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Technics SP10 mkII or Denon DP-80

Ken Boyd said:
Do you believe that? I would be very interested in that if the OP would like to share that information. The other supply I was looking at was 800 dollars, from a British company.
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The actual statement from the OP was "I can add a DIY P/S (better than original) for around $80." I doubt that anyone is under the illusion they could easily find an original SP10 power supply for $80. The "better than original" claim is a bold one, which I can foresee leading to further discussion. If that reduces opportunities for evangelizing about Well Tempered Lab, so much the better.
 
Tonoje said:
The actual statement from the OP was "I can add a DIY P/S (better than original) for around $80." I doubt that anyone is under the illusion they could easily find an original SP10 power supply for $80. The "better than original" claim is a bold one, which I can foresee leading to further discussion. If that reduces opportunities for evangelizing about Well Tempered Lab, so much the better.
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I'd love to see proof that a $80 DIY expenditure will beat out the original. I'd be all in on getting one myself then. @Tonoje , do you own a SP10?
 
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Ken Boyd said:
I am looking at a SOTA now, not that I need another table, but those vacuum platters have always interested me.
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I agree. I was in the queue for the latest SOTA Nova with the Eclipse package and vacuum and I planned to pair it with a Kuzma 4Point9. This was to be by far the most I had spent on any audio component but I really like the isolation of suspended TTs and IMO the SOTA tables are tops of that design. An added benefit is it was all new and hopefully no worries for a very long time. And then the SP-10 MKII became available and plans changed. I have no clue whether the SP-10 MKII is better than the SOTA or vise versa but the Technics had been on my wish list for a long, long time so I bought it. I have spent less money on the SP-10, its restoration and CLD plinth I built than I would have on the SOTA so it made room in the budget for a top tier tonearm. I bought a Reed 3P and couldn't be happier with my endgame rig. I recall member @Legrace has the same tonearm but paired with a top end Denon and him saying the same thing about his turntable/tonearm.
 
Mr Boochie said:
Can I ask why you sold it? Did maintenance become a pain? Did you have issues with aligning certain cartridges?

Thanks!
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Vintagear said:
Can you share what 'table you owned before and after the SP10 MkII if any?
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I have owned a very very wide Range of tables. I sold it because I was Stereo restless and not quite ready to settle down. And I also didn’t realize how good I had it until I had moved on from it. I am currently running a Yamaha GT-2000 and it too is a very good performer and fantastic looking deck.

Selling the SP-10 MkII however did give me the resources to try a few other items on my stereo bucket list. But as I am at a place where I am a bit exhausted with stereo merry go round and looking to settle down and just enjoy the music and not the gear, I find myself reflecting on what gear I miss and the Technics is definitely one of them. I built it as a labor of love and it is by far my finest stereo achievement. The only way though I would revisit it is by going up to the Mk III.

That all said, I am not exactly displeased or disappointed with my current decks either. Between the GT and my Micro BL-99v, I have truly high levels of sound quality and enjoyment. So that certainly helps to soften any feeling of regret. But I cannot deny that my technics deck was probably the finest and best performing and looking deck I have ever owned.
 
Ken Boyd said:
I do agree with Mr Pig when all is said and done if you want a cheap turntable, it isn't the SP10 MkII and for sure not a MkIII. Initial purchase price, shipping, restore, shipping back, plinth, tone arm, cartridge, at the end it adds up.
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I also agree. What I don't understand is the harping and goading @JP got from this member on the TCO of a Technics SP. I usually don't see that level of persistent roundabout attempted dissuasion from that member when one of his favorite turntables brands is discussed elsewhere.

Not long ago I dodged a bullet on an apparently very nice used SOTA Cosmos that was available locally. I did my due diligence beforehand and even contacted Donna at SOTA. Turned out their "lifetime trade in" was basically worthless and with no schematics (I hate when companies do that) or company support, any tech no matter how qualified would be flying blind regarding the electronics and motor. The quote I got from Donna was so high, she herself told me I'd be better off buying a new model from them. I did not want that nightmare so I passed on the deck. Another technically skilled member here bought that deck and went through a lot to get it up to snuff. I'm glad I dodged that bullet but thankfully I did some research beforehand.

