Pick one

[Drugolf]

If you had your choice between the following, which would you keep?

Technics SL-1015 (EPA-A501H arm)
Denon Dp-62L
Pioneer PL-630

 

[Blue Shadow]

Technics and a new arm.
How can you skip a table with a meter?
Denons sure look nice.

 

[Audio Fan]

Looks alone, the Denons really do it for me.

 

[Bugler]

It looks like you already have the Technics and the Denon. Which sounds best to you using the same cartridge? Which operates more to your liking?

 

[majick47]

Technics SL-1015 with the A501H EPA tonearm.

 

[Thunderbox]

Denon beyond a doubt.

 

[vonclod]

Always have liked the Denons

 

[Bugler]

I have a Denon DP45-F and it operates and sounds awesome. Plus it's so darned pretty. I actually had specific requirements when I bought it and it fit my needs perfectly.

 

[jeffpaletz]

I'm a Technics fan But the Denon is beautiful. I'd pick the Denon.

 

[hertzdonut]

I guess I'm an outlier...the PL-630 with no hesitation.

 

[Drugolf]

Hey! There's a vote for the Pioneer.
Reason I am asking is I think I might be a little bloated with TT's in my upper end here and thinking about slimming down a bit and put the $ elsewhere. I just don't know which is the best of my little nice group there for reasons beyond my general impressions I have of each.

The denon does look pretty and she has a brand new EOM dustcover so she's really slick looking right now.
The Technics also is gorgeous with the Rosewood plinth and is much more rare. Just don't have the dustcover for it (although I do have the hinges).
The Pioneer is one of their best and displays a more industrial look. No wood of course on her. I still have to do some work on it. I also have a PL-610.

A little more info although nothing to base a decision on I guess.
Carts available are:
Denon 103 (2 of them)
Denon 305 w/new cantilever and tip.
Shure V-15 IV with Jico SAS
Shure V-15 III
Pickering XUV-4500 w/Jico Shibata
Various other Shures 75, 93, 95
Stanton 681 w/D6807A

 

[illini]

The Technics

 

[Dave_1962]

Technics

 

[Audio Fan]

To be more fair, you should probably post pics of each. The Technics is a real looker and deserves a photo op.

 

[Drugolf]

I guess I am trying to avoid a decission based on looks, but more on performanceability. To use a created word.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Technics with a different arm as mentioned in the first reply will give you the best performance. Selecting an arm that works well with your choice of cartridges and you will have something. The other two are complete units with all the compromises built in to be a table with an integrated arm. Of course with them you get the benefit of not having to install springs in your butt to get up after each record side is played. My reason for having both separate arm/table combos and a semi/full auto.

Just think what that Technics could be with a Dynavector 507 arm or a nice SME V.

 

[Drugolf]

I guess I thought that Technics arm was a strength of that combo. no? Or are there just some at another level?

 

[JP]

It's a spectacular arm as long as you've the wands that work well with your cartridges.

 

[Blue Shadow]

The full model number had me missing the issue, that this is a nice arm/arm tube with changeable but for sure very hard to find and pricey L and M versions of the arm tube for lower compliance cartridges. Since some of your cartridges do want to see an 8 gram effective mass, that arm will work with them for the lower compliance cartridges you would need the higher mass arm tubes, the M for medium compliance and the L for low compliance. The specs on the Japanese audio-database list the expected compliance for the different arms, at 100 Hz the Japanese standard.

 

[Drugolf]

Okay. that's what I thought. Thus why I have the Shure V-15 IV on it. And I believe my Denon DL-305 would work as well. ? Sapphire cantilever, linear contact diamond.
Unfortunately can't swap headshells with that arm.