I don’t know about the later YP-701 and YP-800 models, but have seen reviews of the YP-D6 and YP-D8. I haven’t still got the YP-D6 test to hand, but do still have the YP-D8 review (and a contemporary ad for the YP-D10) – if you want it PM me your email address and I’ll scan it and send it to you.
Put the YP-D6 at about Technics SL-1200 MkII level for performance (the measured rumble was very similar to the Technics from their respective reviews, and the wow and flutter was pretty good too, from memory).
The YP-D8 (which was second in the line behind the quartz lock YP-D10) was really good – about 8dB quieter (unweighted) than the Technics and YP-D6 for rumble – the only direct drive I can remember being better (at around that time) for rumble was the Technics SP-10 MkII, which was 2dB better than the YP-D8. In fact, when the YP-D8 was reviewed, they mentioned it was the quietest direct drive they’d ever measured for rumble at that time (1978 or 79 – it was in the 1979 Stereo Buyer’s Guide – Turntables).
Manufacturer’s specs:
YP-D8 wow & flutter 0.03% WRMS, rumble -73dB DIN B weighted (that was probably conservative, seeing it thrashed the Technics SL-1200 for unweighted rumble – the Technics’ quoted figure was -78dB DIN B), weight 15kg, Price 1979-81 AU$595
YP-D6 0.035%, -70dB, 10.5kg, $POA! (don’t you hate it when distributors don’t give prices?)
The Yamaha turntable lineup in the late 70’s went – YP-D10 best, followed by YP-D8, YP-D6 (this was later superseded by the YP-D71, which was a quartz lock direct drive with similar performance to the YP-D6), YP-D4, YP-D3, and belt drive YP-B4 and YP-B2.
Disadvantages of the YP-D8 (or YP-D10, which weighs 16kg) are the heavy weight if you have to move them! Advantages are pretty good s-shaped tonearms, which can be adjusted for most things including height, and work well with MC cartridges such as the Denon DL-103, and the heavy turntable weight (if you don’t have to move them), which makes them very good for resisting acoustic feedback.
There are pages on the Vintage Knob for the YP-D8 here
http://www.thevintageknob.org/yamaha-YP-D8.html and YP-D10 here
http://www.thevintageknob.org/yamaha-YP-D10.html .
There isn’t much (if anything) from Denon or JVC which can convincingly beat the Yamaha YP-D8 – it was a very good turntable. The later (1980’s) Denon and JVC models do have active electronic tonearms, which are better than anything from Yamaha, but in most areas of physical turntable performance, it’s a close match. Believe me when I say (based on many independent reviews with objective measurements from the time – not the subjective rubbish we put up with these days) Yamaha’s stated turntable specifications were always very conservative, whereas Denon’s tended to be somewhat – perhaps…..boastful!
I'd be more inclined to believe the Yamaha figures.
Edit: Oops - that's what comes of reading too many posts - there's another post asking almost the same thing - my first sentence relates more to that one!
