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Technics or Marantz

infraviolet

infraviolet

Active Member
Hey ladies and gents,

I'm planning on buying my first turntable. In your opinion, which is a better buy

Marantz TT151
  • $50
  • no dust cover

Technics SL BD27
  • $50
  • comes with AT-90 cartridge
  • no dust cover

The last time I waited for too long, the turntables I was looking at were already sold :(

Thanks in advance.
 
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Have a look at the " Realistic Turntable 42-8950 RD-8100 Direct Drive " ( dated March 14 ).:scratch2:
 
Dave Bowman said:
I agree, Just keep looking......

Dave
Click to expand...

+2

I assume you are in Calgary? If so, be patient, look hard, and you will find something decent for a good price. It is that time of year when basements/garages are being cleaned out, and that stuff ends up at yard sales and thrifts. Also, don't be scared to venture into old school pawn shops. Those guys often don't know what they have.
In the past year I picked up a few tables at that price, or cheaper. A Sony PS-X55, a Sony PS-X70($75), an AR-XA, a nice PE/Dual(forget the model #), a Sansui SR222, a Micro Seiki(forget the model #), a Technics SL-Q3, among others. Except for the PS-X70, they were all between $10 and $40. I'm in Edmonton, so I assume the "market" is similar. I often use the Alberta option when looking though kijiji, if I see something decent in your neck of the woods I could give you a heads up if you want.
 
Balifly said:
Have a look at the " Realistic Turntable 42-8950 RD-8100 Direct Drive " ( dated March 14 ).:scratch2:
Click to expand...

I just called the seller and sadly it's sold. BUT : they have 5 more turntables on sale. I'll pop down there this weekend and then report back to you guys :)

Dave Bowman said:
I agree, Just keep looking......

Dave
Click to expand...

hakaplan said:
These I would let go. They are equivalent and both overpriced.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input hakaplan and Dave Bowman. I kind of felt the same because another AK member said they were able to pick up the Technics TT for $40.

KrisM said:
+2

I assume you are in Calgary? If so, be patient, look hard, and you will find something decent for a good price. It is that time of year when basements/garages are being cleaned out, and that stuff ends up at yard sales and thrifts. Also, don't be scared to venture into old school pawn shops. Those guys often don't know what they have.
In the past year I picked up a few tables at that price, or cheaper. A Sony PS-X55, a Sony PS-X70($75), an AR-XA, a nice PE/Dual(forget the model #), a Sansui SR222, a Micro Seiki(forget the model #), a Technics SL-Q3, among others. Except for the PS-X70, they were all between $10 and $40. I'm in Edmonton, so I assume the "market" is similar. I often use the Alberta option when looking though kijiji... if I see something decent in your neck of the woods I could give you a heads up if you want.
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm in Calgary. I did not know that you could select 'Alberta' when searching on Kijiji...

KrisM said:
...if I see something decent in your neck of the woods I could give you a heads up if you want.
Click to expand...
That would be great. My budget is around $100, +/- 20. Thanks !
 
If you look next to Calgary on kijiji, there should be a change location button. If you go into it you can select Alberta.

Shoot me a PM so I don't forget about this thread. I can respond to that, or give you an email, whatever you like. The turntable listings are a little thin right now, but I bet it will get better.
 
I had a Marantz from the mid 60s and it was just OK. I now have a Denon DP-51 with a Grado cartridge and my old reliable Technics. For $ 50-70 my suggestion is look for a Technics SL-1900 turntable and save up for a older Shure Cartridge V15 Type III with the VN35MR Stylus. It will sound just as good as someone paying 10 times your budget.
 
infraviolet said:
Thanks for the input hakaplan and Dave Bowman. I kind of felt the same because another AK member said they were able to pick up the Technics TT for $40
Click to expand...

Even at $40.00 the SL-BD27 is overpriced, all the more because there's no dustcover. It's the cheeziest, least desirable turntable Technics ever made. They cut costs on that thing everywhere they could, even to the point of omitting the fake chrome on the buttons.

John
 
If you can get that realistic RD-8100 get it, it's a great table, it's a rebadged Hitachi PS-48 with a different tonearm/gimbal design. I had the RD-8100 and I still have the Hitachi PS-48 (for now). Did some quick comparison between the two, and from what I can remember of the LAB-400/420, the RD-8100 I would say is a better table, in terms of quality and mechanical performance, can't say in terms of sonic differences.
 
mythless said:
If you can get that realistic RD-8100 get it, it's a great table, it's a rebadged Hitachi PS-48 with a different tonearm/gimbal design.
Click to expand...

In the description the seller mentions that it has "very low sound". I'd say $80.00 is a lot of money for a table with a suspected problem.

Now, I'd be willing to bet that the "problem" is an uninformed seller. The turntable was probably tested through a line level input and is probably just fine.

I'd go see it. Get the seller to demonstrate the problem for you and, if it's as I suspect, offer him $50.00 and if he accepts... grab it and run. It's a pretty darn good turntable.

Or there's this one! Bringing us right back to C.E.C. again, by the way.

John
 
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boreas said:
In the description the seller mentions that it has "very low sound". I'd say $80.00 is a lot of money for a table with a suspected problem.

Now, I'd be selling to bet that the "problem" is an uninformed seller. The turntable was probably tested through a line level input and is probably just fine.

I'd go see it. Get the seller to demonstrate the problem for you and, if it's as I suspect, offer him $50.0 and if he accepts... grab it and run. It's a pretty darn good turntable.

Or there's this one! Bringing us right back to C.E.C. again, by the way.

John
Click to expand...


Could be, nothing to worry about if that is the "problem." I don't know if it is possible to negotiate pricing since it's probably under consignment. Even $80 is an excellent buy. RD-8100 isn't sought after like the LAB-400/420 series but, I say possibly a better table, and the veneer is really super nice, a lot better than the LAB-400/420 veneer.

Btw, I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but the cartridge is a R47 aka rebadged M75 which is a fine cartridge.
 
boreas said:
In the description the seller mentions that it has "very low sound". I'd say $80.00 is a lot of money for a table with a suspected problem.

Now, I'd be willing to bet that the "problem" is an uninformed seller. The turntable was probably tested through a line level input and is probably just fine.

I'd go see it. Get the seller to demonstrate the problem for you and, if it's as I suspect, offer him $50.00 and if he accepts... grab it and run. It's a pretty darn good turntable.

Or there's this one! Bringing us right back to C.E.C. again, by the way.

John
Click to expand...
Hmm a linear tracking TT ? I have very little knowledge on them and how they perform compared to a 'normal' TT. Can anyone shed some light on this? For $15 it seems 'buyable'.

hakaplan said:
I have a clone of that Technics. For what it is, it is not that bad. But I wouldn't pay more than $15.
Click to expand...
Gotcha :smoke:

I've also seen this AKAI AP-B110 around. Again searching on AK, there's very little info on it. At least it has a dust cover and it's $25. :thmbsp: or :thumbsdn: ?
 
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