Technics SL-QD35?

[velvetmornin]

I am looking for a new turntable. My budget is $90. I know you guys know your stuff on here, so I was hoping for some advice as to whether or not this is a good deal for a Technics SL-QD35. According to the add, the cartridge is in good shape, and he just added an Audio Technica LS450/LT. He is asking $99, but I would only pay $90 (all I have). I like warm tones, and listen to a variety of records from 60’s psych to modern electronic music. What do you guys think? Good deal?

 

[majick47]

Tough to say a lot without getting this moved to Dollars and Cents but if you can get a functioning table with a cartridge and new stylus for under a C note your doing good today. Two things to do, do an AK Google search of that model, SL-QD35, for owners comments. Number two go to Vinyl Engine sign up if not a member, off to the library for the owners manual, download/print and read it. Also there might be owners comments on the same page which will also give you insight on how it performs. If you don't care for the Audio Technica cartridge you can later try a Grado if your looking for warmer tones, Grado entry level cartridges run around $50.

 

[jpciii]

The Technics p-mount quartz-drive automatic tables from the 80's aren't bad at all. I've owned a few. I've seen many different model numbers, but they were all pretty similar. Compared to the classic Technics tables, they're cheaply built - but on the other hand, they feel like much higher quality than modern plastic entry-level tables.

They always seem to WORK reliably and they can sound pretty good with a nice cartridge. $100 seems a little bit high to me, but I haven't bought one in a few years. I used to find them for $25 or less, put a better (new) cartridge on them, then use them for awhile before giving them away to friends who wanted to get into vinyl. I have a SL-Q300 right now with a Grado Black in the bedroom system.

 

[CygnusDen]

if you can get a functioning table with a cartridge and new stylus for under a C note your doing good today.

+1 on this. The days of picking up quality vintage turntables for pennies seem to be long gone around here. We'll say no more about price to keep this out of D&S.

There aren't a ton of comments about this model on AK, so I'll chime in. The SL-QD35 is a quality (though far from high-end) piece that was produced late in the vinyl era (into the 1990s I believe). I was fortunate enough to inherit one of these from someone who was getting out of vinyl, and it's a very good performer despite being far from the top of Technics' lineup. As a fully-automatic, direct drive, P-mount design, it is about as close to plug-and-play as a turntable can get. Just put a record on the platter and push a button to enjoy the tunes. I have an Ortofon OMP-20 cartridge on mine, and it sounds terrific for what it is. For non-critical listening, it compares favorably to my Technics SL-1700 MkII+Denon DL-110 and easily surpasses my Fisher MT-6420+Shure M97Xe (another plastic plinth direct-drive model that probably cost about the same as the SL-QD35). Specifications (which are excellent BTW) and an owner's manual can be found here:

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-qd35.shtml

IMHO, this is a great starter table to test the waters with vinyl and could easily be all you need long term for casual vinyl listening. Even if you get a better table in the future, it would be a very respectable, low maintenance unit in a second system in the bedroom/office/garage. If it's in good condition, I'd grab it. Good luck!


P.S. A couple of things to look out for with this model based on my experience:

1. The grounding wire is separate and has a special plug on the turntable end. Be sure to get that from the seller if you can. Otherwise, it is possible to buy one from KABUSA or fabricate one from an RCA cable.

2. If it hasn't been used in a while, the tonearm lift can get sticky and fail to lift the arm sufficiently to clear the record/platter. In a worst case scenario when pushing the start button, this would cause the stylus to run into the side of the record or platter and probably ruin it. This issue can be resolved by setting the adjustment screw to a higher setting and/or exercising the cueing mechanism.

 

[velvetmornin]

thanks for the replies! unfortunately, the seller has stopped getting back to me. i think he may be hung up on the extra $9? there is also a dual 1241 i'm looking at for $85, but i don't know much about it yet.