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Need advice re thinning the herd

rogerfederer

rogerfederer

determined amateur
Subscriber
I have not been listening to vinyl for a while. I had an illness in the family and have been super busy; streaming is so easy.... However, I am moving soon and may end up with more free time in the medium term. So I could find my way back to vinyl. OTOH, It would be nice not to move a bunch of TTs, especially as I haven't been using them.

I have 4 TTs and also have an opportunity to buy a restored TD 124. What to do?

This is what I have now:
-- Denon DP-1250 with a Hadcock unipivot arm; Sumiko Talisman LOMC cart with new tip
-- TD 165; largely stock; Denon 103 LOMC cart
-- AR XA rebuilt by Marc Morin (original arm); Shure M91ED cart, stylus that Marc picked out
-- Almost new Technics SL 1200 MkII; Shure V15 with JICO stylus

This is what my friend says about his 124 he could sell me (also has a 121):
"I rebuilt a 124 last year, put it in a Koa veneer base, and installed a LAD tonearm (very similar to the Sumiko MMT). Late last year, I removed the base and put the 124 in a walnut base to match a Grado Labs wooden tonearm. I have not wired the tonearm to RCAs yet, but that would take about an hour.
The 121 is now in the Koa plinth with the LAD tonearm. The 121 is also rebuilt.
Something else that might interest you: I also have two SME 3009 that work, but am unsure how well. The SME 3009 and 124 is a classic pairing. I can get that arrangement together for you, but will need an armboard and a little more time to service the SME."​

I would be tempted to keep the Denon and the AR; that way i'd have a direct drive, a belt and an idler (if i get a 124). However, I found a great thread in which Mr. Pig said that his Marc Morin AR XA was very close to his fully restored 124; Beatcomber said the same. https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...essions-ar-xa-hotrodded-by-marc-morin.678177/

Maybe I could live with the AR and the Denon? Or some other combo?
 
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rogerfederer said:
I would be tempted to keep the Denon and the AR; that way i'd have a direct drive, a belt and an idler (if i get a 124).
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This is what I'd do.

Side note: A Morin-modified AR-XA is a killer setup (I loved mine—), but I don't think a belt drive has a similar presentation to an idler at all (But I'm partial to idlers, and I mostly listen to mono and early stereo Jazz with an MC cart and SUT, which I feel is tailor-made for TTs from the similar time period.) Just my 2 cents...
 
Yup the 1200 and 165 will make room for the 124 and if you like it you can consider options later or since your friend is waiting for you to buy his table get the move over with enjoy the two keepers and when you know them let the 124 arrive and prove its worth.
 
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As you are not spinning vinyl now and may get back into it, which deck would you pick today if you were to play something? Is it the one that you feel the most comfortable that will just work and keep working, and just make it less hassle to just get on with playing the music versus getting involved with equipment and stylus options, etc. I would make that the #1 keeper.

Some folks get enjoyment playing around with gear, others just want to get what is good for them and their energy is all in the LPs. It really depends on what you think would be best to get you happily spinning vinyl. It does not sound like you would want anything that is fussy or needs much ongoing maintenance or options to mess with if the decks are just sitting now.
 
I would take the Hadock arm off the Denon and install it with the 124 and fit the Alchemist on it.

I also would keep the AR XA Marc did.

Sell the rest to thin the herd and have two excellent tables.

Cheers
Mister Pig

PS I would sell all of them except the XA and buy a Sota or Well Tempered, maybe a Transrotor if you can.
 
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thanks for all the helpful responses!
seems like i should keep the AR, sell the technics and the 165.
only questions seem to be 1) do i need a 124; 2) if so, which arm (LAD, SME, hadcock); and 3) should i keep the Denon.
I sent my buddy a few questions about his plinths; sounds like they are not high mass plinths, though i am sure they are gorgeous--he has great woodworking skills.
 
My advice, send that shabby AR XA to me (I would even pay shipping), Sell the rest and get a new SOTA....
 
I'm the minority I guess. I say sell the suspended belt drives. I'd take an SL-1200 Mk II over either of those anyday. Purely from a workhorse use it to death standpoint. Keep the Denon no matter what. That is a very nice arm.
 
Sometimes we need to talk a decision like that out with others. A different idea, thought might not come to mind when we are so close to it. It does ultimately boil down to the decision you must make.
 
I say unless you are attached to it, sell the 1200 for sure. They are plentiful and easy to replace, especially with the even better suspended Technics models or any of the other mkii Technics which you can find for cheaper than the ubiquitous 1200.
 
wushuliu said:
I say unless you are attached to it, sell the 1200 for sure. They are plentiful and easy to replace, especially with the even better suspended Technics models or any of the other mkii Technics which you can find for cheaper than the ubiquitous 1200.
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The same could easily be said about the AR- XA as well. I see more of those out in the wild than the Technics. Better suspended Technics models? If we are talking about SL-1x00 models, they are a lateral move at best from the SL-1200. Now the SP-10 would be a move upward though.
 
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hatrack71 said:
The same could easily be said about the AR- XA as well. I see more of those out in the wild than the Technics. Better suspended Technics models? If we are talking about SL-1x00 models, they are a lateral move at best from the SL-1200. Now the SP-10 would be a move upward though.
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There are not more AR XAs out there than 1200s.

I'm not trying to pick a fight about the 1200. I'm just stating the obvious. There are tons of 1200s out there. There are tons of 1x00 models period. Marc Morin modded AR XAs - not so much. And we both know AR XAs are much more likely to be in poor condition vs. a 1200. That's part of the selling point of them, right? Durability and reliability and availability, 1981-2010.
 
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wushuliu said:
I'm not trying to pick a fight about the 1200. I'm just stating the obvious. .
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Well maybe in your neck of the woods SL-1200 is far more plentiful. But yeah, it's fine. I would agree that more SL-1200 were made probably but I do think there were a lot of XAs too. It was a popular unit in it's day so a lot of units sold. I've come across more Duals and AR-XAs than anything else here. Now, I'm not even talking about all the plasticky garbage I've had to wade through. I view the AR-XA as something DEFINITELY worth grabbing. I've had at least a dozen working XAs as well as a couple incomplete ones I made bases for. In fact, I still have an original AR-XA sitting here that works.. I think. LOL.The SL-1200 Mk II is not very common here, and when I do see one it's usually overpriced in a pawn shop. They never show up in the thrifts like the ARs, Duals and others I find. But I will admit finding anything quality lately in the thrifts or garage sales, including ARs, has been a strike out. I wouldn't hesitate picking up any AR-XA if a good deal. But the good stuff is getting really scarce around here. So not disagreeing on the AR, but I just don't see as many SL-1200 Mk II as you think I do. LOL It's not that I haven't been trying.
 
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What table calls you over to spin up a record? The most expensive table is not always the one we go to to listen to music IMHO. What sounds the best to my ears would be the one to go with. We cannot hear what you hear and vice versa. So, what table is your favorite? And if none really gets you excited, sell them all and try the 124.
 
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