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Systemdek IIX Turntable

H

hoopsandhops

New Member
Hello. I am brand new to Audiokarma and this forum. I recently picked up a Systemdek IIX turntable. Can anyone tell me what I have (age, manufacturer...)? Curious about the overall quality of this turntable (entry, intermediate, advanced)? Also curious what kid of sound quality I can expect. Any hints at maximizing the sound? Thanks in advance for the help. Cheers Chris
 
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hoopsandhops said:
Hello. I am brand new to Audiokarma and this forum. I recently picked up a Systemdek IIX turntable. Can anyone tell me what I have (age, manufacturer...)? Curious about the overall quality of this turntable (entry, intermediate, advanced)? Also curious what kid of sound quality I can expect. Any hints at maximizing the sound? Thanks in advance for the help. Cheers Chris
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Its a good table. Several upgrades. Better armboard, acrylic platter. For starters. Clean and relube the bearing before you use it. New belt might be needed as well.
 
That table brings back fond memories. I bought one in the late 80s, the IIXE version as I recall. While considered a mid tier table, it was remarkably good for what it cost. I think they were around $450 then. The table has a sprung suspension that is fairly easy to tune. The glass platter has quite a bit of mass, and I used a Platter Matter mat instead of the felt one. The Profile II arm was really quite good given its modest cost. I used a Sumiko Alchemist IIS moving coil on it, and that cartridge cost as much as the table did.

There were later upgrades for it, such as an acrylic platter, aluminum arm boards, and electronic speed controls. The interesting thing is Audionote is reported to have bought the rights to it and used this design as the basis for their first generation of tables.

I always thought the Systemdeck could be improved upon, and I sold it when a friend offered me his Sonegraphe SG3 with Sumiko MMT arm. To be honest, I always thought the Systemdeck sounded better than the CJ version of that table. If I ever needed a good modestly priced table, I would grab one. Actually I have had to restrain myself from buying one several times. This one is the spitting image of the one I had. Good memories.

6b_V7Tt6Q_6PKxLOXiNcVA_800x.jpg
 
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Had one my self and still think it sounded pretty good and better than a Thorens TD-160 Mk II.
Just the thought of it takes me way back.
 
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It's a nice table. I traded mine to a dealer for a nice amp after I got my TD124, but the Systemdek really didn't have any glaring faults, with the possible exception of susceptibility to heavy footfalls that plague most suspended designs. The arm is quite good.
 
It was one of the better TT‘s I have owned. Agree with totem, was better than a 160 Mk2. Regret having sold it.
 
Mister Pig said:
That table brings back fond memories. I bought one in the late 80s, the IIXE version as I recall. While considered a mid tier table, it was remarkably good for what it cost. I think they were around $450 then. The table has a sprung suspension that is fairly easy to tune. The glass platter has quite a bit of mass, and I used a Platter Matter mat instead of the felt one. The Profile II arm was really quite good given its modest cost. I used a Sumiko Alchemist IIS moving coil on it, and that cartridge cost as much as the table did.

There were later upgrades for it, such as an acrylic platter, aluminum arm boards, and electronic speed controls. The interesting thing is Audionote is reported to have bought the rights to it and used this design as the basis for their first generation of tables.

I always thought the Systemdeck could be improved upon, and I sold it when a friend offered me his Sonegraphe SG3 with Sumiko MMT arm. To be honest, I always thought the Systemdeck sounded better than the CJ version of that table. If I ever needed a good modestly priced table, I would grab one. Actually I have had to restrain myself from buying one several times. This one is the spitting image of the one I had. Good memories.

6b_V7Tt6Q_6PKxLOXiNcVA_800x.jpg
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I am not a big fan of belts, but I miss my Systemdek, it is one belt I would like I would like to revisit.
Chris
 
@Mister Pig that is exactly the table I purchased for my nephew (in law) who was interested in audio and now vinyl playback..he loves it! Wondering what kind of cart you like for it.
 
Probably better than 95% of the turntables ever produced. The Profile arm is quite good and IME sounds better than a Rega RB 300 on that particular TT.

One of the two I had developed some noise in the motor that was easily remedied with disassembly, clean and relube.

A wall mounted shelf really helps.
 
Supercool! said:
@Mister Pig that is exactly the table I purchased for my nephew (in law) who was interested in audio and now vinyl playback..he loves it! Wondering what kind of cart you like for it.
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I used a Sumiko Alchemist IIIS on it and it was a great combo. Today I would put an Audio Technica OC9 II, III, our maybe one of the new OC9 series carts. A Denon DL301 II would be a great choice also. If going MM I think those new series of Audio Technica would be worth looking at. It's a medium mass arm, so many cartridges would work on it. Hey a Dynavector 10X5 would be a good choice to.
 
I recommended the OC9 to him originally but the 301 might be a good choice as well. I'll pass it along to him. I see them used once in a while for pretty nice prices. Obviously that requires due dilligence. Thanks for the input!
 
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