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Got some Realistic TT's

Mattwizz3

Mattwizz3

Web-er-web user...
Lately I seem to be a bit of a TT magnet. I was given 2 turn tables by a friend and I just got a decent TT for $20 today. The one I bought today is a Realistic LAB-395 direct drive with its owners manual and original receipt from 1982, it originally sold for $189. It seems to work well, but is skipping a lot and a reasonably good record. Still, I hooked it up to my main system and I'm impressed by the sound. Its the first turn table I have put in my main system.

R1.jpg


The other Realistic given to me by my friend is a LAB-701 Belt drive which seems perfect, but it's RCA cables are broken so I cant listen to it right now.

R2.jpg


In your opinion, which TT out of these two should I use? The LAB-395 has a cart with 'R47 EDT' written on it with a Shure RS 5T stylus, I dont know whats on the 701, but has Audio Technica T4P written on it.

Oh, how do I know if they are MM or MC? I have plugged it into the MM plug in the back of the amp but dont know if thats right. Thanks for any help.
 
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Yep they'd be moving magnet, MC carts are very experinsive. Try adjusting the tracking weight if the TT is skipping
 
I remember the LAB395 when it was new and wanting one. As far as the skipping, make sure the right tracking force is applied, otherwise maybe there is something else wrong. I would certainly keep the 395 if I had to choose. :music:

PS is that a Beatles record?
 
It is a Beatles record, my parents. 'The Essential Beatles'

I think I will have to buy a new stylus for it, I'm not so sure about the one on there. I tried adjusting the tracking weight but it only helps a little. I'll give my records a clean and try again. My parents never cleaned records so I only found out here that you had to clean them.

I'll give the other TT to my parents along with one of my receivers. They have a really crappy all in one where only the record part works so they will be happy with somthing nicer.

More pics at a better angle:
R395a.jpg


R395b.jpg
 
eteller said:
I bet that 395 is a re-labeled Technics!
Click to expand...

You can tell on some models by checking the platter.

I have a belt drive MCS (model 6205?); when you remove/flip the platter, the trademark "Technics" is cast into the underside. Did Technics make the whole TT? Don't know, but I'd be surprised if they didn't.
 
the 395 is a technics. keep it for main and others for parts or backup. I have a RS/technics and real technics and you cant tell them apart other than the badging. that 395 looks like pretty TOTL model.
99% of mas mkt TTs came with MM carts. MCs were costly. Up to user to put on if wanted. Get a GOOD MM cart. one recommended by an AK guru or just use your own smarts and pik one. It;s hard to go wrong, but some are better than others, but who can buy em all and use the best one. drop the 50-100 bucks or so. You are already ahead with the TT.
 
Sweet, nice to see I got a good score. It also came with a little plastic arm with little brushes on it. Dont know how you'd attach it though. I'll have a look at getting a stylus and cart.

Heh, its nice that it matches the rest of my system. The first time I used the phono section on my amp, sounds good!
 
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