Post A Photograph Of Your Turntable

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

Well really I think it's done out of pure common sense. You would feel funny driving your expensive new car 60mph down a dirt road. You would feel better driving your old beater around on the road. That is where the concept comes from. I just suggested this to MT just because I think he may jump down the rabbit hole in needle purchases. From what I read he buys a lot of new records so maybe he will be fine with one table. I only own one tone arm but I don't play much old ruff vinyl. The new stuff sounds so good.
 
It's just that you don't want to play a beat-up record on a $5K cart, it just doesn't feel right. It's better to play it on a cheaper cart. Much of this feeling comes from hearing really big pops, that's all. Some cringe. 
 

The other concept is say you have 3000 records you purchased at a garage sale. You don't know what 3/4 of them are. Are you going to spend 20 minutes a record and wear out your cleaning machine cleaning every record? Are you going to put every record on your main turntable and possibly ruin your best cartridge in the process? For this person another turntable is necessary. If you buy only new records one arm would be fine.
 
 If you think about it, there is a valid concept of a rough record helping wear out an expensive needle. This is where it comes from.
 
 
Actually there are more high-end turntables sold now than ever. Turntables are actually better now than they have ever been. The science of LP reproduction has continued to evolve, where tape has been left behind. Just a run though Needle Dr. will show you how big owning a turntable is. Good luck.

 
If one is in a position financially to have a dedicated turntable specifically for rough vinyl, I can see how that could help.  I just don't think most people are so fortunate.
 
Personally, I try to avoid vinyl in poor shape, not because I fear for my stylus, it just sounds bad!  

 

[Silent One]

Both points of view coexist within me. 

 

[Redcarmoose]

Quote:

Both points of view coexist within me. 

It's maybe a little like the concept of two wives. More than one turntable would be fun but also more stress.
 
 
 
Look at this! TD 2035  $3000 British Pounds
http://www.thorens.com/

 

[Silent One]

Quote:

Quote:

Both points of view coexist within me. 

It's maybe a little like the concept of two wives. More than one turntable would be fun but also more stress.
 
 
 
Look at this! TD 2035  $3000 British Pounds
http://www.thorens.com/

 
Even before I looked, the model number suggests I wouldn't be able to afford it until the year 2035. 

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

It's maybe a little like the concept of two wives. More than one turntable would be fun but also more stress.
 
 
 
Look at this! TD 2035  $3000 British Pounds
http://www.thorens.com/

 
 
Never mind that, look at this VPI!
 

 

[nelamvr6]

Or, if you're really well set, there's always this:
 

 

[Redcarmoose]

 
 

 

[nelamvr6]

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Now THAT is special!  

 

[Silent One]

Man, I was just fixin' to go to bed! And now you two got me wanting to wash my Astrud Gilberto LP's for a quick listen...

 

[analogsurviver]

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A bit embarassed by this after I've read all the talk discounting direct-drives, but this is my original compact disc player

 sitting on top of a J75 tuner:

 
I've had it since brand new in '81 - Technics SL-7.  It pretty much has the same specs as the much more popular SL-10, but it didn't have the built-in moving-coil amp and was a lot less $$.  Cartridge is a Shure V-15 LT.  It still sounds better than any of my DACs.  I understand those legs are quite a collector's item, now.  The silver ones like these are very scarce.  It was an additional feature from Technics to demonstrate how these would play in basically any position.

+1. I discovered these little gems in about mid 90s and got my first from SL series in 2002 or so. SL 7 is WAY better than SL 10 - the 10 is unbelievable collection of teething troubles - it really does unfortunately have each and every kinderkrankheit  a design like that can possibly have. Later, Technics did get SL series eventually right. One of my P mount carts is also V 15 LT - a VERY fine performer, take good care of yours !
 
Badmouthing direct drive is a CAPITAL SIN - when done right, it can outprtform both belt and idler drives. Not saying that SL 7's direct drive was perfect or the best of the breed - but it is a damn good one by anyone's standards. The SL 10, regardless of all the problems it has, still holds the record for wow and flutter actually measured with a test disc, not using optical methods - it is for all practical purposes the motor from SL 1200/1210 with "audiophile" electronics, not adapted to DJ use. SL 7 is completely different design, better IMO.
 
One tip for SL 7/10/15 users - NEVER, EVER POWER IT FROM THE WALL - USE EXTERNAL REGULATED 12 V SUPPLY ! ( or 12V car battery for the truly dedicated )
These 3 models have a jack for 12V DC in the back, meant to be powered from a lighter in car by car battery. CAUTION - observe the polarity, as reversed polarity will not destroy the deck, but will blow the fuse - and THAT is rather PITA to replace ( you have to practically disasemble the thing to reach the fuse ) - so, act accordingly if you value your time or mind paying needless service fees.
 
