Realistic Lab total turntables

[Carbsandcaps]

In case anyone was wondering appearance wise the difference between the Lab 420, 440, and 500 turntables. Bottom left is the 420, right is the 440 and top is the 500. Personally I think the 420 has better quality than the 440. The 500 I’ll never part with it’s just such an all around great tt. Currently using a denon dp-1100 which I’ll be selling and swapping back with the lab-500. I just havent found anything to replace it with yet. I’m also a full auto snob so there’s that too. Not really sure how or why I ended up with all 3 but here they are.

Anyone other LAB lovers out there?

 

[Mohawknl]

In my teens I had the LAB-420, and man I loved that turntable. Then through some repair screw up at Radio Shack they convinced my brother, who was babysitting it at the time, that they "lost" it. Only a few years ago was I able to get a very similar LAB-400. Comparing the two I actually like this one better, it has a more robust motor and more dependable automatic mechanism. But it has faux walnut vinyl wrap whereas the old 420 had real walnut veneer. I also like the LAB-500, it is very similar to the Mitsubishi DP-86 and the ITT Hifi8012 (which I also had for a while). Probably all three made by Mitsubishi or CEC?

 

[Lavane]

Don't forget the 400!
I had a 500. I never could like the thing. It looks slick though.
It just caused too much feedback. No matter what amp, speakers, or how things were positioned, the woofers would start huffing and howling before half volume unless the bass was turned way down. I bought it new, and even returned it for another. Both didn't the same thing.
I had bought a 400 for my son and after using it for a short time didn't really want to let him have it. I'm always looking for another one locally.
A 420 or 450 wouldn't be bad either.

 

[Lavane]

In my teens I had the LAB-420, and man I loved that turntable. Then through some repair screw up at Radio Shack they convinced my brother, who was babysitting it at the time, that they "lost" it. Only a few years ago was I able to get a very similar LAB-400. Comparing the two I actually like this one better, it has a more robust motor and more dependable automatic mechanism. But it has faux walnut vinyl wrap whereas the old 420 had real walnut veneer. I also like the LAB-500, it is very similar to the Mitsubishi DP-86 and the ITT Hifi8012 (which I also had for a while). Probably all three made by Mitsubishi or CEC?

I've read a post before where an owner of a 400 claimed his was wood veneer. Maybe they started with wood, and then switched to vinyl? I dunno.
But I did really like the 400 I bought for my son. It came to me with a wobbley platter. Before I picked it up I bought a new motor for cheap off ebay just incase. It turned out to just be the three screws that secure the motor to the cup had backed way out. After re- tightening those screws it's been rock solid for several years now.

 

[wrat]

I dig my lab 440 great table

 

[jqp]

LAB-300,400 and 500 owner here. All are great tables and I would have a real hard time letting any of them go. LAB-300 was purchased at a yard sale, LAB-400 purchased from the Salvation Army thrift store and the 500 was purchased from a fellow at an auto body shop. The 500 was completely covered in bondo sanding dust, regular old dust, cat hairs etc. When I went to buy the 500 there was a body man sanding away on a truck fender about 5 feet away from it. All three cleaned up real nice and look like new.

 

[Carbsandcaps]

My 500 did get some vibration from the speakers. It’s sitting on magnetic levitating feet things now. Took care of that.

 

[stajoy78]

After sticking a new cheap stylus into my LAB 400 (just found out I'm the second owner of this baby!!!) and after it had been sitting out in the original owner's garage for decades, I am astonished that all functions perform flawlessly and it sounds FANTASTIC!!! I am impressed with the seemingly solid mechanics of it, but was disappointed that the body is vinyl, as opposed to the receiver and speakers that came with it, which are of real walnut grain. Other than that, it is a solid piece of machinery LOVE it!!!

 

[narud]

i really enjoy my 440 but it developed a hum as the arm approaches the spindle. no im not using grados. if i knew where to begin to fix the issue, id put it back in service.

 

[painttoad]

i really enjoy my 440 but it developed a hum as the arm approaches the spindle. no im not using grados. if i knew where to begin to fix the issue, id put it back in service.

my 400 does that with a grado, i know about it and i've been meaning to swap cartridges but it's not horrible.

one of these days the microline is going on the 400 and the grado is going on the quadraflex.

quadraflex currently gets more use so....

I've read a post before where an owner of a 400 claimed his was wood veneer. Maybe they started with wood, and then switched to vinyl?

1978 it's in the catalog as walnut veneer, 1979 its listed as vinyl. i think we touched on this subject once before.

 

[jqp]

i really enjoy my 440 but it developed a hum as the arm approaches the spindle. no im not using grados. if i knew where to begin to fix the issue, id put it back in service.

