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elac miscord 40a or technics sl-d2

M

merylstreepsasleep

New Member
So I'm brand spanking new to the magical world of TTs. I mean really, I don't even have a table yet, or anything. Despite this, I really wanna go vintage...CAUSE I BELIEVE IN MYSELF!!

No, but really, I'm not to inept with old tech, my dad knows a thing or two about this, and I have you guys to help when I screw up ;).

I digress, the point is, I found two sweet deals on my local craigslist. They are:

A technics sl d2 for $60

and an elac miracord 40a for $35

From what I've heard, these are both decent deals, and while I'm sure a cart and needle replacement will be in very due order, both say that these tables are functional. So......which is the better deal then?

I would set up a poll, but I'm still fresh with this forum, and screw it, let's just chat it out.
 
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SL-D2 is the place to start. Put a brand new AT 92ecd on it for chump change and you are set. Good table not too much to go wrong. The Miracord is s cool table though. It is an idler drive if you want to go that route.
 
merylstreepsasleep said:
From what I've heard, these are both decent deals, and while I'm sure a cart and needle replacement will be in very due order, both say that these tables are functional. So......which is the better deal then?
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The the Technics SL-D2 is a pretty reliable and sturdy turn table.
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-d2.shtml

Wait till you find out which cartridge is presently mounted on it.

You may only need to replace the stylus on the cartridge. :idea:

If a new cartridge is needed, have a look at the Audio Technica AT 95E.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop
 
Yes, I love both turntables, but would recommend the Technics easily to many people who desire a fuss free good turntable. The SL-D2 was my first Technics and I loved mine. Reliable, and simple. In good order, performs very well.
 
Have to agree with above. Have owned both. I think to get start the Technics as said above is very reliable. Bullet proof. Get a new Shure M44 off Amazon and you are good to go. The Miracord too is very good. More to those though. Like my Dual's, they should be regreased and the motor cleaned and oiled. Took awhile to figure them out. Good prices make it hard. For the asking price on them I would get both. Not good coming from a guy with a shop full of stuff needing work and a waiting list to get in.

Eric
 
I'd buy both!

Seriously, for a beginner the SL-D2 is the way to go. Those Elacs are sweet, but they're a steeper learning curve. And cartridge/headshell swaps will be way easier on the Technics.
 
I vote for buying both too! Those idler driven turntables have a sound all their own! One you'll use for your good condition albums. The other one is used for the not so good shape records. You need two turntables!
 
Keeping in mind that asking about 2 tables here, can cause what you see going on.....Buy Both!!! Many of us have more than 1 table (Actually more than 5 is a large club too) As to the 2 in question, I also say the Technics. The Elac as stated is cool, but may take more work to get working correctly if it's not.
 
Another "get both": both have incredibly low pricetags. You should get them both and test them for a while, so you get your own opinion. If both ar in good physical shape and work fine, it comes down to a matter of taste. Both are very good tables

The Technics is indeed the more reasonable choice, but also the more boring one.

The Elac might need some work, but thats not certain at all. I recently got one that is 45 years old, and all it really needed, was some foam in it's spring suspensions. I also relubed it, but it wasn't really necessary. It spins as fine as before.


Personally I prefer those Elacs :)

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Dang, this forum is awesome! I figured "Eh, I'll probably have 2 or 3 responses in the morning." You guys didn't hesitate, thanks!

Unfortunately, it turns out that I can't get either. Both of them are a 4-5 hour drive minimum, and as I'm only 17 and don't have my own car, I'd have to use my mom and pops, which will never happen :(

I've taken up looking all over the internet, since all local offers on cl are podunks selling microwaves to buy more crack. I should probably just start another threas for this question, but since it's already been asked before and I already have your attention, can you make a recomendation? I really can't spend over $100, but I'm more than willing to do some work on a fixer upper (again, prob should make another thread for this, and it's already been asked 1000 times, so no need to break your back over this one guys ;) )
 
I would pick up both, assuming I was looking for a turntable, which I am not. I run a Technics 1360 upstairs and a Miracord 50h down, and couldn't be happier with both of them. The big advantages to the Miracord are changer ability (note: my technics has changer ability, the SL D2 does not) and the ability to play 78s if so inclined. I use a Miracord 770h for 45s on the upstairs system. The technics run quieter and are extremely sturdy tables. Actually, both of them are extremely sturdy tables IME. If this is your choice, it is hard to lose.
 
