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Upgrade from SL-Q3

Raphaz

Raphaz

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I'm a happy owner of an SL-Q3 in great shape, but looking to upgrade to a better sounding/looking turntable.
I wonder if it's realistic to find a better table for under $200.00 (used or new), or if I should rather consider any upgrades and/or tweaks to improve sound and aesthetics of the SL-Q3.
Or... maybe $200.00 is just not a budget for what I aim for?

I'd like to hear your opinion!

The specs on the SL-Q3 are pretty competitive as far as I understand, and it's sturdy. They last, no issues.
I have an Ortofon Concord Pro S cartridge on it for a while now – even though it's considered more of an entry level DJ cartridge (spherical diamond), it sounds pretty sweet (and I like the lever). Cork mat.
I'm sure I could get a better cartridge/needle.
Any other worthy upgrade recommendations?

As for used tables, I guess I could get lucky snag a budget-friendly table on Craigs or at a thrift.
I'm just afraid I'd end up throwing in too much money for a restoration project – there's this unpredictability factor. Any valuable advice on the thrift/used route?
Particular tables to look for or avoid? What to check before buying?

I should mention I'm not an expert or technician, not experienced with tinkering. But I do have picky ears!

Thank you!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Technics SL-Q3 (Ortofon Concord Pro S)
Yamaha R-2000 (restored and eliminated known issues)
2 x KEF Q50
KEF PSW 2150 (eliminated known humming issues)
Nakamichi LX-3
JVC XI-V161
[ Large, open loft space, high ceiling ]


 
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The OM-30 stylus is what he meant. Its the thing at the end of your cartridge with the red dot. Jico makes an excellent product. Get it directly from JICO and you're golden.
 
Agree that a stylus upgrade Jico OM-30 will be a smart way to upgrade an existing excellent table, odds are $200 unless you hit the audio lottery wont get you any improvement especially with new tables. Might want to reconsider positioning table on top of receiver, heat is the number one enemy of audio components, read your owners manual.
 
Thanks guys for all the valuable tips!

OM-30:
We're talking about this guy, correct?
https://www.jico-stylus.com/advance...arch_in_description=1&keywords=OM30&x=14&y=12

Heat:
Thanks for pointing that out, kinda forgot about it.
But working on a shelving system for vinyl and components anyway, where the tt will have it's own shelf space.

Strobe light:
Trying to swap out the strobe light or whatever it's called, the visual speed-control light under the glass pyramid.
Doable (with no experience)? How? Is it an LED, what product would work? Where to order?

Not sure if this is right place for it here, but after deciding to stick with the SL-Q3 (and focus on upgrading it), of course I now have two offers on the table (see pics):
- Pioneer 112D (in supposedly excellent condition) for $80.00 – not sure what cartridge/needle it comes with (locally, so no shipping cost)
- Music Hall MMF-1.3 (supposedly like new) for $166.00 (shipping approx. $32.00) – looks like it has the original AT cartridge
- Marantz 6170 (in supposedly good condition but needs belt so can't really test) for $45.00 – a bit unpredictable, could become a costly project if something's wrong?

Any of these worth the price (main or backup)?

https://ibb.co/bJRmqo
https://ibb.co/hVMai8
https://ibb.co/iATzAo
 
+1 for keeping the SL-Q3. It's actually a good reliable turntable. If it were mine I would replace the cartridge with a good quality standard mount cartridge and head shell. Which one is yet another topic altogether but the $200 budget you mentioned opens the door to a lot of really great cartridges - used as well as new!
 
FWIW, I'm running a Denon DL-110 on my SL-Q2, and I like it a lot better than my $350 AT cart on my much more expensive Pioneer table. You'd have to spend a lot more than $200 to replace your SL-Q3 with a table that would sound notably better. The advice you're getting here to upgrade your stylus or buy a new cartridge is very good advice.
 
Thank you all!
This was all really helpful!
Love this forum!

I guess - even though the specs should’ve told me otherwise - I was intrigued by the looks and coolness-factor of some of the mentioned tables.
Not that the Technics looks bad at all. It’s probably ‘cause my 2nd table (the first I bought with my own money) as a kid was the SL-D3 so I considered them as a “normal” mass product, and it has that DJ workhorse kinda clout.
And there’s the update bug and hunting instinct of course. It sometimes gets the better of me...

Looks like I needed a bit of convincing here. I had to step back and, being a designer, remind myself that well made things look good and honest by nature: That’s also true for this Technics.

Hope I can still get out of some of the items I bet on and invest in a better cartridge/needle.
 
Begs the question:
What budget and products should I consider for the next step up - given I keep my R-2000 and maybe get bigger/better speakers (it’s a large, open loft space)?

And:
Any suggestions for improvements in the looks department of the SL-Q3?
I’ve seen fake vinyl wood grain glued to the side of the plinth. Not so interested in fake though...
 
Next important step after you get the cartridge upgrade completed is making sure your records are clean. In this day and age to accomplish this task you need a RCM. You don't have to spend $1,000 or anything near that, new Record Doctor is $200, KAB has a RCM, etc. Also keep an eye out for Nitty Gritty, VPI preowned RCMs. Another new RCM is around $100, Confab something like that. Also will need new inner/outer poly sleeves for records. As many have said a RCM/clean records is like making a very major component upgrade. Whenever possible try to buy quality preowned audio equipment.
 
The wood grain pics out on the internet look like they were well done. I had a 1400 Mk2 (recently sold) that the previous owner had done in blue paint. It looked pretty spiffy.
20141123_221505

20141123_221505

 
My collection is pretty clean – with some exceptions, and I started sleeving them a while ago.
 
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