What is the best all around Vintage Turntable?

[libertycaps]

See my sig line. Very happy with what i've currently got!
("Best" is infinitely subjective, as one should already well know...)

 

[bobbyonions]

First table was an MCS (I think JC Penny's branded technics?) Not bad. Since then have had many duals, and settled on the 1229. Good all-arounder in my opinion.

 

[70WR]

I haven't had a TT in about 30 years. Just bought (July 4th) a JVC QL-Y7 in nice condition. Its good enough for me, besides, I don't have the room with all the receivers, separates, and speakers. But it don't feel right having "just one" either.

 

[skeetdaddy]

Vintage TT

In vintage it would be between my Realistic Lab 420 and 450.......

 

[JohnVF]

Is this the ugliest turntable ever built??

What I like about it is the part that loos like the RATT rack-mounted guitar distortion pedal I use. Classy.

I agree- this thing, as impressive as it is, could use a bit more class. It looks like something they attach you to in the hospital. "Let me check your VTA, sir".

 

[Balifly]

Reminds me of the Craftsman radial saw that my friend wants to give me.

 

[E2]

Just curious--what is it about your TD 160 that makes you want to get rid of it?

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[E2]

Some Brits held a "Bake-off" where the Pioneer PL-71 bested the Linn LP12. Looks like the poster was ultimately banned for heresy.

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53692&page=8

Completely recapped by a well regarded AKer I could not get this friggin deck to work right and that arm is a dud!

 

[chicks]

Completely recapped by a well regarded AKer I could not get this friggin deck to work right and that arm is a dud!

Loved it until the big JVC took its place. I do worry about unobtanium parts and the complexity of the DD JVC (and most other DD decks). Need to get that "new" Empire 398 running - it should last just about forever with, what? three moving parts.

 

[mfrench]

This quote sums it up for me, perfectly. its a quote from a member here, from another forum, and its just perfect, IMO. I'll let that member reveal himself, should he be so proud (and he should).

Yes, I turn my nose up at BPC (black plastic crap). But I also pan the ultra high end shiny tables, the ones that would set me back ten years' salary. I'm too good for them! grin

Give me the musty "tanktables" of yore, the real machines that were built in the heyday of hifi, when metal and bakelite and real wood and grease were the order of the day!

Give me a drive motor that could open my garage door and was meant to spin all week, a platter that weighs more than my CD collection, and a tonearm that I could drive nails with!

Give me a cartridge that was rescued from a console, with a stylus that I could pick my teeth with!

 

[flavio81]

Some Brits held a "Bake-off" where the Pioneer PL-71 bested the Linn LP12. Looks like the poster was ultimately banned for heresy.

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53692&page=8

Well the LP-12 is a nice turntable, a fine turntable, but it is sometimes overrated as the best or the be-end-all of "orthodox" audiophile turntables. Now, the comparison posted above is a bit suspect... The guy didn't even know how to set up the PS-X70 correctly. OMG.

 

[Doug G.]

The original BIC 900 series.

Doug

 

[Duane]

I'm the very best at being me.
My daughter is the best daughter I could ever have.
One of my systems is the best sounding to me.
I do things to the best of my ability.
I like the song Best of My Love from The Very Best of the Eagles.

"Best" is a state of mind and we all have one of those.

That said, the best turntable I've had so far would be the Pioneer PLC-590. It may not be the best in your book, but it's the best for me.

The question of what "best" is can mean many things. Your reply says it all.:thmbsp:

 

[onepixel]

The question of what "best" is can mean many things. Your reply says it all.:thmbsp:

Yeah... I'm the best. lol!

 

[jlovda]

I bought my Dual 1019 in 1967 at a big and respected audio dealer (Musicraft, now gone). I was a junior in college. To my memory the only turntables I heard of during that era were Dual, Garrard, AR, Weathers, Thorens, Benjamin Miracord, Empire, Rek-o-Kut and a few others. Some of the TT's I see here must have been very expensive, esoteric products and I paid $129 for the Dual.

 

[RogerKulp]

WOW! What a beautiful table! I bet it sounds just as nice as it looks.

How did you do that plinth?

 

[RogerKulp]

I'll put in a vote for the Technics SP-15, based on personal experience.

-33/45/78 RPM capability
-Plus/minus 10% pitch control
-Able to swap out tonearms easily
-Easy to build a custom plinth
-Quartz locked speed accuracy
-No audible wow & flutter or rumble
-Platter brake, fast start/stop

The only records I can't play with my SP-15 are 16 2/3 RPM, but having only seen one 16 2/3 RPM record in the past forty years, I don't consider it an issue.

I've seen two in almost that long.I have a 16 2/3 RPM of the Vox of the Beethoven,with Hornstein,Weuher,and Gimpel,and the MJQ on Prestige (Concord?)that I sold,but that was about it.

 

[RogerKulp]

Vintage usually refers to things over 25 years old.

I don't know what antique means.

My state calls cars over 25 years old antique.

In england, seventeenth century things are not old.

I think the official designation is anything over 100 years old,but 25 years is what a lot of people on eBay and Craigslist use.

 

[jbelway]

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

 

[blooeyz]

hello fellow AK'ers.... it's been fun reading this thread...so now i add my two cents.. MY faves...that i actually have! Dual 1019, Dual 1229Q, a very nice and interesting idler/belt drive(and yes it works great) Garrard Z2000b, and last but not least, my Technics linear tracking SLQL-1. I have several others but these are my FAVES ! GREAT SITE FOLKS..

 

[seek/destroy]

Well, this is what I know from personal experience. My first serious turntable was and is an Ariston RD11s with Micro Seiki tonearm...LOVE this TT, but I recently moved my system to a different part of the room and I am afraid I will not be able to enjoy it until I have a wall mounted shelf to place it on.

This has spurred the move of my Pioneer PL-570 to my bedroom. This is another one that I think is wonderful.

And lastly, my Thorens TD-124, which I need to get working so I can see what all the fuss is about.