You can pick up Miracords on the bay for around 50$ or so shipped. But you need to check and make sure the table is actually complete and working, or at least close to it. Complete is especially true-- many of the tables I see on Ebay are incomplete, missing major parts. Short of that, try your local Goodwill/thrift store; you'll need to be open to what you find and not fixated on a particular brand. Unfortunately, pickers have discovered old turntables are worth some cash and grab them immediately now. And the complete part is very true there as well. It's been awhile since I saw a headsmacking deal at a thrift-- I picked up my 1360 for ten dollars, but it was about four or five years back.

In both cases, you're probably running some monies for repair as well: cartridges, belts, cables, things like that. Same usually holds true for Craigslist. So in a best case scenario, you're bumping up against your 100$ limit. It can be done.

It really helps to gather some basic education, so you can spot the good stuff quickly. Read a bunch of threads here, seriously: the hive mind knowledge here is remarkable. Then take your time.
 
poguemahone said:
You can pick up Miracords on the bay for around 50$ or so shipped. But you need to check and make sure the table is actually complete and working, or at least close to it. Complete is especially true-- many of the tables I see on Ebay are incomplete, missing major parts. Short of that, try your local Goodwill/thrift store; you'll need to be open to what you find and not fixated on a particular brand. Unfortunately, pickers have discovered old turntables are worth some cash and grab them immediately now. And the complete part is very true there as well. It's been awhile since I saw a headsmacking deal at a thrift-- I picked up my 1360 for ten dollars, but it was about four or five years back.

In both cases, you're probably running some monies for repair as well: cartridges, belts, cables, things like that. Same usually holds true for Craigslist. So in a best case scenario, you're bumping up against your 100$ limit. It can be done.

It really helps to gather some basic education, so you can spot the good stuff quickly. Read a bunch of threads here, seriously: the hive mind knowledge here is remarkable. Then take your time.
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Thanks for the advice man. I've been trying to get a feel for what is the general consensus, as well as the experience of the vinyl elders. I found a Philips 212 for $50, missing a cart. Figure the cart might cost me $50 - $60, so that taken into consideration, I'm thinking that miiiiight be a good deal? I dunno, haven't settled on anything, but I'm thinking I need to expand my budget a bit beyond a hundo.
 
You don't even need to spend that much on a cart. But you might still need to buy a belt. Together you can keep that cost under $50.

However, even if all you can spend is $100 and you spend that much for the turntable and anything it needs, you still need to buy other stuff like a record brush, stylus brush and/or Moongel, receiver/amplifier, phono preamp (possibly), speakers and/or headphones, antistatic sleeves.

And then the records themselves are costly if you buy new. Used can be cheap, but only worth it if you wet clean them IMO.
 
SSaxdude said:
You don't even need to spend that much on a cart. But you might still need to buy a belt. Together you can keep that cost under $50.

However, even if all you can spend is $100 and you spend that much for the turntable and anything it needs, you still need to buy other stuff like a record brush, stylus brush and/or Moongel, receiver/amplifier, phono preamp (possibly), speakers and/or headphones, antistatic sleeves.

And then the records themselves are costly if you buy new. Used can be cheap, but only worth it if you wet clean them IMO.
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Well I don't have to worry about some of that. I already have a pre amp, speakers, etc, from my digital listening/ dad's garage (I assume he will let me borrow some of the older equipment needed to temporarily fill the needed gaps, he never fails). However, yeah, stuff like the brushes and whatall, that's definitely lacking...... Imma gonna have to cough up the dough pretty hard fo' dis, but that's fine, I figured as much
 
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