• 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

Which turntable should I keep?

Panpanculcul

Panpanculcul

New Member
I just turned 60 in January and want to clean up my studio. I have a Thorens TD-146 with a Shure ML-120EE, Kyocera PL-601 with Ortofon OM 5E, Harman Kardon T45 with a Stanton 681EEE and a Technics AT-PL 120 with Pickering XV-15/625E. It's such a dilemma for me so I decided to reach AudioKarma to see if it would help me. You always did in the past, so here we go, thanks in advance!
 
Register to hide this ad
I think I would take the Kyocera first, followed by the HK. The 3, including the Thorens, are all quite decent but I like the relative obscurity and look of the 601 and T-40.
 
Montycat said:
Both of the 4 of them? ;)
Click to expand...
Ya, I read it wrong I guess. :rolleyes:
Back ups for back ups! :naughty:
Seriously, I have too many myself, but when something goes down I have choices. :biggrin:
I've already started gathering parts for another tube amp to build.
I already have 6 stereo tube amps and a pair of tube mono blocks.
I recently built a SS and tube phono preamp. I already had a couple.
And three tube preamps. That's not counting the SS amps, integrated amps, and tuners. :crazy:
I'm really not a collector as much as I just really like building equipment.
 
Panpanculcul said:
I just turned 60 in January and want to clean up my studio.
Click to expand...
well, it's about time....:biggrin:

my first choice would be the Thorens for its simplicity, I own several models that are similar to the TD-146.

I'm not familiar with the others but they seem to have more electronics involved in their operation, I prefer to keep things simple
 
If you buy the best you can afford and even a step above that and its a manual table with a great reputation then all you need is one turntable. Though I do recommend having back up styli if you are using MM carts. If you are using MC, then you need a back cartridge up for sure. Thats one advantage of having a tone arm with a removable headshell. Makes it easy to switch cartridges when one is damaged.
 
I had 6 turntables once.
Donated one to a friend's son who was getting into vinyl about 9 years ago and he loved it.
Saw him recently and he said ' That turntable is still going strong ! '
It was a basic Hitachi HT-350 that happened to sound amazing with an AT-95E fitted and dialed in obsessively to Baerwald null points.
The automation ( Auto return) was also really handy.
So now I'm down to 5 .
I was tempted to downsize to 4 but I love First World problems...so 5 it is.
 
The Thorens has a good reputation and few parts
The Kyocera is a nice table with a bunch of electronics I think
The HK is so similar to the Thorens, suspended system, I would probably keep the above two and consider having the PL-601 recapped to make it like new again.

Sell the other two and get a nice cartridge for your favorite table
 
The way I see it, the HK and the Thorens are suspended belt drive turntables, I'd keep the Thorens from those two. And the Kyocera and the AT are direct drives. If you want to keep different cartridges to try, keep the AT from those two. Otherwise, the Kyocera is probably better made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom