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Need help choosing a new turntable

C

clockwork13

New Member
Hello I'm new here and I'm looking to upgrade to a newer turntable (I actually own a JVC JL-A20). In my local area I have spotted the following models:

  • kenwood kd-2055 (50$)
  • optonica 7505 (225$)
  • optonica RP-3500 (500$)
  • systemdek IIx (-)
  • lenco 75 (350$)
  • akai AP-206 (350$)
  • marantz 6100 (260$)
  • marantz 6300 (450$)
  • technics SL-D3 (325$)
  • akai AP-003 (50$)
  • akai AP-007 (200$)
  • Pioneer PL-530 (395$)
Which out of this lot would you recommend. If you have other recommendations I'm open to suggestions. My budget is 500$ max. and I have no preference regarding the drive.
 
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Out of those I would recommend the Pioneer PL-530, Systemdek IIx, Akai AP-007 or the Technics SL-D3. Not in any particular order. One person would like one and another a different one. Decide on one of them based on the features you would like to use. This covers from fully automatic to manual. Take a good look at what cartridge comes with the turntables because a bad sylus could set you back half of your budget. Have fun but IMHO you can not go wrong with any of these 4. See you around.
 
Thunderbox said:
Out of those I would recommend the Pioneer PL-530, Systemdek IIx, Akai AP-007 or the Technics SL-D3. Not in any particular order. One person would like one and another a different one. Decide on one of them based on the features you would like to use. This covers from fully automatic to manual. Take a good look at what cartridge comes with the turntables because a bad sylus could set you back half of your budget. Have fun but IMHO you can not go wrong with any of these 4. See you around.
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Thanks! What about the Lenco L75? I heard some pretty sweet things about it.
 
No doubt! The Lenco! The L-75 has the largest potential in the bunch to become a mean audiophile level playback device. It's in your budget and in time you could learn how to take it up a notch or two above stock level.
 
My pick would also be the Systemdeck or the Lenco.

The Systemdeck is a fine suspended design, that offered a reasonable cost, decent quality tone arm, and a proven design. They are a no frills high quality table. The down side being that you have no electronic speed switching, have to move the belt manually as I recall, and no automatic functions...if those are important to you. But if you put a quality cartridge on it, you have a very capable table that is pretty minimal in maintenance. Change a belt every few years, a drop of oil on the motor shaft, clean out the spindle well every few years and add new oil, and you got it.

The Lenco is a sought after idler drive, but mostly as a project table. This can be a no holds barred end game tab le if you are willing to invest in it. They generally need the idler wheel updated, the motor cleaned up, a heavy, high mass plinth to replace the stock box, and some people upgrade the platter bearing also. You can invests a lot of money in these, but get a table that is well up the analog mountain towards Shangri-La. If you have some wood working abilities, and can turn a screw driver or two, it would be an awesome project. Either that, or be willing to invest several hundred dollars. I do happen to know a guy on this site who can build a nice Lenco plinth, so that could be an option.

But those would be my choices.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Mister Pig said:
My pick would also be the Systemdeck or the Lenco.

The Systemdeck is a fine suspended design, that offered a reasonable cost, decent quality tone arm, and a proven design. They are a no frills high quality table. The down side being that you have no electronic speed switching, have to move the belt manually as I recall, and no automatic functions...if those are important to you. But if you put a quality cartridge on it, you have a very capable table that is pretty minimal in maintenance. Change a belt every few years, a drop of oil on the motor shaft, clean out the spindle well every few years and add new oil, and you got it.

The Lenco is a sought after idler drive, but mostly as a project table. This can be a no holds barred end game tab le if you are willing to invest in it. They generally need the idler wheel updated, the motor cleaned up, a heavy, high mass plinth to replace the stock box, and some people upgrade the platter bearing also. You can invests a lot of money in these, but get a table that is well up the analog mountain towards Shangri-La. If you have some wood working abilities, and can turn a screw driver or two, it would be an awesome project. Either that, or be willing to invest several hundred dollars. I do happen to know a guy on this site who can build a nice Lenco plinth, so that could be an option.

