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Turntable Advice

moodyj2000

moodyj2000

Member
I currently run a Marantz 2245 with a cheap Audio Technica turntable. The plan all along was to update the table but for now I need to keep the cost down. I have looked at the vintage versus new debate and had almost decided that a new $500 table would probably suffice my needs for now. I don't have the most critical ear and I don't have the most ideal listening space.

As with most I had setteled on either a Pro-ject Debut Carbon EVO or something from Rega or Uturn. Easy was the direction I was heading until a Kenwood KD-2070 showed up locally. Original spec's look good and doesnt' look like the most complicated table to use.

He is asking $200 for it and it is decent shape. Has an AT sytlus but was sure which one.

Would anyone recommend going with the Kenwood versus one of the newer decks? If so what would be a good cartridge for this table. I listen to mostly 80's rock, punk, post punk, new wave, etc..
 
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If it were me I would go with the Kenwood. Depending on the cartridge already on it you could invest the change in a upper end stylus like a shibata or like stylus for it. Test out the functioning of the Kenwood first. If it operates well and good speed control go for it.
 
that Kenny will still be spinning records long after we're all dead and gone lol, but unless in a hurry you might want to be patient and put a search on eBay for something like these deals.

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these are all tables I mentioned to members here, the top one no-one bid on, was relisted and on my recommendation someone here scored it for $310.

The KD 500 being their TOTL deck at the time it was sold sans arm leaving the buyer to install his or her arm of choice, as such all of these had boutique arms mounted worth more than the selling price.

Great deals are still out there you just have to look, eBay is the largest market so will have the most opportunities for a score.

this doesn't mean you shouldn't get the Kenny, nothing wrong with having more than one table.............or seven lol.

good luck with your search
 
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I vote for the Kenwood, having recently come across threads with people having difficulties with the Pro-ject, Rega and U-Turn turntables, particularly when they want to upgrade the cartridge. The Kenwood should be well built. So, provided it is working OK, I would go for it.

It could take a wide range of cartridges but the cartridge depends on your budget. A good start would be the AT-VM95E, which is a good all-rounder and you could upgrade the stylus later, if you wished. But if you are going spend the rest of your $500 budget on the cartridge, I would first think about the kind of sound you want.
 
I am heavily leaning towards the Kenwood. I hope to meet the guy on Wednesday. As with a lot of the KD-2070's the tone arm latch is broken but I have a 3d printer and think I can come up with a solution for that. Is $200 a solid price or should I shoot for lower? The unit has the usual cover cracks and the broken latch.
 
moodyj2000 said:
I am heavily leaning towards the Kenwood. I hope to meet the guy on Wednesday. As with a lot of the KD-2070's the tone arm latch is broken but I have a 3d printer and think I can come up with a solution for that. Is $200 a solid price or should I shoot for lower? The unit has the usual cover cracks and the broken latch.
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not a bad price but the cracked lid knocks $100 off the value of any table really so there's that, if not an issue for you only you can decide

many of us here have several decks at all different levels of playback, it's part of the fun of this hobby
 
If working properly, definitely the Kenwood.
Check:
Holding speed
tonearm swings freely and smoothly in all directions
 
So I haven't bought the Kenwood yet because a few more tables showed up locally. A Dual 1226, Kenwood KD-5070 and a Technics SL-1800. All in decent shape. The Dual is sub $100. The KD-5070 is $325 and the SL-1800 is $400. Any thoughts on these?
 
I have the KD5070 and KD550. The 550 is better overall, easier to repair, and more solid. However, it is fully manual.

The 5070 has very little sound quality difference with appropriate cartrdiges, and is automatic. Repair is more complex. I would however, get another in a heartbeat.

Interestingly, the KD5070, while have a faux marble (aka "Rock") plinth, has a hollow plastic base plate. I got some resonance in it, so inside the baseplate I used modeling clay packed into random places to deaden it. If you open and look inside, you will see what I mean as the bottom plate is stiffened by reinforcing ribs creating 2 inch square recesses. I filed about 1/3 of them with the modeling clay.
 
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The kenwood kd 5070 has better specs and it is heavier than the kd 2070. The heavier weight usually sounds better , controls resonances better.
 
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