What is the best all around Vintage Turntable?

[ZappaLenco]

I got rid of all of them(Technics, several 1200's even) Garrards gone, Beograms gone, thorens gone, perpetuum eb's, Linn's, many waaaaay many others too, ALLLLL GONE!!

(Geeze, they take up room ya know, room is valuable too, L O L ) many many others!!!(brands)(i offed them all to one guy on CList, he can hav'em),

BUT AM KEEPIN THE LENCO'S(L75/B-61)(w/few ol school tonearms N carts),
the guy that bought the TT's from me really wanted the Lenco's.

its like i fell in love with the first Lenco i found (L75, Lover/Married/VynulSoulmate).

But i am also sure that everyone has a different ear and luck, i think they all sound pretty good "when they work", but how much do ya wanna fool with it(maintaining it) its all here(AKK)So Goodtimes.

 

[Travis G.]

I am really liking my new to me Denon DP-62L with a DL-110. L

I've got the DP-60L, and I love its looks, construction and functionality. I was lucky enough to find one locally last summer, and the sucker looks almost brand new. I'm looking forward to matching it with a DL-110 someday, but I'm pleased so far with the AT-110e I mounted a few days ago.

I also really like the Dual 1228 I've got in my bedroom system with an Ortofon Om-5e. It really sings, despite the cheap receiver (Fisher 201) and speakers (Fisher XP-55b). I can also recommend the Pioneer PL-518 as a good, low-cost deck.

 

[Pio1980]

I recall the Fisher XP-55C speakers that came with an otherwise nice TT/reciever combo system being absolutely the worst speakers I ever owned. That was a long time back.

 

[Travis G.]

I recall the Fisher XP-55C speakers that came with an otherwise nice TT/reciever combo system being absolutely the worst speakers I ever owned. That was a long time back.

Oh yeah, these are pretty lousy, too. Muddy bass and muffled highs, but my wife likes their size compared to the slightly larger KLH 17s awaiting new caps down in the basement. That's project #1 as soon as my workbench gets built.

 

[bluesky]

1980 Sansui SR-838 manual direct drive with a vintage Ortofon MM.

It's something else. Really quality unit.

 

[BrocLuno]

Hi... on that note, I'm working on a trade and am not as well versed as most on this thread and wanted a heads up on if you have a choice which TT would you take... a Technics SL-1700 with Audio Technica AT13Ea cartridge in MINT condition, or a Harman Kardon RABCO ST-7 with a Linn K9 cartridge also in MINT condition or would you take the Yamaha PF-800 with original cart in excellant condion. Thanks

I'd take the Yamaha PF-800. It's a very respectable table with good specs.

 

[elcoholic]

And the results, in order of most times mentioned, then alpha (slow day at work )

Table # Mentions
AR XA/XB 13
Dual 1019 9
Thorens TD-124 9
Linn LP-12 7
Technics 1200 series 6
Technics SP-15 6
Thorens TD-125 5
Thorens TD-160 5
Garrard 401 4
Lenco GL75 4
Sansui SR-838 4
Dual 1219 3
Dual 1229 3
Garrard 301 3
Pioneer PL-518 3
Pioneer PL-570 3
Pioneer PL-630 3
VPI HW-19 3
Yamaha GT-2000 3
Ariston RD11 2
BIC 960 2
Denon DP-60L 2
Denon DP-62L 2
Dual 701 2
Empire 598 II 2
Garrard Zero 100 2
Kenwood L-07D 2
Marantz 6300 2
Realistic LAB-420 2
Technics SP-10 2
Thorens TD-126 2
Thorens TD-145 2
Yamaha PF-800 2
Yamaha PX-2 2
ADC 1600 1
Aiwa AP-2600 1
Akai AP-002 1
Ariston Q Deck 1
Beogram 1700 1
Beogram 4002 1
Beogram 4004 1
Denon DP-47F 1
Denon DP-59L 1
Denon DP-72L 1
Denon DP-80 1
Denon TOTL Broadcast (DP100M?) 1
Dual 1009 1
Dual 1209 1
Dual 1228 1
Dual 721 1
Dual CS-5000 1
Empire 398 1
Empire Troubadour 1
Garrard Z2000 1
Goldmund Reference 1
Harman Kardon Rabco ST-7 1
Harman/Kardon T-55C 1
JVC QL-A5 1
JVC QL-A75 1
JVC QL-Y7 1
Kenwood KD-3055 1
Kenwood KD-500 1
Kenwood KD-5070 1
Kenwood KD-5077 1
Kenwood KD-550 1
Kyocera PL-901 1
Lafayette PK-245 1
Lenco L78 1
Luxman PD-264 1
Marantz 6110 1
Marantz 6200 1
Micro-Seiki DQX-500 1
Oracle Delphi MK II 1
Panasonic SP10 1
Pioneer Exclusive P3a 1
Pioneer PL 12D 1
Pioneer PL-90 Elite 1
Pioneer Rondo 2000 1
Realistic LAB-400 1
Realistic LAB-450 1
Rega P2 1
Revox B790 1
Revox B795 1
Rockport Sirius III 1
Rotel RP3000 1
Sansui 3050 1
Sansui SR-939 1
Sansui X-Q7 1
Sanyo TP-825D 1
Sony PS-2251 1
Sony PS-X70 1
Sony PS-X75 1
Sota Sapphire 1
Systemdek 1
TEAC TN-400 1
Technics SL1100 1
Technics SL1600 MK2 1
Technics SL-B303 1
Technics SL-BL3 1
Technics SLQL-1 1
Technics SP-1350 1
Technics SP-25 1
Thorens GD-301 1
Thorens Prestige 1
Thorens Prestige 1
Thorens TD150 1
Thorens TD-165 1
Thorens TD-320 1
VPI scout 1