I had the same problem with another turntable and it turned out to be the led lamp I was using. Use only incandescent lamps for turntable lighting now.

 

[stajoy78]

i really enjoy my 440 but it developed a hum as the arm approaches the spindle. no im not using grados. if i knew where to begin to fix the issue, id put it back in service.

Did you double check the tt ground wire to receiver terminals? My 400 had a horrid hum till I played with that a bit. Now not a hint of hum!!!

 

[Old Guy8]

I've read a post before where an owner of a 400 claimed his was wood veneer. Maybe they started with wood, and then switched to vinyl? I dunno.
But I did really like the 400 I bought for my son. It came to me with a wobbley platter. Before I picked it up I bought a new motor for cheap off ebay just incase. It turned out to just be the three screws that secure the motor to the cup had backed way out. After re- tightening those screws it's been rock solid for several years now.

Yes, you surmised right. First year of production was wood. Second Genuine vinyl woodgrain.
Mine is vinyl. I bought at a record shop. Near mint. It had sheet of Radio Shack plastic over it. I bet shop tossed it's box away.
Nice auto table. I run a Grado ME+ mono cart on it.

 

[Lavane]

Yes, you surmised right. First year of production was wood. Second Genuine vinyl woodgrain.
Mine is vinyl. I bought at a record shop. Near mint. It had sheet of Radio Shack plastic over it. I bet shop tossed it's box away.
Nice auto table. I run a Grado ME+ mono cart on it.

I like it too. They tend to hold up pretty well for a full auto from the 70's.
I would rather have a LAB-400 than an expensive Marantz 6300 that needs work to get them to perform properly. Both decks are comparable, but a huge price difference just because of the brand.

 

[Old Guy8]

I like it too. They tend to hold up pretty well for a full auto from the 70's.
I would rather have a LAB-400 than an expensive Marantz 6300 that needs work to get them to perform properly. Both decks are comparable, but a huge price difference just because of the brand.

Yes,
I've tried to propose one to Akers seeking a Marantz labeled TT. Likely made by same OEM builder.

 

[hornbostel]

i really enjoy my 440 but it developed a hum as the arm approaches the spindle. no im not using grados. if i knew where to begin to fix the issue, id put it back in service.

I have a 440 that I use regularly. Pic shows 440 in a small listening area in my basement with a Kenwood 4070 receiver driving a pair of Acoustic Research AR 2ax speakers. Speakers fully restored but still need to clean the cloth. Sounds utterly fantastic.

My 440 also developed a hum a few years ago. As a last ditch effort I simply reflowed the contacts. This fixed the hum.

The Lab 440 is an amazing table. Fully automatic and direct drive. The cost to make a table with this functionality and specs today would be 4 figures territory.

 

[stajoy78]

I have a 440 that I use regularly. Pic shows 440 in a small listening area in my basement with a Kenwood 4070 receiver driving a pair of Acoustic Research AR 2ax speakers. Speakers fully restored but still need to clean the cloth. Sounds utterly fantastic.

My 440 also developed a hum a few years ago. As a last ditch effort I simply reflowed the contacts. This fixed the hum.

The Lab 440 is an amazing table. Fully automatic and direct drive. The cost to make a table with this functionality and specs today would be 4 figures territory.

AHA! I was running a cheapo Panasonic with a Realistic Electrostat 2-a speaker out in the garage before I got the LAB 400, STA78 and Optimus T-100 speakers working. There were 2 Electrostat 2-a's- a remnant of my sister's ex-husband, who threw one of them out years ago for some odd reason! this one works fine, but I don't plug it in...

 

[Isotonic]

I had a 440 for many years. Many happy memories discovering music with friends and alone. It had the R47XT cartridge. I thought it sounded great.

 

[xpatico]

I lucked into Lab 400 at GW for $20. On the bench, it wouldn't shut off and speed control varied all over the place. Replaced a microswitch and a good DeOxit wash of the speed -control pots and it was spinning true. Upgraded to Ortofon 2M Red cart and I couldn't be happier. I love the full-auto function, Wife, too.

 

[Lavane]

I lucked into Lab 400 at GW for $20. On the bench, it wouldn't shut off and speed control varied all over the place. Replaced a microswitch and a good DeOxit wash of the speed -control pots and it was spinning true. Upgraded to Ortofon 2M Red cart and I couldn't be happier. I love the full-auto function, Wife, too.

FYI, If the platter ever get wobbly, it's due to the three screws securing the DC motor in it's cup. I bought one with a wobble and before picking it up I bought a replacement motor from a parts donor 400 on ebay.
Once I opened it up, I found the screws had worked loose. So now my son has a spare motor for it.