• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Vintage Direct Drive turntables 'by reliability'

H

heinza1983

New Member
Hello all,
I'm new to the forum. I'm hoping you can help with this:
A relative of mine would like to get a vintage DD turntable but he's got no clue so he asked me for help, but I'm far from being an expert.
I've done a fair bit of research on the topic. I own a DD TT myself (the good old Technics SL-1200 mk2), but he would like something a bit less 'industrial looking' that could fit in nicely with his furniture.
I'm focussing on manual ones from the 70s, or semi-auto if I really have to, in order to keep possible issues to a minimum, with a preference for quartz locked drives, with a good solid plinth. The budget is around $700 tops (he comes from a Lenco L133 after all).
I've come across a few nice ones but I was wondering if there are any models that I should prefer/avoid in terms of reliability, complexity of build and ease of repair.
Just as an example, I've seen a few decent Denon ones, but then I've read that they can be very good TTs as long as everything is working fine.. but as soon as something goes wrong with the electronics etc they're pretty much ready to go in the bin because they are hard, if not impossible, to repair, or spare parts are hard to come by and so on.
So, are certain models/brands to be preferred/avoided based on their simplicity/complexity of build and/or availability of parts/ease of repair etc.? If so, which ones?
Thank you very much for your help.
 
Register to hide this ad
Every 70's DD I've owned, irrespective of brand, has needed some level of servicing to get them back up to snuff. Own three currently. Not trying to scare you off as quite often the repairs are not that difficult to accomplish, and afterwards you are rewarded with a table with great specs. Semi autos esp seem pretty repair friendly. Full auto's though can be challenging.
 
Thanks. I forgot to mention I'm in Europe: not as much availability as in the US unfortunately, and pricier to boot..
Also, I'd prefer a quartz locked TT but will surely keep 500/500 in mind. Cheers
 
Maybe you should consider a nice, well kept Dual 701, 704 or 721. Like all DD:s they depend on electronics but I think that if trouble comes, these at least wont have unobtainable IC's and such parts.

Being in Europe, these pop up every now and then. Recently there was a 704 on sale on the blocket (Swedish version Craigslist) for just $60.
 
Cool, thanks. That's exactly what I meant. I know things can go wrong with any piece of equipment this old (although original quality of build and the way it's been treated will surely play a part in it), but at least to know that some designs are more/less prone to failure and parts are more/less readily available makes quite a difference. Cheers
 
Ahh, sorry. Missed out on that you´re looking for QL decks. Not sure if and which DD Vintage Duals has that feature. Maybe other AK:ers kan chip in on that one.
 
I really like my JVC QL-Y5F (the one with the magic auto dampening tonearm) and my Dual 721.

The JVC is similar to the Denon and Sony DD auto-dampening tables (very few models) and has a pretty dark rosewood veneer.

The Dual 721 is the slightly-updated version of the Dual 701 “the quietest DD ever”.

Both are under $600 commonly.
 
heinza1983 said:
Awesome. I have come across the JVC QL-Y3F. Is it any good? I'm just worried about the auto-features failing and that kind of stuff...
Click to expand...

The Y3F should be very similar to the Y5F minus the fancy auto-dampening tonearm.

There is a subsequent set of models like Y55F and Y66F, improvements over the 3 and 5... I think.
 
Searching just now, I find lots of AK threads on the Y5F and a few on the Y3F.
 
I’ve gravitated to (or more accurately back to) idler drive. The Japanese DD’s I experienced for the most part were fairly equivalent within their respective price ranges when new.

Aesthetics were for the most part the biggest deciding factor. Specs and features were comparable, again at their particular price points.

You don’t buy them by weight per se but it makes a difference to me.

The one direct drive that made me think twice before letting go of was a Dual 701. It was a satisfying table but was bested by a Pioneer PL-630 in the looks department.

That Pioneer has become my sole direct drive out of nine turntables. As mentioned, the rest are idler drive.
 
The 721 can only be considered to be an updated 701 if the word 'updated' was another word for 'turned to ****'. This is only the opinion of someone who repairs both. But in defense of either model, the capacitors and single op-amp chip are available for pennies, if they so happen to get fried. The Quartz-Lock tables of any brand are even more complex and their chips are usually brand-specific and unavailable. I have grown to like the 701, especially the earlier units with the cast zinc front.
 
Thanks for the insight. Would you say QL is a feature I don't need to worry too much about then? This would open up a quite a few more options out there..
 
looking at various threads on the QL-Y3F around the web many are reporting issues with auto features etc.
that's my only worry. it does seem like a nice TT otherwise, but I'd hate to recommend to him a piece of equipment that can potentially cost him more in repairs than the cost of the actual TT in the long run. in saying that it comes out of a lab serviced with a 1-year warranty, so it might still be worth considering..
and it could be collected in person unlike all my other findings so far, which would have to be shipped in from other countries..
 
The QL-Y5F has an unobtainium IC, just so you know. It hasn’t stopped me from buying several and enjoying them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom