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Yamaha YP-211 vs Hitachi HT-550 vs Lenco L82

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Leviasean15

Active Member
So I am looking to add to my new collection of vintage turntables and I have found these three options that suit what I am looking for aesthetically speaking. I was wondering if any members had thoughts/opinions or experience with any of these turntables and would recommend one in particular. I know that they are very different turntables but I figured that there was no harm in asking! The three options are all in great shape, only the lenco could use a different belt. Personally I am leaning toward the Hitachi 550, but the Yamaha is considerably less expensive.

Lenco L-82 asking $200
Yamaha YP-211 asking $320
Hitachi HT-500 asking $300
Hitachi HT-550 asking $425
 

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Where are you located and where are these tables, prices are much higher than I would consider.

BTW threads discussing price should be in dollars and sense forum.
 
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Sorry about that, the question wasn't regarding pricing, is was more related to the actual functioning of the different TTs with cost as a reference. The prices are high because I forgot to mention that it was in CAN not USD
 
The HT-550 appears to be the most robust of the lot, longer arm, heavier & larger platter. The Yamaha has a very short arm, cheesey genuine simulated wood finish, pretty light weight but a very nice headshell, go figure.
 
911s55 said:
The HT-550 appears to be the most robust of the lot, longer arm, heavier & larger platter. The Yamaha has a very short arm, cheesey genuine simulated wood finish, pretty light weight but a very nice headshell, go figure.
Click to expand...

That is what I was thinking also!
 
None of them are cheap, so you should expect them to sound good without any work. Related to that is the cartridges (if any) they have on them - a good cartridge with a new stylus would represent a substantial portion of the value.
That said, the Lenco is a lot cheaper than the others. That series of Lencos gets little respect because it is not the variable speed idler drive that people like to put in massive plinths and rearm, but they are good tables.
I'd worry a little about the spring loaded dust cover hinges.
 
I think you made the wrong choice. I have the Hitachi HT-463 and 460, so I have some experience, along with a Denon DP45F and JVC QL Y5F.

You should have gotten the HT-500! It's a TOTL Hitachi table, better arm, better plinth isolation, better motor and controls, is fully automatic with manual override if you insist on manual, has a medium-light mass arm so it will work with more cartridges, and at $300 was a better buy on top of all the other attributes!

The 550 you bought doesn't really have much going for it, other than its the Hitachi Uni Torque motor. That's it! Its tonearm and pivot is substandard to the 500. You spent over $100 for a lesser table, and its resale will be less than the 500.

A few of my tables:

IMG_1841.JPG IMG_4560.JPG IMG_4589.JPG IMG_4590.JPG
 
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Thank you for your input Wolfie62, i appreciate it. The bright side to your take on the situation is that the 500 is still available, I will most likely work him down on the price over the next week and then pick it up compare the two. I also have a HT-350 and will most likely sell it after picking up the HT-500. Thanks again, cheers!
 
I can promise you’ll love it! Smooth and precise. Well made. I happen to be a fan of full auto tables; I’ve never made a mistake and damaged a stylus or record. I’m a pragmatist and not a purist who somehow thinks my lifting the arm makes a record sound better.

Oh, and that 10 mm arm length difference won’t make the 550 track better. It’s really just to increase the arm mass for low compliance carts. How many carts are really low compliance? Most are medium/medium-high.
 
I would think that a pragmatist would appreciate that a simpler design has fewer possible issues to address as the unit ages. Lifting a tonearm in any fashion, manual or automatic obviously has nothing to do with the audio presentation, don't know of anyone who does.
 
That was one of the deciding factors, the HT-550 is in mint condition, not even a scuff on the entire unit including the dust cover. The platter is just shy of 2kg and the movement is super smooth.
 
911s55 said:
I would think that a pragmatist would appreciate that a simpler design has fewer possible issues to address as the unit ages. Lifting a tonearm in any fashion, manual or automatic obviously has nothing to do with the audio presentation, don't know of anyone who does.
Click to expand...


It’s the lifting of the tonearm that I’m a pragmatist about. It doesn’t affect play quality, whether full auto or manual. So why handle that fragile tonearm any more than you have to? I like simple, but don’t want to pay extra for it. It irks me that so many manual tables cost so much. I haven’t had a moments’ problem with any of my full auto tables in 40 years. Sure, I’ve cleaned and lubed them, but I have done that on my 1 manual table too.
 
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