At least with the Technics there is documentation available where a qualified tech can service/restore them without having to come-up with workarounds. Even with the TCO it is still a bargain compared to what is out there new from Technics and other competitors. @JP has already shown us that the performance is very close to their new SP models and I don't think Technics or anyone else will say that the cost to restore an SP10 MkII will be so high that you're better off buying the new model.
 
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Sound Dragon said:
I have owned a very very wide Range of tables. I sold it because I was Stereo restless and not quite ready to settle down. And I also didn’t realize how good I had it until I had moved on from it. I am currently running a Yamaha GT-2000 and it too is a very good performer and fantastic looking deck.

Selling the SP-10 MkII however did give me the resources to try a few other items on my stereo bucket list. But as I am at a place where I am a bit exhausted with stereo merry go round and looking to settle down and just enjoy the music and not the gear, I find myself reflecting on what gear I miss and the Technics is definitely one of them. I built it as a labor of love and it is by far my finest stereo achievement. The only way though I would revisit it is by going up to the Mk III.

That all said, I am not exactly displeased or disappointed with my current decks either. Between the GT and my Micro BL-99v, I have truly high levels of sound quality and enjoyment. So that certainly helps to soften any feeling of regret. But I cannot deny that my technics deck was probably the finest and best performing and looking deck I have ever owned.
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I feel for you. It's why I'm trying to keep from doing the same thing. You just don't know what you have, 'til it's gone. :(
 
Vintagear said:
I also agree. What I don't understand is the harping and goading @JP got from this member on the TCO of a Technics SP. I usually don't see that level of persistent roundabout attempted dissuasion from that member when one of his favorite turntables brands is discussed elsewhere.

Not long ago I dodged a bullet on an apparently very nice used SOTA Cosmos that was available locally. I did my due diligence beforehand and even contacted Donna at SOTA. Turned out their "lifetime trade in" was basically worthless and with no schematics (I hate when companies do that) or company support any tech no matter how qualified would be flying blind regarding the electronics and motor. The quote I got from Donna was so high, she herself told me I'd be better off buying a new model from them. I did not want that nightmare so I passed on the deck. Another technically skilled member here bought that deck and went through a lot to get it up to snuff. I'm glad I dodged that bullet but thankfully I did some research beforehand.

At least with the Technics there is documentation available where a qualified tech can service/restore them without having to come-up with workarounds. Even with the TCO it is still a bargain compared to what is out there new from Technics and other competitors. @JP has already shown us that the performance is very close to their new SP models and I don't think Technics or anyone else will say that the cost to restore an SP10 MkII will be so high that you're better off buying the new model.
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Part of the reason I own my SP10 MkII and my Acros Lustre GST 801, and the Audio Technica cart was Mr. Pig had owned them and thought they were a decent article, I respected his opinions and since I found some that were within my budget it helped determine my system. He has moved on, to better more expensive gear and I understand that but, I didn't want to keep spending money on more gear as I worked at expanding my music collection. But I am happy that he at one point had pointed them out as I am very happy with the overall sound. Much of what other posters post here helps me make decisions on what might interest me as I don't like to go with something blindly, and I have always thought that Mister Pig has good rational for his choices.
 
Ken Boyd said:
Part of the reason I own my SP10 MkII and my Acros Lustre GST 801, and the Audio Technica cart was Mr. Pig had owned them and thought they were a decent article, I respected his opinions and since I found some that were within my budget it helped determine my system. He has moved on, to better more expensive gear and I understand that but, I didn't want to keep spending money on more gear as I worked at expanding my music collection. But I am happy that he at one point had pointed them out as I am very happy with the overall sound. Much of what other posters post here helps me make decisions on what might interest me as I don't like to go with something blindly, and I have always thought that Mister Pig has good rational for his choices.
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I take them with a grain of salt. At least you went with the SP10 opinion, can't go wrong with that one. There's more expensive for sure but better is debatable.