 

[JohnVF]

So basically this isn't about the best all-round vintage turntable, but "this one turntable I had that was ok".

 

[kirk57]

yeah well when more people suggest the BIC 960 than the Oracle, it's just kind of a popularity contest isn't it?

Edit: I have 2 BIC 960s

 

[JohnVF]

yeah well when more people suggest the BIC 960 than the Oracle, it's just kind of a popularity contest isn't it?

Or mediocrity contest.

You guys do realize that just mentioning an expensive turntable doesn't mean you actually have to buy it, right? There are so many cool vintage turntables that are out of all of our reach, by either cost or rarity! Dream people, dream!

 

[elcoholic]

So basically this isn't about the best all-round vintage turntable, but "this one turntable I had that was ok".

yeah well when more people suggest the BIC 960 than the Oracle, it's just kind of a popularity contest isn't it?

Or mediocrity contest.

All that aside, the top 5 are pretty solid performers for the price in anybody's book and FWIW dominated by belt drives .

 

[Pio1980]

I'm not sure how "all-around" is defined in this context, whether it includes all speeds, ect.

 

[JohnVF]

All that aside, the top 5 are pretty solid performers for the price in anybody's book and FWIW dominated by belt drives .

The top 5 are two belt drives, two idlers, and a direct drive. They're nice turntables, but the best? Ok ok, the Linn and Thorens are really nice tables, the others are historically significant but bettered, IMHO, by other tables in their class.

 

[BrocLuno]

Yeah, I guess this did turn out to be a popularity contest. There are some really nice tables in the list, but maybe we need to re-vote on top performers from the vintage days?

 

[mfrench]

my favorite vintage deck reminds me of this:

but has a name like this:

 

[elcoholic]

The top 5 are two belt drives, two idlers, and a direct drive. They're nice turntables, but the best? Ok ok, the Linn and Thorens are really nice tables, the others are historically significant but bettered, IMHO, by other tables in their class.

What ever bettered an AR XA at that price?

 

[JohnVF]

What ever bettered an AR XA at that price?

I don't care what bettered it (or not) at that price- why does price have anything to do with it? If we're talking about the best vintage turntable, why not go sky high?

I've heard the AR-XA on occasion and absolutely, it was good especially considering how clunky it looked. But give me an Empire any day of the week, or a Rek-o-cut Rondine Deluxe.The AR-XA was a wonderful cheap turntable. But best of the vintage tables? Maybe one of the most historically significant but I'd rather have one of the Thorens, Aristons or Linns it influenced if somebody put a gun to my head and made me run a finicky 3-point suspension turntable again (and they'd probably have to use that gun to get me to do so ).

 

[JohnVF]

my favorite vintage deck reminds me of this:

but has a name like this:

A hotrodded Bogen B-61?

 

[elcoholic]

I don't care what bettered it (or not) at that price- why does price have anything to do with it?

You brought it up - "the others are historically significant but bettered, IMHO, by other tables in their class." If not price, then what determines class?

 

[jbelway]

That seems to be the general consenses here, as it tyrns out I've been offered a Denon, which I'm going to take.