Man, have you refurbed that AR (New thrust plate, bearings, belt, clean/polish main bearing, relube)? Have you heard/owned the other tables?
Upgrading my turntable... looking for help.
- Thread starter 34dean
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Man, have you refurbed that AR (New thrust plate, bearings, belt, clean/polish main bearing, relube)? Have you heard/owned the other tables?
Yeah, I've worked with a lot of tables over the past three decades, restored a few Oracle Delphis, one Michell and one Transcriptors Hydraulic Reference, Forsell air-bearing tables, VPI's from HW-19s to Classic 3's, all the Linns, Basis tables from the Inspiration and Debut Gold Standard on down, to the latest ones from Technics from the SL-1200GAE to the SL-1000R, Clearaudios, all kinds of ProJects and Music Halls, all kinds of Regas (even the Planet), to a Tech Das, Empires, I built one of the early Origin Live turntable kits for a customer, and more that I can't even remember, so yeah, I've heard and worked on a lot of turntables in my 50+ years in the hobby, and in the past quarter century rewired over 150 Rega tonearms.
My choice of a Cirkus/Valhalla/Black Ittok LVII/Rosewood plinthed Sondek is only because I traded up to it from an Axis/BasikPlus bought in the early 90's, to my original LP-12 (Aformosia plinth/silver tonearm) in the late 90's, and then finally to this one a few years ago as I am well versed on Sondek care and maintenance and do not worry about what it takes to keep one in good fettle. Plus, I'm retired and only work part time so many expenditures just can not be budgeted.
I like the AR turntable, but even with tweaks and modest mods mine sounded behind what my restored and tweaked Pioneer PL-41 is capable of, in my experience.
My AR-XA replaced a BIC 980, what a huge improvement!
The AR was replaced with a Yamaha PX-3 in 1984 that I thoroughly enjoyed until I brought home my first Axis in 1995 and heard a level of emotion in the music that seemed lacking in the PX-3..with the same Ortofon MC10 Super and X-3MC cartridges...I still have the PX-3 and a spare for parts, though...
I met a guy on Usenet in the nineties and he had an LP-12 and wanted an Axis, so we swapped, that was a good swap for me!
In the mean time I have acquired a bunch of other tables, the PL-41, the BL-51, another Axis/Basik Plus, another AR-XA, a PL-115, a DP-45F, a Rek-O-Kut Rondine, and finally my Cirkused Sondek.
In my opinion, the Debut Pro with the addition of the aluminum sub platter upgrade would be an excellent way to have a no-fuss, no-muss turntable setup capable of really great performance for $1200 USD or less depending on what kind of a deal could be made with a dealer...I would also take it over a similarly priced Rega, the Planar 3...I might put a Herbie's Way Excellent II mat instead of the felt, but that's up to the listener, I like mine.
So, just my opinion and view, as always YMMV.
TTFN
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Morgan D
Super Member
Any experience with the cheap SOTA tables?
No offense meant and apologies. I can see how I could have worded that better. I'm just kinda in shock about the comparison. Could be we like different attributes of decks. I haven't found a real "better for what I like deck" until I got a higher end Sony 2251 and a nice JVC DD deck. Again, possibly different preferences. I did like my Pl-41 and think it is another low cost high performance option.
No, only with an old Star Sapphire vacuum many moons ago...
That looks awesome!
neevo
Super Member
Hahaha, me too. Red -> Bronze -> Black.
PL518 - Thorens 150 modded
SME 3009 S2 - Audiomods S6
It’s never ending. Which is why I try and say the one you have is the best. But “upgraditis” is a cornerstone of this hobby I reckon. Yes it’s easy to make duff choices but every step above for me unlocked audio gains. Yes some more than others but that’s the theory of finishing returns.
I have to acknowledge that there needs to be a point where I stop and just enjoy. But too many things to try. LOMC and SUT’s anyone
Morgan D
Super Member
I must say my best one right now is my Piccolo head amp with my Denon 103.Hahaha, me too. Red -> Bronze -> Black.
PL518 - Thorens 150 modded
SME 3009 S2 - Audiomods S6
It’s never ending. Which is why I try and say the one you have is the best. But “upgraditis” is a cornerstone of this hobby I reckon. Yes it’s easy to make duff choices but every step above for me unlocked audio gains. Yes some more than others but that’s the theory of finishing returns.
I have to acknowledge that there needs to be a point where I stop and just enjoy. But too many things to try. LOMC and SUT’s anyone
neevo
Super Member
It’s a setup that keeps calling me. I have a HOMC and the detail and space is wonderful but it’s a cheap entry level that doesn’t compete with the 2M Black. I’d love to hear a proper LOMC on my arm/table. Just 1 more upgrade, I promise
Hope it sounds that as well!
Morgan D
Super Member
My denon is just the cheap VAS elip retip. People swear by the conical though.It’s a setup that keeps calling me. I have a HOMC and the detail and space is wonderful but it’s a cheap entry level that doesn’t compete with the 2M Black. I’d love to hear a proper LOMC on my arm/table. Just 1 more upgrade, I promise
Morgan D
Super Member
I bet you had to blow way past your budget. That table looks really expensive. I wish I would have consulted Mr. Pig or another one of you barn yard animals before I wasted money on now broken useless TT's.
Great guys here. Mr. Pig has gone out of his way to help. HUGE value to a novice like me.
Morgan D
Super Member
Hambone showed me a great source for a really good cheap stylus for my Shure cartridge.
neevo
Super Member
The reason Basis quit making that table, @34dean, was economic, there wasn't a sustainable margin built in to them to survive...the pieces and parts were worth more than their selling point...all the same high precision engineering that went in to their upmarket tables were included in these.
Great table!
Great table!
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Basis was a great company, not cheap but owners got real value with them. It was a shock That AJ Conti passed away, he was only 59. Their tables are a solid value on the used market.
There are a lot of good tables to choose from, but at $1500 or less for arm and table you are going to have to balance condition, age, and also the possibility of service and associated costs.
That Project Perspective isn't a bad choice at what the final cost would be. But I would still take one of those Basis tables in a New York minute.
There are a lot of good tables to choose from, but at $1500 or less for arm and table you are going to have to balance condition, age, and also the possibility of service and associated costs.
That Project Perspective isn't a bad choice at what the final cost would be. But I would still take one of those Basis tables in a New York minute.
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Sgt Shultz
Addicted Member
No law against owning 2........or 7 turntables
The AR is a different animal than what you already have being a suspended deck. Both have room for upgrades, both can sound outstanding, the AR XA is the little table that could.
Even in it's stock rather beat up condition one was my main table for many yrs. I've mentioned this before, picked up a Thorens TD 166MKII thinking it a step up, the AR relegated it to the bedroom system.
Morin modified the AR can compete with some of the best.
The Basis table could most likely be your endgame deck, outstanding piece, but I will say it again, no law against............you know the rest
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