Glad you're expanding the collection instead of chasing the audio dragon. I enjoy seeing your selections in this thread :thumbsup::
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...ou-hearing-now.272111/page-6648#post-16462396
 
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Ken Boyd said:
I own two SP10 MkII tables, I received both with plans to restore them. I purchased the caps to rebuild the power supplies but after looking inside the turntable and the complexity I sent one to JP. The typical recap of both table and power supply, new strobe, new bearing, and a variable resistor that came apart on me while I was recapping the power supply. It is one of the main tables I use and has worked great for years now. I would recommend JP to anyone for any brand of gear if he would agree to repair it because I have confidence in his abilities. I have wanted to send my other table but just have yet to get around to it.



I do agree with Mr Pig when all is said and done if you want a cheap turntable, it isn't the SP10 MkII and for sure not a MkIII. Initial purchase price, shipping, restore, shipping back, plinth, tone arm, cartridge, at the end it adds up.



I do enjoy all the post from Mr. Pig, and the Sgt, over the years and I seem to sense some tension over these types of threads but really, I don't care to have the last word, as I also think the tables many of you own are really great tables not any less than mine at all, quite the contrary most of them are better tables. I wouldn't mind owning any of them.
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A SP10mk2 can be a cheap turntable, they often come up from Japanese sellers in very good condition needing almost nothing doing. I got one not long ago ( I have 4) from Japan I fully working order with a working strobe too.
I changed the PSU caps as these are almost always ready to fail on SP 10's. On this example the caps were ok, but past experience with sp10's I felt it safer to change them.
Internally in the turn the caps don't give many problems. Normally unless the psu has caps have failed there are not commonly problems with thr motor units. The only issue I have experienced with motor units was a transistor that failed on one of my SP10MK2's when i stupidly plugged in a faulty psu. I have 3 spare psu one which I have yet to service and I selected the wrong one. That SP10 has since been fixed due to the simplicity of SP10's.
I have recapped and calibrated three of mine, I tested all the removed caps and they were fine. I replaced them anyway for long term peace of mind, but my actions highlight that internally the caps don't normally give trouble.
For those looking for a great turntable on a budget a good one from Japan with a serviced pau is a good option.
Chris
 
stratokaster said:
I have a DP-2000 as well, really good build quality for what was essentially Denon's entry-level phono motor. It sounds very good indeed, but I still prefer my SP10 mk2.

To be fair, the Denon is in its original plinth which is rather mediocre, the Technics sits in a heavy layered birch ply plinth with additional damping. The Denon has a slightly better tonearm though (Mission 774 vs Fidelity Research FR-24).
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Which Denon motors from the same era were considered "high end"?

I thought the DP-2000 was fairly high end but maybe I'm wrong. Specs seem pretty good.

Thoughts?
 
Hi,
- P/S for the SP10 - 36VDC rechargeable NiCad battery stepped down (they are always higher than the advertised rating) & same for 5 v. Simple.
- Look at the title DP75 or DP80.

Cheers
 
Most of the 36 volt NiCad batteries are over $1000 dollars, but I do see some small ones for Childrens toys that are only slightly over 100.
 
tabarddn51 said:
Hi,
- P/S for the SP10 - 36VDC rechargeable NiCad battery stepped down (they are always higher than the advertised rating) & same for 5 v. Simple.
- Look at the title DP75 or DP80.

Cheers
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And how are you regulating those voltages?
 
cafe latte said:
A SP10mk2 can be a cheap turntable, they often come up from Japanese sellers in very good condition needing almost nothing doing. I got one not long ago ( I have 4) from Japan I fully working order with a working strobe too.
I changed the PSU caps as these are almost always ready to fail on SP 10's. On this example the caps were ok, but past experience with sp10's I felt it safer to change them.
Internally in the turn the caps don't give many problems. Normally unless the psu has caps have failed there are not commonly problems with thr motor units. The only issue I have experienced with motor units was a transistor that failed on one of my SP10MK2's when i stupidly plugged in a faulty psu. I have 3 spare psu one which I have yet to service and I selected the wrong one. That SP10 has since been fixed due to the simplicity of SP10's.
I have recapped and calibrated three of mine, I tested all the removed caps and they were fine. I replaced them anyway for long term peace of mind, but my actions highlight that internally the caps don't normally give trouble.
For those looking for a great turntable on a budget a good one from Japan with a serviced pau is a good option.
Chris
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Your experience is quite counter to what's normally found with the caps. How are you testing them? How are you determining if the 'table is running to spec?
 
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