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Heybrook TT2 updated vs Pro-Ject Classic - What say you?

J

jdurr3

Member
I have been playing a vintage British Heybrook TT2 turntable for several years now. I am to the point of trying to decide whether to
update the Heybrook with a better tonearm and cartridge OR buy a much newer Pro-Ject The Classic turntable with an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge.
What are some opinions or advice? Thanks

BTW: I am running a Classe' Seventy amplifier, Classe' Thirty preamp and Spendor SP1/2 speakers.
 
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A vintage Heybrook TT2 still manages to stick with the big boys, it's a wonderful turntable. I don't know about the wear and tear it has been subjected to in the past decades lol. If it's in good shape, it may be worth refreshing it as it can still compete with the better decks. You should also consider perusing PFM (pink fish media) Forum as it is based in Europe where the Heybrook market was bigger than here in North America, there's also the Vinyl Engine Forum that also has many european members that are experienced with Heybrook.. Getting very few responses here means that few have ever seen one. I worked for a Heybrook dealer and we never had the TT2 in stock nor the top of the line HB3 speakers. We only carried the HB1 and HB2 speakers. I still consider the TT2 as a high end deck that may still have a lot of life left.
Hope this helps and Good Luck!
 
dogscanskate said:
A vintage Heybrook TT2 still manages to stick with the big boys, it's a wonderful turntable. I don't know about the wear and tear it has been subjected to in the past decades lol. If it's in good shape, it may be worth refreshing it as it can still compete with the better decks. You should also consider perusing PFM (pink fish media) Forum as it is based in Europe where the Heybrook market was bigger than here in North America, there's also the Vinyl Engine Forum that also has many european members that are experienced with Heybrook.. Getting very few responses here means that few have ever seen one. I worked for a Heybrook dealer and we never had the TT2 in stock nor the top of the line HB3 speakers. We only carried the HB1 and HB2 speakers. I still consider the TT2 as a high end deck that may still have a lot of life left.
Hope this helps and Good Luck!
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Thanks for your reply and advice. I was thinking the same thing. Maybe an upgrade tonearm and cart for the Heybrook. The $$$s would be about the same.
 
jdurr3 said:
Thanks for your reply and advice. I was thinking the same thing. Maybe an upgrade tonearm and cart for the Heybrook. The $$$s would be about the same.
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I would not advice to upgrade this. You will spend money for nothing. It is average belt drive and do not worth upgrade.
If you want upgrade get direct drive.
 
In Spring 2021 I bought a new Rega Planar 3 with Ania MC cart. While I was breaking in the Rega(s) I refurbished my TT2: re-lubed spindle, made sure the LVX arm was well secured and checked bearings, adjusted platter to plinth clearance (4-5 mm, I use a 3/16 hex key for that purpose) and installed new belt (ready to sell !!)

After 30+ hours of play time the Regas were sounding pretty good, but to make sure all the tweaking on the TT2 worked I re-installed it.

WTF? My TT2 sounded way better then the Regas even though it had an AT OC9-ML that was 10 years old. I tried the 5 different mats I own to get the Regas to sound as good as the Heybrook. No effing way.

Sold the Regas instead of my TT2..... cost me $500.

That's my 2 cents on the subject. Actually it's $500 not .02.
 
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Not sure what is meant by 'average belt drive'. Clearly the Heybrook is not an average belt drive - it was regarded as a competitor to the best belt drives of its time, and these tables still hold their own. If, as I suspect, what is meant is that belt drives are inherently average, and not as good as a direct drive, that is an opinion, and tastes differ.
There is a reason that plenty of people bought, and are still buying, belt drives. It is true that a belt drive can be made for less than a direct drive, but it is also true that the solid plinth that most direct drives (and some belt drives) are in is cheaper than a suspended subchassis. So the costs may balance. You can make the point that a very heavy plinth accomplishes much the same isolation as a suspended subchassis, but shipping is a noticeable factor in any table's price, and that puts a thumb on the scale.
There are plenty of not very good direct drive tables - as with almost everything, especially in audio, implementation matters more than the type of mechanism.
 
Nat said:
Not sure what is meant by 'average belt drive'. Clearly the Heybrook is not an average belt drive - it was regarded as a competitor to the best belt drives of its time, and these tables still hold their own. If, as I suspect, what is meant is that belt drives are inherently average, and not as good as a direct drive, that is an opinion, and tastes differ.
There is a reason that plenty of people bought, and are still buying, belt drives. It is true that a belt drive can be made for less than a direct drive, but it is also true that the solid plinth that most direct drives (and some belt drives) are in is cheaper than a suspended subchassis. So the costs may balance. You can make the point that a very heavy plinth accomplishes much the same isolation as a suspended subchassis, but shipping is a noticeable factor in any table's price, and that puts a thumb on the scale.
There are plenty of not very good direct drive tables - as with almost everything, especially in audio, implementation matters more than the type of mechanism.
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Well said and I agree
 
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