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What TT's do you folks have

It's hard to separate the performance of just one part of the system. However, I will say that I am COMPLETELY satisfied with the sound of this cartridge in my system, and would buy another Benz in preference to any other make cartridge I have owned. For the price, I have found nothing that suits me better.

A BIG CAVEAT- I have owned TOTL cartridges from Shure, Pickering, Goldring, and Audio Technica, but the Benz is the first cartridge I have owned that is less than a decade old, so perhaps it has an advantage. Also, it is the only one I have used in the Rega P-25. I will post something in the review forum on the cartridge for you.
 
Originally posted by reyneman
The TT I use most is a Rega P-25 with a Benz Silver HO

Have a Dual 1229 w/Shure V15 Type V in the second system

Have a Technics SL-1700 with a Shure V-15 Type IV not in use presently.

Have various other cartridges around, still in excellent condition, but am too lazy to mount them.
Click to expand...

Have you ever tried a Clearaudio? I totally loved the Benz I had before, but the Clearaudios are a bit better, but with the same character.
 
No, I never tried a Clearaudio. I tend to go through various audio items until I find something I like, then I stop buying and start listening. Since I find the Benz satifies me, I have not looked elsewhere.

Of course, since I'm looking to put together another system, I will keep your recco in mind,
 
That's also what usually happens to me. I needed a new cart. and my dealer suggested the Clearaudio. I had worn out the Benz. Could have had either one as they are both dist. by Musical Surroundings, so the trade up allowance worked for either one.:)
 
My modified AR - take 4

I finished the modified AR several weeks ago. Seems good enough now that I'll stop fiddling with it for awhile.

Started with an AR-XA with a stock tonearm and a dead stock motor.

The modifications are:

1. Motor replaced with a higher-torque 300 RPM motor from a BIC 960. While BIC tables weren't much, they always had excellent motors. It's almost identical to the motors sold on ebay as AR mods. I had tried a DC-servo modification but didn't like the sound and put the synchronous motor back in.

2. Suspension springs replaced with those with a slightly higher spring rate. It's all to reduce the "footfall" problem.

3. The base is the heavy wooden base from a defunct Pioneer PL-47 turntable. This help isolation.

4. The tonearm (#4) is a 10" Pioneer seperate. After the AR arm, a Sansui arm, and the arm from a Pioneer PL-71, I think this new arm (which is probably pretty old but in beautiful shape) is the champ.

The sound? All I can say is WOW! Solid, neutral, and incredible detail! All for an outlay of about $200 and many hours of trial-and-error. I had a good time, too.

:)
 
Thanks. It was work but "fun" work...

The hardest part was getting the tonearm in the right spot without a template. Just used an overhang gauge and a bit of common sense to figure it out and it worked!

The tonearm is no longer suspended as I couldn't make that work. I have another suspension and will someday modify it to accept the Pioneer arm. However, the current setup works fine and it's exceptionally quiet so maybe another modification isn't necessary.

I will be putting on an antiskate of the hanging weight variety sometime fairly soon. I gotta figure out the best way to do it to make it both functional and attractive. I think I'll get a machine shop to bend some stainless steel rod for me. Or maybe I will get lucky and find something else I can cannibalize!

Oh, the tonearm counterweight was too heavy for the headshell and cartridges I have so I had to improvise. I used parts from several of the weights in my parts box and ended up with a tight sleeve and a counterweight with a setscrew - kinda like the original AR weight setup. It works fine but VTF has to be set with a scale (I use a Shure SFG-2). I wonder how I've altered the effective mass of the arm but am not worried as it seems to have worked out for the better. I got lucky, I guess.:cool:
 
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I used to have a Russell Coco modifies AR with a Magnepan Unitrac arm mounted on the suspension. Should haave changed the arm, instead, I gave it to some friends , and it sits in their closet in their hone in Colorado!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You know the old saying is so true.......

"If I knew then what I know now!"

When I was in the Navy - some 30 years ago - I could get some incredible stereos at such cheap prices in the base exchange. I wish I would have stocked up!

A Marantz 2270 was $200! I bought my Pioneer SX-727 for $150 and my Kenwood KD3022 for $79! I could have bought an Empire turntable for $150 or an AR for $60 or a Revox A77 for $255! I did buy a Dual 1219 from the tech shop for a whopping $20! This was 1973 when the 1219 was still available new, although the 1229 was the current model.

Of course, I have absolutely none of that stuff any more. It's long gone - replaced by what I thought was better stuff. That was before I grew to realise that it's the sound and not the whiz-bang features that matter.
 
Guys

Very nice tables ! keep em coming.

Grumpy
 
Properly set up, a Thorens is awfully hard to beat. I"ve had three and gave in to the temptation to sell them all. Wish I still had at least one of them!

I don't know if they are any better than my modified AR, but they are at least as good and look so cool. A nice Thorens says that the owner knows quality! And yours looks very nice.:cool:

danj
 
Techics SL-DD33 with the ordinary Technics TCS 30 cartridge.

Does its job of playing my old scratchy vinyl.
 
Just picked up another 'table

On my way back from MAF, stopped by my sister's place in Ohio. She gave me a Technics 1311 with OBM. I haven't checked it yet.

Now, I know the 1300, but what's a 1311?
 
Thorens TD160
Thorens TD125 with TP16MKII arm
Empire 598MKIII

Looking for a Philips 212 or 222 to go with the Philips system I just picked up.
 
Re: Just picked up another 'table

Now, I know the 1300, but what's a 1311? [/B][/QUOTE]


would that be a black finish automatic with stacking changer?

shrinkboy
 
Currently In Use Turntables

The ones I'm using now:
Main: Kenwood KD-500/Grace G707/Signet TK7e(?)
Second: Luxman PD-300/Rega RB300/Denon DL-110
...just got rid of my Oracle - what was I thinking?
I also have a Denon DA-309 arm that's currently awaiting the right table.
Cheers,
-Paul
 
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