Rega Planar 3 a lot better. And I really love the Orbe/SME IV combo. It sounds better than anything I've listened to.

The SL- 1200 limited gold edition actually has the same tonearm issues as the standard 1200 MKII. It will sound decent with a cartridge it likes but the table really has much more potential. You should really try to hear a Technics 1200 with a good tonearm on it if you ever get a chance.

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by memepool /img/forum/go_quote.gif Turntables are really expensive these days I'm afraid 1000 USD is a difficult price as most entry level decks seem to congregate in the the 5-1000 mark and the next level up is in the 1500-2500 where you get to the VPI Scout, Michell Tecnodeck, Roksan Radius etc. Sota have a new deck at just over 1000 and the budget stalwarts like Rega, Pro-Ject and Music Hall all offer a range between these two prices. If you fancy a bit of a tweaked up solution the best value for money at this price would be a new SL1200 + a Rega RB250 arm + Ortofon 2M cart. You'd have to fit the new arm yourself but it's really pretty simple, easier than aligning a new cart anyway....This will take on decks in the 1500-2500 bracket 2nd hand for this kind of money you can pick up a really nice old Thorens or an Oracle or Sota Sapphire even if you search around and are prepared to do a bit of servicing. There are also vintage specialists like Vinyl Nirvana who will do all the hard work of upgrading for you. These guys are definitely worth a look and a tweaked up AR or Thorens will also compete with modern decks well into the thousands.

If you are going used again inthecup then you should review this post again.

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthecup /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think I may take your advice bigshot, just called a old record shop and he has some old TT for sale, maybe just spend the cash on more HPs and HP amps.

Use the extra cash to buy records.

See ya
Steve

 

[Listens2tubes]

The Shure M97 is a great cart! And will serve you well with any table you choose. A friend uses the Shure on his VPI Scout with RS labs RS-A1 tonearm. The combo sounds awsome.

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Listens2tubes /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Shure M97 is a great cart! And will serve you well with any table you choose. A friend uses the Shure on his VPI Scout with RS labs RS-A1 tonearm. The combo sounds awsome.

The Shure M97 is a nice entry level cartridge but on that very nice tonearm spending more is justified. A V15 Type IV with a JICO SAS stylus would be a significant upgrade over it.

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssportclay /img/forum/go_quote.gif A V15 Type IV with a JICO SAS stylus would be a significant upgrade over it.

I think the SAS stylus for the V15IV actually fits the M-97 cart.

 

[bigshot]

To original poster... It's hard to go wrong with Dual, Technics or Thorens vintage tables. You should be able to get everything (used turntable, preamp and new cartridge) for around $300. This won't be the best rig that ever existed, but it will sound pretty darn close.

See ya
Steve

 

[inthecup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot /img/forum/go_quote.gif To original poster... It's hard to go wrong with Dual, Technics or Thorens vintage tables. You should be able to get everything (used turntable, preamp and new cartridge) for around $300. This won't be the best rig that ever existed, but it will sound pretty darn close. See ya Steve

I had a Dual for a long time, bought it while I was stationed in England in 1975 I can't believe I dumped it. Will be looking around. The Thorens seem to be popular now a days.