What is the best all around Vintage Turntable?

[lightcapture]

This is a good overview:
https://thevinylfactory.com/feature...what-to-look-out-for-when-buying-second-hand/

I'd also add the '72 Transcriptors Skeleton turntable
https://theturntableshop.com/rare-turntable-museum/

 

[seacliffe301]

I've had a Thorens TD-145 for about 30 years now that's been nothing short of great.
As to what is best...

 

[THF2]

Very old thread but, I will throw my $.05 into the mix:

- After having had the fortunate experience of having sold many of the “vintage” TT’s discussed in this thread as brand new back in the day, the “keeper” that I landed on was a Sony PS-X600 which (IMHO) was the one that that made the most sense to me based on the technology that seemed to address the issues of
- variations in the actual disk with regards to any warps or other divinations in the level of the disk (qualifier: with the exception of extreme deviations !)
- anti-skate issues
- Cartridge weight and balance

all of this was done through dual servo motors that assisted the horizontal and vertical movement of the tone arm.

That is not to say that TT’s like the Thorens 160/125 series were not up to snuff. Rather, these products combined with a separate custom tone arms (such as SME Series III (distributed by Shure) or a Black Widow) are quite remarkable).

 

[Frbock]

Back in the 1990's I had a pair of Rosignol Super DV skis (which were kind of billed as doctor/lawyer skis). A good performing but comfortable ski, not set for racing. These days, due to tech advances, a decent intro shaped ski would blow the doors off the DV, and they cost half as much.
In the same time period in TT design, we have ceramic bearings, carbon fiber tonearms, acrylic platters. We should be having entry level TTs blowing the socks off older equipment. It does imply that the advances are being used for cost savings, not enhancement.

 

[Dandy]

This is a good overview:
https://thevinylfactory.com/feature...what-to-look-out-for-when-buying-second-hand/

The vinylfactory feature has one amusing error. It has a completely wrong picture illustrating the Thorens TD124 entry. I've sent them a note suggesting that they correct this.

 

[rl1856]

Rebuilt Rek O Cut with a Jelco Arm
Rebuilt Fairchild with a modern Arm
Restored AR-XA with the technics/pioneer arm tube modification, and a Shure MM cartridge
Restored Thorens TD 160, with a Rega arm, running a Denon 103r cartridge (specs say it should not be good match, but it is)
Rega P3 with cost effective mods
Linn LP12 with at least a rebuild Valhalla PS and ITTOK LVII arm
Technics SP15 or SP25 TT with suitable tonearm.

Thorens TD 124 or Garrard 301 / Both with SME tonearms.

 

[katana1100]

Best all around? Easy, it’s the Sanyo q60.
Its direct drive is as good as a technics 1210.
It has an adc carbon arm.
And unlike ANY other tt ever made, it has both a built in weight scale and it keeps track of the hours of use of your stylus.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Best all around? Easy, it’s the Sanyo q60.
Its direct drive is as good as a technics 1210.
It has an adc carbon arm.
And unlike ANY other tt ever made, it has both a built in weight scale and it keeps track of the hours of use of your stylus.

Sorry, it is nice but you overrate it's motor and tonearm. It's a very good CEC built DD turntable. It has nice features. But it's not a Technics SL-1200 grade DD turntable. And even that is not a SP-15, or SP-25, let alone a SP-10 Mk II. Let alone a high end Denon consumer or broadcast machine, or an EMT DD (which use the Denon top end motor) or the Kenwood high end DD models, the best of which is the L-07D.

 

[lorne]

An older, basic Micro Seiki DD unit.

 

[jcolletteiii]

Luxman Pd-444 or Pd-441. Done.

 

[calexcyou]

PE 3060
Philips 312

 

[Dr Morbius]

For me, the best built longest lasting TT is my Empire 398 from the early sixties. Has an Ortofon Bronze cartridge, I’m very pleased!

 

[losthorizon]

For me, the best built longest lasting TT is my Empire 398 from the early sixties. Has an Ortofon Bronze cartridge, I’m very pleased!

What a solid-looking Turntable, What does it sound like?

 

[Frbock]

I've had a Lenco L75, a Technics sl20, a dual, and a couple Pro-ject TTs, including carbon fiber tonearm.
The newer TTs just have a little more going for them, even if they are going cheap on the bearings and semiconductors.
If the manufacturers put an addition $10 in parts, and charged an additional $100, nobody would complain.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Thorens TD-160.

 

[losthorizon]

View attachment 2888786

Thorens TD-160.

The old turntables had a style that the modern manufacturers couldn't match today, mainly because of costs, but also the mindset in those days was to build the best they could, also the customers have changed and so have their needs.

 

[notsofast]

I had a Technics SL 1100 with a Signet tk7e cartridge. Played very well

 

[jamesc760]

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but I'd like to nominate.......

Sanyo TP 825D

I have one and it's been the most solid and best sounding TT I have. I also like my Sanyo TP 1030 TT as well, not as solid as the 825d, but it sounds wonderful to me. I'm sure the Realistic Lab 400 has been mentioned before. I'm waiting to receive my first AR XA, it will need work to get it going but I'm looking forward to it.