But those would be my choices.

Regards
Mister Pig
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Who is your guy and how much would it cost?
 
Lenco (you want a "heavy platter" version, e.g. L75, L59, L78)! I just picked up an L75. I'm using a Pioneer PL-70 tonearm in an outrigger/pod, and it sounds better (before refurb) than my Well Tempered Reference turntable. The L75 tonearm is not great, but there are several aftermarket arms that will fit directly. I had a Systemdek many years ago, and while my cartridges and phono stages have gotten much better since then, the sound I got from the Systemdek was no where close to my WTT, and the Lenco (with a good arm) is a tad better.

Lencos, especially 60 Hz version (yes, the frequency matters, but 50 Hz can be made to work, just more difficult), are scarce in the US and 2X what the 50 Hz units go for in Europe. If you can find an L75 or similar in good shape for <$400 you'll have a turntable that can grow with you through refurbishment, arms, cartridges, plinths, etc. I got lucky and my L75 is very quiet without redoing the bearings, etc. and am quite happy listening to it in its existing plinth, although have plans to build a reference 'table with it.

Check out Lenco Heaven to get an idea of what folks are doing to and with their Lencos.
http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php
 
Hi,

As I have one tuned to the nines, a Systemdek IIX is a great choice at the right price.
Which is of course relatively cheap, that is way less than $500 for a good one.

If you get one, depending on the version, I have number of modifications / tuning tips
that change it it from pretty good to very good, its a great turntable (for the cost).

rgds, sreten.
 
As you asked for recommendations other than on your list, not that I wouldn't choose one from there.

These seem to be seeing a rise in prices but it should be doable within your budget. Kenwood KD500 / 550, 600 / 650, 770D. The 500 and 600 were TOTL in there day and sold without an arm. But many were dealer supplied with botique arms like the Infinity Black Widow, and Grace 707 just to name a couple.

The 550 and 650 were identicle to the 500 and 600 other than being sold with a very nice Kenwood arm.

The KD770D might be a stretch, the prices seem to be going crazy, but I was able to pick one up within the last yr for about the value of the Denon DL301 cartridge mounted on it. It has a Kenwood arm but don't let that bother you, it's an awesome table. There are a few models above the 770, but not within your price point.

maxresdefault.jpg

image.jpg


kenwood_kd_770_d-3.jpg
 
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The Lenco L75 that I, after slightly upgrading, own myself. Better than my Linn or my former Rega, after changing the tonearm to an Jelco 750D. Highly recommended.

My advice: Go for it if in decent condition . . .:)
 
Thank you Mister Pig.

OK the Systemdek is officially 275$, and also there is a Lenco l78 for 400-450$. Is the l78 comparable to the l75. Knowing all this which of the three would be in my best interest. Furthermore after a lot of reading I have decided that I would be willing to do some DIY .
 
clockwork13 said:
Thank you Mister Pig.

OK the Systemdek is officially 275$, and also there is a Lenco l78 for 400-450$. Is the l78 comparable to the l75. Knowing all this which of the three would be in my best interest. Furthermore after a lot of reading I have decided that I would be willing to do some DIY .
Click to expand...

That is a very good price on the Systemdeck. Most asking ads are in the $500 range now, although I cannot say for sure what the selling price is.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
clockwork13 said:
Looks like the original one.
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Hi,

In the UK it came without an arm. I understand in the USA it came with a standard arm,
but I have no knowledge of the arm except I think its very similar to a Rotel arm and a
AR arm, and is somewhat similar to to the Linn LVX in terms of headshell clamping.

TBH I've tuned two IIX's, one with a Rega RB250, the other with a LInn LVX+.
The turntables were not the same age and had some slight build differences.

Still i can genuinely say, well tuned, it is capable of stellar performance.

rgds, sreten.
 
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