Result of external PSU ? MUCH, much better sound - if you power it from the wall, there is a transformer within the deck, causing mechanical vibration at line frequency plus emiting stray hum field. All the audiophile criteria for turntable subjective SQ get improved. Otherwise, only TOTL Technics like SP 10 in its MK II and MK III version did have external PSUs as stock. Once you try external PSU with these decks, you will throw away the AC cord for off the wall operation..
 
And become even more PROUD for owning a REALLY GOOD DIRECT DRIVE TURNTABLE.
 
The best title of all of reviews of SL 10 when it was new was in Italian Suono or Stereoplay:
 
Il primo giradischi Kamasutra che suona in tutte le posizioni    - don't think this one needs translating !
 
 
Merry Christmas to everyone !

 

[analogsurviver]

Quote:

Do you hear much motor noise from the tracking arm? I've heard that's a common "feature" of linear trackers.

Depends on the model - at least with Technics SL series. SL10/15, the original first design, can be horrible regarding that. SL7 is much better in this regard - went through 2 official revisions , I found at least two additional unofficial ones by examining the SL7s in the field - the latest is actually quiet (enough). Latest models in the series were totally silent in this regard - even on TOTL full range speakers / TOTL headphones no thumping and such as is the unfortunate characteristic of SL 10.
 
When everything is functioning correctly, Technics SLs equipped with good/excellent/THE BEST = EPC P100CMK4 cartridge ( best of of any and all cartridges ) are extremely hard to beat at any cost - but not all the models offer the same high SQ.

 

[tomb]

Quote:

+1. I discovered these little gems in about mid 90s and got my first from SL series in 2002 or so. SL 7 is WAY better than SL 10 - the 10 is unbelievable collection of teething troubles - it really does unfortunately have each and every kinderkrankheit  a design like that can possibly have. Later, Technics did get SL series eventually right. One of my P mount carts is also V 15 LT - a VERY fine performer, take good care of yours !
 
Badmouthing direct drive is a CAPITAL SIN - when done right, it can outprtform both belt and idler drives. Not saying that SL 7's direct drive was perfect or the best of the breed - but it is a damn good one by anyone's standards. The SL 10, regardless of all the problems it has, still holds the record for wow and flutter actually measured with a test disc, not using optical methods - it is for all practical purposes the motor from SL 1200/1210 with "audiophile" electronics, not adapted to DJ use. SL 7 is completely different design, better IMO.
 
One tip for SL 7/10/15 users - NEVER, EVER POWER IT FROM THE WALL - USE EXTERNAL REGULATED 12 V SUPPLY ! ( or 12V car battery for the truly dedicated )
These 3 models have a jack for 12V DC in the back, meant to be powered from a lighter in car by car battery. CAUTION - observe the polarity, as reversed polarity will not destroy the deck, but will blow the fuse - and THAT is rather PITA to replace ( you have to practically disasemble the thing to reach the fuse ) - so, act accordingly if you value your time or mind paying needless service fees.
 
Result of external PSU ? MUCH, much better sound - if you power it from the wall, there is a transformer within the deck, causing mechanical vibration at line frequency plus emiting stray hum field. All the audiophile criteria for turntable subjective SQ get improved. Otherwise, only TOTL Technics like SP 10 in its MK II and MK III version did have external PSUs as stock. Once you try external PSU with these decks, you will throw away the AC cord for off the wall operation..
 
And become even more PROUD for owning a REALLY GOOD DIRECT DRIVE TURNTABLE.
 
The best title of all of reviews of SL 10 when it was new was in Italian Suono or Stereoplay:
 
Il primo giradischi Kamasutra che suona in tutte le posizioni    - don't think this one needs translating !
 
 
Merry Christmas to everyone !

Interesting idea about the external power supply.  I have some excellent linear-regulated supplies that I can try.  I always new it had a "car adapter" plug, but thought that the idea of running one in a car was absolutely ridiculous - another example of Technics' marketing run wild.

 

[Skylab]

Now spinning: ZZ Top live in Germany 1980

 

[dminches]

How festive!

 

[analogsurviver]

Quote:

Interesting idea about the external power supply.  I have some excellent linear-regulated supplies that I can try.  I always new it had a "car adapter" plug, but thought that the idea of running one in a car was absolutely ridiculous - another example of Technics' marketing run wild.

I actually planned to have one running in a car - remote control at the wheel, super dedicated shock/stabilizer suspension in the trunk, etc, etc -. but then my car got stolen and I stopped tempting the 

 ! The most suitable model would be SL-3, a belt driven table, because DDs react violently to any movements around the axis of platter rotation - the speed goes berserk; that is why you won't see any DDs on spring supports/subchassis - always some kind of solid/sorbothane/not-moving-appreciably feet.
 
Let me know when you throw your wall power cable away  - and please spread the gospel why you did it !