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Best Direct Drive TT?

Perhaps the best DD TT is the Rockport Sirius III at $75K+ or Continuum at $90K. There are many other good mid-fi models. The Sony PS-X7/6/5/75/70/700, etc. are all excellent as is the PS-8750 and any number of Yamaha TTs. "Best" is a relative term. Relative to whomever is making the suggestion. But, any of the Japanese TOTL DD TTs from ~1970-85 probably qualify. If were me, I'd choose based on looks and the names I like. Check here http://www.thevintageknob.org/index.html and you will see a number of great DD TTs.
 

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Another vote for Denon. My DP-61F is great!

DenonDP61F.jpg


(picture borrowed from somewhere on the 'net)
 
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I always hesitate to participate in "the best" types of threads because they always beg the question, "define best?" In my opinion, the Revox tables look better than a huge majority of tables out there. B790, B791, B795, are there others? I've got the B795 and love to look at it, even though I don't play vinyl. It also might be considered 'best' from the elegance of use aspect. But, if 'best' to you involves ease of changing cartridges, this is definately NOT the best.

So, there you go.
 
They ARE gorgeous! And they are so rock solid...... :) Plus A Denon TT from this series was featured in the movie "Sixteen Candles"! How cool is that! And every time that scene comes on TV I point it out to the family AND everytime they could care less....:(
 
I have not seen anybody mention JVC yet. They made some great DD turntables in the 70's & early 80's.. I have a JVC QL-10. This thing must weigh in at 50 to 60lbs and it is 70% motor !! See Attached Pic. I picked this up a few years ago at a resale shop for about $100.
 

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Chris Brady of Teres is getting ready to introduce his newest TT and it is DD. My guess is it will be something pretty special, but not inexpensive. I read where he was making a few comments on it and he said it betters his TOTL beltdrive table.

Back to the realworld, if I was looking for the best DD TT I could get and afford, I would look for a nice Technics SP-10 MK3.

I do like the looks of those big Denons though, but I question if they sound as good as they look. They are one beautiful table and I would love to own one none the less.
 
Ozric said:
I have not seen anybody mention JVC yet. They made some great DD turntables in the 70's & early 80's.. I have a JVC QL-10. This thing must weigh in at 50 to 60lbs and it is 70% motor !! See Attached Pic. I picked this up a few years ago at a resale shop for about $100.
Click to expand...

Thanks for a look at a great TT! This Pioneer I just scored has a massive motor too - not quite as big as your behemoth, but this is the first TT motor I've had that isn't phased by a good, brisk Discwasher cleaning.
 
Ozric said:
I have not seen anybody mention JVC yet. They made some great DD turntables in the 70's & early 80's.. I have a JVC QL-10. This thing must weigh in at 50 to 60lbs and it is 70% motor !! See Attached Pic. I picked this up a few years ago at a resale shop for about $100.
Click to expand...

Well you certainly scored a bargain! What a rare table that is - broadcast quality and not seen often. I have a model a few steps down from the 10, a QL-5, and even it is much better than pictures in the net can convey, and it weighs only 25 pounds!

So much choice in vintage TTs - makes your head spin! :D
 
For vintage: Denon or Technics

New: Technics with the KAB mods
Since the Teres isn't out it's hard to talk about but maybe it will be a giant killer. I would guess that it will be quite expensive.
 
That's a pretty confusing statement...Denon or Technics. Technics turned out some real turds in their lineup...remember the p-mount units with the non-adjustable arms, etc.? Or some of their cheaper DD's from the 70's, also...I imagine that all Denon's werent' that great, either, probably just their top ones.

I'll agree with the new Technics, if you mean the SL1200's, with or without the KAB mods.

Shopping by brand alone is kinda risky. It's better to look at the actual model at hand. Even lowly Sanyo had some excellent TT's in their Plus Series.
 
I think all the major manufacturers produced some turds. My JVC QL-10 is a amazing machine, over built like a tank, but I also have a JVC from the later years that is a light weight plastic piece of junk. I have seen others from Sony, Denon & Pioneer that are just complete garbage from what they produced in the late 70's
 
Sansui Louie said:
That's a pretty confusing statement...Denon or Technics. Technics turned out some real turds in their lineup....................
Even lowly Sanyo had some excellent TT's in their Plus Series.
Click to expand...

There is no one size fits all in the wild world of analoge. Just about everyone turned out a turd or two. Some have been real expensive. But find a table from anyone that's quiet, solid and has a decent tonearm and even the lowly can rise to great to the occasion. And if they are good looking like the above mentioned Denon's... bonus.
 
Sansui Louie said:
That's a pretty confusing statement...Denon or Technics. Technics turned out some real turds in their lineup...remember the p-mount units with the non-adjustable arms, etc.? Or some of their cheaper DD's from the 70's, also...I imagine that all Denon's werent' that great, either, probably just their top ones.

I'll agree with the new Technics, if you mean the SL1200's, with or without the KAB mods.

Shopping by brand alone is kinda risky. It's better to look at the actual model at hand. Even lowly Sanyo had some excellent TT's in their Plus Series.
Click to expand...

He's asking about TOTL TTs. Neither Denon nor Technics produced any turds at or near the TOTL.
 
jcmjrt said:
He's asking about TOTL TTs. Neither Denon nor Technics produced any turds at or near the TOTL.
Click to expand...

Ok. Just wanted to be clear on that, and that it wasn't a blanket endorsement of the nameplate. :thmbsp:

BTW, check out my post on SL1200MK2's on sale for $399 shipped.
 
Asking about a 'best turntable' here is kind of like walking into a wine store and asking for their best bottle of wine. You've narrowed it down to a direct-drive so we're just dealing with reds; now do you want a cabernet, shiraz, merlot, pinot noir, etc...

Seriously, I have to vote for a Denon. I have a DP-51F and I can rap the shelf when it's playing with no noticeable effect. I think it was somewhere in the middle of their lineup at the time so there are definitely better/more expensive ones out there. On the negative side, there are parts which aren't available, so if it breaks it'll become sculpture. The same is likely true for all the old high end JVC, Pioneer, Yamaha, Micro-Seiki, & Technics TTs except the Technics Sl-1200.

Let us know what you wind up buying.

Tom
 
I used to have a Marantz 6300 and I didn't like it.... Without servo lock, it's speed always wandered....I was constantly correcting it. It is beautiful though!
 
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