SkyHi Audio Garrard 301

[MRL_Audio]

Is this a good deal… for one table?

https://skyfiaudio.com/products/gar...-starling?mc_cid=7c1c0fe757&mc_eid=2000d4c9e1

 

[Leland47]

WoW!

Don't know much of anything about those....

Have read there are "grease" and "oil" reservoirs for that receptacle for the platter .....bearings. I think some think one better than the other...

Last I looked....you could buy a 301 for $3 grand.....so quite a premium for the plinth and arm....

I saw one for sale in an audio shop one time.....and was surprised at how small it was.

 

[belyin]

My quick take is that SkiFi Audio is trying to be a high-end emporium for vintage gear. Their prices seem high, but perhaps their service and warranties are worth the premium if one is looking for "turn key" solutions and has the scratch. I am more of a cobble it together myself kind of guy, and I wouldn't (and couldn't) pay that much for that turntable.

 

[GetBusyLivin]

Lol ... I've called these guys SkyHi ever since I first saw them too. I also refer to them as the scratch and dent specialist. They often have equipment I already own but the condition is always 10x worse and cost 10x as much ... Their Fisher SA1000 they had was atrocious and this is just ridiculous (and yes, I have a 301 and yes, this is not the expensive version ... that's the grey hammer tone / grease one).
I will give them this though .... The mere fact that they stay in business is impressive. I don't know how they do it but they must reel in some really gullible people with more money than brains.

 

[sancho22]

Targeting wealthy clients who will not buy stuff off of CL or eBay
If you check out their other offerings they are all Sky Hi
Occasionally they would have reasonable prices - short while ago a very rare Nakamichi TT was priced lower vs the two others for sale on eBay
I am wondering as well how they stay in businesses? although I heard that they are professional and nice with customers, gear is beautifully organized etc
No affiliation whatsoever btw

 

[MRL_Audio]

Agree @sancho22 . Wealthy clients who don't bother to shop elsewhere are the target. If I am buying McIntosh I am going to Audio Classics as a rule. Most other items I buy from people I trust here or for lower priced items I'll take my chances locally or eBay. I just can't wrap my head around some of their pricing and that people are willing to pay it to point they stay in business. Being professional and providing good sometimes great customer service should be a given for any retailer looking to grow and increase business. There are exceptions to this...

 

[sancho22]

Check out their Thorens Td-124 for 16.5k…
They also have a cool EMT for about double of that- much rarer TT though

 

[SaturationPt]

There was a thread recently in the McIntosh forum, the member here paid around $1,000 over the current sold pricing for a used MC452, had problems with it, "completely tested" my ass, ... went back-and-forth with SkyHi for weeks and eventually settled on a workaround for the defective amplifier.

I'd steer clear based on that story and the rediculous prices that they ask.

 

[sancho22]

thanks for sharing! Good to know

 

[GetBusyLivin]

I read the Mac thread before posting here. That's why I wasn't buying into them offering any kind of warranty to rationalize their inflated prices. There has always been and will always be people that buy into the nice showroom, carefully worded selling practices. I'm sure many buyers don't consider finding great deals high up on their priority list. They just want to grab and go from somebody that "looks" reputable. We all approach buying/selling in a different way. Somebody mentioned they may act professional and nice. If I could get that price for that 301 ... I'd come to your house, set it up and wash your car too.

 

[SaturationPt]

The TT base is an *impressive* piece, ... a decent table-saw and mitre saw and two pieces of wood, cut and assemble in an hour, then hand-sand the corners and edges to break the corners and hide any mismatch, stain and finish, ... a good half-day's work with common building-center materials. I believe I saw better workmanship in our wood shop in high-school.

Not to completely dis their work, but really guys? For $8,500 you would expect much better workmanship and materials, look at what some of our members here do to a "lowly" Pioneer table from time to time, ... now some of those are impressive.

 

[GetBusyLivin]

The TT base is an *impressive* piece, ... a decent table-saw and mitre saw and two pieces of wood, cut and assemble in an hour, then hand-sand the corners and edges to break the corners and hide any mismatch, stain and finish, ... a good half-day's work with common building-center materials. I believe I saw better workmanship in our wood shop in high-school.

Not to completely dis their work, but really guys? For $8,500 you would expect much better workmanship and materials, look at what some of our members here do to a "lowly" Pioneer table from time to time, ... now some of those are impressive.

Hmm .... I was in high school in the 80's. I only built a birdhouse and a pair of nunchucks in wood shop. I could have took typing or wood shop. I told myself ... Dude, when are you going to ever use typing? As I sit here typing this with 2 fingers ... 4 fingers tops. Did more damage to myself with the nunchucks than anybody else ... but my mother liked the birdhouse.

 

[SaturationPt]

We made table lamps as a project to get a passing grade, and other projects that we wanted to as time allowed. It was only a 9-week course at our school so I was able to take typing also, and machine shop, and electronics. A good year.

When I grow up I hope to have a nice wood shop / machine shop where I can make stuff again and not be bothered by having to clean up and get the cars in.

 

[BamaBilly]

Haha for one? That seems high for two!

 

[GetBusyLivin]

I wish Sky Hi well with their sale but I'll keep my 301.

 

[sancho22]

Well I have to agree on the plinth. I got points for my Garrard from DAS in Hungary with two extra armbands, shipping (delivery in less than 7 days) for less than $1K...plus tonearm for around $700, and the TT for less than $1500. Upgraded a few items with brand new parts form ebay US/international sellers.
Still less than $4k...

 

[markshan]

Is this a good deal… for one table?

https://skyfiaudio.com/products/gar...-starling?mc_cid=7c1c0fe757&mc_eid=2000d4c9e1

His target audience is not people looking for a good deal.

 

[GetBusyLivin]

His target audience is not people looking for a good deal.

I believe the OP's question was rhetorical and he fully understood that it wasn't a good deal.

 

[MRL_Audio]

His target audience is not people looking for a good deal.

Yep. Very sure we agree on that point. My reference was tongue n cheek.

 

[markshan]

I just looked at some of the other listings. The non-custom work units are actually quite reasonable. I suspect they simply don't want to give away their labor on plinth building, etc., plus the listings serve to draw attention to their business as a whole so they price them for very motivated buyers.

I hope they are doing well.